“The secret——”
“I shall keep. All the same, you have no reason in the world to be jealous. I swear it. If you will permit, I’ll gladly be your friend and Miss Lee’s.”
“Let me go!”
“Not so soon.”
“Please don’t hurt him, Merriwell!” entreated Cassie, anxiously.
Those words made Havener squirm. He felt the disgrace of being handled thus easily by a beardless youth. At the same time, he was filled with admiration and astonishment because of Frank’s strength.
“I’ll not injure him,” promised Frank; “but he must come to his senses before I let him go. He must promise not to act like a fool.”
“Let go,” said Havener. “I was a fool to get stuck on the girl! Said I’d never let another one fool me after my first mistake, but a man don’t know much when it comes to women.”
“You will make a fool of yourself if you break with Miss Lee because you think there is anything between us, that’s sure.”
“What was the secret?”