"Speak up, speak up, what's on your mind?" urged Mollie slangily.

"Well," said Betty, "there is Mr. Haig, principal of Deepdale High. He
knows pretty nearly every one at the university where Professor Dempsey
used to teach and he is more than likely to know whether the professor has
any sons and what their names are."

"Yes, that is all right as far as it goes," broke in Mollie impatiently.

"We all know Mr. Haig--" Amy began, but this time it was Grace who
interrupted.

"Yes, we all know him," she said. "But I'd like to know if there is any
one of us--except Betty perhaps--who would have the nerve to go to him and
ask him a question like that--"

"Say, who's telling this story I'd like to know," broke in Betty
impatiently. "I'm not asking any one to go to Mr. Haig with that question
or any other--although I would be perfectly willing to brave the lion in
his den if there were no other way. My plan is this. Dad knows Mr. Haig,
you know--went to school with him--old college chums and all that. I'm
sure that if we asked him real pretty he would go to Mr. Haig and find out
about Professor Dempsey for us."

"Then suppose we find out that Professor Dempsey hasn't any sons by the
name of James and Arnold?" suggested Grace.

"Then we shall be mighty glad we took the trouble to find out and set our
minds at rest," answered Betty soberly.