At 8:25 o'clock the pupils were expected to be in the various cla.s.s rooms. At 8:30 the gongs called the marching hosts to the great hall at the top of the building. The boys filed in on one side, the girls on the other. Many of the cla.s.ses throughout the school were mixed cla.s.ses; but naturally in certain studies the girls and boys were divided, especially the Junior and Senior years.

The High School course consisted of four years of study. Laura Belding and most of her friends were Soph.o.m.ores. Therefore they could join in all the advanced athletics proposed by the Girls' Branch Athletic a.s.sociation.

Mr. Sharp was a tall, scholarly looking man; but his seriousness of countenance was belied somewhat by eyes that twinkled cordially behind his spectacles. He had a quick apprehension of character. He understood boys thoroughly-and most of his male pupils liked Mr. Sharp. But he gave over a deal of the management of the girls to his female a.s.sistants-especially to Miss Carrington.

The latter was unquestionably an able woman; she knew the science of teaching and her marks in teachers' examinations were always the highest of any teacher in the Centerport schools. But her outlook upon life _was_ awfully serious! Mr. Sharp could have endured better an a.s.sistant with a character more lenient to the failings and weaknesses of humanity.

Of course, however, the fire on Sat.u.r.day could by no means be condoned.

In the first place it had come about through a flagrant piece of impudence upon the part of a pupil. The pupils expected to hear from Mr.

Sharp about the fire, and they were not disappointed.

"I am compelled to call the attention of the cla.s.ses to an accident which occurred downstairs in my office on Sat.u.r.day," he began. "When we are good-natured enough to allow the school property, entrusted to our care, to be used for purposes aside from the regular cla.s.s work, we have a right to expect those pupils enjoying the privilege to be more than usually careful of such property.

"I mean this for the attention of the boys as well as the girls," he continued. "The girls, however, are at fault in this instance. It was their meeting that was held in the music room, and they had entrance to my office. Now a new rug is to be bought and my desk repaired, to say nothing of the purchase of four goldfish-four, I believe, is the number.

"Fire is a dangerous element to play with. I understand that the accident arose out of a so-called joke that one of our brilliant young ladies evolved-and evolved particularly for the disturbance of her teacher. That was not a nice or lady-like thing to do. I believe the culprit understands that fully now.

"But there is always a greater danger than the commission of such an act. That is the denying of the act after it is committed. I hope you all understand that. The old saw of 'A fault confessed is half redressed' has no 'bromide' qualities. It is a fundamental truth.

Honesty above everything-that should be the motto of us all.

"To deny a fault committed, in short, makes the fault a double one. I think I have said enough upon this topic. The faculty will, of course, judge the guilty young woman in this instance as leniently as possible; but we must be just as well as merciful. You are excused to your cla.s.ses."

Not until the forenoon recess did the sophs, who were Bobby Hargrew's closest friends, have an opportunity of commiserating with her. She had regained her composure by that time, however, and showed a plucky front.

"He intimated that I was untruthful," Bobby said, angrily. "It isn't fair. There is no evidence against me but--"

"But the evidence of the fire itself, Bobby," Nellie Agnew observed, quietly.

"I realize that. It is a mystery. I was last in the office-I was there alone, too. But I know what I did with that piece of punk, and I was not near the basket at any time."

"Don't lose your temper," advised Laura Belding. "That will not help you."

"It's all right for you girls to talk," said Bobby, sadly. "But Mr.

Sharp has left it to Gee Gee, and she believes I would tell a story about it."

"Have patience-and hope for the best," said Laura. "The truth will surely come out in the end."

"But when will the end be?" demanded Bobby. "Oh! I think it is too mean for anything!"

"It doesn't pay to get Gee Gee down on you," said Jess. "I'm going to be very careful myself."

"And we'll all have to be careful if we expect to join in these after-school athletics. Gee Gee doesn't fancy the new a.s.sociation, anyway," said one of the Lockwood twins.

"I'm not so awfully eager myself to belong," said Jess. "We've got to wear those ugly suits--"

"And no furbelows," laughed Laura. "Oh, Jess, we all know your failing.

Who is more devoted to the fashion magazines and the powder-puff than Josephine Morse?"

"It is the duty of every girl to look her very best at all times,"

declared Jess, confidently. "My mother says so."

"And that's what makes the boys laugh at us," remarked the other twin-no use saying which one, for n.o.body knew Dora and Dorothy apart. Gee Gee had long since put them on their honor not to recite for each other!

It was at noon that Miss Carrington called Clara Hargrew to her desk.

"Now, Miss Hargrew, I expect you to tell me the truth about this matter," the teacher said, very sternly.

"I never in my life told you an untruth, ma'am!" exclaimed the girl.

"I have always believed you truthful," admitted the teacher. "But this is a ridiculous claim you make--"

"I _did_ carry that piece of punk out and throw it in the gutter."

"Did you look for it there?" asked Miss Carrington, quickly.

"Yes. I looked yesterday morning, even if it was Sunday. But the street men had flushed out the gutters before I arrived."

"That is curious, Miss Hargrew," said the teacher, doubtfully.

"It is the truth. I did not set the fire--"

"Then how did it start?"

"I know no more about it than you do, ma'am."

"Ahem! But you threw something into the basket?"

"I did not. I did not go near the basket."

"You are determined to stick to that, are you, Miss?" asked the teacher, sharply.

"I am determined to tell you nothing but the truth."

"Wait!" commanded the teacher. Then she turned and sent one of the lingering girls at the door of the cla.s.sroom for Hester Grimes. When Hester came she looked somewhat troubled, but she did not glance at Bobby.

"Miss Grimes," said the teacher, "I have called you to repeat what you said to me before. You must say it before Miss Hargrew."

"I-I don't want to get Clara into any trouble," muttered the red-faced girl.

Bobby looked at her in surprise. "How long since, Hessie?" she demanded.

"You never were too tender of me before."

"Be still!" commanded Miss Carrington, angrily. "Miss Grimes!"

"Well, I was the last to leave the office, and I saw Clara throw something into the wastebasket."

"Oo-h!" exclaimed the culprit.

"Yes, I did!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Hester.