“How do you know?”
“Oh, didn’t I hear him talking to her when he knelt beside her after escaping from the wreck. She had not recovered, and he thought she was dead. He gave himself away then.”
“Well, if Frank Merriwell is in love with my sister, I am very glad.”
“But marriage does not always follow love,” said Swift, in a mean, insinuating way.
Walter Burrage whirled on the fellow, his face dark with anger.
“Don’t make any nasty talk like that!” he exclaimed. “I have only one arm, but I won’t stand for it, Swift!”
“Oh, I didn’t mean anything!” the soldier protested. “But I was led to understand that Merriwell and Inza are not engaged.”
“I do not know whether they are or not. If I did, I might not tell you, for I regard it as none of your business.”
Then Walter walked out of the room and left Swift there.