The Mandie Collection by Lois Gladys Leppard

all the old clothes she already has but will buy a whole new assortment of clothes,” Jonathan suggested.
    “I don’t think she has a lot of money. Grandmother had to buy the schoolhouse a while back to keep them from having to close it,” Mandie told him.
    “And if Miss Hope doesn’t come back, I don’t believe Miss Prudence can run the school by herself,” Celia said.
    “What if Miss Hope doesn’t come back and Miss Prudence has to close the school, what will you girls do about school?” Jonathan asked.
    Mandie and Celia looked at each other and sighed.
    “Oh, I hope that doesn’t happen. We’d have to go to a strange school just for the one year we have left until we graduate, and no telling where that school would be,” Celia said.
    “Yes, and we haven’t even decided on a college yet, and then to have to change schools, too. That’s too much,” Mandie said. Smiling at Joe, she said, “I suppose I could just go back to Mr. Tallant’s school at Charley Gap.” That was Mandie’s old school when she was younger and her father was living.
    “I believe you are a little old for that now,” Joe said, grinning. “And remember, he did not teach enough advanced classes for me to get into college. I had to double up on my first year’s work at college in order to meet the entrance requirements.”
    “I know. I was just joking,” Mandie told him with a grin, and then frowning, she added, “I’ll certainly be glad when we finish Miss Prudence’s school and get on through college.”
    “But you don’t even know yet where you will be going to college,” Jonathan told her. “Why don’t you girls come to New York and go to college with me up there? You could both live at my house.”
    Joe quickly said, “No, they should both just come on down to New Orleans to my college.” Looking at Mandie, he said, “Please say yes.”
    Mandie smiled and said, “I’ll just say maybe.”
    Ben pulled the rig up in the yard before the sheriff’s office and stopped.
    “Here we are,” Mandie said, quickly rising and stepping down from the rig before her grandmother could tell them to stay in the vehicle. She was determined to hear what was said.
    Her friends followed, and they stood there waiting while Senator Morton helped Mrs. Taft descend from the rig.
    Looking at the young people, Mrs. Taft said, “Now, you may all go in with us if you like, but you will not participate in the conversation with Sheriff Jones. Do you understand?” She looked at all four of them.
    “Yes, ma’am” was unanimous.
    They followed Mrs. Taft and Senator Morton into the building. In the long wide hallway they saw a sign hanging over one of the doors. Sheriff, it read, and Mrs. Taft headed straight for that.
    The top half of the door had a glass panel, but it was opaque, so Mandie couldn’t see what was inside until the senator opened the door and stood back for Mrs. Taft to enter the office.
    “Good morning, Sheriff,” Mrs. Taft was saying, and Mandie bent sideways into the small office to see the man. It was Sheriff Jones himself. Mandie had met him before when he had come to their school. He quickly stood up.
    “Good morning, Mrs. Taft. To what do I owe the honor of this visit?” he asked, pulling a chair over to the desk. “Please have a seat. And there are plenty of chairs over there for everyone else.” He motioned toward the far wall with straight, uncomfortable-looking chairs lining the length of it.
    Senator Morton quickly pulled another chair next to the one for Mrs. Taft and sat down after she did. Sheriff Jones went back behind his old, beat-up desk and sat down.
    Mandie and her friends reluctantly took seats in the chairs along the far wall. She was afraid they would not be able to hear everything that was said. However, as it turned out, Sheriff Jones had a loud, strong voice that they were able to hear.
    “Oh, Sheriff Jones, I have come on a mission that must be kept entirely secret from Miss Prudence at the