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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/37176-0.txt b/37176-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c1d23a2 --- /dev/null +++ b/37176-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6701 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Marjorie Dean College Junior, by Pauline Lester + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Marjorie Dean College Junior + +Author: Pauline Lester + +Release Date: August 23, 2011 [EBook #37176] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARJORIE DEAN COLLEGE JUNIOR *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +[Illustration: Under the tree was a grassy mound. On this Elaine was +invited to sit. _Page 66_] + + + + + MARJORIE DEAN + COLLEGE JUNIOR + + By PAULINE LESTER + + Author of + + “Marjorie Dean, College Freshman,” “Marjorie Dean, + College Sophomore,” “Marjorie Dean, College Senior,” + and + The Marjorie Dean High School Series + + A. L. BURT COMPANY + Publishers—New York + + + + + THE + Marjorie Dean College Series + + A Series of Stories for Girls 12 to 18 Years of Age + + By PAULINE LESTER + + Marjorie Dean, College Freshman + Marjorie Dean, College Sophomore + Marjorie Dean, College Junior + Marjorie Dean, College Senior + + Copyright, 1922 + By A. L. BURT COMPANY + + MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE JUNIOR + + Made in “U. S. A.” + + + + +MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE JUNIOR. + + + + +CHAPTER I—A MUSICAL WELCOME + + +“Remember; we are to begin with the ‘Serenata.’ Follow that with ‘How +Fair Art Thou’ and ‘Hymn to Hamilton.’ Just as we are leaving, sing ‘How +Can I Leave Thee, Dear?’ We will fade away on the last of that. Want to +make any changes in the programme?” + +Phyllis Moore turned inquiringly to her choristers. There were seven of +them including herself, and they were preparing to serenade Marjorie +Dean and her four chums. The Lookouts had returned to Hamilton College +that afternoon from the long summer vacation. This year, their Silverton +Hall friends had arrived before them. Hence Phyllis’s plan to serenade +them. + +Robina Page, Portia Graham, Blanche Scott, Elaine Hunter, Marie Peyton +and Marie’s freshman cousin, Hope Morris, comprised Phyllis’s serenading +party. The latter had been invited to participate because she was still +company. Incidentally she knew the songs chosen, with the exception of +the “Hymn to Hamilton,” and could sing alto. She was, therefore, a +valuable asset. + +“I hope Leila has managed to cage the girls in Marjorie’s room,” +remarked Blanche Scott. “We want all five Sanfordites in on the +serenade.” + +“Leave it to Irish Leila to cage anything she starts out to cage,” was +Robin’s confident assurance. “If she says she will do a thing, she will +accomplish it, somehow. Leila is a diplomat, and so clever she is +amazing.” + +“Vera Mason isn’t far behind her. Those two have chummed together so +long their methods are similar. They were the first girls I knew at +Hamilton. They met the train I came in on. Nella Sherman and Selma +Sanbourne were with them. Two more fine girls. Portia looked pleasantly +reminiscent of her reception by the quartette to which she now referred. + +“I heard Selma Sanbourne wasn’t coming back. I must ask Leila about +that.” Robin made mental note of the question. + +“That will be hard on Nella,” observed Elaine Hunter, with her usual +ready sympathy. “They have always been such great chums.” + +“Sorry to interrupt, but we must be hiking, girls.” In command of the +tuneful expedition, Phyllis tucked her violin case under her arm in +business-like fashion and cast a critical eye over her flock. + +“Be sure you have your instruments of torture with you,” she laughed. +“One time, at home, three girls and myself started out to serenade a +friend of ours. Before we started we had all been sitting on our +veranda, eating ice cream. One of the girls was to accompany us on the +mandolin. She walked away and left it on the veranda. She never noticed +the omission until we were ready to lift up our voices. So we had to +sing without it, for it was over a mile to our house and she couldn’t +very well go back after it.” + +“Let this be a warning to you mandolin players not to do likewise.” +Marie turned a severe eye on Elaine and Portia, who made pretext of +clutching their mandolins in a firmer grip. + +“My good old guitar is hung to me by a ribbon. I am not likely to go +away from here without it.” Blanche patted the smooth, shining back of +the guitar. + +“We couldn’t have chosen a better time for a serenade,” exulted Robin. +“It is a fine night; just dark enough. Besides, there are not many girls +back at Wayland Hall yet. We won’t be so conspicuous with our caroling.” + +Meanwhile, in a certain room at Wayland Hall, wily Lelia Harper was +exerting herself