“But the secret?” demanded Tavia, making sure her skirt would not be stained, before taking her place on the grass beside Dorothy.

“Yes, I do want to tell you,” answered Dorothy, “Now listen.  You know Squire Sanders was particularly anxious that you should stand all the blame for Sarah’s accident.”

“Particularly anxious?  He was dead set on it.  Polite language doesn’t fit the case.”

“Tavia, you really are too slangy.  It may be all right just for fun, in talking to girls, but some day you will be sorry.  It will become a habit.”

“Like Jake Schmid taking the pledge.  I saw him yesterday very close to—­ a saloon!”

“Poor Jake!” said Dorothy with a sigh.  “But he does seem to try—­”

“To take the pledge?  Indeed he does and I admire his perseverance.  That’s just the way I try to avoid slang.”

“I am afraid, Tavia, we will not accomplish much in the way of confidences, if you persist in being—­ridiculous,” and Dorothy made as if to continue on her way home.

“Sit right down there, Dorothy Dale,” insisted Tavia, pulling her friend’s skirt, and bringing Dorothy down beside her rather suddenly.  “I will have to play the villain and demand that ’secret’!”

“Well, it is simply this:  I think I see the motive Squire Sanders had in trying to disgrace you.”

“Let me see it quick!” snapped Tavia.

“Didn’t your father run against him last year for the office of Town Squire?”

“Certainly,” said Tavia, briefly.

“And the only reason he did not get the office was because the squire was so old the men thought it best not to disturb him just then.”

“Right, again,” answered Tavia.

“Election time is now almost here.  Your father would be up for the office again.  Don’t you see by bringing trouble to you and your folks your father would become unpopular?”

“And get left!”

“Yes; be defeated.”

“But he will not!” and Tavia’s brown eyes danced significantly.  “The squire is down and out.  And worse yet he has to run for his money.  Now my own dear dad will have a chance.  Oh, Doro, I love politics better than eating.  I hope some day soon, while Tavia Travers is still in circulation, the women will vote in Dalton same as they do in Rochester--they don’t just exactly vote in Rochester, but a lot of them talk about it.”

“Now you must not mention my suspicions,” cautioned Dorothy, “for I must speak to father first.  It does not seem fair that the Fords should be blamed for making statements about you that, perhaps, the squire put into their heads.”

“Dorothy Dale, you would make a first class lawyer, and when you want a job at it I will engage you to defend my case.  But I do not see how I am to keep all that momsey.  It would be so good to have father back at a desk again.  They say he really was a first class justice out in Millville.  And he just hates his work now—­so little wages; mom cannot seem to make them go around—­me and Johnnie; Johnnie mostly gets the knot at the end.”