by Fred Thorpe
CHAPTER XIX.
A STARTLING ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
"He is here!"
With this theatrical exclamation, a man pushed his way past the servantand entered the room.
"I am Mr. Marmaduke Merry," he announced.
Both Al and Miss March gazed with considerable curiosity and interest atthe visitor.
He was at least seventy years of age, but was dressed in the mostyouthful fashion, and wore a light blond wig. Much below the mediumheight, shrunken, shriveled and weazened, he presented a decidedlyludicrous appearance as he stood, a huge bouquet in hand, bowing andsmiling at the young actress.
Miss March could not help smiling herself; this evidently encouraged theold gentleman.
"You pardon the liberty I have taken, then?" he said. "I was sure youwould."
"What is your business with me, sir?" the girl asked, composing herfeatures.
"It is to offer a tribute to your art and beauty," replied Mr. Merry,with a smirk. "But"--for the first time seeing the deputy and Al--"whoare these persons?"
"Don't you know me, Mr. Merry?" asked the official.
"Why, bless my soul!" ejaculated the old man, adjusting his glasses,"it's Bullfinch!"
"Yes, sir; it's me."
"What are you doing here in Miss March's apartment?"
"Attending to business, sir."
"What business?"
And the old man glared suspiciously at the cringing deputy.
"Your business, Mr. Merry."
"I didn't send you here."
"You sent me to find the writer of that infamous advertisement in the_Bugle_, didn't you, sir?"
"Yes."
"Well, I have found him."
"Where is he? Who is he?"
"There he stands."
And Mr. Bullfinch pointed triumphantly at Al.
"That boy?" gasped the old man.
"Yes, sir."
"You must be mistaken."
"I am not. I went to the office of the _Bugle_ and asked who wrote theadvertisement. They told me it was the advance agent of the company, ayoung man named Allston. I tracked him to this place, and was about todrag him forth when you arrived."
"You talk like a fool, Bullfinch," snapped Mr. Merry.
"Sir, I----"
"That will do. If this is the person who is responsible for thatadvertisement take him away."
"Yes, sir."
And the deputy laid his hand on Al's shoulder.
But Miss March interposed.
"Wait a moment, Mr. Merry."
"Certainly, my dear young lady. What is it?"
"This gentleman, Mr. Allen Allston, never saw or heard of you before hecame to Rockton. It was not in a spirit of malice that he wrote thatadvertisement. Don't you see, Mr. Merry, that by having him arrested youwill only subject yourself to ridicule? You acknowledge yourself to be a'queer old man.' Why should you do that?"
The old gentleman coughed.
"Ahem! That aspect of the case had not occurred to me," he said. "Youassure me, Miss March, that the young man did not intend to hold me upto ridicule?"
"I am absolutely certain," interrupted the deputy, "that he did."
"Shut up, Bullfinch!"
"Mr. Merry," interrupted Al, "I give you my word of honor that I shouldnot have inserted that advertisement if I had for one moment supposed itwould injure the feelings of anyone. It was only a joke on the public."
"A joke at my expense, young man!"
"I have given you my word of honor, sir, that I did not intend to hurtyou or anyone else by that ad."
"Your word of honor!" sneered Mr. Merry. "What is your word of honorgood for? Who are you?"
Al colored.
"You have heard my name from Miss March. I am Allen Allston."
The old man started.
"I did not catch the name before," he said. "Surely you are not AllenAllston from Boomville?"
"I am."
"The noble young fellow who saved the life of my grandchild?"
"Is Mayor Anderson's little girl your granddaughter, sir?" asked Al, alittle embarrassed.
"Of course she is. My boy, I beg your pardon."
And the old man grasped Al's hand and shook it warmly, adding:
"The youth who performed such a heroic act could not be guilty of such acrime as that of which you are accused. Bullfinch"--turning fiercelyupon the deputy--"you are a fool!"
"Sir----"
"What put it into your head that he could have had any malicious intentin writing that advertisement?"
"I only acted upon your instructions, sir," responded the deputy, veryhumbly.
"Nonsense! I thought you had a little common sense. Leave the room, sir.Your presence is an insult to me and to my friends."
"But the arrest, sir----"
"There will be no arrest to-day; I withdraw the complaint."
"But the warrant----"
"Tear it up--do anything you like with it, only don't worry me anyfurther with your nonsensical remarks. Go, sir!"
The deputy slunk out of the room.
Mr. Merry turned to the actress.
"I am extremely pained," he began, "that such a scene should haveoccurred in your room. I am----"
"Will you please state your business, sir?" interrupted Miss March.
The old gentleman was a little disconcerted at first, but he quicklyrecovered himself and said:
"I come, as I remarked before, to pay a tribute to genius and beauty."
"Well?"
Al had not supposed the girl capable of assuming such a frigid air asthat with which she now confronted her aged admirer.
"Will you accept these flowers?" stammered the old man. "They are atribute to----"
"Thanks," interrupted the actress. "You may leave them on the table."
"You are very kind. And now----"
"And now you must excuse me; I have business of importance with Mr.Allston."
"Oh, certainly! May I call again?"
"I am too much occupied to receive callers. Good-morning."
And with perfect self-possession the young girl opened the door.
Mumbling a few inaudible words, the aged admirer of the drama left theroom.
"I am sorry to say," remarked Miss March, "that I have seen men likehim before. He means no harm, but I cannot endure such silliness. Butnever mind about him; let us talk about ourselves. Sit down, please, andI will try to commence where I left off. When we were interrupted I hadasked you to tell me the story of your sister's disappearance----"
"And I was about to do so."
"Exactly. Go on."
Al hesitated.
"Why do you want to hear the story, Miss March?" he asked.
"Because--because----"
"Well?"
"Because I believe that I may be your sister!"