Gallup was stricken dumb for the moment. He stood there, his mouth yawning and his eyes bulging, utterly incapable of expressing his emotions. Frank was packing some articles into his grip. He seemed to be making arrangements to depart. “Jee-roo-sa-lum!” Again the Vermont youth uttered the exclamation. He straightened up and cleared his throat. His mouth came together, and he began to look angry. “By gum!” he exploded. “That’s whut I call a darn mean trick! I swan to man I never thought Hodge’d go back on yeou, Frank!” Merry was silent, calmly continuing the packing of his grip. “An’ they’re sayin’ daown in the office that he swiped somethin’ wut didn’t b’long to him,” said Ephraim. That gave Frank a start. “Who says so?” he asked, his heart giving a leap and seeming to drop back heavily, as if weighted down with sudden dread. Was it possible Bart had stolen something from the hotel? Frank could not believe it. “Why, some of the comp’ny.” “Ah!” It was a breath of relief that came from Merry’s lips, and still the suspense was not fully removed. What if Hodge had taken something belonging to some other member? Under the circumstances, it would brand him as a thief, even though actors frequently appropriated articles belonging to others of the craft, without seeming to regard it as stealing. In this case, nearly every member of the company would be against Bart, and they would magnify any little occurrence that might damage him. “What were they saying?” asked Frank, with apparent unconcern. “What do they claim Bart has taken?” “They say Vance knows he tuck somethin’ frum yeou, Frank.” “Oh, is that the yarn! Well, I wonder how Lester Vance knows so much?” “I dunno.” “It would seem more manly for him to be silent about Hodge under the circumstances. If he talks too much it will look like a case of spite.” “That’s so.” Frank was relieved, and still he wondered how Vance could be certain enough to make such a charge against Hodge. He soon decided that it must be no more than suspicion on the part of Bart’s foe. Lester had seen Bart leave Merry’s room, and he had decided that Hodge had been in there for no honest purpose. That must be the explanation of the accusation against the erring youth. “Hodge didn’t take ennything of yeou, did he, Frank?” Ephraim threw the question fairly and squarely at Merry. Instantly Frank straightened up, giving the Vermont youth a look that seemed full of resentment and indignation. “How can you ask such a question, Ephraim Gallup!” he cried. “I am astonished! Have you forgotten how many times Bart has been unjustly accused of such things? Have you forgotten how I have always stood by him without ever once being mistaken? Do you think Bart Hodge would stoop to do me a deliberate injury now?” Ephraim was abashed for a moment, and then he said: “Waal, he’s doin’ yeou an injury by jumpin’ aout an’ leavin’ ye in this air kind of way, by thutter!”