arose and did so.

As he passed through the grove and came out near the old picnic-ground,
he suddenly halted and stepped behind a tree, for he had come upon two
persons in earnest conversation.

They were Inza Burrage and Leslie Gage!

CHAPTER XI.

TRUSTING AND TRUE.

Instantly a surge of jealousy swept over Frank Merriwell. How did it
come about that Gage had met Inza there? Was it by appointment?

Belinda Snodd and May Blossom were in plain view a short distance away,
and Wat Snell was trying to make himself agreeable to them.

Without intending to eavesdrop, Frank paused there a moment,
unconsciously listening. He heard Inza say:

"The others cannot hear you now, Mr. Gage, so you can tell me the
important thing you have to reveal."

"I don't know as you will be pleased to hear it," said Gage, with an
attempt at great apparent sincerity, "for it is about your friend,
Frank Merriwell, and you will not like to hear anything unpleasant of
him."

Inza drew herself up proudly.

"You cannot tell me anything of Mr. Merriwell that will make me think
less of him," she declared, her dark eyes flashing.

That was enough to chain Frank to the spot; he could not have slipped
away then had he desired to do so.

"Perhaps not," said Gage, with a significant smile, "but I think I can."

"How has Frank Merriwell ever injured you that you should be slandering
him behind his back?"

For an instant this staggered Leslie, like a blow in the face, but he
swiftly recovered.

"Oh, Merriwell has never injured me, and I haven't the least thing in
the world against him," he said, smoothly; "but I do take an interest
in you, and it makes me sorry to see you so absorbed in a fellow
utterly unworthy of your friendship--utterly unworthy to be spoken to
or even noticed by you."

Gage spoke rapidly, for he saw she was eager to interrupt him. Her
face grew pale, and she stamped one small foot angrily on the ground,
as she flung back:

"This is not the first time you have tried to injure him, and you
should be ashamed! Why, he saved you from the Eagle's Ledge, after you
had fallen over Black Bluff."

"Which was exactly what any fellow would have done for another under
similar circumstances. That is not to his credit. I beg you to
listen. It has taken me some time to make up my mind to tell you the
truth--to warn you, and now I must. To begin with, Merriwell comes of
an uncertain family, although, I believe, he h