“Certainly—certainly,” murmured Mrs. Morse, while the girls listened in wide-eyed amazement.
“The Professor is just a brick,” continued Mr. Norman Halliday, “as of course you all know––”
“You bet we do!” burst out Bobby, her face aflame. “Three cheers for Old D––That is, for Professor Asa Dimp!”
“Thank you, Miss Hargrew,” said the dry voice of the absent-minded old professor. “I did not know I was so well appreciated by the girls of Central High.”
But Laura showed her appreciation in an entirely unlooked for way. As the professor walked into the open from the woods, she darted for him, seized him tightly in her arms, and planted a kiss first on one, and then on his other unshaven cheek.
“Bless my soul! bless my soul!” gasped Professor Dimp, who had probably not been kissed before in years.
“You’re a perfect old dear!” declared Laura, 211 in a low voice. “And I am never going to be afraid of you again. Your nephew showed that he had a tender heart when he was kind to Lizzie Bean; and I believe he gets it honestly—from you! Dear Professor Dimp!”
“Ha!” said the old gentleman, drily, yet flushing a little, too, “I can see very clearly that I shall hereafter have very mediocre recitations from the girls of Central High. They will no longer fear me.”
At that moment the motorboat that had been skimming across from the main land, pushed her nose against the shore of the island. One of the first persons to land was a gentleman with a green bag in his hand who hurried up the hill to greet the professor and his nephew, the much disheveled Mr. Halliday.
“The best of news Mr. Halliday—and you, my dear Professor Dimp,” this gentleman said. “The evidence is concluded. The guilty director has been arrested and the reward for your capture, Mr. Halliday, has been withdrawn. I have come to take you back to Albany where your name will be completely cleared of the false accusation.”