ers. So, you see, I have only one set of originals. I
had occasion to come back to my office quite late the day of the
discovery, and, as I let myself in at that door," she pointed to the
door leading into the corridor, "what I thought was a gust of wind
slammed the door leading into the next room which I usually keep shut
and bolted on this side. My desk was open and the freshman examination
papers undoubtedly had been tampered with. I could tell because they are
usually the last in the pile and they were all on top and quite
disarranged. Whoever had been here, had heard my key in the lock, and
without waiting to close the desk had fled by the other door. I feel
deeply grieved over this matter. I should never think of suspecting any
of my fine girls of such trickery; and, yet, who else could it have been
except one of the freshmen?"

"Oh, Miss Thompson, this is dreadful," exclaimed Grace, distressed and
shocked over the story. "I don't believe there's a girl in the class who
would have done it. There must be some mistake."

"That is why I sent for you, Grace," said the principal. "I want your
advice. Now Anne----"

"_Anne?_" interrupted Grace horrified. "You don't suppose, for a minute,
Anne would be dishonest? Never! I won't stay and listen any longer," and
she rushed to the door.

Miss Thompson followed, placing a detaining hand on her arm.

"You are right, Grace, to be loyal to your friend," said the principal,
always just and kind under the most trying circumstances; "but Anne, I
must tell you, is under suspicion."

"Why?" demanded Grace, almost sobbing in her anger and unhappiness.

"The afternoon of the discovery Anne was here long after school hours.
She was seen by two people wandering about the building."

"Who were the people?" demanded Grace incredulously.

"The janitress, who saw her from the window of another room, and--Miss
Leece."

"I thought so," exclaimed Grace, with a note of triumph in her voice.
"It is Miss Leece, is it, who is trumping up all this business? I tell
you, I don't believe a word of it, Miss Thompson. Anne would no more do
such a thing than I would, and I am going to fight to save her if it
takes my last breath. Do you know how hard she has worked to win this
prize? Simply all the time. I believe, if she knew what you suspected,
it would kill her. I believe it's some tale Miss Leece has made up. And
besides, why shouldn't she have come back to the building? Perhaps she
forgo