the previous night. The tree in front of Durfee still bore
a large quantity of "fruit." The tab of Badger's shirt was there.

"Come over here and pick out your property!" shouted a student who was
standing in a group near the tree.

Badger strode on without a word, for he was in no humor for
pleasantries.

"Fruit!" squealed Danny Griswold.

"Where are you going, my pretty maid?" Bink Stubbs sang from his perch
on the fence.

"Going to hunt up those cats," said the Westerner, with sarcastic scorn.
"I hear their kittens squawling for them!"

Danny fell over against Bink.

"A joke from Badger!" he murmured. "Somebody fan me!"

"I'll fan you!" grunted Bink, who was not pleased with the Kansan's
retort, pushing Danny roughly from him.

"Do!" begged Danny. "That took my breath. What will happen next?"

Badger swung on at a swift, nervous pace, and mounted to Frank's room.

"Come in!" Frank sung out, as the Kansan's knuckles hammered on the
door.

He was rather surprised to see Badger at that hour. But he put away the
book he had been studying, and pushed out a chair.

"Take a seat!" he invited.

"I reckon you'll think it's mighty funny that I should come to you for
advice and help?"

"Why, no! It's a way my friends have. And they know that I am always
ready to do whatever I can for them."

"Well, it's about Winnie!" said Badger bluntly. Whereupon, in a few
words, he told his story.

"That rather stumps me, Badger," Frank admitted. "I think, though, that
the straight way is the best. If you're willing, I will see Lee in your
behalf. I shall have to admit to him that you were intoxicated at that
time, but I'll try to make him see that you are pretty straight goods,
for all of that. Perhaps a few words from one who knows you will be
helpful."

"If you will, Merry, I can't ever thank you enough. It will be about as
big a favor, I allow, as one man ever did for another, and I sha'n't
forget it."

Merriwell looked at his watch.

"I can't go to his office this afternoon, but I'll see him at his house
to-night. I may be late getting there, but I'll try to time it to be
there when he gets home from his club."

Badger went away as if walking on air. He could hardly think of anything
else throughout the remainder of the day, and night found him in the
vicinity of the Lee home, even though he had a feeling that Merriwell
would prefer he should keep away from there until the result of the
promised interview w