“It can’t be that you are in earnest, Jack?” he said.
“I am.”
“I can’t believe it! You know I am not down on you. I do not get down on any one in such a way. I have proved to you in the past that I am your friend. I have not changed in the least. It was no more than natural that I should be overjoyed to see my old chums, but their appearance has not caused me to change toward you in the least.”
Jack looked sulky.
“That’s easy enough to say,” he muttered.
Those words brought the color to Merriwell’s face.
“Jack Diamond!” he cried, and his voice rang out clear and cutting, “did you ever know me to lie?”
“No, but this is a case where——”
“Do you wish to insult me? It can’t be that you do, Jack! Your words were thoughtlessly spoken. I know it. You have not been well of late, and that is why you are unlike your old self.”
“If I have changed so much, it is best that I should get out, and I will do it. I didn’t mean to insult you, Merriwell, and I take back anything that seemed like an insult. I never knew you to lie, and I do not believe you could be forced to tell an untruth.”