CHAPTER XX

MARIAN’S CONFESSION

Grace reached home that night with her head in a whirl.  She could think of nothing save the fact that she had seen Henry Hammond warmly welcome a man whom she knew in her heart to be a professional crook.  It formed the first link in the chain of evidence she hoped to forge against him.  She had become so strongly imbued with the idea that Hammond was an impostor that the incident at the station only served to confirm her belief.

The Phi Sigma Tau were besieged with questions the next day, and at recess the five members held forth separately to groups of eager and admiring girls on the glories of the visit.

“Where is Marian Barber?” asked Grace of Ruth Deane, as they were leaving the senior locker-room at the close of the noon recess.

“She hasn’t been in school to-day,” replied Ruth.  “I suppose what happened Friday was too much for her.”

“What happened Friday?” repeated Grace.  “Well, what did happen?”

“Oh, Eleanor Savell and Marian had a quarrel in the locker-room.  I was the only one who heard it, and I shouldn’t have stayed but I know Eleanor of old, and I made up my mind that I had better stay and see that Marian had fair play.  But I might as well have stayed away, for I wasn’t of any use to either side.  In fact, I doubt if either one realized I was there, they were so absorbed in their own troubles.”

“It’s a wonder that I wasn’t around,” remarked Grace.  “I am really glad, however, that I wasn’t.  The Phi Sigma Tau were all in Miss Tebbs’ classroom at recess last Friday.  Miss Tebbs is a dear friend of the Southards, you know.  She was invited to go with us, but had made a previous engagement that she could not break.  We were talking things over with her.  After school we all went straight home and I saw neither Eleanor nor Marian.  Have you any idea what it was about?”

“I don’t know,” returned Ruth bluntly.  “Marian and Eleanor came into the locker-room together.  I heard Marian say something about telling Eleanor what she had in confidence.  Then Eleanor just laughed scornfully and told Marian that she had told her secrets to the wrong person.  Marian grew very angry, and called Eleanor treacherous and revengeful, and Eleanor said that Marian’s opinion was a matter of indifference to her.

“Then she told Marian that she intended to call a class meeting for Thursday of this week and entertain them with the very interesting little story that Marian had told her the previous week.

“Marian wilted at that and cried like a baby, but Eleanor kept on laughing at her, and said that she would know better another time, and perhaps would think twice before she spoke once.  She said that no one could trample upon her with impunity.”

“Oh, pshaw,” exclaimed Grace impatiently.  “She always says that when she is angry.  She said that last year.”