CHAPTER XXI
THE LIFTING OF THE CLOUD
"This way, Minnie! Run as fast as you can!"
The girl had looked back and discovered the advancing bull, whichsight caused her to shriek and became panic-stricken. Fortunatelythe animal pursued peculiar tactics while bearing down upon hisexpected victim. Running forward for a short distance, he wouldstop to bellow furiously and toss up the turf with his shorthorns, upon which gilt balls had been fastened by the farmerowner.
Frank had jumped the fence like a flash, and was already rushingtoward Minnie. She caught sight of him, and naturally changed hercourse so as to head in his direction. Perhaps just then shehardly knew who it was coming to her assistance; but turned to anyport in a storm.
When they met it was at a distance of possibly thirty yards fromthe fence. Frank immediately clutched her arm and began to hurryher toward the haven of safety as rapidly as he could.
"Oh! Frank, he is coming faster!" gasped the girl, who had beenconstrained to look back over her shoulder toward the threateningdanger.
"Never mind! Run! run!" cried Frank, trying to instill new couragein her heart.
At the same time he knew full well that they would never be ableto reach the fence and climb over before the enraged animal cameup. Something else must be done. How could he attract theattention of the bull to himself while Minnie clambered over?
The question was not difficult to solve. She was, by the strangestaccident in the world, wearing a red sweater that buttoned downthe front. In other days they were known as Cardigan jackets, andFrank could easily remember how charming Minnie had looked many atime the previous winter in this same garment.
It was this that was adding fuel to the rage of the angry bull,always attracted by a flaming color. Frank without regard to thefeelings of the astonished girl caught hold of this outer apparel,and with one effort ripped the buttons loose. It was no time forcourtesy, nor could he waste a precious second in explaining justwhy he did this strange thing.
Another effort and the sweater was in his hands. Minnie seemed torealize by now what he had in his mind, for a weak little smileappeared on her white face as she looked up at him.
"Run straight to the fence and climb over! I'll follow you, butnever mind me! Quick, Minnie, do as I say!" he exclaimed.
There was unconscious authority in his voice, just as when hecalled to his players on the diamond or on the gridiron. Minnieran on, obeying his instructions thus far. She undoubtedlyexpected that Frank meant to cast the offensive red sweater on theground, so as to attract the attention of the beast for a dozenseconds, time enough to allow of his finding safety beyond thebarrier.
As she neared the high rail fence she turned her head again tolook. To her horror she saw Frank standing there, waving thescarlet jacket wildly to and fro. He was challenging the oncomingbull to make a run at him, actually endeavoring to attract theanimal's attention, so as to give Minnie ample time to escape.
Even as she stood there with quaking knees, staring, she saw Franksuddenly and nimbly jump aside, and avoid the first mad rush ofthe bull.
"Oh! Frank; run! run! He will kill you!" she shrieked, wringingher hands hysterically; all the past forgotten in that one minuteof terror.
"Get over the fence! Get over the fence! The longer you delay theworse for me! Climb over, Minnie!" came back the answering shout,as Frank poised himself to repeat his former tactics.
Crying, she obeyed, though it seemed as though her half-blindedeyes could hardly show her how to catch hold of the various bars;but presently she had succeeded in gaining the outside of theenclosure, and through the spaces between the rails she lookedagain, her heart almost standing still with dread.
Frank was still on his feet, though he had been put to his bestefforts in order to escape those threatening horns.
"Now run, Frank! I'm over the fence!" she cried at the top of hervoice.
"All right! I'm coming!" he replied, as best he could, for hisantagonist just then made another vicious lunge, and it was onlyby a shave that the athletic boy managed to escape those goldenballs that surmounted his massive head.
Now that he had accomplished the main object of his labor Frankcould devote his energies toward his own escape. When the bullpassed him he turned and bolted in the direction of the friendlyfence. The distance was too great to think of making it in onerun. As he flew along he expected to hear the pounding of thebull's hoofs on the hard turf behind him, nor was he mistaken.
"He's coming, Frank! Oh! be careful!"
Minnie was calling this in trembling tones, and yet Frank paidlittle or no attention to her warning, for he had to depend uponhis own instincts just then. At the proper instant he whirledaround. Already he had stamped the situation in his mind, and knewto a fraction just how far away the fence lay.
Again he managed to escape the rush of the beast. Had he been anexperienced Spanish bull-fighter he could hardly have done better.And again he changed his position. All he wanted was one morechance, and he knew he could win out. This time the animal,growing more and more enraged, came within a foot of striking theboy, who was beginning to get winded with his efforts.
"Now!" cried Minnie, who seemed to recognize the opening when itappeared.
