Frank Merriwell's Own Company; Or, Barnstorming in the Middle West

"Frank Merriwell's Own Company; Or, Barnstorming in the Middle West" by Burt L. Standish, is a lively tale set in the world of traveling entertainment, where a young man named Frank Merriwell unexpectedly becomes a performer after a magician's death. Thrust into the spotlight, Frank must rise to the occasion, captivating audiences with his innate talents after a manager gets worried about a magician named Zolverein's health. When Zolverein passes away just before a show, Frank inherits Zolverein's apparatus, eventually stepping in to engage the crowd with humor, ventriloquism, and magic after saving his life once before. Even while nervous at first, he banters, performs a ventriloquist act, and impresses with a magic show, including an "Educated Fly", and showcasing his resourcefulness and charm. The novel promises a journey filled with adventure, humor, and the thrill of showmanship, perfect for children and young adults.

William George "Gilbert" Patten was a writer of dime novels and is best known as author of the Frank Merriwell stories, with the pen name Burt L. Standish.