CHAPTER III
TRIAL WITHOUT JURY
Miss Adnah was washing dishes in her spotless kitchen when the inner door burst open and a wild-eyed Annie Laurie stood before her.
“Child!” gasped Miss Adnah.
Annie Laurie stood panting breathlessly, her hands on her sides, her eyes blazing.
“Well, you said I wasn’t to let myself be put upon,” she managed to say at length. “So I didn’t. I had my say. I’m through!”
“What have you done?”
“I’m through,” she went on shrilly. “To-morrow I’ll go back to the district school. The other thing wasn’t for me.”
The anger in her eyes began to give way in misery. Miss Adnah stared at her, trying for once to get at the girl’s point of view. Then came the frantic ringing at the bell.
“Mercy on us,” cried Miss Adnah, “what can that mean?”
“Don’t go, aunt. Don’t you go. It’s Azalea McBirney. She followed me. You mustn’t—”