“Don’t try it again,” calmly advised Merry. The astounded stage hand scrambled up, snarling with anger. “I’m Joe Hooker!” he cried. “And I can do up anything in this town. I’ll have to smash ye for that!” “If you know what is real healthy for you, Joe Hooker,” said Frank, with a grim smile, “you’ll keep your distance and let this scenery alone. You’re too fresh.” “You’re the one that’s fresh, you two-cent property man!” howled the wrathy fellow. “You think you own the whole show, but I’ll knock some of the conceit outer your head!” He made a furious rush at Merry. Apparently Frank had no thought of getting out of the way, but, at the moment when Hooker struck out with his open hand, thinking to give Merry a slap that would set his head ringing, if it did not upset him, the young actor leaped aside, ducking the swinging blow, caught his assailant by the collar and a handy portion of his trousers, and ran him off the stage, shooting him down a flight of stairs, at the bottom of which he fell sprawling. Ephraim Gallup came round just in time to witness this, and he stood laughing heartily, his hands on his hips. “Gol-darn ef I don’t believe he kainder thinks he struck somethin’ all-fired decepshus, Frank!” chuckled the Vermont youth. Billy Wynne, the property man, had also seen the finish of the encounter, and he was highly amused. There was a scrambling sound on the stairs, and, a moment later, Joe Hooker, his face flaming red, came scrambling and panting to the top, revenge gleaming in his eyes. “Drat ye!” he snarled. “Ye didn’t do that fair! You don’t ’mount ter shucks, and I can paralyze ye in a fair fight!” “I am not here to fight,” Merry laughed. “I am minding my own business, and, if you know when you are well off, you will do the same. If you don’t, you may get hurt.” Frank’s laughter irritated the chap more than anything else. Again he made a rush, but this time it was with the intention of smashing Frank without delay. Now Frank wished to avoid a fight, if possible, and he easily dodged in time to avoid the fellow’s rush. Gallup shouted: “Yeou darn fool! Yeou don’t know who yeou’re gittin’ up ag’inst! You’ll be etarnally chawed up fust thing yeou know!” But the furious stage hand did not heed, if he heard. He wheeled and came at Merry again. Frank was beginning to get tired of this. He did not wish to strike the fellow, and yet he could not keep up the dodging. The curtain had been raised to let light in onto the stage while the scenery was being brought in and arranged. Once more Merry managed to avoid the rush of the angry chap, although he was barely able to do so, as now the fellow was watching for him to dodge. This dodging made Hooker all the more confident, for he thought Frank did not dare stand up and meet him.