“That’s all right,” laughed Frank, good-naturedly. “You may have had good reasons for regarding tenderfeet with contempt, but now you will know all tenderfeet are not alike. I don’t hold feelings.”
“Thankee,” said Hough, as he led Wildfire away.
Frank glanced up toward the open window above and again he caught a glimpse of that sad, sweet face.
Mr. Carson shook hands with Frank.
“Now I know you are the kind of chap to succeed in life,” he declared. “I can see that you do whatever you undertake to do. I am beginning to understand better and better how it happened that my boy thought so much of you.”
He took Frank by the arm, and together they walked toward the house. Again Merry glanced upward, but, somewhat to his disappointment, that face had vanished.
It was after supper that Merry and Hodge were sitting alone on the veranda in front of the house, when Bart suddenly said, in a low tone:
“Merriwell, I have a fancy that there is something mysterious about this place.”
“Is that so?” said Frank. “What is it?”
“I think there is some one in one of those upper rooms who is never seen by the rest of the people about the place.”