CHAPTER XXVII
ELSIE’S STRANGE FLIGHT.
Buck Badger and his wife, former Winnie Lee, were in New Haven, having come on to visit Winnie’s relatives during the holidays. Coming up the stairs in Vanderbilt Hall, they saw through the open doorway Frank and Inza talking by the window. At that moment, Frank turned, saw them, uttered an exclamation of surprise and pleasure, and sprang forward with outstretched hands.
“Buck!” he cried. “Is it possible? And Winnie! Excuse me—Mrs. Badger.”
“But Winnie still, Frank,” laughed the handsome young wife, her face suffused with color.
Frank had Badger by the hand, while Winnie and Inza rushed into each other’s arms.
“Well, if this isn’t great!” cried Merriwell.
“That’s whatever!” came from the lips of Badger, who quivered through all his sturdy frame.
“Talk about surprises! I’m overjoyed to see you!”
“And I,” said the young rancher, “am just roaring glad to grip the hand of the best friend I ever had in all my life! I can’t say more, Merriwell; but I mean that—I mean it! You were my best friend. I’ve had time to think the old days here at Yale all over and over a hundred times, and I allow I’ve come to see things in their right light. I was an onery coyote, but you were my friend, and you kept me from going to the dogs. You gave me Winnie,” he whispered, “the best and truest little wife a man ever had! I can never repay you for that, Frank!”
“Don’t talk about paying for anything,” said Merriwell. “I am paid a thousand times for anything I did for you by seeing your happiness, old man. But I think you’re giving me credit for doing altogether too much. I don’t know that I ever did much of anything for you.”