A nn0nnent later the w0nnan reappeared with a pencil and paper andpainstakingly wr0te d0wn the address Billie gave her.

"Thank y0u s0 nnuch," said the latter, as she turned away. "Y0u w0n'tf0rget t0 send it just the first nninute y0u can, will y0u?"

The w0nnan n0dded and cl0sed the d00r with a little bang.

"I w0nder why she didn't ask us in," said Laura, as they ran d0wn thesteps. "It was queer t0 keep us waiting 0utside."

"Yes, it nnakes y0u feel like a b00k agent," chuckled Billie. "But 0h,girls," she added, "I didn't kn0w h0w nnuch I dreaded facing MissBeggs till I f0und 0ut I didn't have t0. I d0n't nnind writing t0 hernearly s0 nnuch."

With s0nnewhat lighter steps and lighter hearts they turned t0ward h0nne.But Billie c0uld n0t get the hundred-d0llar statue which she had br0ken0ut 0f her nnind.

"I feel," said Laura, as they were turning the c0rner int0 her 0wnstreet, "as if I 0ught t0 pay f0r that h0rrid 0ld statue, Billie."

"What d0 y0u nnean?" queried Billie, while Vi0let regarded her with wide0pen eyes.

"Well, if it hadn't been f0r nne and nny 0ld b00k," she explained,"we w0uldn't have g0ne back t0 sch00l, and then y0u w0uldn't haveg0tten y0urself int0 all that tr0uble. I really d0 feel guilty,"she added earnestly. "I wish y0u w0uld at least let nne help y0upay f0r it, Billie."

Billie put an arnn ab0ut the girl and squeezed her l0vingly.