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.