“But I’d have the satisfaction of knowing he had not secured you. He never shall! I’ll kill him first!” CHAPTER XXX. TRUE LOVE’S TELEGRAPHY. Two days later Frank Merriwell and Bart Hodge stepped off the Congressional Express at Union Station, Baltimore. They took a cab and drove directly to the home of John Loder. They had planned a surprise for the girls, and a happy one it was. Happening to look from the window, Inza saw them get out of the cab in front of the door. “Elsie,” she cried, “Elsie, Frank and Bart are here! Come—come quick!” She ran down the stairs and Elsie followed as swiftly as possible. There was no waiting for any one else to answer the ring at the doorbell. Frank stepped in and caught Inza in his arms, kissing her. “Oh, Frank!” she murmured, as she clung to him; “oh, Frank, I’m so glad!” Bart’s face was aglow as he saw Elsie. “Here we are!” he said, attempting to be commonplace in his manner. But a moment later he was imitating Merriwell’s action. “Bart!” whispered Elsie; “dear Bart!” Five minutes later they were seated in the parlor, but they were still greatly excited over the meeting. “You’re a pair of bad, bad boys!” said Inza. “Why didn’t you let us know you were coming?” “Oh, we thought it would be jollier to give you a surprise,” answered Merry. “We didn’t know we’d be able to get here so soon. Canceled our last lacrosse game and the team disbanded. Met with only one defeat, and that was in Canada. For a fact, those Canadians can give us points at some things.” “Lacrosse, polo, ice hockey, and such sports,” nodded Hodge. “But we lost our game with them by only one point, and we did defeat one Canadian team. Beyond question, we had a team that could walk away with anything in the United States.” “And is that the end of your tour?” questioned Inza. “Yes, it’s all over,” answered Bart regretfully. “We’ve had a royal good time.” “We’ve had a royal good time,” echoed Frank; “but now we’re going to work.” “Our day of play is over,” sighed Hodge. “It’s Mexico for me, with very little delay,” said Merry. “The Central Sonora Railroad is under construction, and it’s my duty to be on the ground.” “But we’re going to take you with us, girls,” declared Bart. “Then you are going, too?” asked Elsie quickly. “We’ve talked about it. Frank wants me to go. You know how we’re going to take you.” Elsie shook her head, sadly yet firmly. “I couldn’t take the trip,” she said. “It would be too much for me—now.” A shadow came to Bart’s face. “Why, Elsie——” “Please, please don’t urge me, Bart!” she entreated. “You know I’d be glad to go, but you cannot know how disappointed I am because I cannot.” “I’ll have to talk to you alone,” said Hodge grimly. “I’ll have to get some foolish notions out of your head, little girl.” “I hope you can!” cried Inza. “Leave it to me,” he said.