Her example led many of the others to give with the greatest liberality, and when the money was counted and passed over to little Nell, Frank announced that six dollars and eighteen cents had been received.
The blind girl held out her hands to the crowd, laughing even as the tears streamed down her face, and brokenly said:
“Oh! I thank you all so much--so much! You have been so kind to me! It will be such a help!”
“And I thank you, too!” said the boy, his voice trembling. “Why, it’s a small fortune! Sometimes we have worked a whole week and not received so much; but I believe luck has turned now, and Nellie will be able to see very soon.”
Frank was deeply touched. Then he regretted the loss of his fortune for the first time, as it made it impossible for him to take charge of the blind girl and see that she had the best medical attention, which he would have done in other days.
“Can’t we do something?” asked the boy, eagerly. “We will sing something more for you.”
He hastily adjusted the guitar, and strummed the strings a moment.
“Oh, something lively--some happy song,” she answered, still laughing through her tears.
So they sang one of the late popular songs, but the voices of both were uncertain, and it was pathetic to witness the affection and happiness in the boy’s eyes when he looked at his sister.
In the very middle of the song the girl broke down completely and stopped.
“Oh!” she exclaimed; “I can’t sing! Somehow my heart is so full that the words will not come out. But I want to thank you again and again! I want to thank Mr. Merriwell. Where is he?”
But Frank Merriwell was gone. Stirred to the very depths of his soul, he had hurried away while they were singing; and he walked along the city’s streets, unmindful of his surroundings, uplifted, exalted, strengthened for the battle of life.
That night, as Frank was reading in his room by the light of a kerosene lamp, he heard voices from a room adjoining. There seemed something familiar in the sound, and he laid down the book on engineering which he had been studying.
The voices ceased, but there was a sound of clattering dishes.
The wall was thin, and up near the ceiling a crack showed a ray of light.
Frank began to study again, and again the voices interrupted him. This time he was sure there was a familiar sound about them.