what I tell
you."

"I understand." Leslie quite understood that despite the secretary's
protest she was not above being mercenary. "Go ahead."

"Last Tuesday afternoon about five o'clock I was just starting for home
from Doctor Matthews' house, when who should come marching up the walk
but Miss Dean," related Laura. "I wondered what brought her there. As
soon as the maid let her in I turned and went back. I had made up my
mind to wait around until she came out. I have a key to the front door
now. One day when college first opened the doctor sent me over to the
house for some papers he needed. No one was at home and I had to go back
to Hamilton Hall without them. He had a key made for me right after
that. You see I occupy a position of trust. No wonder I have to be
careful."

"I see; but what about Miss Dean?" Leslie promptly switched the
secretary back to her original subject.

"I am coming to that. I decided after I got as far as the veranda to let
myself into the house. I supposed Miss Dean had come to see the doctor.
The minute I stepped inside I heard voices. The door of the office was
open just a little. I did not dare stand in the hall so I slipped into
the living room. It is directly opposite the office. I couldn't
understand a word Miss Dean said, but I heard the doctor say he was
incensed at the behavior of someone, and that they would have to come
before the Board. Then he said that if someone, I couldn't find out who,
refused to do something or other, she would have to leave college. It
remained for him to write her.

"I heard Miss Dean say very plainly: 'It is a case of the innocent
having to suffer with the guilty.' They talked a little more, but both
lowered their voices. I heard the doctor's chair turn and knew he was
going to get up from it. I made the quickest move I ever made and slid
out the door. I had left it a little open. Sure enough, in a minute or
two Miss Dean came out of the house and went away."

"I think that's pretty good proof against the foxy little wretch."
Leslie's voice was thick with wrath. She was still smarting from the
morning's humiliation. "I wish I could tell you how I hate that little
sneak. I'll get back at her, believe me."

"I certainly would, if I were you. Just to be on the safe side I went
into the house and stopped at the office door. I said, 'If you have
nothing more for me to do I will go now, Doctor Matthews.' I thought
perhaps he would ask me to write the le