Already was Frank in full motion, sprinting for the near-by fencewith all his might and main. He reached it even as the bull wasbearing down after him. One tremendous effort and he had mountedthe rails to fall in a heap on the other side--safe! The bull cameto a sudden halt within the enclosure, and vented his fury in morebellowing and tearing up of the turf.
Minnie was at the side of her champion in a moment.
"Oh! Frank, are you hurt?" she exclaimed, as she caught hold ofhim in her anxiety; and almost breathless as he was, the boy couldnot help feeling a thrill of satisfaction at the prospect of thebreach between them being healed in this wonderful manner.
"Not a bit, Minnie, only short of breath. Here's your sweater,safe and sound. Excuse me for taking it in that rude way, but yousee there wasn't much time for explanations," he managed to say,as he started to put it on her again, an operation to which shesubmitted with pleasure.
"And now," said Frank, as arm in arm they started to walk awayfrom the scene of the adventure, he rolling his wheel as he went,"what was all this trouble about, Minnie? What terrible thing haveI done to make you treat both Helen and myself so? Neither of ushave the least idea, and she's very unhappy over it. Please let meknow."
Minnie looked troubled, and yet a gleam of hope began to appear inher gray eyes.
"Oh! if you only could explain it away, I'd be so glad, Frank; soglad," she said.
"Is it anything that Lef Seller has been saying about me?" heasked, shortly.
"No, no. This is a matter that concerns only you and I. It wasabout a letter you wrote, a note rather, that was intended forHelen, and which--Oh! I don't know what to make of it, I've triedso hard not to believe you meant it; but every time I look at thatnote it stands out so plain, and gives me a shock."
She clung to his arm, and let her head sink as she spoke. Frankknew that she was crying softly, too, and he was the mostmystified boy that could be found.
"A note that I wrote to Helen, and about you! Why, Minnie, surelyyou must be mistaken. I don't ever remember doing anything of thekind!" he declared.
"But I've got it still, Frank, right here in my little bag. Tentimes I tried to destroy it, and just couldn't," she exclaimed,looking up at him.
"Let me see it, please," he said, his eyes filled with wonder.With trembling hands she opened the little bag, to which she hadunconsciously clung through all her recent peril. From this shetook a folded piece of paper, that had apparently been frequentlyhandled, to judge from the creases.
When Frank examined what was written upon it his face first tookon a look of astonishment, and then amusement.
"I see," he said, slowly, "this is evidently about half of a page,and torn in a diagonal way. Notice Minnie that it is only a_portion_ of a note. There is
another half, which will giveit an entirely different version! I admit that I wrote this noteto Helen in school one day. Then I changed my mind, and tore it inhalf, intending to destroy it. Where did you happen to find thispiece, Minnie?"
"On the floor in the hall. Soggy was sweeping out when I went backfor something I had forgotten. Just by accident I saw yourwriting, and unconsciously stooped to pick it up. Oh! Frank, whata cruel shock it gave me," she said.
"Well, as near as I can remember, I tried to thrust both piecesinto my desk. This one must have fallen to the floor either thenor later, and was swept out. Perhaps the other half may still bethere, Minnie! Will you go with me around to the school now? Thesooner this strange thing is cleared up the better."
"If you say so, I'll be glad to go, Frank. But it's enough for meto hear you say that it was not intended to warn Helen againstme," she replied, smiling up through her tears.
"Wait and see the proof first," laughed Frank.
They reached the high school building in due time. Soggy, thejanitor, was just about locking up, and upon hearing their requestreadily allowed them to enter. Going straight to his desk, Frankfumbled around inside eagerly, and then with an exclamation oftriumph drew out something.
"There, look!" he exclaimed, as he fitted the ragged edges of thetwo pieces of paper together on the top of the desk. "You see theymatch perfectly. Now read out loud what I was writing to my sisterthat day, and changed my mind, intending to talk with her when wegot home."
And Minnie read this:
HELENDon't believe all you hear. In the first place it'snonsense to think that you could expect the truthfrom one so shallow as Min erva Stone. I never liked her.She may seem all right as a friend, but I'd advise you to havelittle to do with her. She says one thing to your face andanother to your back. I'm afraid she's deceptive, and that'sabout the meanest trait any girl can have. Bett er let yournew friendship gradually cool, and drop her altogeth er. Honestly,to tell the truth, I think Minnie Cuthbert ought to be en oughchum for you.FRANK.
When she finished this she looked up at him with tear-steepedeyes.
"We're friends again once more, Minnie, are we not." he asked,smiling.
"Yes, good friends; true friends, I hope Frank!" she replied asthey clasped hands, and a pair of happy gray eyes looked up shylyinto the darker orbs of the boy.