Surely there could be no harm in telling this, and it might enable him to get rid of the stranger, so he said: "It was given to me by my mother." "And your mother--how did she obtain it ?" swiftly asked the stranger.
"My father gave it to her.

I do not know how it came into his possession." "Your father and mother----" "Are dead." "Ha! And you prize the ring because it was a present from your mother ?" "That is one reason." "And there is another ?" "Yes." "What ?" It suddenly struck Frank that he was talking altogether too much, and so he answered: "I decline to say.

I have already told you enough, and I beg you to excuse me.

We will part here." "First answer one more question.

What was your father's name ?" "Charles Conrad Merriwell." The man in black put a hand to his eyes, and seemed to be thinking for a moment.