, "Miss Seymour, you may
go back to the study hall. Unless you hear from me further you are
exonerated from blame. I shall not need you either, Miss Dean. I am
sorry that I was obliged to involve you in this affair, but I am glad
that you were not afraid to tell the truth."

Marjorie turned to follow Ellen Seymour from the room, when the door
opened and the freshman basketball team filed in. For a brief instant
the principal's attention was fixed upon the entering girls, and in that
instant Mignon found time to mutter in Marjorie's ear, "I'll never
forgive you for this and you'll be sorry. Just wait and see if you're
not."

CHAPTER XV

MARJORIE'S WONDERFUL DISCOVERY

What transpired in Miss Archer's private office on that memorable
morning when the freshman team visited her in a body was a subject that
agitated high school circles for at least a week afterward. Other than
the team no one could furnish any authentic information as to what had
actually been said and done, but the amazing report that "Miss Archer
had disbanded the freshman basketball team" was on every one's tongue.
Whether or not another team would be selected no one knew. That would
depend wholly upon Miss Archer's decision. That the members of the team
had offended seriously there could be no doubt. As for the ex-members
themselves, they were absolutely mute on the subject. Among themselves,
however, they had a great deal to say, and, one and all, held Marjorie
Dean responsible for their downfall.

When Miss Archer had commanded their presence in her office that
eventful morning it was not in connection with the conflicting
statements of Ellen Seymour and Mignon La Salle. Satisfied that Mignon
was the real offender, she had read that young woman a lesson on
untruthfulness and treachery in the presence of the team that left her
white with mortification, her stormy black eyes alone betraying her
rage.

Then Miss Archer proceeded to the other business at hand, which was an
inquiry into their reason for requesting Marjorie Dean's resignation
from the team. One by one, the four girls, with the exception of Helen
Thornton, were questioned separately and acknowledged, in shamefaced
fashion, that Marjorie was a really good player.

"Then why," Miss Archer had asked sharply, "did you ask her to resign?"
There had been no answer to this pertinent question, and then had
followed their principal's rebuke, sharp and stinging.

"It is not often tha