ered down from her p

voice very low and sole

as worth a hun

rted, and Lau

know it cost

replied dully. "Now I certainly ha

n, could it?" suggested Violet weakl

adding suddenly: "I suppose we could r

excitedly pointing t

just in time to see the freckled face and mean litt

window while the other girls followed close at her heels. "I

have wanted to," she added, after a minute of uncomfortable silence. "Only it makes me mad to have to do the right thing. Oh, I don't see why somebody doesn't run that Ama

" said Violet, with a flash of hu

a smile. Then her face sobered again as

rding them mournfully. "But how in the world am I ever going to get together a hundred d

sked Laura, for to Laura's father a hundr

er head while her face

other day that times are hard and everything is terribly expensi

and putting a comforting arm about her. "But there

to take the gloomy view. "We might," she added genero

ffended or grateful for the generous suggestion. "It's won

ed Violet. "She wouldn't let us g

odded again, sti

t won't do any good to stand here and look at the pieces. Besides," she added with a sta

illie suddenly turned, ran back and began g

do?" asked Violet, re

ld newspaper that lay in the forgotten paper basket. "I might as well h

?" asked Laura, stooping and

d, as she rose to her feet, clutching the newspaper package. "It

et as they closed the door softly b

sigh. "The sooner I get it over with, the be

to steal it," said Laura firmly, as t

ing from the frying pan

ich the girls

y met Mr. Heegan coming in, and he smi

u were after comin'

e the color flooded her face and she felt like a criminal. She

r. Heegan be

on the bookcase," explained

looking not nearly as shocked as the girls thought he would. "And sure, what are

entiment had never occurred to them before, bu

tue cost a hundred dollars. And it was

ould spend a hundred dollars on a statue," said

the janitor saluted and ambled off into the school yard

emarked Billie with emphasis, as t

the remaining three blocks to the b

three-story brick building that had all the respectable

gs," Billie was con

llie showed no inclination to move. "We

hem and taking two steps at a time. "As Dad says: 'A c

ought them to the porch, and

id, and braced her

aracteristics that are so often bestowed upon landladies i

e you wish to see

in a weak little voice

eggs if she

-aged person. "She went away

y address?" Billi

e other ladies who is a friend of hers," the woman volunteer

stly. "I would be very much oblige

't at home. But if you'll leave me your address I'll send i

rls ha

et something on which

and in spite of herself Billie uttered a little sigh o

h a pencil and paper and painstakingly

he turned away. "You won't forget to send

nd closed the door

id Laura, as they ran down the steps. "

ls," she added, "I didn't know how much I dreaded facing Miss Beggs till

urned toward home. But Billie could not get the hundr

he corner into her own street, "as if I ough

Billie, while Violet regar

to school, and then you wouldn't have gotten yourself into all that trouble. I really do feel

bout the girl and s

. "No, Laura dear, it's all my fault and you can't make me put the blame on any one else