to the machine, and the boys were obliged to leave us while
they went to have something repaired. While they were away a man, who
afterward turned out to be a lunatic, came along, and as we ran from
the car, he got into it."

"Oh! mercy!" exclaimed Nita Brant, and similar exclamations went about
the room.

"When the boys got back," went on Tavia, "and we felt they never would
come in sight, we had waited so long, and were so frightened, they
could not induce the man to leave the machine. He was crazy and wanted
a ride. Finally one of the boys, Ned, was obliged to get into the car
with him and he rode off, never stopping until he landed the lunatic in
Danvers jail!"

Cheers again interrupted the speaker, and she paused a moment--long
enough to look at Dorothy, then she went on:

"But we were all alone out there, it was getting dark, and how were we
to get back to town, nine miles off? That was the point where the
police patrol wagon came into our lives. The wagon was out looking for
the escaped prisoner, at least the officers in it were, and upon
questioning us, and hearing how we had lost the auto, they asked us to
ride home in their patrol!"

"Three cheers for the officers!" broke out Edna, and the shouts that
followed caused Miss Higley to put up her hands to protect her ears.

"Well, we did ride home in the patrol," cried Tavia, anxious now to
finish, "and when Nat stood by the wagon trying to jolly those curious
ones about him, a young man, in the company of--of one who has just
left us, asked Nat, 'Speeding?' and Nat answered, 'No, just melons.'
Now that is the entire story of our famous ride, and I thank you for
your kind attention, etc., etc.," and bowing profusely Tavia managed to
get down from the platform.

Then Mrs. Pangborn stood up.

"My dear pupils," she said, "I cannot tell you how glad I am to have
this matter settled. It has given great sorrow to see our dear friend
Dorothy suffer so. And you do not yet know the real story of her
heroism. When I asked her about this report she begged me not to
question her, because she had promised a girl not to tell the story if
I would allow her to remain silent. That girl urged as her excuse her
own possible dismissal from school should Dorothy make known the facts,
not the story that has been told me, and told you, but those facts
which you have just now heard for the first time. And to save the
feelings of a selfish and I must say it--dishonest