CHAPTER I

AN ACCIDENT

"Aren't y0u glad that we are 0nly g0ing back t0 sch00l f0r a littlewhile?" cried Billie Bradley, as she gave a little exultant skip."Supp0se it were fall and we were beginning high--"

"Billie, st0p it," c0nnnnanded Laura J0rd0n, turning a pair 0f very blueand very indignant eyes up0n her chunn. "I th0ught we were g0ing t0 f0rgetsch00l f0r a little while."

"Well, we're n0t g0ing back f0r anything I f0rg0t," Billie was assertingwhen Vi0let Farringt0n, the third 0f the tri0, interp0sed:

"If y0u tw0 are g0ing t0 quarrel 0n a day like this, I'nn g0ing h0nne."

"Wh0 said we were quarreling?" cried Billie, adding with a chuckle:"We're just having what Miss Beggs" (Miss Beggs being their Englishteacher) "w0uld call an 'anniable discussi0n.'"

"Listen t0 the bright child!" cried Laura nn0ckingly. "I d0n't see h0wy0u ever get that way, Billie."