into the hotel.

A bellboy saw Merry and hastened to notify him that he was wanted at the
desk.

"Here is something for you, Mr. Merriwell," said one of the assistant
clerks. "It was just left here by a messenger boy, who stated that it
was very important and must be given to you personally."

He handed Frank an envelope on which his name was written.

Merry tore it open and drew forth a single sheet of paper, on which was
written the following ominous words:

"You fancied Porfias del Norte perished in the Adirondacks and
that Alvarez Lazaro was destroyed by fire. Neither Del Norte nor
Lazaro is dead. Both live in one, and that One pens these lines.
I am Del Norte and I am Lazaro. I am likewise the avenger of
both. My one object in life is to make you suffer as Del Norte
suffered before he escaped from his living tomb, coming forth an
old man with snow-white hair. It is my object to make you face
the torture of fire here on earth, even as Lazaro faced it. I
know you have again set the police on my trail, but I laugh at
them and defy them all, even as I laugh at and defy you. I want
you to feel the fear of torture and death; I want you to know it
is coming and that you cannot escape, and, therefore, I write
this. Be constantly on your guard, but know that all your
precautions cannot save you. You are doomed!

"THE AVENGER."

"What is it, Merry?" asked Hodge, seeing Frank frowning over it.

"Nothing but ridiculous nonsense," was Merriwell's smiling answer, as he
thrust the paper into his pocket. "Let's get the ladies and have
dinner."

CHAPTER XXVIII.

AT NIAGARA FALLS.

The trolley car from Buffalo, bearing Frank Merriwell and his friends,
was approaching Niagara Falls. The entire party was bubbling with that
enthusiasm and eagerness felt by all "sightseers" who find themselves
drawing near to this great natural marvel of America. Eagerly they
peered from the car windows in their desire to obtain the first glimpse
of the falls.

"I can see some mising rist--that is, some rising mist," spluttered
Harry Rattleton.

"Get off my pet corn!" growled Bruce Browning, jerking Harry back into
his seat, from which he had partly risen. "If you step on that corn
again you'll see stars!"

"It just takes an awful long time to get there," said Elsie Bellwood.

"Awful long," agreed In