Frank Merriwell's Nobility; Or, The Tragedy of the Ocean Tramp

puckered into a peculiar expression about the mouth. He was dressed in black, but his clothes were not a

, gentlemen. I-I hop

ld. He seemed in doubt about t

cognized a "character" in him, and Merry was interested immediately. He i

aid the stranger, apologetically. "But you kno

know it!" mut

ed the little man over. H

o for you, sir

oked around. He sidled over and

ed by the-er-the French gen

s,

o hear any-ah-conversation that may take place in

listen," said Merry. "Even then, it is d

rs," cut in Diamond. "We do

idn't insinuate such a thing! Ha! ha! ha! The idea! But you know-somet

ving at?" asked Frank, not a little

e-overheard. I don't want anybody to-to think I'm

say tha

n make myself

ps you

r-Slush-Peddi

ered Browning, while Rattleton

ed Mr. Slush. "That's why I didn't go over on a-a regu

a by your lingering way in co

and he broke into a sudden cackle of laughter, which he

laimed. "Quite-ah-rude of

u to do it oftener," said Merry, fr

I once knew a man who died from-er-laughing. It is a fact, sir. He laughed so long-and so hard--that he-he lost hi

d and dazed. Diamond could not comprehend the little

sh, "I will come di

nodded

om. I wish to know if-Good gracious,

wavering fi

sign?" asked Me

there is the least bit of-red. It is a sign of-of bloods

n seemed grea

, Frank laughed lightly and

sitor seemed to br

oint to-to a-tragedy. I regret exceedingly that I ever sailed-on this steame

er superstitious,

. Slush hastened to aver. "There are a few

dee

rprising positiveness. "I know something wil

you so

d. I was foolish then that I did not demand-demand, sir-to

was t

came aboard this steamer. They did not let he

t was a

hat. Always-er-let a cat remain on board a vessel-if-she-

ething must happen

don't know-just what it is-but it's something. The-the captain looks worried. I-I've no

oaker," said Diamond, un

ur eyes-open. I-I think you will see something. I thi

us what you want of us,

twirl your thumbs-that way. Do it backward-backward! It-i

g fellow; "backward it is."

elief. "Now, I'll tell you-why I called. I-er-saw

es

Blood

es

n-Mr. Bloodgood. I-I think he

e your taste,"

nd. Met him-in the smoking-room. Sometimes I-

for amusement?

se. That is-he-he l

ought

n't min

round to play cards for money. I shouldn't think he'd know

m I know-nothing. That's why I-came to you. I-I thought it mig

e to the wr

thing about him? You are-er

y is the first time we

dent disappointment. "You are-er-you

class," pu

oking at Jack queerly. "

t clear that he did not care to play cards for money with anybody about whom he knew nothing. He was not very effective in his

ure of the man. Somehow, Merry seemed to feel that there was

dgood," said Frank. "But, if you are so particular about your company, it m

l about them," a

dee

unger son of an English noble

old yo

di

grunted Browning, with a

at is-ah-settled. M. Rouen Montfort is a-a gr

"Queer, I never heard of him

an. Ah-did Mr. Bloodgood invite-er-

light. Was it possible Mr. S

eigle them into the party, so that some sharp

ped up in his bunk suddenly, but a sudden roll of th

glitter. He, too, fancie

ly, "he did not invite

man seeme

f he had-I-I was going to say some

ank; "but it may not d

," muttered Diamond under his b

e superstitious man cackled out

r you to-keep out of it. It started-light, but it's working-up-right along. Almost any time somebody is liable to-to propos

ur youths looked at the vis

did i

"suckers," surely he was

d Frank, stiffly

kind!" mutt

"I-I dont' like to see respectable young men caught in a-trap. That's all. Thought I'd tell y

something more, opened the door part way, he