When Frank realized that the man had attempted his life, he was furious. With wonderful strength, he lifted old Joe, ran him out into the passage, reached the head of the stairs, and threw him down.
The man bounced down the stairs, and struck in the darkness at the bottom.
“Get out!” cried Frank. “I am coming down, and I’ll throw you out if you are there when I reach the bottom!”
The man gathered himself and made haste to get away before Frank could reach him, but he retreated swearing vengeance.
Frank turned and ascended the stairs. In the room, little Nell was sobbing in the arms of her brother.
The very next day old Joe appeared at the roundhouse, although his week was not up. He took care to keep out of Ganzell’s sight, but he hung around.
“Phwat th’ divvil is he up to?” asked Larry Logan. “He’s apt to git another wake off av th’ ould marn sees him.”
Some of the men spoke to old Joe, but he snarled at them in reply, so they quickly decided to let him alone.
Hicks was seen in the vicinity of 33, and Logan got a fancy that he contemplated some trick with the engine.
Frank Merriwell was busy at work, and he paid no attention to his enemy.
Hicks showed he was still drinking, for he was in his shirt sleeves, not even having worn a coat to the roundhouse.
Frank’s work often took him outside the building, sometimes to turn the table, sometimes to do other things.
No. 33 was being run by a spare man, who appeared as the time approached for her to go out. The fireman was on hand in advance, and had steam up.
It happened that Frank Merriwell was on his way to the roundhouse from another building when the time came for old Joe’s engine to come out. He was walking near the track just as 33 glided out of the door.
There were several persons about, and Merry was paying very little attention to any of them. He was attending strictly to his business, as was his habit.
As old 33 came along, Frank received a heavy jolt that threw him on the track directly in front of her pilot!
Had the engine been running a trifle faster, or had Frank been less nimble, the life of the young wiper would have been crushed out beneath the wheels then and there. As it was, the pilot brushed Merry as he scrambled from the track.