Judith, fighting for justice, had been ranged with the culprits!

There was no possibility of her return to the college grounds without her companions’ knowledge; neither was it probable she had gone to take a youngster’s part at the emergency court in the Town Hall without first having notified Jane or some of the other girls.  She would have dragged them along with her, for Judith believed in team play for all things, even at trials and courts of alleged justice.

So it was that the girls’ anxiety was not so thinly supported as the mere record of events might have indicated; they knew there was something wrong, knew it instantly and knew it positively; and they were right about it, too.

The outstanding fact was a weighty argument.  Dolorez Vincez had been expelled from Wellington the year previous; she had vowed vengence against Jane Allen and her friend, Judith Stearns (although both girls had actually interceded for the culprit with the college faculty), and now was the time and this was the place to wreak her vengeance.

In a shorter time than occupies this explanation Jane and Dozia and Janet reached the Town Hall.  The ancient building of dingy brick filled a conspicuous spot facing the Square; its carriage stone was a revolutionary relic and two reliable cannon set off the much trampled green diamond in front with something of a stately significance.  It was fast growing dark in the early autumn evening, but the excitement of an arrest had drawn a crowd from the few business offices and from the passersby at the supper hour, flanked and reinforced by boys, boys who seem to go with excitement—­always, at all times and in all places.

The students made their way into the hall with its sputtering gas light, and while Janet went to the telephone booth, Jane and Dozia hurried to the office of the chief of police.

“Judith!”

Both girls had uttered the name and both now elbowed their way through the curious crowd up to the rail, where stood the disconsolate Judith.

“Keep back, keep back,” ordered an officer.  He was the second and only other active member of “the force” besides Sandy Jamison, he who had “taken Judith in.”

Jane and Dozia urged forward in spite of orders, however, and now Judith saw them!  She flashed a look first defiant then hopeless.  It had defiance for the charge, but was hopeless to make that country court understand.  Jane and Dozia answered the code with unwavering determination fairly emitting from their every feature.

But the chief was talking or muttering, and he had been pompously rapping for order.

Officer Sandy was trying desperately to tell his story, but between twirling his club and chewing tobacco he was sorely pressed for a chance to say anything.

“This here girl,” he mumbled, “was racin’ after a boy with a package of joo-ell-ry.  It was joo-ell-ry I know, for them boys from the city store was called to deliver——­”