Читать книгу Frank Merriwell's Prosperity; or, Toil Has Its Reward онлайн

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“I hope to, but I am not coming back till I find Bart Hodge!”

“But whut be we goin’ to do?”

“I’ll make arrangements about that. I want you to find Havener and send him here to this room without delay. I have some instructions to give him.”

“All right,” said Ephraim. “I’ll hunt him up an’ tell him.”

He hurried from the room. Outside the door he paused a moment.

“By gum!” he muttered. “Was there ever another feller that stuck to his friends same as Frank Merriwell does? He’s true ez steel!”

Havener came up and found Merriwell all ready to leave. The stage manager looked rather dejected.

“I’m sorry about this business, Mr. Merriwell,” he said, humbly. “I’m sure I didn’t think it would end this way. If I had dreamed it would I should have permitted Hodge to do just as he liked.”

“And thus ruined the discipline of the entire company,” said Frank. “You would have made a great mistake, Havener.”

“But he’s gone—he’s skipped.”

“Yes.”

“And he has done it because I spoke to him on the stage. I might have taken another opportunity.”