n the minority. Now I can say what I please."

What Mrs. Bahrr really knew, of course, she couldn't swear to in any
court, because of Laura and York Macpherson. She wouldn't shame them,
because they had befriended a fraud, all with good intentions. She only
came now because she'd been promised protection by the board from what
folks would say, and she was speaking what must _never_ be repeated.

"Most of us need that kind of protection when you are around," Ponk
declared, vehemently, knowing that, while the school board would keep
her words sacred, nothing said or done in that trial would be held
sacred by her as soon as the decision she wished for was reached.

Stellar, feeling herself safe, paid no heed to Ponk. What she really
knew was that a certain young lady had been known to take money from her
hostess and, being caught, had been forced to give it up. Stellar
herself saw and heard the whole thing when it happened. Laura had told
her about the matter, and then, when she was just leaving, Jerry had
returned the money. She was right outside of the vines on the porch, and
she knew. Stellar knew that dollars and dollars, jewelry, silverware,
and other valuables had been taken, and some of them never restored; but
some was sneaked back when the pressure got too strong. In a word,
through much talk and little sense, Miss Geraldine Swaim was branded a
high-toned thief. And worse than that. For three years strange men had
slipped to the Macpherson home when the folks were away, and been let
out by the side door. Real low-down-looking fellows. Stellar had seen
them herself. She had a way of running 'cross lots up to Laury's
evenings, and _she knew_ what she was talking about. Stellar dropped her
eyes now, not caring to look at Jerry. Her blow had hit home and she was
exultant.

"Has the young lady anything to say?" Lenwell of the school board asked,
feeling a twinge of pity, after all, because the case was even stronger
than he had hoped it could be made.

Jerry looked over at Stellar Bahrr until she was forced to lift her eyes
to the girl's face.

"I cannot understand the degree of hate that can be developed in a human
mind," she said, calmly. "That is all I have to say."

Junius Brutus Ponk's round face seemed to blacken like a Kansas sky
before the coming of a hail-storm. Lenwell gave a snort of triumph, and
the third member of the board grinned.

At that moment the door of the hotel parlor opened. Jerry, who sa