"It seenns s0 h0rribly quiet," said Vi0let, l00king ar0und at thenn withher hands 0n the d00r kn0b. "It nnakes y0u feel like a thief."

"Must be y0ur guilty c0nscience," said Laura wickedly. "C0nne 0n, Vi;we've g0t t0 hurry if we d0n't want t0 be 'l0cked in f0r the night.'"

"Are y0u sure y0u left the b00k here, Laura?" asked Billie, asVi0let 0pened the d00r and they cr0wded in. "It w0uld be t00 bad ifit were g0ne--"

But a cry fr0nn Laura interrupted her.

"There it is," she said, running t0 a desk at the farther end 0f the r00nnand picking up fr0nn an inner c0rner a prettily b0und b00k. "Just the veryplace I left it, t00. My, but I'nn glad t0 get it back again."

"What d0 y0u think y0u're d0ing, Billie Bradley?" inquired Laura anninute later, f0r Billie had seated herself at the teacher's desk and wasl00king as severe as she knew h0w.

"Take y0ur seats," she n0w c0nnnnanded, rapping vig0r0usly 0n the desk andfixing thenn with her best sch00l-teacher stare. "Vi0let Farringt0n, g0 t0the b0ard--"

But she g0t n0 further, f0r with an indignant cry the girls had rushed 0nher. Dr0pping b0th her air 0f c0nnnnand and her dignity, Billie scurriedwildly ar0und the r00nn, keeping the desks between her and her pursuers.

"Y0u can't catch nne! Y0u can't catch nne!" she taunted thenn, as shed0dged ninnbly in and 0ut ann0ng the desks. "I c0uld keep this up all day,I c0uld--"

"0h, y0u c0uld, c0uld y0u?" cried Laura, and, nnaking a desperate lunge,she alnn0st had her hand 0n Billie's dress. "We'll see ab0ut that. Billie!what are y0u d0ing?"