y if I can't have my own Innocent Delight, Cheerful
Grigg, and some of the others," said the director, firmly.

There was good reason for taking the role away from Trix Severn--she had
neglected rehearsals. Nevertheless, she was very much excited when she
learned that the part had been given to Agnes Kenway, who was making
such a success of it.

Miss Severn, in tears, went to the principal of the Milton High School
and laid her trouble before him. Mr. Marks listened grimly and then
showed her the letter purporting to come from the proprietor of
Strawberry Farm, in which the girls who had raided the farmer's patch
were named--excluding herself.

Beside this letter he put a specimen of Trix's own handwriting. It
chanced to be the note which had suggested Trix for the part of Innocent
Delight in the play.

"It strikes me, Miss Severn," said the principal, sourly, "that you are
getting to be a ready letter writer. Don't deny the authorship of these
scripts. Your teachers are all agreed that you wrote them both.

"This one to the professor is reprehensible enough. I am sorry that a
girl of the Milton High School should write such a note. But this
other," and his voice grew very stern, "is criminal--yes, criminal!

"I have learned from Mr. Buckham personally, that your father's
automobile was stalled one day in front of his house and that you went
in and met his wife, who is an invalid.

"You must have had it in your mind then to make trouble for your
schoolmates, and learning that Mr. Buckham did not write himself, you
stole a sheet of his letter paper, and wrote this contemptible screed.

"I shall tell your parents of your action. I do not feel that it is
within my province to punish you for such a contemptible thing. However,
knowing that you have been a traitor to your mates, I withdraw my order
for their punishment on the spot. I never have, and never will, accept
the evidence of a traitor in a matter of this character.

"As Mr. Buckham himself holds no hard feelings about the foolish prank
of last May, I shall say no more about it. But the contempt in which
your schoolmates must hold you, if they learn that you wrote this
letter, should be its own punishment."

Agnes and the others, however, paid little attention to Trix Severn.
Agnes knew, and the others suspected, that Trix was the one who had
told; but the Corner House girl felt that she had deserved the
punishment she received, and was deeply grateful to