and was
writing for all she was worth. Miss Owens and Mr. Sills never left the
room while Kit's pen flew over the paper. Spurred on by the
excitement, the girl never seemed to hesitate even for a word.

Miss Elder and Bet met the girls outside. "Oh I think Miss Owens is
terrible!" exclaimed Joy.

"Why no, Joy. Miss Owens looks heart-broken. She is harder hit than
any of us. She had taken such pride in Kit's work. Then to find the
key in her desk! You know that's a terrible shock." Miss Elder tried
to soothe the girls.

"But just the same she ought to know that Kit couldn't do it,"
protested Shirley.

"Whose book is it, anyway? Who put it in Kit's desk?" asked Joy.

"No one seems to know or if they do, they won't tell," said Bet. "But
it's up to the Merriweather Girls to find out."

"Let's go into the club meeting, we almost forgot it!" Shirley led the
way.

The three girls arrived just in time to hear a discussion regarding Kit
Patten's behavior. Vivian Long, Edith Whalen's friend, was talking.

"I think after such a disgraceful thing, Kit Patten should be asked to
resign from the club."

"Don't you think she should be allowed to defend herself?" asked
Shirley, not waiting to be seated.

At a nudge from Edith, Vivian was again on her feet. "If we are to
keep up the standards of our class club, we should not overlook this
for a minute. The book was found in Kit's desk and that is enough."

Bet somehow got to the middle of the room, her face red and her hair
tousled.

She frowned on Vivian, and the girl dropped to her seat without another
word.

"That must not be put to a motion. Nothing has been proved and I do
not believe Kit did anything wrong. Mr. Sills is giving her a new test
now and I'm sure she'll prove that she didn't get any help anywhere."

"But if a girl had such a book in her possession! You don't want us to
let a thing like that go by without notice. The club is for questions
of this kind."

Bet's quick glance seemed to take in everything. She knew just the
attitude that each girl was taking. Some were against Kit, and others
were willing to give her the benefit of the doubt.

Bet caught a look of triumph on Edith's face and in a burst of temper
exclaimed: "Someone planted that book there to get Kit into trouble. I
have my suspicions as to who did it."

"Then you had better speak out," exclaimed Vivian Long after a nudge
from Edith.

"I will accuse no one--that