orgot to lock it. She had the locker
next to mine and she must have snatched the ring while I was in the
shower."

Betty's face was pale, but with an effort she remained calm as she
refuted the charge.

"I don't know anything about this girl's ring. The one I have is my
own."

"Give it to me," the matron ordered. Reluctantly, Betty removed the
ring from her finger. It was a white gold band with a cluster of three
tiny diamonds. In the act of handing it over, she suddenly changed her
mind.

"I'll not give up my own property! This was my mother's engagement
ring. And she's dead now."

"Can you prove your story?" the matron questioned.

"You can call my father. Jerome Davis--he is on the police force."

"Yes, but he won't be there long!" the first girl said scornfully.
"Everyone knows he's to be let out because of dishonesty. And your
brother----"

"Don't you dare say a word against either my father or Jimmie!" Betty
cried.

"Girls! Girls!" the matron chided severely. "We'll discuss this
matter calmly please."

Penny stepped forward. "I think I may be able to help," she said
quietly. "I happen to know that the ring belongs to Betty Davis, for I
have seen her wearing it."

"You're a friend of hers," the other girl accused.

"On the contrary, I scarcely know Miss Davis. But I believe in seeing
justice done. If you actually lost a similar ring, you may find it on
the floor near your locker."

"Have you looked carefully?" the matron questioned.

"Of course I have! The ring is gone and this Davis girl stole it!"

"I'll search your locker myself," the matron decided. "Show me which
one it is."

Penny and the others followed to witness the inspection. Article by
article, the matron removed everything from the locker, but the ring
was not found.

"Wait and I'll sweep the floor," Penny offered. She ran to find a
broom, returning with it a minute later. Carefully she swept the space
in the vicinity of the locker.

"You see, it's gone!" the other girl insisted, eyeing Betty Davis
furiously. "You'll never find it because _she_ is wearing it."

As Penny's broom brushed past a dark corner of the room, there was a
little metallic click. She stooped down and picked up a ring.
Although it was similar in appearance to the one which Betty wore, the
resemblance was not close.

"Is this yours?" she inquired, offering it to the owner of the locker.

"Yes, it is," the girl admitted. "I don't k