to defend me," she exclaimed.
"I want Miss Elder to come in!"

"We are both your friends," said Principal Sills.

Miss Owens' face flushed at the criticism. "And you know Kit, I have
always been friendly."

"You are not being friendly now and you are not being just, that is
certain. I need someone who will believe me in spite of this, and will
help to straighten it out."

Miss Elder was sent for and came in, her eyes smouldering with sympathy
for the girl. And right behind her came Bet. The three girls had gone
to Miss Elder as soon as class was dismissed, Joy and Shirley in tears,
but Bet, stamping up and down the room in a rage.

"Let me go to Mr. Sills!" she cried. "I'll tell him something. Why
Kit wouldn't cheat. She just couldn't!"

"Now Bet, keep calm. If you want to help Kit, you must."

So when the call came from the office, Bet begged to be allowed to
accompany Miss Elder.

Kit smiled when she saw Bet's troubled face. Stepping forward, she
grasped the hand of her friend. "Don't you worry, Bet. I didn't do it
and just as long as you and Miss Elder believe in me, I'll win out."

Mr. Sills handed the test paper to Miss Elder. "I have marked the few
trifling errors on the margin. Do you think it possible that a girl
who has studied Latin only a few months could write such a paper? Do
either of you believe it?" he asked, looking toward Bet.

Bet was about to deliver a speech in defense of her friend, but Kit
frowned and put her finger to her lips and Bet kept quiet.

Miss Elder spoke: "I have taken a particular interest in Kit Patten and
I do not believe it possible that she would cheat in any way!"

Bet's eyes were shining: "Why not give her another chance? Keep her
right here in the office and let her do another exam. Then you can
watch her every second."

Mr. Sills went quietly toward a filing cabinet and selected an old
examination paper. "Here is one that is almost as difficult. Sit over
there and begin."

Miss Elder looked her sympathy. "Do you think it quite fair? After a
hard day at the examinations and then all this emotional strain of the
last hour, how can she do her best now?"

"Oh please, Miss Elder, don't stop me," cried Kit. "I feel sure I can
do it. Yes, I can do it better than the other, for now I'm fighting
for my very life."

"Dear old Kit! You show them!" said Bet with a smile of encouragement.

In a few moments Kit had a place at the long library table