have wished that she could--cough!

"It lay on my dressing-table, face downward," Miss Pugsley went on. "I
had just done my hair for tea,--I am scrupulous in such matters,--and
took up the glass to see that my pug was straight behind. I looked--and
saw this. Ladies, I could have fainted on the floor. My nerves being
what they are, it is a marvel that I did not."

"I am very, very sorry, Miss Pugsley," said Miss Russell, gravely. "If I
knew who had done this--"

"But I tell you I do know, Miss Russell!" cried Miss Pugsley,
vindictively. "I tell you that there is only one girl in the school who
is capable of all this, and that girl is Grace Wolfe!"

There was a moment's silence.

"Have you found Grace in your room at any time, Miss Pugsley?" demanded
Miss Russell.

No, Miss Pugsley had not, but that made no difference. Grace had done
the things, there was no shadow of a doubt of it.

"Have you been careful to lock your door when you left the room?"

"Miss Russell, you know that locks and bolts make no possible difference
to Grace Wolfe. The girl is cut out for a malefactor. I prophesy that
she will be in State's prison before she has been out of school a year."

"I must request you not to speak in this way of any of my young ladies,"
said the Principal, sternly. "You have been the victim of some very
malicious practical jokes, Miss Pugsley. I shall look into the matter
thoroughly, and shall do my best to discover the offender, and shall
punish her--or them--as I think best." She laid a slight emphasis on the
last words.

"Then you refuse to expel Grace Wolfe?" said Miss Pugsley, quivering
with anger.

"On such evidence as you have brought forward to-night? certainly," said
Miss Russell, with some severity. "I have no proof whatever that Miss
Wolfe played any of these pranks, though I admit it is probable that she
may have done so. You found the bandbox outside your door, where Bridget
admits she left it several days before. You left your door unlocked on a
rainy half-holiday, when sixty or more girls were constantly passing and
repassing; there are half a dozen girls, I am sorry to say, who might
have been tempted by the open door to play some prank of the kind which
seems so clever to children, and so silly to older people."

Why did Miss Russell look toward the window as she spoke? But now she
was looking at Miss Pugsley again.

"You and Grace are not friends, I know, Miss Pugsley," she went on. "I
am so