“Then ter think Hodge is gittin’ like hisself ’cause he tried to crack a joke. It kainder seems ter me he’s gittin’ off his trolley. Did yeou ever hear him crack a joke when he was all right?” “Don’t know—I don’t remember about it,” confessed Frank, smiling. “’Course ye don’t. I think it’s a mighty bad sign when Bart Hodge tries ter joke. He must be sick!” Hodge said nothing. He was sitting astride a chair, with his arms resting on the back and his chin resting on his arms. He looked at Ephraim grimly. Frank was sitting by a table, opening the mail Ephraim had just brought to him. “True Blue” was playing a two nights engagement in St. Joseph, having opened the previous night at the Crawford Theater. The house had been packed, and the rattling college play went with a vim that electrified the audience and created a sensation. The manager of the theater had been delighted, and he lost no time in asking for a return date, which, however, Merry was unable to give him, on account of the lateness of the season and the route already booked. Fortunately, Merriwell had been able to find a man to fill the place of Lester Vance, who had been “released” so abruptly in Atchison. To Merry’s surprise the night before, the opening night, several handsome bouquets of flowers had been handed to him over the footlights, and one had been thrown at his feet from a box. He saw the person who threw the flowers, in acknowledgment of which he had bowed a bit and smiled, and he observed that she was a decidedly handsome young woman. To his further surprise, he afterward discovered a slip of paper attached to the bouquet, and on the paper were written Portia’s words, “If you do love me, you will find me out!” Frank had looked on this as something of a joke, but now, on receiving his morning mail, he was astonished to find in it no less than four “mash notes.” “It’s evident you have made a hit with the fair sex in this city, Merry,” said Bart. “He does that ev’rywhere, by gum!” grinned Ephraim; “but they don’t seem quite so forrud in some places. I ruther guess he hit ’em harder than usual here.” “Here’s one that is a prize!” exclaimed Merry. “Poor girl! She should take a course at a good grammar school.” He handed the note over to Bart. This is what Hodge read: “DEER MR. MERRYWALL. “DEER SUR: I seen you last night at the Theeatur, and i was Stuck on you right Hard, you Bet. you are All Right. I never seen Nobody cud touch you When it cums to Good axting. I am Only 17 year Old, but i haiv alwus Wanted to go ontew the stayge. i Would like to Play a Part like cassie Lee plays. i Do wisht you hed a Chanc for me in Your compny. you Are so handsum. oh i cud Love a Man Like you with all my Harte. I Will bee out side of The stayge Doar when you Go in to night. i have Golden hare, and ware a Red hat, with a White fether in it. You will kno Me by that.