"I am going to send Dick a note right away," said Dora. "I cannot bear this suspense."
"But you don't think Dick is guilty, do you?" asked Nellie.
"No. But—but the disgrace! It is terrible!" And now Dora burst out crying in earnest.
The note from Dora reached Dick the following day, in the afternoon mail. It was short, but to the point, reading as follows:
"DEAR DICK: We have just heard something awful about you and Tom and Sam. Tell us what it means. Of course we don't believe you have done anything wrong.
"Yours,
"DORA."
This note disturbed Dick and Sam greatly, for they could understand how the evil report concerning them had been circulated at Hope Seminary, and how the girls had suffered in consequence.
"I am glad they think we are innocent," said Sam.
"They couldn't do anything else, knowing us as they do," returned his brother. And then he sent a note back stating that the reports were all falsehoods, and asking them to meet Tom and themselves on the following Saturday at Ashton.