“What’s up?”
“I have Flynn located here.”
“Nab him!”
“Can’t do it very well till you swear out a warrant for him. I am
watching him. Make time getting here, old man, and we’ll pinch the
scoundrel. I will wait for you at the Windsor. Come on, now, and don’t
let any grass grow under your bike.”
“All right. I’ll be there in a very short time. Don’t let Flynn get
away.”
Bang!—up on the fork went the receiver. Ting-lingling!—Merry rang off.
Scoot!—he made a rush for the room where the bicycles had been stored.
Three minutes later he carried his wheel out of the hotel. He mounted it
in a moment, and away he flew up the little hill and out of sight on his
way to Belfast.
Frank fairly flew over the dusty road. It was well for him that there
was no law for scorching on Northport Avenue, for he was going like an
express train when he reached that long, straight strip of road leading
into Belfast. Behind him rose a thin cloud of dust picked up by the
tires of his wheels.
Another thing that favored Frank was that it was early in the morning,
and there were not many teams on the avenue. Around Belfast there had
been so much riding that few horses minded a wheel more than they did
another team, and Frank did not find it necessary to slacken speed for
any of them he met.
People stared at him in amazement as he flitted past like the wind. They
had seen fast riding, but never anything quite like this. Those who
obtained a glimpse of his hard-set face and gleaming eyes were certain
it was a case of life or death, and that he must be riding thus
furiously for a doctor.
Into Belfast sped Merriwell. His one fear was that his enemy, the wretch
who had struck Hodge down, would escape. He was determined now. Flynn
should be punished as he deserved. Thomaston prison should hold the
wretch. It made no difference that it would cost time and trouble to
prosecute. Frank thought of Hodge lying in a stupor nearly all the
night, of his anguish as he watched beside his faintly breathing friend,
of the vows he had repeated, and there was not an atom of mercy in his
heart. Indeed, he felt as if he had never known mercy for an enemy.
The bicycle sang its whirring song beneath him, and it seemed to urge
him to still greater exertion. His heart swelled with a fierce longing
to clutch and hold the wretch he sought. He pictured the satisfaction he
would feel as he cornered the scoundrel.
As he approached the Windsor he saw Jack Diamond was there, and that
caused his heart to leap, for he felt that Flynn had not escaped.
Scarcely slacking the speed of his wheel, he made a flying leap, his
feet struck the ground, he ran forward a few steps and stood before the
Virginian, panting.
“Where is he?”
“Great Scott!” gasped Diamond. “How did you get here so soon? Didn’t
expect you for ten minutes.”
Frank’s hand shot out, his fingers fastened on Jack’s shoulder, and he
shook the Southerner, as he almost snarled:
“Where is he?”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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