“Remarkable!” exclaimed Havener. And then, all at once, a singular expression came over his face. “It isn’t possible that what they are saying about Hodge is true?” he exclaimed. “You don’t mean to admit that——” “I do not mean to admit anything of the sort!” Merry cut in, without waiting for him to finish. “Vance was here with his unpleasant hints and suggestions. I will make that check good.” “Make it good?” “Yes.” “How?” “By getting the name of the hotel proprietor on the back of it.” “Can you?” “Yes.” “How do you know?” “I know that Mr. Kent Carson, who knows the proprietor of this house very well, has vouched for me here, and the word of Kent Carson goes anywhere in Kansas or Colorado.” “If that’s right, you are lucky. I believe I understand why you are determined to follow Hodge up. I hope you catch him, Mr. Merriwell. I didn’t think it of him!” “That is the kind of talk I do not like,” declared Frank, sharply. “I have a favor to ask of you.” “I shall be glad to grant it, you may be sure of that.” “You are to inform the company that I have left five hundred dollars with you to keep things straight and as a guarantee that I will return.” “All right.” “But you are not to say that I left you a check for five hundred dollars. You are to let them infer that I left the cold cash. Do you understand?” “Yes, sir.” “You are to permit no member of the company to see you cash that check.” “Very well.” “If anyone hints that there is anything queer about this business you are to silence that person without delay.” “I’ll do it, all right.” “You know what to do in relation to the theater here.” “But what if you do not return in time for us to play in Leavenworth?” “I will cancel with Leavenworth by wire. No: if you do not hear from me by ten o’clock to-morrow forenoon you cancel. That will be better, for I might be where I could not wire you.” “Say, but this is tough!” exclaimed Havener. “I hoped there would not be any more of this kind of business.” “So did I,” nodded Frank; “but we can’t help it. It’s pretty ragged, but we’ll have to swallow it.” “I don’t understand how it is that you still hold a feeling of friendliness toward a fellow who could put you in such a bad box.” “That is because you do not understand Hodge and our relations. If I let him go now without an attempt to bring him back, I should regret it always.” “It’s a lucky fellow who wins such friendship as yours,” said Havener, admiringly. “But I’m afraid Hodge doesn’t deserve it.” “I don’t like that kind of talk!” exclaimed Frank, with a slight show of impatience. “I have upheld you in the matter of the affair at rehearsal, but I don’t like to hear you say anything against Hodge now.” “I beg your pardon.” “All right. Now we will go down and find the proprietor of the hotel. I believe he will put his name to that check. I’ll take my deposit book along, to show him that I have a little something in the bank at Denver.”