Burt L. Standish

“ Frank knew he could have no more unscrupulous and deadly enemy than Emile Durant, who seemed to have become an anarchist because he knew it would afford him an opportunity to glut his thirst for bloodshed, destruction and ruin.
Frank had ever fancied that, to a certain extent, anarchists were governed by a mistaken and distorted belief that they were patriots whose mission it was to slaughter and destroy the rich and powerful and overturn the existing governments, in order that the poor, the weak and the oppressed might be given a fair and even show in the world. ”

“ Down some stairs came the bearer of a lamp, and a cry of astonishment would have escaped Frank’s lips if the gag had not held it back.
It was Mademoiselle Mystere, the masked unknown!
The boy was astonished and dazed for the moment, and, when he had recovered a bit, the woman of mystery was close at hand.
Then he saw something that gave him a shock. She bore the lamp in her left hand; in her right she held a gleaming dagger, on which the lamplight glinted.
“She has been chosen as the executioner!” was the thought that flashed through the boy’s mind. “She has come to kill me! ”

“ They have endured many things, and have not murmured. But all the time they are learning a great lesson. They have seen the things which have been done by the United States and by France, and they have thought what things might be done here. France showed us the way. Wait a little. The scenes of the French Commune may be repeated in Spain! The streets of Madrid may run red with blood! Then will the people reveal their power! Then will they rise for their freedom! Beware of that time! Some day Spain shall become a republic! ”

“ Frank was fascinated, and he quite forgot his own position of peril. He listened with the keenest interest.
Once again Mademoiselle Mystere whispered in his ear, and this time she said:
“Even if you could prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that you are not a spy, what you have heard while standing here is enough to condemn you to death. Knowing that you know what you do, they would not let you escape for fortunes.” ”

“ Frank repressed a smile of satisfaction, for he saw the professor was giving in.
“No, they cannot take them from us; but it will be all the more comfortable for us if we go early.”
The professor looked from the window. In truth, the tide of human beings was setting in a certain direction, and all Madrid was gayly bedecked. Men and women wore bright colors. They were calling to each other merrily, like a lot of children starting out for a frolic. The great fountain in the square was splashing, and the sun was shining its brightest. ”

“ The astonishment of Professor Scotch can be much better imagined than described. To him it had seemed that Frank was crazy when he advanced to meet the old chief, and what followed that meeting filled him with unspeakable amazement. He could not understand why Frank did not fall when the sheik fired point-blank at him, nor could he imagine why Ain-el-Khair danced and yelled when Frank grasped his hands. ”

“ I did so to save this lad.”
She spoke wildly, yet with the utmost confidence, as if it was quite settled between herself and Frank.
Durant squirmed and scowled. It was plain that he longed to speak, and he looked bitter curses from his eyes.
“We are wasting time here,” said Frank. “We must be getting away before others of the band come.”
“You are right,” admitted Mademoiselle Mystere. “We will go. Farewell, Emile. Tell the brotherhood that their secrets are safe with me. Tell them the spy shall never bother them more. In saving one I love I am a traitor, but that is all. ”

“ And then, with a sudden change of manner, she went on: “I am not going to be foolish, Frank; Elsie is a splendid girl. I tell you, I will be one of the bridesmaids, and you must have a swell wedding.”
Frank held in check the laughter that bubbled to his lips.
“You would make a charming bridesmaid, Inza; but you would look better as the bride. However, we will not consider that now. Neither of us should think seriously of such matters for years. Perhaps I may have the opportunity to stand as best man for Kennington Glanworth when you are married—if he does not kill me in a duel.” ”

“ And Frank was wondering if Mademoiselle Mystere could save him—if she would.
“She must be given time,” thought the boy. “I must take up Durant’s attention. He must not hear or see her.”
So Frank said:
“As long as I am to be killed, and there is no escaping such a fate, would you mind telling me just what this is about? Why have you taken so much pains to put me out of the way?”
“You are a spy, sent here by a prying newspaper, and you are dangerous to our brotherhood. If you are not put out of the way, you may learn some of our secrets and reveal them to the world. All this you know very well.” ”

“ Some of us will not live to see it; some may live to see it. But you, you American spy! you will be long gone—decayed, turned to dust!”
Durant seemed to forget himself in his excitement. He shook out his disheveled hair, his face working with passion, his thin lips curling back from his wolfish teeth, his hands extended like claws that seemed longing to fasten on the boy and rend him limb from limb.
Bornier made a move as if to grasp the fiery little wretch, and then held off, plainly in awe. But the proprietor of the Red Flag was agitated and alarmed. ”

“ The woman bent over him, holding the lamp so the light fell fairly on his face. She lifted the knife, as if about to strike. Bound and helpless as he was, Frank could not defend himself from the fatal stroke. He looked straight into her eyes—and smiled!
“He fears nothing!” panted the strange woman. “He is the bravest one in all the wide world! It is too bad that he must die!”
Then she lowered the knife, and, with its keen edge, cut the cord that held the gag in the boy’s mouth. ”

