"But tell us about it," urged another girl. "Did they have you locked up?"
"Yes," said Billie, adding with a shiver: "And I had a terrible night. But this morning Miss Cora herself brought me some breakfast—I wish you could have seen it—and she was just saying some nice mean things to me when Miss Race called her away for something, said it was important. Miss Cora went out without locking the door. So I didn't stop for anything, I just ran. I had something I wanted to tell you."
"Good old Miss Race," Connie interrupted, her eyes shining. "I bet she just did it on purpose."
"But listen," Billie broke in hurriedly. "I thought of something while I was locked up, and I want to tell you about it before they catch me again. It's about getting news to Miss Walters. The boys will probably be around this morning, and if you could let them know——"
"But we've already done that," interrupted a score of eager voices, and Billie clapped her hands delightedly.
"Good!" she cried. Then her face sobered again and she looked nervously toward the door. "I suppose Miss Cora will be along in a minute, and she'll want to lock me up again. And I suppose she'll be so mad at my getting away that she won't give me anything to eat now."
But suddenly Rose jumped to her feet, face flushed, eyes shining. This was her chance to square herself with Billie and all the rest.
"Tell me something, girls," she cried. "Are we going to let Miss Cora have Billie? Are we?"
"We are not!" they cried lustily; and Billie suddenly saw them through a mist of tears.