ey had begun their anxious vigil in the drug store on the corner
above the station. An hour later their watch ended. The three officers
returned with a snarling, raging prisoner securely handcuffed to one of
their number.

"They've captured him!" cried Kathleen, "and now my work begins in
earnest." While they had been waiting the newspaper girl had employed
the time in writing rapidly in a note book she carried. Grace would have
liked to see what she wrote, but now that the first excitement had
passed she felt the old constraint rising between them like a wall.

"Do you care if I don't wait for you in the telegraph office?" asked
Grace. "I'll go as far as the door with you. Then I think I had better
go on to the Hall. Anne will be worried about me."

Kathleen assented to her plan with a look of immeasurable relief which
Grace was not slow to observe, but misconstrued entirely. "I suppose she
doesn't wish to be bothered while she sends in her story," was Grace's
thought as they left the drug store.

"Good night. I thank you for helping me," said Kathleen in a perfunctory
tone as she turned to go into the office. "It is going to be a great
story."

"You are very welcome," responded Grace. "Good night, and good luck to
you."

Three anxious-faced girls were waiting for Grace in her room, and as she
opened the door they pounced upon her in a body.

"Grace, Grace, you naughty girl, where have you been?" cried Anne. "I am
sure my hair has turned gray watching for you."

"Yes, give an account of yourself," commanded Elfreda. "Have you no
respect for our feelings?"

"Did you imagine no one would miss you?" was Miriam's question.

"I will answer your questions in order," laughed Grace. "I've been out
on important business, I have the deepest respect for your feelings, and
I know that my friends always miss me."

"Spoken like a soldier and a gentleman," commended Elfreda.

"Which is quite remarkable, considering the fact that I am neither,"
retorted Grace.

"Grace, what on earth have you been doing?" Anne's face grew sober.
There was a subdued excitement in her friend's manner that had not
escaped her notice.

"Anne, I cannot tell a lie," returned Grace lightly. "I've been to the
police station."

The three girls stared at Grace in amazement.

"Let me see," mumbled Elfreda. "Have I transgressed the law lately, or
had any arguments with Grace? This looks suspicious."

"Don't tease me, and promise you will neve