Frank Merriwell's Champions Part 57

"I am very glad to hear that, for I feared her burns might be more severe than was supposed at first. I reached her as soon as possible after she screamed."

"It's amazing to me that you reached her as quickly as you did,"

declared Charlie. "Wallace Hegner was with her, and he did not find an opportunity to lift his hand to help her."

"He acted like a coward!" exclaimed Mabel, her eyes flashing. "He retreated from her, and he has been rewarded for his pusillanimous act."

"Rewarded-how?"

"When he tried to see her last evening after her burns had been attended, she refused to have anything to say to him, and she says she'll never speak to him again."

"Well," said Merry, slowly, "I don't know but that fire was a good thing if it has opened her eyes to Hegner's true character."

Creighton flushed and looked abashed, whereupon Frank quickly cried:

"I beg your pardon, old man! I made a break then, for I forgot you introduced us."

"It's all right," declared Creighton; "and it is my place to beg your pardon for the introduction; but I a.s.sure you that I did not dream Hegner was the fellow he has since proved to be. If I had--Well, I scarcely think you would have met him at my home, and I am sure you will not see him here again. You have done considerable to show him up, and--"

"I may do more."

"More? How?"

"I cannot explain just now, but I am not through with Mr. Hegner.

Yesterday I struck him with a boxing glove. The next time I strike it will be a far more severe blow, and I shall not use my hands."

"That sounds queer from you, Merriwell. At college you have been considered altogether too kind to your enemies."

"I am ready to be easy with an enemy who shows any redeeming features, and I am aware that a fellow may dislike me and still be a good fellow at heart. Such things happen. I have my own failings, and I believe in doing by others as I would that they should do by me. But a fellow like this Hegner-well, I doubt if he has a single redeeming trait, and I consider it my duty to expose him as far as possible. That's all."

Mabel was regarding Frank admiringly, and she was thinking that he could be stern and unrelenting if the occasion demanded, although he was naturally generous and forgiving.

After a little, Merriwell told of his street encounter of the previous evening, and his hearers listened with breathless interest.

"Great Scott!" cried Charlie. "You must have had a close call! And you think the object was not robbery?"

"I am sure it was not."

"Then the gang must have attacked you with the sole object of doing you up."

"That's right."

"And you think you know one of them?"

"Yes."

"Who was it?"

"That is something I will tell you later. Shiner Gregg may be induced to squeal. Look out for an explosion, Creighton. It is coming."

Two days later, while walking along one of Philadelphia's princ.i.p.al streets, Merriwell noticed a fellow who was blocking the path of a girl with his person and speaking to her excitedly, although she was trying to pa.s.s to reach a carriage that stood at the curb.

"It's Hegner!" muttered Frank. "And the girl is-f.a.n.n.y Darling! She is trying to avoid him, and the rascal is-- Confound him!"

The exclamation escaped Frank's lips as he saw Wallace Hegner grasp the girl by the wrist, lean forward and hiss something in her ear.

Frank made a spring, and as he came forward, Hegner happened to turn his head slightly and see him. The girl also saw him, and a look of relief came over her face.

Hegner scowled blackly and hesitated, then he dropped f.a.n.n.y's wrist and hurried away.

Merriwell was tempted to follow him, but f.a.n.n.y called to him, and he stopped. As he did so, lifting his hat with a graceful movement that was natural for him, her face, pale a moment before, grew crimson.

But she did not hesitate; immediately she came forward and held out her hand, saying:

"Mr. Merriwell, I said I would ask your pardon on my knees, but I can't do it here in the street, and so perhaps you will not expect it."

"Well, hardly!" laughed Frank. "I don't know why you should ask my pardon at all."

"I do! I ask it now, Mr. Merriwell! You were a gentleman, and I know I was not a lady. Oh, I have been so ashamed of myself when I thought it all over and realized what sort of an opinion you must have formed of me!"

"Miss Darling!"

"And I am trying to leave off slang, although I will make a break occasionally-there! I want to thank you for the heroic manner in which you came to my rescue when my clothes were on fire."

"I am afraid you make too much of that. I fail to see where the heroism came in."

"That-that fellow you just drove away did not make a move to help me, and he was the nearest of anybody! I don't care, it was heroic of you!"

"All right," smiled Frank; "if you are determined to have it that way, I'll have to let you regard me as a hero."

She looked him straight in the eyes, and softly said:

"I do!"

After a moment, her eyes drooped before his steady gaze, and he saw she had long lashes that almost touched her cheeks.

"Mr. Merriwell."

"Yes, Miss Darling."

"I am afraid it may seem bold, and I know you think me far too forward now--"

"No, no-I protest!"

"I can't help it if you do think so. I can't be strictly conventional at all times. We are standing in the street, where we must attract more or less notice. There is my carriage. Will you ride with me?"

"With pleasure."

The footman in livery held open the door for them to enter, and then that door closed behind them. The dignified footman ascended to his seat, and the coachman started up the horses. The closed carriage rolled away.