“When Marian told me what she had done I felt the utmost contempt for her,” Eleanor had replied.  “My old idea of vengeance came to the front, and I thought of how completely I could humiliate you all through her.  The day I quarreled with her in school I fully intended to expose her, but the more I thought about it, the less I liked the idea of it.  I don’t really believe that I could ever have stood up before those girls and betrayed her.”

While Grace had listened to Eleanor, she had realized that the old whimsical, temperamental Eleanor was passing, and an entirely different girl was endeavoring to take her place.  Grace exulted in her heart and dreamed great things for the Phi Sigma Tau when it should be restored to its original number of members.

Eleanor had announced herself ready and eager to take her old place in the sorority, while Marian Barber had, with tears in her eyes, humbly petitioned Grace for her old place in the Phi Sigma Tau.

“Silly girl,” was Grace’s answer.  “You can’t go back to what you never left, can you?”

No one save Grace, Eleanor and Mr. Harlowe knew of how near Marian had come to being discredited in the eyes of her class and friends, and they could be trusted with the secret.

Henry Hammond had left Oakdale the morning after he had been interviewed by Grace and Eleanor, and it was afterwards discovered that the land in which he had persuaded certain guileless citizens to invest money had proved worthless.  The swindled ones joined forces and put the matter in the hands of a detective, but to no purpose, for no clue was found to his whereabouts.

The strong box was turned over to the girls and the money, which amounted to five hundred and ten dollars, was deposited in Upton Bank with the five hundred that had caused Marian Barber such anxiety and sorrow.

The thief whom Grace had assisted in capturing was found to be a noted crook, known to the police as “Larry the Locksmith,” on account of his ability to pick locks.  He was tried and sentenced to a number of years in the penitentiary, and departed from Oakdale stolidly refusing to furnish the police with the identity of his “pal.”

Easter was drawing near, and Grace was radiantly happy.  Anne, whose engagement had stretched into the eighth week, would be home the following day.  Mrs. Gray was looked for hourly and the boys were coming from college on Monday.

“We certainly will have a reunion,” Nora O’Malley exclaimed joyously, as she banged her books on the window sill of the senior locker-room to emphasize her remark.

“It seems good to have Grace with us once in a while,” declared Jessica.  “Her police court duties have kept her so busy that she has deserted her little playmates.  Have you been asked to join the force yet, Grace!” she asked, trying to look innocent.

“That isn’t fair, Jessica,” retorted Grace, laughing.  “I appeal to you girls,” turning to the other members of the Phi Sigma Tau, who had one by one dropped into the locker-room.  “Can you imagine me in the garb of an Oakdale policeman?”