CHAPTER XXXVI.
FRIENDS AND FOES.
The Pacific Express drew into Reno on time, and Frank Merriwell wasabout to bid adieu to the beautiful girl whom he had first met the daybefore.
"I shall not soon forget this pleasant journey," he said, sincerely."Your company has made it very agreeable, Miss--Isban."
Somehow, he stumbled over that name, to which he had taken such a strongdislike.
"Thank you," she said, and he half fancied her lip quivered a bit. "Youhave been very kind, Mr. Merriwell."
Frank's heart fluttered a bit; the train was drawing into the station;the boy leaned toward her, his eyes shining, a flush in his cheeks.
"And now we are to say good-by, without the least probability of everseeing each other again," he said, his voice not quite steady.
She turned away for a moment, and then, as she turned back, she swiftlysaid:
"It is possible we may never see each other again, but you have given meyour home address, and you say any letter I may send will be forwardedto you. You may hear from me--some time."
"I may--but if you would promise to write----"
"I have told you I cannot promise that."
"And you will not give me your address?"
"I cannot for reasons known to myself. Do not ask me."
"Miss Isban, I believe you are in trouble--some things you have told mehave led me to believe so. If you need a friend at any time, let me hearfrom you."
She gave him her hand, looked straight into his eyes, and said:
"I will."
The brakeman thrust open the door and shouted:
"Reno. Change here for Carson, Virginia City, Candelaria and Keeler."
The train came to a dead stop.
Frank escorted Isa from the car, carrying her traveling bag, which hegave to her when the station platform was reached.
"Remember!" he breathed in her ear.
Her hand touched his, she smiled into his eyes, whispering:
"I will! Good-by."
He lifted his hat, as she turned away.
At that moment a youth came hurrying forward, lifted his hat, his faceradiant, and accosted Isa:
"Vida," he said, "I am here. You did not come when you said, but I havebeen watching for you."
Frank staggered back.
"Caesar's ghost!" he palpitated. "Is it possible, or do my eyes deceiveme? Can that be Bart Hodge, my schoolmate, chum, and comrade of Fardale?As I live, I believe it is! And he knows Miss Isban! What's the matter?She does not seem to know him!"
The girl had drawn back, with an expression of alarm.
"I think you have made a mistake, sir," she said, rather haughtily.
"A mistake!" gasped the handsome youth, astonished and dismayed. "Why,you know me! There is no mistake."
"But there is. I do not know you."
"Vida, you say that? Why, I am----"
"An impertinent young scoundrel!"
Smack!--an open hand struck Bart Hodge on the cheek, sending himreeling. The blow was delivered by a large man, with a heavy blackmustache and the manner and appearance of a "gentleman rowdy." Hisclothes were flashy, and he "sported" several large diamonds.
Frank was not the boy to stand idle and see a friend struck. Without aword he made a leap for the big man. His fist was clinched, his arm shotout, and his knuckles took the fellow under the left ear.
It was a beautiful knock-down blow. The man measured his length on theplatform in an instant.
"All aboard!"
The train was about to start, the conductor was giving the signal.
"Let it go," said Frank, quietly. "It is possible I had better stay hereand see this matter through. Bart may need me."
The train began to move.
With a cry of dismay, the girl had knelt beside the fallen man.
A bit dazed, Bart Hodge had faced around in time to see Frank strikethat telling blow. Bart stared, almost doubting the evidence of hiseyes.
"Great guns!" he gasped.
Then he sprang forward, his hand outstretched, shouting:
"Frank Merriwell!"
"Bart Hodge!"
They shook hands, both laughing forth their delight.
"You are a sight for sore eyes, old man!" cried Bart.
"You're another!" flung back Frank.
The man with the black mustache pushed away the girl and sat up,staring, in a dazed way, at the two boys.
"Who struck me?" he asked.
"I believe I had that pleasure," smiled Frank.
"You? Did you knock me down? Why, you're a kid! I can kill you with oneblow!"
He got upon his feet, his face dark as a thundercloud.
The girl caught him by the arm, crying, in distress:
"Don't Paul--don't harm him! He has been kind to me on the train. I begyou not to hurt him!"
This seemed to anger the man still more.
"Kind to you, eh?" he snarled. "And the other one tried to flirt withyou. I will----"
His hand went round to his hip, and there was a mad, deadly gleam in hiseyes. He looked murderous.
Neither of the boys made a move to draw a weapon.
"I wouldn't do it," said Frank, coolly. "I know this section of thecountry is called 'the wild and woolly West,' but it is not sufficientlywild and woolly to overlook a cold-blooded murder. If you take a fancyto shoot two boys you will be pretty sure to get yourself beautifullyhanged."
"Oh, I won't shoot!" growled the man, his hand dropping away from hiship. "But I will----"
"Easy, there!" came sharply from the lips of a police officer. "Somebodyis going to get yanked here."
He forced his way through the crowd that had formed a circle about theprincipal actors on the scene.
"Who is talking about shooting here?" he demanded. "Where is the man whocarries concealed weapons?"
"Come away, Paul," whispered the girl, pulling at the man's arm.
"All right," he muttered--"all right, but there are other days. Thoseyoung whelps had better keep out of my way."
"Disperse, here!" ordered the officer, commandingly, flourishing hisstick. "Be lively about it, too."
The crowd began to disperse.
The big man turned away, and the girl took his arm. Bart Hodge took astep after them, but Frank caught hold of his arm, saying, sharply:
"Easy, old boy! Let her go."
"But----"
"Are you looking for further trouble right here?"
"No, but----"
"Then mind me."
"I suppose I'll have to, as you always were the boss. But I know thatgirl, and she refused to recognize me."
"Well, what do you think you can do about it?"
"I was going to demand an explanation, and----"
"You would have received it--from the man who accompanies her."
Frank drew Bart away, but the latter still grumbled.
"If you understood it--if you knew, Frank. Why, I have chased across thecontinent to meet her, and then to have her cut me dead! It isterrible!"
Frank smiled.
"I should fancy it would seem a bit hard," he confessed. "But you mayhave made a mistake."
"Not much!"
"Still, it is possible you did, Bart--it is probable."
"Probable! Get out! I----"
"Wait a minute. It happens that I am slightly acquainted with the younglady."
"You? She never mentioned you to me."
"Still, I am slightly acquainted with her," smiled Frank, who knew wellenough why she had never mentioned him. "I heard you call her Vida,and----"
"That is her name--Vida Melburn."
"It's just as I thought--you have mistaken this girl for some one else.The name of this young lady is Isa Isban."
"Impossible!"
"It is the truth. I traveled with her from Ogden, and she left me amoment before you observed her. Now, I know what I am talking about, andyou are twisted, old boy."
Bart smote his hands together, his dark eyes glo
wing.
"I will not believe it yet; but, if it is true, there are two girls inthe world who look exactly alike."
"Come away from here," said Frank. "Where can we obtain something toeat? We can talk it over----"
"Hold on, Frank. I believe those people are going to take the next trainsouth, which leaves immediately."
"That is right. Miss Isban is on her way to Carson."
"Then I shall take that train."
Frank looked his friend over from head to foot.
"Say," he chuckled, "you are hard hit! I will confess that I was a bitstuck on the girl, but I did not have it this way."
"She is in trouble," asserted Bart. "I mean to be on hand to help her,if she needs assistance."
"All right; we'll take the next train south."