Frank Merriwell's Setback; Or, True Pluck Welcomes Defeat

Indoor sports were not the only kind enjoyed at Starbright’s. There was skating on the lake, and Phil took them out for a spin over the ice on his ice-boat. The day after Christmas, however, an accident happened that made the girls afraid of the ice.

It is a well-known fact that, even in the coldest weather, any large body of water that is frozen over has weak or open spots in the ice; “breathing-holes” they are sometimes called.

In this respect Seneca Lake was like other lakes, and so it chanced that, skating together, with hands clasped, Inza and Winnie struck one of those places. Before they could turn about, the ice broke beneath their feet and they found themselves struggling in the chilling water.

Several of the fellows were skating near-by, and they were startled and horrified by the shriek that came from the girls as they broke through. In a moment, every youth was dashing toward the spot.

Starbright was nearest. His heart sprang into his throat, for he realized the terrible peril of the girls, knowing they were liable to clasp each other about their necks and go down immediately.

Frank was only a short distance behind Dick, but Starbright reached the spot first. As he came up, he saw Inza’s head disappear beneath the surface, and straight into the water he plunged, clutching at her in the wild hope that he might be successful.

Fortunately, Dick was able to grasp Inza before she sank beyond his reach, and he dragged her back to the surface. Then the others came up.

Badger was there almost as soon as Frank, and they pulled Winnie out on to the solid ice. Immediately Merry turned his attention to Inza.

“Take her!” Starbright chattered. “Get her out quick, Merriwell! I thought she was gone!”

“Guess she would have been if you hadn’t plunged in after her as you did,” said Frank.

The ice was solid close to the dangerous spot, so there was little trouble in drawing Inza out, after which Starbright was helped from the water.

Then the girls, wrapped in the coats which the boys stripped off and threw about them, were hurried away to the house, where they were doctored and given warm drinks and placed in bed.

Some hours later, when the boys were all together again, Winnie and Inza appeared and thanked their rescuers. Frank observed that Inza first went straight to Dick, giving him her hand.

“I thought I was gone,” she said. “I was stunned when I went into the water, and I couldn’t seem to do a thing to help myself, though I knew I was sinking. Then I felt a strong hand grasp me, and you pulled me back to the surface. I know I owe my life to you!”

Dick’s face was crimson, and his heart thrilled as she gave his fingers a warm pressure, looking straight into his blue eyes.

“We all did what we could,” he stammered. “Frank was on hand to pull you out.”

“But Starbright was the only one who really saved you,” said Merry, with perfect generosity. “There can be no doubt of that.”

After a little time, he slipped away unobserved and retired to his room, in the solitude of which he sat a long time, pondering over the things that had happened since his arrival at the home of the Starbrights. Once more in his heart throbbed the pain of loneliness that had seized him in his room the night he received the brief message from Elsie.

“I will delay no longer,” he finally murmured. “I’ll seek Inza, and come to an understanding with her.”

Then he went down-stairs, having first looked into the billiard-room, where Ready and Dashleigh were indulging in a game. In the library Browning was stretched on a Morris chair, reading a book. Through the house Frank searched, but he found nothing of Inza till, at last, he heard the crash of falling pins in the basement.

“They are bowling,” he said, and descended the stairs.

Dick and Inza were there. He had been instructing her in bowling, and neither of them heard Frank, who paused on the stairs.

“It was just too bad he beat you!” Inza was saying. “I don’t believe he could do it again.”

“I don’t know about that,” laughed the big fellow. “But I don’t think I ever wanted to win anything more in all my life than I did that string of candlepins.”

“Did you?” she murmured, idly marking on the score-board.

“I did!” he declared, getting close to her and watching her write. “And I’ve felt ever since that I was robbed of something.”

“Perhaps,” she murmured—“perhaps somebody else wished you to win.”

“You?” he breathed, all atremble—“did you wish that—Inza?”

“Perhaps so.”

“I didn’t know—I thought you might want Frank to beat me. What are you writing—my name?”

“Yes—and mine.”

Having written her own name beneath Dick’s, she began to strike out such letters as she could find in both names. He watched her with interest.

“Let’s see,” he said, “how it is done? You take the letters that are left, and how do you say it?”

“Love, hate, marriage; love, hate, marriage,” she explained.

“There are seven letters left in my name,” he declared. “It’s love for me, and never anything in this world came truer!”

His voice betrayed his emotion.

“There are four letters left in my name,” said Inza, her face turned from him.

“Love again!” exclaimed Dick softly. “Love for both of us! Inza—is it—can it be—true?”

“Didn’t I say I was sorry Frank defeated you at candlepins?” she murmured.

“By Heaven!” he hoarsely exclaimed; “he has not defeated me after all. And I’ll not be robbed of the privilege the mistletoe gave me!”

Then he caught her in his strong arms and kissed her.

No. 67 of the Merriwell Series, entitled “Frank Merriwell’s Search,” by Burt L. Standish, has a thrilling tale of the sea and many exciting adventures in which Frank acts like the hero he is and proves once more that he is without fear where duty is concerned.

There is no more romantic character in American history than William F. Cody, or as he was internationally known, Buffalo Bill. He, with Colonel Prentiss Ingraham, Wild Bill Hickok, General Custer, and a few other adventurous spirits, laid the foundation of our great West.

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