y all turned to
her, "but I can testify that everything that Beatrice Bradley has told
you is absolute fact. I don't think that Miss Cora will deny," she
turned to Miss Cora, who was white with fury, "that I have time and time
again remonstrated with her and Miss Ada for their treatment of the
girls."

"Is that so, Miss Cora--and Miss Ada?" asked Miss Walters, turning to
the sisters, whose anger was slowly beginning to change to fear.

"Yes, Miss Walters," said Miss Cora at last, "it is true that Miss Race
was continually interfering in our government of the girls during your
absence. But," she added, while her mouth set in a grim line, "I still
maintain that we did nothing during your absence that you yourself would
not have done."

There was deep silence in the room for a minute while Miss Walters' eyes
wandered from one intent face to another and then dropped to the blotter
on her desk.

Billie's heart was beating so hard she was afraid it could be heard in
the room.

Then Miss Walters' voice came to them, cool, incisive.

"I'm sorry," she was saying, looking from Miss Ada to Miss Cora and back
again, "but I can't agree with you. Surely while I have had charge of
Three Towers the girls have not gone hungry or become faint and sick
from lack of nourishment. Neither have they raided pantries and
storerooms and deserted Three Towers _en masse_, Miss Cora." She paused,
and one could have heard a pin drop in the room. "I am very sorry, but I
think that after Monday Three Towers will have no further need of your
services, nor of those of Miss Ada. That is all, I think."

She rose by way of dismissal, and the other teachers rose also. Billie,
who was nearest the door, slipped out quietly and ran swiftly up the
stairs toward her dormitory. Her head was in a whirl, and all she wanted
to do was to get with the girls again and tell them the marvelous thing
that had happened.

The other girls were waiting for her, and as she burst in upon them they
carried her off, seated her royally on top of a dresser, and gathered
around eagerly, all talking at once and demanding to know what had
happened.

Somehow, she made them see the scene in Miss Walters' office as if they
had been there themselves, the scene in which the girls had won the
great victory and the "Dill Pickles" had been dismissed.

They were just at the height of their rejoicing when the bell rang for
lunch, and with one accord they stampeded for the dining ro