human
Where is Mr. Merriwell?
gpt
I do not know,
human
He hasn't come?
gpt
No; but he'll be here before the train pulls out. You know he has a way of always appearing on time.
human
I'd like to know when he left the hotel, said Bart.
gpt
I called for him several times before coming here, but each time I found he was not in his room, and no one knew anything about him. His bill was not settled, either.
human
But his baggage came down with the others,
gpt
Because the hotel people permitted it, as he was vouched for by Mr. Carson, who seems to be well known to everybody in this city.
human
You don't suppose anything has happened to detain him, do you? anxiously asked the actress.
gpt
I do hope we shall not make another bad start, same as we did before. Agnes Kirk says she knows something will happen, for Mr. Merriwell gave away the cat Mascot.
human
Agnes Kirk is forever prophesying something dismal, said Hodge.
gpt
She's a regular croaker. If she didn't have something to croak about, she wouldn't know what to do. She declared the cat a hoodoo in the first place, but now she says we'll have bad luck because Frank let it go. She makes me a trifle weary!
human
It's almost train time, said Garland.
gpt
Where is our energetic young manager?
human
He will be along,
gpt
I hope so, said Vance.
human
I sincerely hope this second venture will not prove such a miserable fizzle as the first one. Everything depends on Frank Merriwell.
gpt
Something depends on you! flashed Hodge, who seemed easily nettled.
human
Frank Merriwell's company did all it could to make the first venture a fizzle. Now they should do all they can to make this one a success.
gpt
Hello, Thundercloud is lowering!
human
Save your epithets! exclaimed Bart.
gpt
My name is Hodge.
human
My dear Hodge, said Garland, with mock politeness,
gpt
I may feel as anxious as any of you, but I do not go round croaking about it.
human
But our first failure----
gpt
There it is again! I'm tired of hearing about that! You and Vance are dead lucky to be in this second company, for you both joined in the attempted assault on Merriwell when Folansbee skipped, and the company seemed to be stranded in Puelbo. If I'd been Frank Merriwell I'd sent you flying, and you can bet I would not have taken you back.
human
Then it's fortunate for us that you were not Frank Merriwell,
gpt
It is, agreed Hodge.
human
Some people do not know when they are treated well.
gpt
That will do! came sharply from Havener.
human
This is no time to quarrel. By Jove! it's time for that train, and Merriwell's not here.
gpt
Perhaps he's backed out at the last minute and decided not to take the play out, said Vance.
human
It may be that his courage has failed him.
gpt
Now that kind of talk makes me sick! exploded Hodge.
human
If you had any sense you wouldn't make it!
gpt
I like that!
human
I'm glad you do! flung back Bart.
gpt
Didn't think you would. Hoped you wouldn't. Only a fool would suppose that, after all this trouble and expense, any man with an ounce of brains in his head would back out without giving a single performance of the play.
human
Well, where is Merriwell?
gpt
He'll be here.
human
But here comes the train!