“He didn’t stop to think what he was doing. That’s what’s the matter. If he had, wild horses could not have dragged him away.” “Mebbe so.” “You know it, Ephraim—you know it! Hodge is passionate and hot-headed. After his call down by Havener to-day he came to me in my dressing room. We had some words.” “Great juniper!” “Hodge was unreasonable. I found it impossible to talk the matter over with him properly. When I tried to do so, he flew off the handle. For the first time since we became chums I was unable to control him. His hot temper had burned his reason out. He left the theater and rushed here to the hotel. Without delay he packed up and took a train out of town. If he had given himself time to cool down he would not have thought of doing such a thing.” “I don’t like somethin’ they’re sayin’ about him naow.” “What?” “That is kainder looks ez if he run away to git rid of meetin’ Vance ag’in.” Frank laughed. “That is the worst kind of foolish talk,” he said. “Hodge would not run from an army of fellows like Lester Vance.” “I don’t b’lieve he would, uther,” nodded Ephraim. “If Vance had such a fancy in his head he is fooling himself.” “I kainder think he b’lieves it hisself, by thutter!” “He doesn’t know the kind of material Bart Hodge is built from.” “Whut yeou goin’ to do, Frank?” “I shall attempt to follow Hodge and bring him back.” “No? Yeou don’t mean it!” “Certainly I mean it. Do you think I am going to let the poor fellow go to ruin? To-morrow he will be overwhelmed with shame for his hasty act, but that very shame will keep him from returning unless I find him and bring him back.” “Frank,” said Ephraim, “yeou are the kaind of a friend to hev! Yeou stick to yeour friends to the last gasp. Be yeou goin’ right erway?” “Yes.” “Do yeou know where Bart’s gone?” “No; but I have a fancy that he has struck for St. Joseph first. I shall try to trace him there.” “Will yeou be back to-morrer?” “I hope to, but I am not coming back till I find Bart Hodge!” “But whut be we goin’ to do?” “I’ll make arrangements about that. I want you to find Havener and send him here to this room without delay. I have some instructions to give him.” “All right,” said Ephraim. “I’ll hunt him up an’ tell him.” He hurried from the room. Outside the door he paused a moment. “By gum!” he muttered. “Was there ever another feller that stuck to his friends same as Frank Merriwell does? He’s true ez steel!” Havener came up and found Merriwell all ready to leave. The stage manager looked rather dejected. “I’m sorry about this business, Mr. Merriwell,” he said, humbly. “I’m sure I didn’t think it would end this way. If I had dreamed it would I should have permitted Hodge to do just as he liked.” “And thus ruined the discipline of the entire company,” said Frank. “You would have made a great mistake, Havener.” “But he’s gone—he’s skipped.” “Yes.” “And he has done it because I spoke to him on the stage. I might have taken another opportunity.”