they care for anything but
excitement and nonsense. And they are aching for me to give the next
spasm of excitement! Well, they may get that, sooner than they expect."

A step stopped at her door. Then a light tap sounded on the panel.
Casting aside the note, Viola opened the portal and was confronted by
Miss Crane. Without waiting for an invitation the pleasant little
woman stepped inside.

"Good evening, Viola," she began. "Mrs. Pangborn sent me to have a
talk with you."

"Yes?" replied Viola, in her most non-committal tone.

"She has been much worried of late, so many things have been going on
that did not add to her peace of mind."

"That's a pity," said Viola, and this time her tone admitted of any
number of interpretations. But Miss Crane expected all this and was
fully prepared for it.

"Especially that matter about Dorothy Dale," went on the teacher. "She
is determined that the whole thing shall be cleared up at once."

"It ought to be," said Viola coolly, without appearing to take the
least interest in the conversation.

"In the first place," argued Miss Crane, "Mrs. Pangborn wished me to
say to you that a full explanation on your part would in the end save
you much--trouble."

"State's evidence!" almost sneered Viola.

"Not at all," contradicted her visitor. "Simply a matter of common
justice."

"I believe that's what they call it," persisted the girl, tossing her
head about to show a weariness of the "whole miserable thing."

"You insist that you saw Dorothy Dale and Octavia Travers alight from a
police patrol wagon?" asked Miss Crane severely.

"I do!" answered Viola, as solemnly as if taking an oath.

"And that you were told they had been arrested for some theft? Garden
stuff, I believe?"

"I heard Nat White, Dorothy Dale's own cousin, say so," again declared
Viola.

"And you had reason to believe he was in earnest?"

"Every reason to believe and know so."

Miss Crane stopped. She had expected Viola to break down on this
cross-examination, but evidently her story was not to be shaken.

"Is that all?" asked the girl with a show of hauteur.

"No," said Miss Crane. "I would like you to tell me the whole story."

"And if I refuse?"

"You surely would not risk dismissal?"

"No risk at all, my dear Miss Crane, I court it," and all the Spanish
fire of Viola's nature flashed and flamed with her words.

"Viola! Do you know what you are saying?"

"Perfectly. Have you fin