"Now, what are you going to do?"
"Hanged if I know, Merriwell! I'll be driven to something desperate, soon. Tell me what the girls said about it."
"I don't think they knew anything about it. They reported that Winnie had been sick in her room, and the doctor had instructed that they were not to see her or disturb her."
"Is she in the house, then?"
"I can't tell. She may be, and she may not be. One thing is sure, Buck. Her father is not going to let you see her again. And that makes me think it possible he has spirited her out of the city. If she is in the house, the pretense that she is sick cannot be kept up long."
"I don't know about that," said the Kansan dubiously. "I allow that likely she is sick. The thing has almost sent me to bed, and the effect on her might be as bad."
"Worse, probably."
"If she is sick in that house, I'm going to see her, if I have to fight my way in."
"And be arrested. No, that's not the way, Badger. I'll see Elsie and Inza this evening, and we'll find out something definite."
"You have helped me before in this matter, Merry!" the Kansan gratefully exclaimed.