Tavia went to her desk and soon found the torn script that had so disturbed her, until she made herself believe that it was some sort of a forgery.
“There,” she said, “if Jean did not write that to herself she got someone else to write it.”
Dorothy took the paper with trembling hands. Unfortunately Tavia did not think to cross out the words concerning Major Dale, and the possibility of his arrest.
Nerving herself to know all she should know, Dorothy sat down to decipher the note. Suddenly her eyes fell upon these words:
“We may have the proud Major in the toils within a short time.”
Dorothy glanced for a moment at Tavia, and then fled from the room, her head held high, and her eyes flashing.
“Goodness!” exclaimed Tavia, “I wonder what she is going to do? I have always heard that a quiet girl ‘riled’ is worse than I am. But I don’t believe I will follow her. Dear Doro!” and the frivolous one’s eyes filled. “I would give anything to save her from all of this.”
Dorothy, leaving her room, had gone straight to the office of the principal. Delicate girl that she was, when a question of family honor arose, she had more courage than some who might boast of power.
She found Mrs. Pangborn looking over papers.
“Good morning, Dorothy,” she was kindly greeted. “What’s the trouble now? For I see trouble in your face.”