“Who cares!” came recklessly from the girl. “He is nothing to me. I never promised to marry him, and I never will. Once I thought I might, but I have changed my mind since—since—a little while ago.”
Frank understood her, and he realized that he was in a very awkward position. His bravery in rescuing the girl, his chat with her, his general manliness, had led her to fall in love with him.
He looked at her, and she saw that he had read her secret. The hot color came to her face with a rush and swept down her neck.
“I am a fool!” she exclaimed, angrily. “I don’t know what you will think of me! I can’t help it; think what you like. I was brought up in the woods, and a few years at boarding school have not made me strictly proper and conventional. I hate shams and deceptions! There! As long as you will not do what I wish, I must do what I can for you, and you may find me a friend worth having. Perhaps I can recover that rifle for you without trouble. I will try it. Do you know, although we seem well acquainted now, I have not even learned your name?”
“And I am equally at a disadvantage in regard to you. My name is Frank Merriwell.”
“I like the sound of that name. It seems to fit you. Mr. Merriwell, I will try to recover your rifle for you. If you will come up to Blank Island to-morrow afternoon, I think I will have it for you.”
Now Merriwell was astounded.
“Why, how can that be?” he cried.
“Never mind. Come to-morrow afternoon. Will you?”
“Why—of course—yes——”