CHAPTER XXIII.AN UNWELCOME RELATION.
Frank had risen to his feet and he took a step toward the door.
From the lips of the blind girl came another cry, one of fear.
Frank turned to her.
“Don’t be afraid,” he said, reassuringly. “He shall not harm anyone here.”
Then he demanded to know what the man wanted.
Hicks showed his teeth.
“So this is where you stop?” he said. “Well, I’m glad I found that out, but it was them others I came to see.”
“What do you want of them?”
The engineer stepped into the room, but Merry halted him with a sharp word.
“Stand where you are! You are an intruder here!”
“Oh, don’t put on airs!” snarled old Joe, and Frank saw the man had been drinking. “I know my business.”
“State it.”
“Well, a man gets queer notions in his head sometimes, and when I saw the face of that gal I was hit by a queerone. I tried to talk with her, but she got skeered. I want to know what her name is. Won’t you tell me your name, little gal?”
Nell hesitated, trembling slightly. Her brother had his arm about her now, and was speaking reassuring words to her.
“Why should she tell you her name?” demanded Frank, a strange feeling of apprehension assailing him.
“I’m not doin’ my business with you!” grated the man. “I’ll look after you some other time.”
“You may have to do some business with me now, for I am the friend and protector of this boy and girl.”
“Oh, you are? Well, who made ye so? You’re not old enough to be their guardian.”
“I am old enough to look out for them, and I shall see that they come to no harm.”
“You’re a pretty swift young chap for a common engine wiper. Soon as you get out from work at night you swell round in good clothes, as if you was the son of a millionaire. Where do ye get all your money to do that?”
“That is none of your business!” returned Merry, warmly.
“Ain’t, eh? Well, I reckon I can tell ye. You sponge it out of this boy and gal you are protectin’. They must pick up lots of money on the street, and you get it.”
“It’s not true!” cried the lame boy, his eyes flashing. “Mr. Merriwell does not get one cent of it!”
“No! no! no!” exclaimed the girl. “He helps us! He is so good to us!”
“He’s playin’ his game pretty slick,” declared old Joe, “but he ain’t your friend for nothin’.”
Then the man obtained a fair view of the picture in Frank’s hand. With remarkable swiftness he snatched it, and then, holding it in both hands, he stood staring at it, his face working strangely.
Merriwell had started to take the picture from the man, but he stopped, astonished by the expression on the face of Hicks.
The engineer looked from the picture to the face of the girl. He seemed comparing the two. At last he hoarsely asked:
“Is this the picture of your mother, gal?”
“Yes, sir,” Nell faintly answered.
“Then you are my niece, for it is the picture of my own sister!”
Frank Merriwell started, as if he had been struck a blow. Both the boy and girl uttered cries of astonishment.
“It can’t be that you are our uncle!” said little Jack.
“I am Joseph Hicks,” said the engineer, “and Mary Hicks, your mother, was my sister.”
“That was mother’s name before she married father,” confessed the boy. “But it does not seem possible that you—are—her—brother. You are not a bit like her.”
“Well, I’m her brother. That’s why I follered ye. I saw in your sister’s face the resemblance to Mary. It was so remarkable that I could not help following you about. She is dead?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And Dave Norton?”
“He is dead, too.”
“Good thing! Never liked him. He was too stuck up. He wouldn’t take a drink, or do anything like other people. I’m glad he’s dead.”
“Sir,” cried the boy, “he was my father!”
“That’s no credit to you. But you’re orphans now—all alone in the world.”
“Not all alone.”
“No? How’s that?”
“We have Mr. Merriwell.”
“Rot! I’m your uncle. It’s my duty to look after ye. I’ll take care of ye, and of the money ye make, too. Ha! ha! ha!”
The lame boy looked appealingly at Frank.
“You may be their uncle,” said Merry, “but you are not yet their guardian. There is the door.”
“What of it?” snarled old Joe. “You can’t drive me out! I won’t go! I’m goin’ to take charge of these orphans.”
“Not yet.”
“I will!”
“Not till the law gives you the right. Go!”
Then the man appealed to the children.
“I’m your uncle. You must mind me. You can’t refuse.”
“Oh, I am so afraid of him!” half sobbed little Nell, clinging to her brother.
“What do you say, Jack?” asked Frank. “Shall he go?”
“Yes!” cried the boy, straightening up. “He looks like a bad man, and he talks like one. Sister is afraid of him. He must go!”
“You hear,” said Merry to Hicks.
“Yes, I hear,” he snarled; “but I will not go! I stand on my rights. You’re not going to have the money they make to blow for clothes! I’ll take care of it.”
“And squander it for liquor. You shall not do that. If you do not go at once, I shall throw you out.”
“Don’t you dare put a hand on me!”
Old Joe looked dangerous then, but Frank advanced on him. The man flung down the picture and reached toward a pocket. With a leap, Merry was on him and had him by the neck.
“You dog!” said Frank. “You deserve to be jailed! You are thoroughly evil! Out you go!”
There was a struggle, during which the man drew something bright from his pocket. Little Jack uttered a shrill cry and leaped forward, swinging his crutch. With that weapon, the boy knocked the knife from the man’s hand, and it fell clattering to the floor.
“Aha!” grated the engineer. “He saved ye that time!”
When Frank realized that the man had attempted his life, he was furious. With wonderful strength, he lifted old Joe, ran him out into the passage, reached the head of the stairs, and threw him down.
Bump! thump! bang!
The man bounced down the stairs, and struck in the darkness at the bottom.
“Get out!” cried Frank. “I am coming down, and I’ll throw you out if you are there when I reach the bottom!”
The man gathered himself and made haste to get away before Frank could reach him, but he retreated swearing vengeance.
Frank turned and ascended the stairs. In the room, little Nell was sobbing in the arms of her brother.