The very sight of the Lee home quickened Badger's heart-beats.

He felt that he would give anything to know if Winnie was in the house, or had been spirited away.
"Like enough, her father has locked her in her room! But there ain't any keys whatever that are made strong enough to keep me from seeing her.
I'll do it sooner or later." Fortune favored the Westerner--fortune and his sweetheart, Winnie Lee.
Winnie was as wildly anxious to see Buck as he was to see her.

She had been locked in her room for stubbornness in refusing to promise never to see Badger again, and the other girls had been told that she was ill and could not be seen.

They knew better now, for Winnie had finally bribed and coaxed one of the servants to tell them the truth.

They had not known it long, but long enough for Inza--indignant as she was brave, and brave as she was indignant--to send to Winnie a note, signed by herself and Elsie, assuring the unhappy girl of their sympathy and firm friendship.