Page:Girls of Central High on the Stage.djvu/111

Rh "That drawer is very full, Mr. Sharp," she said, composedly enough. "May I take it out?"

"Oh, I've had it out and felt behind it," urged Miss Carrington, all of a flutter now.

"Maybe Miss Belding can show us something we did not know," said the principal, in his bantering way. It had been he who gave Laura her nickname, and he thought a great deal of the girl. He knew that she had some serious intention or she would not have come forward.

Laura pulled out the over-full drawer and set it down upon the carpet.

"Oh, it isn't there," said Miss Carrington. "The packet was tied with a mauve ribbon—a narrow ribbon"

Laura pulled out the next drawer.

"Oh, that's quite useless," exclaimed the lady teacher. "And to have everything disarranged in this way"

"We must give the counsel for the defense every opportunity, Miss Carrington," said the principal softly.

Laura drew out the third drawer—just glancing at the top layer of papers—and then the fourth and last. No bundle tied with a mauve ribbon appeared.