Burt L. Standish

“ Do you want me, ghost?”
“Come in, Worthington!” called Frank.
The man entered hesitatingly and stood near the table, never taking his eyes from Merry’s face for a moment.
“What you command, ghost, I must obey,” he said. “You own me, body and soul. Ha! ha! body and soul! But I have no soul! I bartered it with a wretch who deceived me! I was an honest man before that! Perhaps you don’t believe me, but I swear I was. You must believe me! It’s a terrible thing to be owned by a ghost who has no confidence in you. But why should my ghost have confidence! ”

“ Suddenly, to their surprise, without the least warning, a man seemed to rise from the ground a short distance away and walk straight toward the fire. Hackett had his pistol out in a twinkling, but he stood with mouth agape as he saw the newcomer was an old Indian, about whose shoulders a dirty red blanket was draped. It was Felicia, however, who was the most surprised, and a cry left her lips, for she recognized old Joe Crowfoot.
Even as she uttered that cry the eyes of the old redskin shot her a warning look that somehow silenced her. ”

“ There is death here! Wherever I go there is death!”
“Keep still!” said Frank sharply. “Look out for Abe, Bart.”
Then he began seeking to follow the sanguine trail with the aid of the lighted lantern. It was slow work, but still he made some progress.
“We’re taking big chances, Merry,” said Bart, who had a pistol in his hand.
“It’s the only way we can follow him.”
“Beware!” warned Worthington, in a hollow whisper. “I tell you there is death in the air!”
They had not proceeded far when suddenly a shot rang out and the bullet smashed the lantern globe, extinguishing the light. ”

“ In every way he seemed a most harmless individual, but experience had taught Merry the danger of always trusting to outward appearances.
“Company of the right sort will not be disagreeable to me,” assured Frank.
“Good!” laughed Dulzura. “I am sick of talking to myself, to my horse, or to the landscape. I am a sociable chap, and I like some one to whom I can talk. Do you smoke, Mr. Merriwell? I have tobacco and papers.”
“Thank you; I don’t smoke.”
“Ah, you miss one of the soothing friends of life. When I have no other company, my cigarette serves as one. This beastly valley is hot enough! ”

“ Frank was finally compelled to drag him bodily out of the tent, where at length Wiley became aware of his surroundings and stood yawning and rubbing his eyes.
“This is a new turn for me, mate,” he said. “It has been my custom in the past to lay in my royal bunk and listen to the slosh of bilge water and the plunging of my good ship through the billows, while others did the real work. I always put in my hardest work at resting. I can work harder at resting than any man I know of. I have a natural-born talent for it. Nevertheless, Cap’n Merriwell, I now assume my new duties. ”

“ He had no thought of danger, and he was wholly unprepared when out from the shadows of the chaparral shot a twisting, writhing coil, the loop of which fell over his shoulders and jerked him like a flash from the saddle. The shock, as he struck the ground, drove the breath from his body and partly stunned him. Before he could recover he was pounced upon by two men, who quickly dragged him into the edge of the thicket, where a third man—a half-blood Mexican—was coiling the lariat with which the boy had been snatched from the horse’s back.
These men threatened Dick with drawn weapons. ”

“ The situation was one to appall the stoutest heart, but Frank Merriwell was not the one to give up as long as there was the slightest gleam of hope. Indeed, in that darkness there seemed no gleam. It is not wonderful that even stout-hearted Brad Buckhart began to feel that “the jig was up.”
In most times of danger, perplexity, or peril, Dick relied solely on himself and his own resources; now, however, having Frank at hand, he turned to him.
“Is there any chance for us to escape?”
“Boys,” said Merry, “we must not think of giving up until we have made every effort in our power. ”

“ The card players were gambling, and money clinked on the table before them. A picturesque and desperate-looking group they were, yet Merriwell felt and knew by experience that they were far more dangerous in appearance than in actual fact. He had met a number of them face to face, and succeeded in holding them in check with no more than the crooked staff of the old monk for his weapon of defense. They were the kind to strike at a man’s back and cower before his face. ”

“ I am not a man who shoots; I’m a man who crushes. Frank Merriwell, you may fancy you have the best of me, but I tell you now that I will crush you like an eggshell.”
As he said this his usually mild and benevolent face was transformed until it took on a fierce and vengeful look, which fully betrayed his true character. Quickly lifting his hand, Merry pointed an accusing finger straight at Morgan’s face. ”

