Part 34 (1/2)
”Oi dunno.”
”It would be a most daring thing to do, as she is so well known; but there are daring and desperate ruffians in New Orleans.”
”Oi think ye're roight, me b'y.”
”It may be that she has been persecuted so that she fled of her own accord, and yet I hardly think that is true.”
”No more do Oi, Frankie.”
”If it is not true, surely she is in trouble.”
”Well?”
”Oh, I can't remain quietly here, knowing she may need aid!”
”Pwhat will yez do?”
”I am going out.”
”Where?”
”Somewhere--anywhere! Will you come along?”
”Sure, me b'y, Oi'm wid yez firrust, larrust, an' all th' toime!”
CHAPTER XXI.
FRANK'S BOLD MOVE.
The professor declined to go out. He returned to bed, and the boys left the hotel.
”Where away, Frankie?” asked Barney.
”I don't know,” replied Frank, helplessly. ”There is not one chance in millions of finding the lost Flower Queen, but I feel that I must move about. We'll visit the old French quarter by night. I have been there in the daytime, and I'd like to see how it looks at night. Come on.”
And so they made their way to the French quarter, crossing Ca.n.a.l Street and turning into a quiet, narrow way, that soon brought them to a region of architectural decrepitude.
The streets of this section were not overlighted, and seemed very silent and lonely, as, at this particular time, the greater part of the inhabitants of the quarter were away to the scenes of pleasure.
The streets echoed to the boys' feet. There were queer balconies on every hand, the stores were mere shops, all of them now closed, and many windows were nailed up. Rust and decay were on all sides, and yet there was something impressive in the almost Oriental squalor of the place.
”It sames loike we'd left th' city intoirely for another place, so it does,” muttered Barney.
”That is true,” admitted Frank. ”New Orleans seems like a human being with two personalities. For me this is the most interesting part of the city; but commerce is beginning to crowd in here, and the time is coming when the French quarter will cease to be an attraction for New Orleans.”
”D'ye think not, Frankie?”
”It is a certain thing.”