Again Frank laughed.
“Who cares as long as Yale won!” he cried.
“Everybody cares at Yale. I tell you, Merriwell, you’ll find you are the thing when you get back there! You had enemies once, but they’re all in the soup now. Not even the Chickering set dares breathe a word against you in public, for they know it would mean tar and feathers. You’ll find the professors ready to take off their hats to you. And everybody is kicking because this is your last term at the old college.”
“My boy, you make me afraid to go back there; but I hope it is not as bad as you say, for I couldn’t stand it. I don’t want anybody bowing down to me. I’m just plain Frank Merriwell, and nothing more.”
“Which means that to-day you are the greatest and best-known young man in this country. Oh, I’m not putting it on too thick! Can you wonder that Yale dreads to lose you? Can you wonder that your absence has produced no end of worry?”
Frank knew Starbright was sincere. He had entertained a feeling of resentment toward the freshman because of his suspicions concerning Inza; but now Merry realized once more that Dick was scarcely anything but a big, impressionable boy, and must be regarded as such.
“I shall be sorry to leave without seeing Inza or hearing anything about her,” admitted Frank.
Instantly the cloud returned to Starbright’s face.
“Inza!” he muttered bitterly.
They had reached Thirty-third Street.