“You have had a rough time of it lately,” he commented as he and the two girls made their way to the school.

“But Alice is a—­a brick!” declared Tavia, in appreciation of her friend’s assistance.  “She helped us splendidly.”

“Glad to hear it,” answered the father, “Alice is our tom-boy, but she is true-blue, eh, Bob?” he said patting his daughter affectionately.  “You knew what I meant about the man Anderson, did you not, Tavia?” he went on.  “That was your ‘special friend’ I believe.”

“Oh, I have met him,” replied Tavia laughing, “but I think now the reason the old squire wanted to get me into this trouble was because he thought it might affect Dorothy Dale, as she is my special friend.  Somehow the Burlock-Anderson affair seemed to be aimed at the Dales.”

“Oh, yes, no doubt of it,” answered Mr. MacAllister, “but we think we are on the track of settling the matter now.”

Tavia felt she could scarcely wait to tell all this to Dorothy, for she had been wondering what had become of the Anderson affair.  Alice looked proudly up at her father as they neared the school.

“They may think you have come to take someone else away,” she said laughing.  “This has been a queer picnic day.”

“Don’t worry about that,” he answered.  “You must have an extra good time to make up for your troubles and disappointment, I will see what I can do for you.”

Alice cast a meaning glance at Tavia.  If her father undertook to give Dalton school a treat it would surely be something worth while, Alice was sure, and so, with that bright prospect uppermost in her mind, she led her father into the school room.

CHAPTER XIV

THE SECRET

It took but a short time for Mr. MacAllister to explain everything satisfactorily to Miss Ellis and her pupils.  He was a gentleman any daughter might well be proud of, and, indeed, Alice showed a pardonable pride as he stood there smiling and assuring the teacher that, as president of the Selectmen of Dalton, he would promise a holiday to the class that would make up in every way for the disappointment of the morning.

When the visitor had departed, Miss Ellis announced she would carry out the intended program as far as a half session was concerned, but, as it was too late to go on the picnic then the pupils might go home and enjoy themselves as they wished.

Tavia and Alice were now regarded as heroines.  To think they had really been in the court, and that they had been witnesses to—­“a fight,” as Tavia declared Squire Sanders’ attack on Ralph was “nothing more nor less than a common roll around fight.”

Finally the picnic lunches were disposed of, and Tavia took Dorothy’s arm as they walked homeward—­she had much to tell Dorothy and knew that no girl would interrupt such apparent confidence as “arm in arm” indicated.

“And what do you think Mr. MacAllister said?” began Tavia.  “That old Squire Sanders let that horrible man get out of Dalton—­the man who frightened us so!”