“Yes, I know Inza is a beautiful girl,” confessed Walter, though he did not like the manner in which Swift had spoken.

“She’s a peach!” the soldier declared. “I’m dead smashed on her, my boy!”

“Better not be.”

“Why?”

“I don’t think she likes you very well.”

Swift flushed a little, but forced a laugh.

“That’s because I expressed my mind concerning that fellow Merriwell. I didn’t know I was touching her so hard. But for the unpleasantness of the situation, I’d stood by my statements. I never liked him. See here, is Inza in love with that duffer?”

Walter shrugged his shoulders.

“Better not let him hear you speak of him like that. I don’t know whether she is in love with him or not.”

“Well, he’s smashed on her.”