“She ought not to have to prove it,” declared Laura, with heat. “Her say-so should be enough for Mr. Sharp. I’ve a mind to——”
“You’ve a mind to what?” asked Jess, pinching her arm.
“Never you mind,” returned Laura, suddenly becoming uncommunicative. “I’ve a scheme.”
“One of Laura’s brilliant ideas,” scoffed Chet, with brotherly scorn. “We’ll hear about it later.”
Which was true enough, for none of them heard about it that evening. But the very next morning Laura got to school early and went to Mr. Sharp’s office. The principal chanced to be disengaged, and welcomed her kindly. Besides, Mr. Sharp, like the other teachers, was fond of Laura Belding. Without being a “toady”—that creature so hateful to the normal young person—Laura was very good friends with all the instructors.
“Mr. Sharp,” said the girl, boldly, “one of my classmates is in trouble—serious trouble. You know whom I mean—Miss Hargrew.”
Mr. Sharp nodded thoughtfully.
“I want you to be just as kind to her as you can, sir,” went on Laura. “She is a good girl, if she is mischievous. She never would do such a wicked thing as to set that fire——”
“Not intentionally, I grant you, Miss Belding,” he returned.
“No. Nor did she do it involuntarily. When she said she took the burning piece of punk out of the building, she did so.”