This time, however, Frank stepped back as the belligerent stage hand plunged past him, unable to stop his rush when Frank had dodged, and quickly grabbing him, flung him clean out over the proscenium and footlights, so he struck sprawling between the front row of seats and the stage. This handling astounded Hooker, who could not understand it at all. He jumped up and started to leap back onto the stage. The local stage manager had appeared in time to witness the manner in which Frank handled Hooker, and now he shouted: “Here, Joe, what’s up?” “That dratted property man’s meddlin’ with me!” snarled Hooker. “I’ll eat him if he’ll stop dodging!” “Property man!” cried the stage manager. “Why, you’re daffy! That’s Frank Merriwell, the owner of the show!” Hooker was astounded. He had reached the stage again, and he stopped in a half-stooping posture, staring at Merry, his under jaw drooping. “Him the owner of the show?” he ejaculated, in evident doubt. “Ye’re kidding, Sawyer.” “No, I am not,” assured the local stage manager. “What’s all this about, anyhow? What’s he been doing, Mr. Merriwell?” “He started to tear apart some of the scenery here, and I told him to let it alone, but he was not inclined to do so. When I stopped him he attacked me.” “An’ he faound himself up ag’inst a feller that kin eat Hookers ez fast ez they kin walk up,” laughed Ephraim Gallup. “There ain’t enough Hookers in Mizzury to bother Frank Merriwell.” “Is that so?” sneered the stage hand. “My brother Sam can clean out this whole show. He’s just home from New Mexico, and there ain’t anybody in this town wants to tackle him.” “Yeour brother Sam would be pie for Frank Merriwell,” asserted Ephraim. “Ef he knows when he’s well off, he’ll mind his own business.” “By hocus, we’ll see,” shouted Hooker. “He don’t ’low anybody to meddle with me, and I’ll just bring him round here. He’ll make things sizzle!” The fellow started for the door. “Where are you going?” demanded Frank, sharply. “After Sam, by thunder!” “Don’t do it!” “I will!” “I shall not handle your brother in the same gentle manner that I handled you, in case he comes here and attempts to make trouble. You know you were wrong, so you had better drop it.” “That’s right, Joe,” said the local stage manager, anxiously. “What’s the use to kick up a fuss over it?” “Think I’m going to stand this kind of treatment?” snarled Joe. “I’m no fool! I’ll be back pretty soon.” Then he ran off the stage and down the stairs. The stage manager looked frightened. “You had better leave right away, Mr. Merriwell,” he said. “Why?” asked Frank. “Joe’ll do it.” “What if he does?” “His brother’s a pirate! He’s a big fellow, and a regular ruffian. He’s been in half a dozen fights since he got home, a week ago. He killed a man in a fight before he left for New Mexico, two years ago, and that was why he got out of here. They ain’t dared try to arrest him sense he come back.”