“ He turned toward the door behind which stood Frank Merriwell and his masked companion.
“He is coming!” whispered Mademoiselle Mystere. “All is lost! We shall not be able to escape!”
“Follow me!” returned the dauntless boy. “We will make a break for liberty, and, taking them by surprise, as we shall, we may succeed. It is one chance in a thousand; but we must take that chance.”
Frank nerved himself for the struggle that was to come. He gripped the stone in hand, ready to bring it down with crushing force on the head of Lenoir. ”

“ Inquiry revealed that there was one European hotel in the city, and Frank secured a guide to pilot them thither.
Ephraim grumbled as they made their way along. He was dripping with water, and presented a ludicrous aspect, but the populace in the streets did not smile upon him. He was greeted in a stoical, indifferent manner, as if he were a worm of very small importance. Men drew aside from the boys, and women avoided them, while children fled in terror.
“Real sociable people,” chuckled Frank. “Judging by the way they act, any one would think we must be blood-thirsty savages.” ”

“ It was almost impossible for Frank to realize that he was in a land where might ruled with a heavy, blood-stained hand, and where the innocent and helpless cried out in vain for mercy and justice.
“I do not propose to give up,” declared Frank, resolutely. “Fortune has smiled on me many times, and it may smile again. It is not very far across the straits to Spain. In Spain we could defy Ben Ahmet and Ali Mustaf to drag Igela back to Morocco.” ”

“ It is necessary to kill a Valencian to conquer him.
Gonzalez, the scar-faced banderillero, seemed astounded for the moment, and then his face took on an expression of malignant satisfaction and triumph.
“So the revolutionist has returned to Madrid!” he sneered. “Did he come back to see Señorita Zuera? or did he come to arouse the people against the government?”
Esparto regarded the fellow with a look of deep contempt.
“It is nothing to you why I returned,” he declared. “You have neither the courage to become a revolutionist or to support the government. Gonzalez, you are a cur.” ”

“ Through this mass of horses they seemed to pass for miles before the racetrack was reached. On all sides were rows upon rows of carts, hansom cabs and omnibuses, all abandoned for the time.
And then, at last, Frank beheld the highest grandstand in the world, crowded with people, who had already obtained favorable positions to watch the races.
The track was reached. From the top of the coach Frank beheld a spectacle such as he had never before witnessed. Before him was a valley which was thronging with human beings and covered with what seemed to be unnumbered circuses. ”

“ Bornier was distressed. It was plain that he did not like the turn affairs were taking, and yet he seemed unable to interfere. He thrust out his hand in a helpless protest, but Durant cut in, his voice rasping like a coarse file:
“Sit down, monsieur. You will not be robbed of your money, but you have something that you consider far more valuable.”
Frank did not mistake the meaning of the little wretch. If it was not a case of money, then, surely, it must be one of life. ”

“ The crowd rose up and howled its derision and wrath.
“Coward!” shrieked the great throng. “Lazy creature! Wretch! Impostor! Go hide! Never dare show yourself again!”
Over the barrier leaped the fellow, and Frank, who was near at hand, saw he was as pale as a ghost and literally shaking with terror.
Perhaps that picadore had been in a dozen bull fights before, and never quailed or lost his nerve for a moment; but this time he was unmanned in a twinkling, as an actor is sometimes overcome by stage fright when such a thing seems the least likely to happen. ”

“ But, oh, Frank! how are we to get out of Tangier? I cannot! You must go alone—you must leave me to my fate!”
Her voice broke in a sob, and he drew her closer to him, mystified, bewildered, but dauntless.
“That I will never do,” he boldly declared. “You shall come with me. We will seek the protection of the United States Consul. He will aid us.”
“No, Frank, it is not possible. He will have no power to hold me from Ben Ahmet. It is not possible that we may escape together. ”

“ In South America, Africa, France and Spain I made enemies who would not have hesitated at anything to injure or destroy me. And now they seem to be thicker than ever here in London.”
“Oh, Frank!” cried Inza, “you will be killed some time. I know you will!”
“My enemies have made so many failures that I am encouraged to think myself almost invulnerable.”
“You are brave and you are fortunate, but you cannot always escape. Some time they will get the best of you.”
“That will be when my ‘time’ has arrived. You see I have become a fatalist. I do not believe anybody will die till their ‘time’ comes.” ”

“ In a few moments Ali Mustaf turned to the boy once more.
“Put down your weapons,” commanded the old tax-gatherer, with a severe frown. “Put them down at once. You can never escape alive if you threaten, but I may decide to spare you if you surrender quietly.”
Frank laughed scornfully.
“Because I walked into this trap so quietly it is plain that you believe me a much greater fool than I am,” he said. “I do not propose to surrender myself a helpless captive into your hands; but I do propose to hold you a prisoner till I am once more safe in the streets of Tangier.” ”

