"I think you know me, Dade," said Merry, advancing.
The young man on the bed leaped up.
"Merriwell!" he gasped.
"Yes," said Starbright. "I ran across him by accident and brought him here to see you."
Morgan lifted his clinched hand and placed his arm across his eyes for a moment, the attitude being one of intense humiliation and shame.
"What made you bring him?" he muttered huskily. "I—I didn't want any one but you to—to know anything about——"
Frank grasped the hand of the humiliated youth.
"You know I'm your friend, Morgan," he said earnestly. "I urged Dick to bring me along. What if you have been up against hard luck? Every fellow is pretty certain to face it sooner or later."
"But I—I——"
Morgan choked and was unable to go on. It was a terrible ordeal for him.