Frank was thinking these things over, when Harry came in with a rush, slamming the door and tripping over a rug in his haste.

“Say! say! say!” he spluttered, staring at Frank.

“Well, what is it?”

“Is it true?”

“Is what true?”

“I heard Paul Pierson was seen talking to you on the campus.”

“Well, what of that?”

“Then it is true?”

“Yes.”

“Gracious!  Pierson was never known to thing a do—­er—­do a thing like that before!”

“Is that so?”

“Is it so!  Why, you know it is so!  Think of Pierson—­the great and only
Pierson—­talking to a freshman on the campus in the middle of the day! 
Wow!”

“You are excited, Harry.  Sit down and cool off.”

“I’ll sit down, but you must tell me what he was saying to you.”

“Must I?”

“Must you?  I should say yes!  I am dying to know what he could be saying to a freshman!”

Frank was troubled, for he saw his roommate’s curiosity was aroused to the highest notch, and he knew it would be no easy thing to satisfy Harry without telling the truth.

“Go ahead,” urged Rattleton.  “What did Pierson say to you?”

“Oh, he said a number of things,” replied Frank, awkwardly.

Harry lifted his eyebrows.

“Haven’t a doubt of it,” he returned; “but what are they?”

Frank hesitated, and a cloud came to his friend’s face.

“You see, it is a private matter,” Merriwell explained.

“Oh!”

There was infinite sarcasm in that ejaculation.

“You know I would tell you if I could, Harry,” said Frank, rising; “but this is a matter which I—­”

“Oh, you needn’t trouble yourself!” Rattleton cut in, sharply.  “I’ll live just as long and be just as happy.”

“Now don’t be angry, old man; that is foolish.  You know I would tell you if I could do so without—­”

“Oh, I don’t know about that!  You are getting so you have secrets lately, and you don’t seem to trust me.  Say, if you think I am a sneak and a tattler, say so, for I want to know it.  I don’t care to room with any fellow who doesn’t trust me.”

Harry was angry, and Frank felt very sorry.

“Old man,” said Merriwell, meeting Rattleton’s sullen glance with a frank, open look, “I do trust you, and you should know it.  There is no fellow in college I would as soon room with.  Still, you should know there are some things a man cannot honorably tell even his chum.”

Harry was silent.

“Perhaps there are some things about yourself or some friend that you would not care to tell me,” Frank went on.  “I am not going to be offended at that.  It is your right to tell what you like and keep what you like to yourself.  A thing like that should not create feeling between us.”

“But this seems different.”

“Does it?  Well, I will explain that I told Pierson I would say nothing of the matter to anybody.  I do not believe in lying.  Do you want me to break my word in this case?”