“Oh, you’re inclined to give other people too much credit. I’ll guarantee there is not another playwriter who is starring in his own piece who will say that his stage manager has done much of anything for him.” “I am not patterning my actions on those of others, Bart. I detest chaps who ape others. I believe in individuality. Be what you are. That is the maxim I go by. If others are selfish and ungrateful, it is no reason why I should be so.” “Gratitude! gratitude! gratitude! It makes me tired! Has a fellow got to go through the world being grateful to everybody who is decent to him?” “You know I did not mean that. You have a way of distorting what I say so that it does not mean what I intended.” “Oh, yes; of course I do something I shouldn’t do! I’m always doing something I shouldn’t do! It’s been the way all my life! At home I was forever doing something I shouldn’t do! At school it was the same. At college it was no better. And now, in trying to be an actor, I am still doing something I should not do. Oh, what’s the use to try to do anything! A fellow might as well bump along and not give a rap what he does or what happens to him.” “You are getting in a bad way, Hodge,” said Merriwell, seriously. “I believe your liver is out of order.” “This is no joking matter!” Bart snarled. “Don’t poke fun at me, Frank Merriwell! It doesn’t go with me for a cent!” “If you had been given a sense of humor it might be better for you. Unfortunately, you never see the humorous side of anything. You take everything seriously, much to your own discomfort. Happy is the man who can see and understand the humor in everyday life.” “Well, I’ll guarantee there is nothing humorous in what just happened on the stage.” “You haven’t told me what happened.” “Havener gave me a call down.” “Did he?” “Did he! did he!” panted Bart. “You say that as if it were of no consequence.” “Havener is not in the habit of giving anybody a call down unless they deserve it.” “Oh, it’s plain you think that fellow knows it all. But I’m going to tell you now that I can’t stand his insolence, and I won’t stand it!” Frank sat down on the lid of his trunk. “We’ll have to talk this matter over, Bart,” he said. “If Havener has given you a call down without cause, you may be sure I shall have something to say to him. Now, tell me just how it came about.” But, of a sudden, Hodge did not feel like telling. He began to realize that the truth would not put him in a very favorable light. Instead of quieting his anger, however, this made him feel still more angry. “Oh, I haven’t anything to say about it!” he exclaimed, turning away. “I’ll pay the fine.” “What fine?” “Ten dollars.” “Then it is rather serious, for he fined you.” “Oh, you are just beginning to realize there is something serious about it, are you!” “I wish you wouldn’t blaze at me like that, Hodge. Anyone would imagine we were the bitterest of foes, instead of the firmest friends.” “Friends! Ha, ha! Are we?”