Frank was alarmed.
“My dear fellow,” he cried, “you are an easy mark. That girl is shrewd—altogether too shrewd for you to match your wits against hers. She will play you for a fool—I am sure of it.”
Bart reddened again and then turned very pale, his manner indicating great embarrassment. He drew from Frank a bit, and something in his air added to Merriwell’s alarm.
“I hope you haven’t been very friendly with Isa Isban,” Frank said.
“I might have been more friendly, but she had a foolish idea that it would injure me if I were seen with her often.”
“She had such an idea?”
“Yes; and that goes to show the girl’s heart is all right. She had consideration for me.”
Frank bit his lip and scowled.
“It is remarkable,” he confessed. “Are you sure it was out of consideration for you that she did not wish you seen with her?”
“Sure? Of course.”