“ Of course, he understood the game the ruffians were playing. Beyond question he was to be held as a hostage in order that Frank’s enemies might force Merry into some sort of a deal concerning the mines.
His one satisfaction lay in the belief that Felicia had escaped. As he lay there on the bunk, he could hear the mumbling voices of his captors in the next room. After a time his curiosity was aroused, and he felt a desire to hear what they were saying. ”

“ What if I had remained in Boston, Merry? Why, I would be plugging away to-day on a poor paying job, with decidedly poor prospects ahead of me. It was a most fortunate thing for me when I decided to stick by you and come West.”
Frank smiled.
“It was lucky, Hodge,” he agreed. “But I don’t forget that you came without a selfish thought on your part. You came to help me in my fight against Milton Sukes. I am far better pleased for your sake than for my own that we have had this streak of luck. Let’s knock off for the night, old man. There’s no reason why we should stick to it longer.” ”

“ By and by I will take a little medicine for my nerves and feel a great deal better.”
“Don’t worry over it, Wiley,” said Frank, laughing. “It will all come out in the wash. I don’t think you will die in the poorhouse.”
“Not on your tintype!” cried the sailor. “I propose to shuffle off this mortal coil in a palace.”
“Wiley,” cried Frank, “I believe you would joke in the face of old Death himself!”
“Why not? I regard life as a joke, and I don’t propose to show the white feather when my time comes. I will have no mourning at my funeral. I propose to have my funeral the gayest one on record. ”

“ My bones lie there still; but my spirit is here calling to you!”
“Booh!” said Wiley. “I’ve had more or less dealings with spirits in my time, but never with just this kind. Now, ardent spirits and spritis fermenti are congenial things; but a spooky spirit is not in my line.”
“I tell you to keep still,” whispered Hodge once more.
“I am dumb as a clam,” asserted the sailor.
“Do you hear me, Frank Merriwell?” again called the mysterious voice. “I am the ghost of Benson Clark. I have returned here to guard my mine. Human hands shall never desecrate it. ”

“ This sudden commotion had brought Hodge leaping from the tent, a weapon in hand, while Abe and Worthington crawled forth in alarm.
Merry’s hearty laughter awoke the echoes of the valley.
“Why do you disturb the placid peacefulness of this pellucid morning with the ponderous pyrotechnics of your palpitating pleasure?” inquired Wiley. “Did it amuse you so much to see me take my regular morning plunge? Why, I always do that. I believe in a cold bath in the morning. It’s a great thing. It’s a regular thing for me. I do it once a year whether I need it or not. ”

“ It was found somewhat difficult to quiet Worthington, who remained intensely wrought up over what had happened; but in time Merry induced him to lie down in the tent.
Little Abe crept close to Frank and lay there, shivering somewhat.
“You have so many enemies, Frank,” he whispered. “Who are these new enemies you have found here?”
“I don’t know at present, Abe; but I will find out in time.”
“Why must you always have enemies?”
“I think it is the fortune of every man who succeeds to make enemies. Other men become jealous. ”

“ Dulzura, whom Frank now knew to be Black Joaquin, stood boldly looking them over. Despite the assertion made by one of the men that the chief was one who avoided danger, his bearing now seemed that of utter fearlessness and command.
“Speak!” he exclaimed. “What is the meaning of this?”
“Ask Ramon,” said Carlos. “He will tell you—perhaps.”
Ramon drew himself up. The time had come that he must face the matter unflinchingly.
“It is this,” he said; “we have been promised much and have received little. Some of us are not satisfied.” ”

“ MACKLYN MORGAN APPEARS.
“Mate,” said Cap’n Wiley, as they hurried along the street on their way back to the hotel, “you are in every minute particular the finest specimen of exuberant manhood that it has ever been my fortune to associate with. Of course, I felt sure you would do up that fellow, but you came through the seething and turgid fray without so much as a scar. I don’t believe he even touched you once.”
“Yes, he did,” said Merry, “a couple of times. He hit me on the shoulder, but the blow was spent, and he caught me a fair one over the heart. ”

