“I shall be prepared for Mr. Hooker, be sure of that. But you must take care not to let him know you have told me.”
“Little danger of that. I wouldn’t dare. Joe invited me to come to the theater with him to see Sam square the score. I shall be here, and I do hope you will look out.”
“Don’t worry at all about that, Miss Blaney. Now that I know what is coming, there is not the least danger in the world that I shall not be ready.”
“I am glad I was able to warn you, Mr. Merriwell.”
“It may prove a most fortunate thing for me. I thank you, Miss Blaney. I shall not forget your kindness.”
He held out his hand, and she grasped it eagerly, looking up into his face.
“Oh, Mr. Merriwell!” she exclaimed; “I hope you’ll not think of me as so very bad! I hope you won’t remember me that way!”
“No,” he said, looking straight into her eyes; “I shall not think of you that way, Miss Blaney. I shall think of you as the joy of your mother in her old age. I shall think of you as loving and soothing her in her declining years. I hope I shall not be mistaken in my thoughts.”
“You shall not!” she said, earnestly; “I promise you that, Frank Merriwell! I will be a better girl in the future. It will help me to be better knowing you remember me that way. Good-by.”
She turned hurriedly and was gone.