suffering under the tree in the orchard. When the bell rang this morning
she was on the swing, and I was the last girl to enter the hall. I saw
her on the swing then."

A pin, dropped, might have been heard in the room. It was so like a
trial to have Dorothy there "giving testimony."

"Well, that ain't the story I have," drawled the squire. "Where's that
wild harum-scarum Tavia Travers? She's the one that's blamed."

"Tavia Travers!" called the astonished Miss Ellis, but of course there
came no answer.

"Absent!" answered a girl from the back row.

"Can you tell us where she is?" Miss Ellis asked Dorothy.

"At home I believe," answered Dorothy simply.

"Well, this matter must be fully investigated," declared the squire,
"thoroughly and fully investigated. Girls or boys who cut up tricks must
be punished. Dalton will not stand any nonsense when it comes to life
and limb," and again the cane thumped the floor. "I propose, as squire
of the borough, to run this thing down to the very end. School girls
now-a-days put on too many airs--copyin' after college rowdies with
their pranks!"

While the teacher and squire were talking in the hall the pupils took
advantage of the opportunity to express their opinions of the case, and
what were meant to be whispered remarks soon reached a pitch of voice