“ Pachuca, however, shrugged his shoulders and showed his teeth, as he rolled a cigarette.
“You have won, Ramon,” he returned. “Keep the money. My turn comes.”
“Any time you like,” was the defiant challenge. “When I lose it is not like a stuck pig that I squeal.”
Then Ramon sat down as if quite satisfied, and the game proceeded without Pachuca participating further.
Merry was disappointed. Still he saw there was bad blood among the men, and he felt that what he had heard in the courtyard and since indicated dissension and dissatisfaction. ”

“ Oh! ha! ha! ha! Some one has a door to pay for. There is a joke on somebody here.”
“Who are you?” demanded Morgan.
Dick took a step nearer, his dark eyes fixing on the man’s face.
“Who am I? I will tell you who I am. I am Frank Merriwell’s brother.”
“His brother? I have heard of you.”
“Not for the last time, Macklyn Morgan; nor have you heard of Frank for the last time. Your plot will fizzle. Your infamous schemes will fail. You know what the plotting of your partner, Milton Sukes, brought him to. Look out, Mr. Morgan—look out for yourself!” ”

“ Wait until you are arrested on the charge of murder. Had you killed an ordinary man it might have been different; but Milton Sukes was a man of money, a man of power, a man of influence. All his money, if necessary, will be used to convict you. You cannot escape. Just as true as this case is put into the hands of the law you will eventually be hanged.”
In his cold, calm, accusing way, Morgan was doing everything in his power to unsettle Frank’s nerves. As he spoke, he watched the youth as a hawk watches its prey.
“I fail to see your object in coming to me with this,” said Merry. ”

“ He then returned the bottle, and the ruffians drank from it.
“There,” said Wiley, picking up his pipe, “my interior anatomy glows with golden rapture. I am once more myself. Oh, booze, thou art the comforter of mankind! You cause the poor man to forget his sorrows and his misfortunes. For him you build bright castles and paint glorious pictures. For him you remove far away the cares and troubles of life. You make him a king, even while you make him still more of a pauper. You give him at first all the joys of the world and at last the delirium tremens. ”

“ In a moment the hail of bullets sent into the ranks of the enemy threw them into confusion. A horse dropped in its tracks, and another, being wounded, began bucking and kicking. One man was hit in the shoulder.
This unexpected occurrence threw the pursuers into consternation, so that they wheeled immediately and sought to get beyond rifle range.
“Avast there, my hearties!” cried Wiley, as he caught sight of the youths who knelt behind the bowlders. “Permit me to lay alongside and join you in the merry carnage.”
“Hello, Wiley!” called Frank, who, aided by Hodge, had checked the ruffians. ”

“ Both Kensington and Morgan had listened while Frank was speaking, the latter with a hard smile on his face.
“You can judge, Mr. Kensington,” said Morgan, “whether a man of my reputation would be the sort to take part in anything of that kind. When it comes to bluff, this young fellow here is the limit. I tell you once more that you will make a serious mistake if you have any dealings with him. Any day he is likely to be arrested on the charge of murder, for there is evidence that he conspired in the assassination of my partner. It even seems possible that he fired the fatal shot. ”

“ He is white to the bone, and he always stands by his friends.”
“But you cannot depend upon your friends alone in an emergency like this,” said Dick. “You will have to rely on yourself. Of course, Brad and I will stand by you, no matter what happens.”
While they were talking Wiley came rushing in.
“The gent who lately descended the stairs with such graceful impetuosity is now in consultation with the city marshal,” he declared. “I traced him thither, and I have left one Bradley Buckhart to linger near and keep an eagle eye upon his movements.” ”

“ Meditating on this possibility, Frank fancied he obtained a peep behind the curtain which hid the mystery of Felicia’s disappearance. With the child out of the way, a false heir might be substituted, and the schemers behind the plot would reap their reward.
The shadows of evening were thickening in the mountain when Merry and his companion passed from the valley and reached the abrupt foothills. Here the trail was more clearly defined, and soon they were startled to see standing beside it an aged Indian, who regarded them with the stony gaze of the Sphinx. ”

“ Putting two and two together, Frank began to wonder if Delores might not be a Costola who had assumed the name of his mother’s family while living in Spain, thus arousing the everlasting enmity of all the Costolas, and who had finally been compelled to flee to America. In many respects the history of this man agreed with that told by Juan Delores himself. He had once told Frank the name and title by which he was known in Spain, but never had he explained the fierce enmity of Felipe Costola. Now Merry was speculating over the possibility that Delores must have once been a Costola. ”