grimly declared.

"Father is gone," she said. "Out of the city!"

"And I wanted Merry to see him here this evening," in a tone of regret,
"Merry is to have a talk with him and try to get him to see that I am
not such a soaking Piute as I've been painted!"

"I'm sorry, too, Buck--though I was glad."

"Glad?"

"I intended to ask you into the house. Is it very wrong?"

"I don't think so!" he whispered, joy and triumph in his voice. "Where
you lead I will follow. By and by I hope we will walk abreast."

CHAPTER XX.

INTO A TRAP.

When Buck and Winnie walked into the house, they walked into a trap,
though the laying of a trap for them was not contemplated by Mr. Lee.

Encountering none of the servants, Winnie conducted Badger into the
parlor.

"Merriwell will be here soon, I allow."

"We're not afraid of Merriwell!"

"Only thinking that you and I want to have this meeting all to
ourselves. Then the servant that shows Merriwell up, if one does, may
see us, and I calculate that I ain't hankering to meet up with any of
your servants on this trip. None whatever!"

But Winnie was not disturbed.

"Father is going over to Hartford to-night on business," she laughed,
laying aside the scarf and jacket. "I heard him say to the cook that he
wouldn't return before to-morrow."

There was a certain exultant defiance in Badger's bearing that made him,
in spite of his bulky, heavy shoulders and modern clothing, somewhat
resemble some ancient knight ready to do battle for his "ladye fair."
Winnie Lee observed it, and was pleased. The Westerner's devotion was so
true that she felt rather proud of it And, indeed, Badger, in spite of
his many faults, failings, and weaknesses, had some admirable traits of
character.

All at once Winnie heard footsteps approaching the door of the parlor.
She thought the steps were those of a servant, and blamed herself for
not closing the door. Then a familiar form appeared in the doorway, and
her cheeks grew white. Buck Badger looked up at the same moment, and his
dark face flushed.

Fairfax Lee had changed his mind about going to Hartford! He had
returned home, let himself into the house, and walked up-stairs. Seeing
the light in the parlor, he had approached the door.

He was as much astonished as the lovers. For a moment not a word was
spoken. Winnie seemed about to swoon, and Badger put a hand on her
shoulder, as if to support her. Then Mr. Lee broke the silence, and
steppe