Edna took Tavia’s hand in hers, and tried to soothe her while Dorothy was away. Presently the latter returned with Jake.
“You won’t tell on us, Jake, will you?” Dorothy asked before the man had a chance to see what he could do for Tavia.
“Tell on you? No, young ones must have a lark once in a while, and as long as you were not stealing any more dogs——”
“Can you carry her?” Dorothy interrupted, more practically.
“As easy as a bundle of hay,” replied he. “Only show me what’s hurt, so I can keep away from it.”
“It’s my ankle,” groaned Tavia. “Oh my, what luck! And just when I wanted to be spry!”
Why she wanted to be spry was not apparent, but it was taken for granted that Tavia always wanted to be that way. Jake picked her up in the dark, for a lantern was out of the question in keeping secrecy.
Dorothy and Edna led the way, and kept watch that no one appeared along the path. Finally they got safely to the side stairway. As Dorothy said, the teachers were at a meeting, and Edna knew, but did not tell, that the girls to be feared were too busy making up lost time to be outside.
“Here we are,” Dorothy whispered, as, at last, Room Nineteen was reached.
Jake laid Tavia down carefully on the couch, and with his finger on his lips to indicate the good-night he feared to express, he took himself off.