m, and I was so ashamed of him for having such
friends! I was afraid they would stay there until dark, but they
finally got up and walked toward the station. I waited a few moments,
went softly along behind them, and when I was near enough I cleared my
throat (oh, it was a fearful moment!), and said, 'I beg your pardon,
but can you direct me to Professor Salazar's house?' and then in a
dramatic tone, 'Why, it is--is n't it?--Edgar Noble of Santa Barbara!'
He joined me, of course. Oh, I can't begin to tell you all the steps
of the affair, I am so exhausted. Suffice it to say that he walked to
Professor Salazar's with me to make my excuses, came over to town with
me, came up to the house, I trembling for fear he would slip through my
fingers at any moment; then, you know, he stayed to dinner, I in terror
all the time as the fatal hours approached and departed; and there he
is, 'the captive of my bow and spear,' tucked up in Mrs. Howe's best
bed, thanks to your ingenuity! I could never have devised that last
plot, mamma; it was a masterpiece!"

"You did a kind deed, little daughter," said Mrs. Oliver, with a kiss.
"But poor Mrs. Noble! What can we do for her? We cannot play
policemen all the time. We are too far from Edgar to know his plans,
and any interference of which he is conscious would be worse than
nothing. I cannot believe that he is far wrong yet. He certainly
never appeared better; so polite and thoughtful and friendly. Well, we
must let the morrow bring counsel."

"I hope that smirking, odious Tony is disappointed!" said Polly
viciously, as she turned out the gas. "I distinctly heard him tell
Edgar to throw a handkerchief over my hair if we should pass any wild
cattle! How I 'd like to banish him from this vicinity! Invite Edgar
to dinner next week, mamma; not too soon, or he will suspect missionary
work. Boys hate to be missionaried, and I 'm sure I don't blame them.
I hope he is happy downstairs in his little prison! He ought to be, if
ignorance is bliss!"

CHAPTER VIII.

TWO FIRESIDE CHATS.

It was five o'clock Saturday afternoon, and Edgar Noble stood on the
Olivers' steps, Mrs. Oliver waving her hand from an upper window, and
Polly standing on the stairs saying good-by.

"Come over to dinner some night, won't you, Edgar?" she asked
carelessly; "any night you like, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday."

"Wednesday, please, as it comes first!" said Edgar roguishly. "May I
help cook it