He of the fine face smiled, and his smile was fully as wonderful as the face which it lighted.
“They will be more than surprised,” he said.
A few moments there came a rustling on the carpeted stairs. With a rush that was little short of a run, Inza Burrage came down, followed a little later by Elsie Bellwood.
Inza, her eyes shining like twin stars, her cheeks aglow, entered the room. The youth of the fine face sprang toward her and she was clasped in his arms.
“Inza!” he cried, his voice hoarse with deep feeling.
“Frank!” she answered. “Oh, Frank! Frank!”
He kissed her again and again.
Fred Fillmore started up, feeling in his bosom a terrible sensation that he had never before experienced. He could not bear to see her held thus in those strong arms and kissed in that manner. In his heart something seemed ready to burst. For a moment he stood with his hands clenched, longing to rush in there and tear her from the man.
Then he turned away and fled with noiseless steps.
“That’s the man!” hissed Fillmore, as he found his way to the rear of the house and ascended the back stairs. “That’s Merriwell!”