is precisely what we want you to find out," answered Rose-Mary.
"We have been trying to do it for a whole month."

"And I'll wager it won't take me ten minutes!"

"But do take your things off," pleaded Dorothy.

"Not yet. I can't give up this hat so unceremoniously. Isn't it a
beauty? But for the story. Go ahead, Cologne."

"Why, I couldn't tell where to begin," begged off Rose-Mary.

"Begin at the place where Dorothy Dale went to pieces, and lost all her
pretty pink cheeks," suggested Tavia, noting how much Dorothy had
changed during her absence.

"I'll tell you," said Rose-Mary. "We'll all run away and let you have
a minute to yourselves. Perhaps the serial will leak out."

"What is it, Dorothy?" asked Tavia seriously when they were alone.

"Why, all about that police ride," sighed Dorothy. "I really never
could find out just what story was told--they kept me in ignorance of
it all, except that it was dreadful. Oh, Tavia! Only lately the girls
notice me. They all gave me up, all but Ned, Dick and Cologne!"

"Gave you up! And about that story! Why didn't you tell them?"

"Oh, I had promised Viola, and she was afraid she would be dismissed--"

"Promised Viola!" and Tavia stared blankly at Dorothy. "You poor
little darling! And no one here to take your part!" and she held
Dorothy to her heart a moment. "Who knows the story as she told it--I
always knew she would tell it!"

"Perhaps some of the Pilgrims may know. They split and formed the
Rebs."

"Without me? I'll bet they died an early death! I'm the only
thoroughbred Reb in America!" and she brandished her hatpin wildly
above her head. "But you just stay here a minute. My ten minutes
alloted for clearing up the mystery is escaping," and at this Tavia
flew out of the room.

It seemed she could not have gone down the corridor when she ran into
Dorothy's room again.

"Well, of all the frosts!" she exclaimed. "I almost passed away when
that stuttering girl from Maine tried to tell me. But I haven't seen
Mrs. Pangborn yet. I'll just run into the office and show her my hat,"
and she was gone again.

"How good it was to have Tavia back," thought Dorothy. It seemed as if
everything had been made right already. But Tavia would surely do
something surprising. What would she say to Mrs. Pangborn?

But while Dorothy was thinking it over, a very lively little chat was
taking place in the principal's office. At the first word about the