She reached out her hand, which trembled the least bit, and took up the glass. And then, just as Dunton was clinking his glass against that of his pretty companion, Frank walked round the screen. The girl lifted her glass to drink. Merriwell stood beside the table. “Miss,” he said, quietly, “I wouldn’t do it if I were you.” She gave a little cry of alarm, and nearly dropped the glass. Dunton stared at Frank and muttered an exclamation of astonishment. “Oh, it’s Mr. Merriwell!” cried the girl, in mingled delight, confusion and shame, as she put the wine down. “Yes, it is!” said Dunton; “but where the dickens did he come from?” Frank looked the actor sternly in the eyes. “I think I wasted my breath when I talked to you to-night, Dunton,” he said. The man moved restlessly in his chair, and his face flushed in an angry way. “Have you been spying on me, Mr. Merriwell?” he demanded. “I have been watching you,” said Frank, honestly. “It was purely by accident that I saw you come in here with this young lady. I came in also and sat out there beyond the screen. I sat down where, by the aid of the mirror yonder, I could see everything you did.” Dunton’s anger threatened to flare forth. He half started up, but dropped back, grating his teeth together. His look just then reminded Merry of the time when, infuriated beyond endurance, Dunton had tried to wound or kill Frank in a sword combat on the stage. “Why have you done this?” snarled the angry actor. “Because I was impressed by the innocent appearance of this girl, and I feared for her safety. I thought it possible I had been mistaken till I saw this wine brought on, and now——” “Now—what?” hissed Dunton, in great excitement. “Now,” said Frank, looking straight into the eyes of the girl, “I’m going to take this young lady home!” With a savage exclamation Dunton sprang to his feet, staring at Frank. “Well, this is the greatest case of nerve!” he exclaimed. The girl looked frightened and seemed on the verge of bursting into tears. “Steady, Dunton!” commanded Merry, turning on him. “Don’t make a scene. It will do no good.” “Do you think this is a very nice thing for you to do, Mr. Merriwell!” panted Dunton. “Don’t you think you are overstepping the bounds?” “I fancy not.” “But the young lady will not go with you!” “On the contrary, I am quite sure she will.” “Not on your life! She is with me! I believe you are jealous because you did not catch on with——” “Stop!” That word cut the speaker off instantly. Merriwell’s eyes looked dangerous just then, and Dunton knew Frank could not be trifled with when he was aroused. “Oh, very well!” said the actor, with an effort to be mildly sarcastic. “I presume you will walk in here and take the young lady away from me without her consent? It is barely possible she may have something to say about it.” “It is,” admitted Frank, “and I propose to let her say it, but still I am sure she will permit me to see her safely home.”