“And she has taken chances of becoming a laughingstock and object of ridicule by writing me such stuff. For all she knows, I may be married.”
“And, for all you know, she may be married.”
“I do not believe that is possible. No married woman would write such a letter.”
“Wouldn’t? Oh, I don’t know! Some of them are inclined to be rather gay.”
“If this one is married, she must be crazy.”
The door opened, and a bell boy stood there.
“There is a lady in the parlor who wishes to see Mr. Merriwell,” said the boy.
The boy bowed, closed the door and departed.
“Gol-durned ef they ain’t comin’ to see yeou, Frank!” he exclaimed.
“Nonsense!” cried Merry. “This is not one of them.”
“It might be one of them,” said Hodge, rather maliciously.
“Nonsense!” exclaimed Merry, but it was plain he did not fancy the idea. “No one but a crazy female would think of doing such an immodest thing.”
“From what you have said, it’s plain you think some females do get a little daffy over actors.”
“Whut ef it is one?” asked Ephraim, still chuckling. “Whut will yeou do, Frank?”
“I’ll give her a little advice!” exclaimed Merry, as he prepared to go. “I shall talk plainly to her. But it may be some actress who is out of an engagement and wants a position.”
He went out, leaving Bart and Ephraim in the room. Frank was not in the most agreeable mood possible, for he had been annoyed by the letters.
He made his way straight to the ladies’ parlor. In a corner a woman was sitting. No other person happened to be in the parlor at the moment when Frank entered.
As Frank came in, the woman rose quickly and came toward him. He paused when he saw her face fairly.
“Great Scott!” was his mental exclamation. “It is the one who threw the flowers from the box!”
The woman was handsomely dressed, and she showed some signs of agitation. Frank surveyed her quickly. He saw at a glance that she was a person who seemed more attractive at a distance than on closer view. Still she was of the type that most men might call handsome. There was a look of mingled boldness and hesitation about her that was rather bewildering.
“You wish to see me, madam?” said Merry, rather frigidly.
There was nothing in Frank’s manner to encourage familiarity.
The situation was far from agreeable to him, and he resolved to discourage her at the very start.