black, who seemed to be staring wonderingly at the boy. To Frank's
surprise, this man followed him about.

Finally the stranger slipped softly to Frank's side, and hoarsely
whispered the question with which this chapter opens. At the same
time, he pointed to a peculiar ring which Merriwell wore on the third
finger of his left hand.

Frank drew back, looking the man over from head to feet.

"I beg your pardon, sir," he said, in a manner that was intended to
repulse further advances.

But the man was not to be choked off thus easily.

"The ring," he repeated. "I asked you where you obtained it."

"I know you did," said the boy, coolly.

"Answer me!" sibilated the stranger, his brows darkening beneath the
wide brim of the hat, and a gleam of fire showing in his eyes. "Tell
me the truth, boy!"

"I don't know why I should answer you," said Frank. "I do not know
you, and I do not understand what right you have to ask me such a
question."

The man in black bit his lip, and hesitated. After a moment, he forced
a smile that was far from agreeable to see, although he plainly meant
that it should reassure the boy, and, in a low tone, he rapidly said:

"That ring is very odd, and it attracted my attention for that reason.
I am a great collector of curios, and especially of quaint and curious
rings. I have traveled the world over in search of the quaint and
curious, and I have a collection of nearly five hundred rings of all
patterns, makes and values. This collecting of rings has become a fad,
or mania, with me. Whenever I see an odd or peculiar ring, I am
immediately seized by a great desire to possess it; but I always want
to know its history. It enhances the value of a ring to know its
history. I assure you that some rings have very queer histories,
indeed."

Frank watched the man closely as he was speaking, and, although it was
plain that the stranger was trying to secure the boy's confidence,
Merriwell continued to regard him with suspicion and aversion. There
was something about this person's dark face and sinister aspect that
was extremely repulsive to the lad.

Once more the man smiled, as if making a desperate attempt to thaw the
cool reserve of the boy; but he had begun in a very poor way, for Frank
remained cold and distant.

"Some of my rings," went on the man in black, "have tales of bloodshed
and murder connected with them, and these are interesting in their way.
Some recall romances of