“ The scowl on Ain-el-Khair’s face deepened.
“I say you do not know me,” he repeated.
“Ah, but I know you well,” declared Frank. “You are a robber and a great rascal. You hate your enemies, and you slay them with delight. Your hands are stained with blood, but your conscience does not trouble you.”
“Dog of a Christian!” roared the old sheik, quivering with passion. ”

“ The coaches faced the grandstand from the opposite side of the track, packed closely together, and forming a barrier three rows deep, seemingly locked and entangled beyond all possibility of ever getting away again.
On the top of nearly every coach ladies and gentlemen were lunching, chatting, laughing and making merry.
The sight made Frank hungry, and, as they had not brought a lunch, he proposed to the professor that they should leave the coach and find something to eat.
“Never!” cried the little man, in terror. “It would be impossible to find our way back here again.” ”

“ Generals, officials, peasants, ladies and toreadors were passing everywhere. And every one seemed talking about the bull fights.
There were boys with newspapers for sale, the same as in the United States. On every hand persons were lifting hats and greeting friends. Street venders, with their wares hung about their necks, were crying, “Largo, largo.” A band of music was playing. The fountain shot streams of water high into the air.
The streams crossed beautifully, shimmering in the gaslight, and fell tinkling into the fountain basin. ”

“ This is Fabian Vaugirad, who bears the very great honor of having been arrested one hundred and ninety-three times. And this is Emile Durant, who has never been arrested, but—let me whisper it—is one of the most desperate anarchists in all Paris. He is a scientist, a surgeon, a man of the most wonderful attainments, and a leader of the anarchists.”
These final words were breathed in Frank’s ear, as if it were all true, and Bornier dared not speak it aloud even there. ”

“ You never knew me to go around seeking trouble, Ephraim. I intend to avoid danger when it is possible. After I get into a scrape I want to see it through. It is the foolish fellow that does foolhardy things when there is no need of it. If such a person should suddenly and unexpectedly find himself in a position of great peril, he would be liable to lose his nerve. At school, as you know, it was not the fellow who walked nearest the brink of a precipice to astonish and awe his companions who always turned out to be the pluckiest lad of them all. ”

“ She took up the lamp, and led the way.
Frank had no weapon, and so he picked up the stone with which the strange girl had struck Durant senseless.
“One more effort for life,” he thought. “Shall we succeed in getting out of the snare? We must!”
He followed the masked mystery.
They ascended the stairs and reached the door, which opened to her touch. In the doorway she paused to listen. A distant murmur of voices came to their ears. Mademoiselle Mystere made a sharp gesture of anger and dismay. ”

“ The bomb will fall, and that will mean death and destruction! Hold a moment!”
They cowered, and then Montparnasse tried to creep toward the lad.
“Back!” shouted Frank, fiercely. “Keep back, or by the eternal skies! I will cast this thing to the floor!”
Montparnasse fell back, cursing beneath his breath. Vaugirad whirled on Mademoiselle Mystere.
“How is it you said the boy was dead, and he is here alive?” he demanded. “Have you gone mad, girl?”
“There is no time for words,” came harshly from Frank Merriwell’s lips. “I am not dead, but very much alive, as you can see. ”

“ He lives! He is here!”
Then Frank advanced toward her saying:
“I am here, and I am alive.”
She swayed, and he caught the lamp from her hand with a deftness that saved it from falling. His free arm encircled her. He longed to see the face hidden by that veil.
In a moment the girl had recovered, and she started from him, saying swiftly:
“Am I a child that I lose my strength thus! I am strong now. How you escaped from Bab-el-Maroc I know not. Great was my wonder and joy to see you in Tangier. Ben Ahmet told me you were dead, and Ali Mustaf swore it was true.” ”

“ THE REVOLUTIONIST. The scar-faced banderillero was in the company of three other fellows who looked decidedly villainous and desperate. He seemed to be talking to them, but Frank discovered, in a moment, that every word was meant for his ears.
“You need not tell me the Americans are ever brave!” came scornfully from Gonzalez’s lips. “They are all cowards! It is a nation of cowards.” ”

“ Beyond the horsemen Frank saw a caravan of camels that was approaching, and he immediately decided that the people of the caravan had seen himself and his companions and had sent out the band of horsemen to intercept them.
“Ten to one they are Ben Ahmet’s vassals,” was his thought. “It is possible he has received word from Tangier that we are on the desert, and he has sent his slaves to murder us. Well, we will die hard.” ”

“ He rode his coal-black horse like a youth of twenty years.
“Jingoes! they can ride!” muttered Frank, admiringly. “They remind me of American cowboys.”
“They kinder make me think it’s unhealthy araound here,” gurgled Ephraim. “I’m beginning to wish I hedn’t come.”
“Brace up,” came sharply from Frank. “Everything depends on our nerve now. If we show signs of weakness, there is not one chance in a hundred for us. Keep a stiff backbone, Ephraim.”
“It’s a fine thing to say ‘brace up,’” fluttered the agitated professor, “but what show have we against that gang of cutthroats?” ”