“Mr. Swift!” she cried, in disappointment.

“Yes,” he laughed. “Quite a joke on you, wasn’t it? Ha, ha, ha!”

She drew herself up proudly, her eyes flashing.

“A joke, sir?”

“Why, yes; you thought you were coming down to see Merriwell. Ha, ha! That was a joke!”

“I must say you have very peculiar ideas of a joke! You gave a false name.”

“Perhaps the servant misunderstood me.”

“No; you gave your name as Frank Merriwell. You knew I was engaged caring for my father, and might not find time to come down. It was a trick!”

“But you could find time to come down for Merriwell?”

“He is a friend—he saved my life and the life of my father yesterday.”