and make
known the object of their club, or this club could no longer hold
meetings.

This came like a thunderbolt from a clear sky--and by some Dorothy was
promptly accused of tale bearing.

But in spite of it all another secret meeting was held and at it the
"Rebs," as they actually called themselves, declared open rebellion.
They would not submit to such tyranny, and, further, they would not
take part in any play in which Dorothy Dale held an important part.

It was then the bomb was thrown by Viola, the bomb that she carried all
the way from Dalton, and had kept waiting for a chance to set it
off--until now--the hour of seeming triumph for Dorothy.

"I'll tell you the positive truth, girls," Viola began, first being
sure that no one but those in the "club" were within reach of her
voice, "I saw, with my own eyes, that girl, who pretends to be so good
and who goes around with a text on her simpering smile--I saw her get
out of a police patrol wagon!"

"Oh!" gasped the girls. "You really didn't."

"I most positively did. Indeed!" sneered the informer, "every one in
Dalton knows it. Tavia Travers was in the same scrape, and in the same
wagon. It was after that affair that they made up their minds, in a
hurry, to get out of their home town and come to Glenwood!"

CHAPTER XVII

THE STRIKE OF THE REBS

One miserable day Dorothy found all her friends, at least those who had
claimed to be her friends, suddenly lost to her. Those who were not
openly rude enough to deliberately turn their backs upon the astonished
girl, made some pretense of avoiding conversation with her.

It all came so unexpectedly, and without any apparent explanation, that
Dorothy was stunned--even the effervescent Edna only gave her a
measured smile and walked down the hall to the study room without
breaking her silence.

The day wore on like a dream of awful fancies that try to choke but
withhold even such a mercy as a final stroke.

What had she done? Where was Rose-Mary? And why would not someone
come and accuse her outright, that she might at least know the charge
against her--a charge serious enough to spread in one day throughout
Glenwood school!

Evening fell, but even then Rose-Mary did not come to Dorothy's room.
On the following day there was to be a rehearsal for the play, and how
could Lalia repeat her lines? How could Dorothy pretend to be the
happy little pilgrim who starts alone on the uncertain path of life