Frank Merriwell's Pursuit

ams and cross timbers. The musicians were hidden by an arbor of green at one end of the floor

the partner of one being a cowboy, while the righ

otion. They seemed to glide over the floor without effort o

iastically whispered one of the ghos

pected and unplanned, Inza. I feel to-ni

usiness projects are coming out right, and the man who could make you trouble

y, his railroad plan and mining and d

hurry back to Mexico now. Can'

sulting with Watson Scott. If possible

His mask was the head of a wolf. Through the twin holes of the

hed and touched the

u found

e first. "See the gi

the In

th the

notice

r him. Hear him speak. I think it is our man. If so-wel

r he

ell anything that might betray me. The de

wonder in the world

gh which came a grateful breath of the cool, still night. Through the trees out

aid the girl. "See how peaceful

heavy. Arm in arm, they walked up and down, pausing at intervals to listen to the music w

e trees. This figure started back, uttering a low exclamation,

k la

. The phosphorus skeleton s

y that was why he fled

ason could the

something familiar in his move

e know no one here, s

n is on me. I'm not often nervous, you know; b

rned to the floor and danced out

left Inza, departing to find

was surprised to hear a hars

othing save the hideous skeleton I saw a few m

ves had paused

querade affairs must be, she was not s

" she laughed. "It seems that even a

ut you are not the only gho

sister gho

of," growled the wolf. "There

I have no

entreat you to favor me with one dance were it not that someth

ng to disguise your voice? It is not necessary

ted. "Although you know few here, it is possi

oubt

, with black

ful gue

reddest rose, and your t

ring, a

he fairest ever beheld

you have n

at the sagacity of some wolves passes

ment, betraying her su

lf mask came a low

would be useless. The cowboy returns, and cow

swiftly away. Frank came up and she clutched his arm,

s that

s he bothered or insult

he kno

ossi

growl that I am certain he assumed to disguise his voice. There is something familiar about him-somet

was ar

discover who he is. Perhaps Warren Hatch has put

k left Inza with them as he

sing one of the wide windows he saw two wolves standing outsi

th my friend, the ghost, a few moments ago. Now, even a wolf won't take advantage of a lady, and so, as y

what startled, but

nce arriving here to-night. We have not danced yet, and ther

ds on his hips and e

rself," he said. "I don't opine

and I advise you to go about your business, unless you are looking for

ossible that, out of politeness, the one

alone," advised the pugnacious chap. "If y

tion that he might hear their voices, thinking it possible he would recognize one or both of them. There was nothing familiar

ld advise you some not to try any ruffling busin

and suddenly they b

e pavilion, for men uttered exclamat

n trouble, he left the girls and dashed across the floor. Elsie called to him, starting t

was

ped Elsie, looking

ment, a sudden feeling

outside the pavilion came

was Elsie's back turned when the heavy folds of a blanket were thrown over In

he attention of all was turned toward the opposite side of the building

unable to make anything like effective resistance. The blanket was twisted about her until she could

she was brave and nervy and she struggled hard for her freedom, seeking to cas

of the blanket. She uttered a cry that was broken and smothered, for, with an exclam

hed the ears of Elsie, who

the blanket; but she was helpless, and, holding her thus, the man, who

had become very weak, and the only sounds issuing from

hed the water he uttered

red by a sim

pot where a canoe lay floating with its prow touching the shor

t softly called the

was th

them shouting. Thank the saints the se?or

re, who was a full-blooded Indian gu

ready to take me away in a hurry, and now it is in a h

ed voices of women came to

and the water will leave no trail for Merriwell, the gringo, to f

aced Inza, with the blanket still wrapped about her. A moment later he was seated in th

e wearer of the wolf mask. "Paddle hard, for much

" questioned th

claims her, but she is mine. Don't talk, Ben-

e redskin. "We go by him,

est speed, and it is doubly well you

t close to the shore of a little cove and then swept out in the sha

r colliding with another canoe that contained a single occ

nted the man with the pipe.

as leisurely paddling over to the south shore, thinking he would look in on the dancers. He had not heard the a

ort. The Indian swerved the canoe aside and co

oonlight fell full and fair on the red

sociable fellow! Never said a word when they cam

k, for he saw that something like a struggle was taking place, the masked

like to know what it means. There seems to

canoe to listen to

cket is," he decided, as he resumed his lazy paddli

ain something of an unusual nature had taken place. Persons were searching with lights in

odge, who was doing his best to quiet Elsie, the

sked Bruce, wonderingly. "Wh

hed him by

d. "She has disappe

s, lazy air vanished in a twinkling and he asked some questi

ank?" demand

th the se

e to face with him in the grove. Frank's face was pale and s

me of the men who wore the wolf masks. There must have been three of them. Wh

ked Frank hoarsely. "W

her on shore. Lo

e l

es

hy

of the men wearing a wolf mask in the canoe wh

hat canoe. I fancied a struggle was tak

Inza's head is harmed the guilty wretc