human
Hello, old man, said Frank, cheerfully.
gpt
What's the matter with your face? It would sour new milk.
human
And you ought to have a face that would sour honey! growled Bart.
gpt
I should if I were in your place.
human
What's the use? That wouldn't improve things.
gpt
If I were in your place, I'd take a gun and go forth and kill a few stiffs.
human
I always supposed a 'stiff' was dead. Didn't know one could be killed over again.
gpt
Oh, you can joke if you want to, but I don't see how you can feel like joking now. Anybody else would swear.
human
And that would be foolish.
gpt
Perhaps so; but you know, as well as I do, that your play was murdered and mangled last night.
human
That's so, b'gosh! drawled a doleful voice, and Ephraim Gallup, another of the company, Frank's boy friend from Vermont, came stalking into the room, looking quite as disgusted and dejected as Hodge.
gpt
An' I'm one of the murderers!
human
Why, he cried,
gpt
Whut I need is somebuddy to hit their toes against my pants jest where I set down, an' do it real hard, said Ephraim.
human
I wisht I'd stayed to hum on the farm when I went back there and giv up the idee that I was an actor. I kin dig 'taters an' saw wood a darn sight better'n I kin act!
gpt
You're all right, Ephraim, assured Merry.
human
You had to fill that part in a hurry, and you were not sure on your lines. That worried you and broke you up. If you had been sure of your lines, so that you would have felt easy, I don't think there would have been any trouble as far as you were concerned.
gpt
I dunno abaout that. I never felt so gosh-darn scat as I did larst night. Why, I jest shook all over, an' one spell I didn't think my laigs'd hold me up till I got off ther stage. It was awful!
human
You had an attack of stage fright. They say all great actors have it once in their lives.
gpt
Waal, I never want to feel that air way ag'in! An' I spoilt that scene in the dressin' room of the clubhaouse. Oh, jeewhillikins! I'm goin' aout of the show business, Frank, an' git a job paoundin' sand. It don't take no brains to do that.
human
Cheer up! You are going to play that same part in this play, and you'll play it well, too.
gpt
Whut? Then be yeou goin' to keep right on with the play?
human
No, said Merry,
gpt
I am not going to keep right on with it. I am going to put it into shape to win, and then I'm going out with it again. My motto is, 'Never say die.' You heard what I told the audience last night. I promised them that I would play in this town and would make a success. I shall keep that promise.
human
You are smart, Frank, but there's a limit. I'm afraid your luck has turned. You are hoodooed.
gpt
And I suppose you think this is my hoodoo? smiled Merry, as the cat came over and rubbed against his leg.
human
That's where you are away off. This cat is my mascot, and she shall travel with me till the piece wins. She has stuck to me close enough since she walked onto the stage where we were rehearsing in Denver.
gpt
The cat is not the hoodoo, said Bart, shaking his head.
human
I know what is.
gpt
You do?
human
Sure.
gpt
Name it.
human
I am!
gpt
You?
human
Yes.
gpt
Well, how in the world did you happen to get such a foolish notion into your head?
human
It's not foolish, declared Bart, stubbornly.
gpt
It's straight, I know it, and you can't make me think differently.
human
Now you are talking silly, old man, he said.
gpt
You never were bad luck to me in the past; why should you be now. You're blue. You are down in the mouth and your head is filled with ridiculous fancies. Things would have happened just as they have if you had not joined the company.
human
I don't believe it.
gpt
You always were superstitious, but I believe you are worse than ever now. You have been playing poker too much. That's what ails you. The game makes every man superstitious. He may not believe in luck at the beginning, but he will after he has stuck to that game a while. He will see all the odd things that happen with cards, and the conviction that there is such a thing as luck must grow upon him. He will become whimsical and full of notions. That's what's the matter with you, Hodge. Forget it, forget it!
human
I think you are likely to forget some things altogether too early, Merriwell. For instance, some of your enemies.
gpt
What's the use to remember unpleasant things?
human
They remember you. One of them did so to an extent that he helped ruin the first presentation of your play.
gpt
How?
human
It isn't possible that you have forgotten the lying notices circulated all over this city, stating that you were not the real Frank Merriwell, accusing you of being a fake and a thief?
gpt
No, I have not forgotten, he declared,
human
I remember all that, and I'd like to know just who worked the game.
gpt
It was a gol-dinged measly trick!
human
You thought it would not hurt you, Frank, said Hodge.
gpt
You fancied it would serve to advertise you, if anything. It may have advertised you, but it did you damage at the same time. When the audience saw everything was going wrong, it grew angry and became convinced that it was being defrauded. Then you had trouble with that big ruffian who climbed over the footlights with the avowed purpose of breaking up the show.
human
Oh, well, smiled Merry, in a peculiar way,
gpt
Yes, you threw him back. That quieted the audience more than anything else, for it showed that you were no slouch, even if you were a fake.
human
Oh, I suppose I'll find out some time just who did that little piece of advertising for me.
gpt
Perhaps so; perhaps not.
human
Come!
gpt
Letter for you, Mr. Merriwell,
human
Excuse me,
gpt
News?
human
Just a note from the gentleman we were speaking of just now, answered Frank.
gpt
It's from the party who gave me the free advertising.
human
Waal, I'll be kicked by a blind kaow! exploded Gallup.
gpt
An' did he hev ther gall to write to ye?
human
Yes, said Frank.
gpt
Listen to this.