Walter had been tracked by members of the secret order, and while he was negotiating with the doctor the trailers came in upon them, captured them both, secured the stick, bound them, set fire to the place, and fled. The old doctor died in the hospital the following day from the wound on his head, given him when he was struck down by the Chinamen. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XX STARBRIGHT SPEAKS OUT. Frank Merriwell and Dick Starbright sat alone in Merry’s room in the Fifth Avenue Hotel. It was long past midnight, and, despite the exciting adventures of the last few hours, Jack Diamond had retired in an adjoining room and was already wrapped in the arms of slumber. In the morning, Frank and Dick expected to start for New Haven and Yale, but this had not prevented them from remaining up to talk over the strange happenings of the day. The freshman was eager to talk, and Merry gave him an opportunity. There was a burden on Starbright’s mind, and the big, open-hearted youth felt that it would be impossible for him to sleep till he had freed himself of the load. Having slipped to the door of the adjoining room and closed it quietly, Dick came back and stood before Frank, who looked at him questioningly. “Merry,” said the big freshman, “I am not worthy of her!” “You mean——” “Inza.” “I thought——” “I know I am not worthy of her, for I doubted her.” There was a look of shame on the face of the big fellow that touched Merry deeply, yet, believing Dick was entitled to feel shame, Frank did not speak. “At first I doubted you,” the Andover man went on. “I had no right to do that, for it was I who came between you and Inza.” Merriwell made a gesture of protest. “Don’t stop me!” pleaded Dick. “I know what I am saying. I also know that I never really won a place in her heart. I may have aroused her admiration by something I did, and she liked me; but that was all, and I know she did not love me.” “How do you know?” “I can’t tell you just now; but I know it now—there isn’t a doubt about it.” But Frank could not feel so sure, and he shook his head. “If you were anybody but yourself you would see it, too,” asserted Starbright earnestly. “She loves you, Frank—she has always loved you. I know that!” “Oh, my dear boy, you are quite wrong!” quickly cried Frank. “She has told me with her own lips that her affection for me was merely that which a sister might feel for a very dear brother.” “And did you think she would tell you anything else unless you were the first to speak?” demanded Dick. “You are astute and far-seeing, Merry, but in this matter you have been blind as a bat. She is proud. Do you think she’d let you know how much she cared for you, thinking as she did that you cared more for another? Of course she would tell you she could never be anything but a sister to you.”