AUTHOR OF
"Frank Merriwell's Schooldays," "Frank Merriwell's Chums,"
"Frank Merriwell's Foes," "Frank Merriwell's
Trip West," etc.
PHILADELPHIA
DAVID McKAY, PUBLISHER
604-8 South Washington Square
Copyright, 1898
By STREET & SMITH
Frank Merriwell's Cruise
"Mr. John Diamond, Lexington, Pa.: If you wish cruise in down Eastwaters, join me Monday next at American Hotel, Boston. Havepurchased yacht. Hodge and Browning will be in party. Great sportanticipated.
"Merriwell."
Jack Diamond was reclining in a hammock suspended in the shade of anartificial arbor when this message from Frank Merriwell was handed tohim by a boy. He tore open the envelope and read it, his eyes beginningto sparkle and a flush coming to his handsome, aristocratic face.
"Just like him!" exclaimed Jack. "Before leaving Fardale he aroused ourcuriosity about that part of the country, and now he proposes taking usdown there in his own yacht. Will I go? Will I? I wouldn't miss it forthe world!"
It had not taken him a minute to decide.
A cab rattled up to the front of the American Hotel, on Hanover Street,Boston, and stopped. The door flew open, and out stepped a smartlydressed young man, wearing russet shoes, a light-colored box coat and abrown[Pg 6] Alpine hat. He carried a handsome alligator-skin traveling bag inhis hand.
Paying cabbie without speaking a word, this youth turned and walked intothe hotel. As he entered, a colored boy hastened forward and relievedhim of his traveling bag. He stepped up to the clerk's desk and said:
"I am Jack Diamond, of Virginia, and I wish to see Mr. Frank Merriwell,who is stopping here."
"Yes, sir," said the clerk, politely. "Mr. Merriwell left orders thatyou be shown up immediately on your arrival. Twenty-three, show Mr.Diamond to Mr. Merriwell's rooms."
"Right this way, sah," said the colored boy.
Jack followed the uniformed bell boy, who paused at the elevator shaftand pressed a button. In a moment the elevator came gliding noiselesslydown, the door slid open, a lady and a gentleman stepped out and Diamondstepped in.
"Third," said the bell boy, and then he turned and disappeared, whilethe elevator man closed the door and sent the car gliding upward. Hestopped at the third floor, and, to Jack's surprise, the bell boy withthe grip was there, calmly awaiting his arrival.
Jack followed him to the door of a room at the front of the house. Asthe boy lifted his hand to knock at the door, there was a burst oflaughter within, plainly heard, as the transom was open, and FrankMerriwell's voice cried:
"Hans, if you could tell that story on the stage just as you told itthen you would make your fortune."
"Vot vos der madder mit me?" exclaimed the voice of Hans Dunnerwust,Frank's German friend. "Dot nefer vos a funny stories! You don'd seenvot I larft ad! Dot peen a bathetic sdory. I oxbected you vould tookmein handk