Alice shot a meaning look at Miss Ellis and stepped out. "Come, Tavia," she said, "the more the merrier. Girls we will be back in time for the picnic," and, taking the "cue" from Alice, Tavia also stepped out, and with her, marched off behind the squire. CHAPTER XIII A QUEER PICNIC And that was to be picnic day! A queer holiday, indeed, with two girls taken from the classroom--arrested! Yes, that was what it amounted to, in spite of the jolly way Tavia and Alice trooped off, making "faces" and doing fancy "steps" back of the squire. Miss Ellis sat at her desk dazed, and stunned. She could not realize it all--a squire coming into her room--threatening her with dismissal, and taking two girls off to the common police court for a "hearing." She was not a woman given to showing her feelings, but this seemed more than she could bear; tears came into her eyes, fell upon her books and then she bowed her head--she had to cry! Dorothy was at her side instantly. "Dear Miss Ellis," she murmured, "don't take it so seriously. It will be all right. I'm sure those two girls are well able to take care of themselves, and I suspect Alice went more for mischief than for anything. Perhaps I had better run down to father's office, and tell him about it; he will know exactly what to do." The girls all looked on with sad faces. They had never before seen Miss Ellis cry in school. But she raised her head now, and seemed better able to control her feelings. "I think, Dorothy," she said, "it may be better to wait awhile. Something may happen to--save the girls from really going to his office. We will try to study, and perhaps we may have our picnic yet." But it was a difficult matter to apply minds to books that morning; too much had happened to be turned readily aside for mere school work. Such whispering had never been permitted before, although the girls did try to be kind to Miss Ellis, she looked so sad and worried. Meanwhile the two girls, Tavia and Alice, had been having their own experiences. Upon reaching the street they stepped up along side the squire, so that persons in passing thought they were merely walking along to keep the aged man company. But Ralph Willoby was not so easily misled. He was just leaving the Bugle office as they came along, and he instantly detected a "story." "Come on," said Alice, "you can be our counsel. We are under arrest." "No need," objected the squire, "I am well able to attend to this case." "But your office is public," answered Ralph, "and I guess I'll go along and see what happens." "But I say I don't want any interference," and the squire raised his voice. "You newspaper scamps always get things wrong anyway." "Probably because you do not give us a chance to get them right," retorted Ralph. "This time we will try to stick to facts." "Well, when I'm ready to give them out you can have them, but not before," insisted the angry squire.