The fellow made a sudden attempt to spring backward with the revolver. He had been dazed by Merriwell’s calmness and audacity, but now he resorted to action. He realized that the young actor fully fathomed him, and it stung him to madness to think that his bluff had been “called” in such a prompt manner. Frank, however, had taken hold of the weapon, and, with a sudden twist, he jerked it from the hand of the man, disarming the fellow in a twinkling. The eyes of Hodge glittered with satisfaction. This was Merriwell in his old form. Not a whit of his nerve had Frank lost since the more exciting days at Yale, on the diamond, the gridiron, in the cane rushes and college bouts. Having the revolver in his hand, Frank snapped it open, and then he burst out laughing. “Empty!” With that word, he flung it at the man’s feet. “Waal, I be darned!” gasped Gallup, and then he roared with laughter. This laughing seemed to infuriate the one who claimed to be the husband. “Curse you!” he snarled, catching up the revolver. “It won’t take long to load it!” He plunged a hand into his pocket, as if reaching for cartridges. “I wouldn’t advise you to load it, sir,” said Merry, placidly. “It will go harder with you if you are found with a loaded weapon when the officer comes.” “The officer?” “Yes. Hodge, call a boy and send out for a policeman.” “Then you mean——” “Business!” finished Frank, grimly. “I don’t like blackmailers, and I think they are dangerous, so I fancy I’ll have you put away for safe-keeping.” “That’s right!” cried Hodge, with intense satisfaction. The woman began to weep. Lester Vance looked around, as if in search of some avenue of escape. At last he realized that he was in a very bad scrape, and he longed to be well out of it. All at once, with a wild cry, the woman sprang up, rushed at Frank, clasped him about the neck and began to scream. Shriek after shriek came from her lips. Merry attempted to put her away, but she clung to him in a frantic manner, continuing to scream. Her wild cries brought bell boys, porter, clerk, guests and others rushing onto the scene, and crowding into the parlor. There were some moments of general confusion, a struggle near the door, and then the woman seemed to swoon and slip to the floor. Of course Merry was questioned, of course he was regarded with suspicion. A pompous man demanded to know the meaning of it, looking accusingly and scornfully at Merry. In a very few words, Frank explained that an attempt at blackmail had been made, but when he looked round to point out the two men concerned in the crooked work, he found they had slipped away in the general confusion. “Gol-darned if I noticed when they got aout!” exclaimed Gallup, in chagrin. “I was so upset by the howlin’ of that air woman that I never saw nothin’ else.” “Where’s Hodge?” demanded Frank. “Here,” said Bart, coming forward, and Merriwell saw that he also looked crestfallen. “Where are those men?”