Of course Merriwell notified the authorities, swore out a warrant for the arrest of both Harris and Mazarin, and did everything he could to bring the rascals to justice.
He was obliged to give up his project of filling Zolverein's dates and cancel all engagements.
That night, sitting amid the ruins of his apparatus, he held a council with his two friends and assistants, Ephraim Gallup and Hans Dunnerwust.
Hans seemed overwhelmed and stunned by what had happened, while Ephraim was "so gol dern mad" he occasionally gave vent to his feelings in violent outbreaks of lurid language.
"I never was much of a hand to fight," said the Vermonter, "but I'll be swuzzled if I wouldn't jest like to knock sixteen kainds of stuffin aout of them critters whut bruk us up in business! I could do it, too, by chaowder!"
"Yaw," nodded Hans; "you could done it, Efy!"
"Well, boys," said Frank, "we've got to do something to make a living. Here we are out here in Missouri, a long distance away from home, and it's a case of hustle."
"How we peen goin' to donet dot, Vrankie?"
"We'll hev to start up a three-cornered variety show," suggested Ephraim, with a sickly grin.
"If I had the old company here now," mused Merriwell, "I'd put what money I've made in the past week into backing it."
"Perhaps so. Nothing venture, nothing have, you know."
"No, I haven't anything but this broken stuff."
Frank did not say that dejectedly. Indeed, he did not seem crushed by what had happened, somewhat to Ephraim's surprise, for the Vermonter could not understand how anyone could help being downcast by such misfortune.
Indeed, one of Merriwell's secrets of success was his sanguine and hopeful temperament. He did not believe in worrying over anything, and so, no matter how dark the future looked, he remained cheerful and confident, knowing the clouds must clear away in time.
People who worry much over things that may happen make a big mistake, for in more than fifty per cent. of the cases the things they dread the most never occur.
Be cheerful and hopeful. That is a good motto.
The three talked a long time, and at the end they had not decided on what course they would pursue.
The following morning Merriwell received a letter. It proved to be from Cassie Lee, the soubrette of the company with which Frank had originally started on the road.