to be agreeable to her Lookout chums. Three of them she +had marshaled to Marjorie’s room on plea of showing them souvenirs of a +trip she had made through Ireland that summer. + +The souvenirs had been heartily admired, but even they could not stem +Muriel’s and Jerry’s determined desire to entertain. First Jerry +innocently proposed that they all walk over to Baretti’s for ices. Leila +and Vera exhibited no enthusiasm at the invitation. Next, Muriel +re-proposed the jaunt at her expense. Vera cast an appealing look toward +Leila. The latter was equal to the occasion. + +“And are you so tired of me and my pictures of my Emerald Isle that you +want to hurry me off to Baretti’s to be rid of me?” she questioned, in +an offended tone. + +“Certainly not, and you needn’t pretend you think so, for you don’t,” +retorted Muriel, unabashed. “Your Irish views are wonderful. So is +Baretti’s fresh peach ice cream. Helen was there and had some this +afternoon. She said it was better than ever. I was only trying to be +hospitable and so was Jerry. Sorry you had to take me too personally.” +Muriel now strove to simulate offense. She turned up her nose, tossed +her head and burst out laughing. “It’s no use,” she said, “I couldn’t +really fuss with you if I tried, Leila Greatheart.” + +“I am relieved to hear it,” Leila returned with inimitable dryness. + +“Lots of time for Baretti’s and ice cream yet tonight. It’s only +half-past eight.” Marjorie indicated the wall clock with a slight move +of her head. “We can leave here about nine. We’ll be there by ten +after.” + +“Certainly; we have oceans of time,” Leila agreed with alacrity. “The +ten-thirty rule is still on a vacation and won’t be back for a week or +so.” + +“Oh, I haven’t told you about my new car,” Vera began with sudden +inspiration. “Father bought it for me in August. It is a beauty. He is +going to send James, his chauffeur, here with it. It may arrive +tomorrow. I hope it does.” Vera launched into a description of her car +with intent to kill time. Phyllis had set the hour for the serenade to +the Lookouts at a quarter to nine. + +“It will be good and dark then,” she had told Leila and Vera. “We will +have to come as early as that, for we are going to Acasia House to +serenade Barbara Severn, and to Alston Terrace to sing to Isabel Keller. +Last, we are going to serenade Miss Humphrey. We’ll have to hustle, in +order to go the rounds and get back to Silverton Hall before eleven +o’clock. I depend on you, Leila, to keep that lively bunch of +Sanfordites in until we get there.” + +Leila, aided by Vera, was now endeavoring to carry out Phyllis’s +request. She was privately hoping that the serenaders would be on time. +Should they delay until nine or after, they were quite likely to gather +in under the window of a deserted room. + +Readers of the “Marjorie Dean High School Series” have long been in +touch with Marjorie Dean and the friends of her high school days. +“Marjorie Dean, High School Freshman,” recounted her advent into Sanford +High School and what happened to her during her first year there. +“Marjorie Dean, High School Sophomore,” “Marjorie Dean, High School +Junior,” and “Marjorie Dean, High School Senior,” completed a series of +stories which dealt entirely with Marjorie’s four years’ course at +Sanford High School. Admirers of the loyal-hearted, high-principled +young girl, who became a power at high school because of her many fine +qualities, will recall her ardent wish to enroll as a student at +Hamilton College when she should have finished her high school days. + +In “Marjorie Dean, College Freshman,” will be found the account of +Marjorie’s doings as a freshman at Hamilton College. Entering college +full of noble resolves and high ideals, she was not disappointed in her +Alma Mater, although she was not long in discovering that an element of +snobbery was abroad at Hamilton which was totally against Hamilton +traditions. Aided by four of her Sanford chums, who had entered Hamilton +College with her, and a number of freshmen and upper class girls, of +democratic mind, the energetic band had endeavored to combat the +pernicious influence, exercised by a clique of moneyed girls, which was +fast taking hold upon other students. The end of the college year had +found their efforts successful, in a measure, and the way paved for +better things. + +In “Marjorie Dean, College Sophomore,” the further account of Marjorie’s +eventful college days was set forth. Opposed, from her return to +Hamilton College by certain girls residing in the same house with +herself, who disliked her independence and fair-mindedness, Marjorie was +later given signal proof of their enmity. How she and her chums fought +them on their own ground and won a notable victory over them formed a +narrative of pleasing interest and lively action. + +Now that the Five Travelers, as the quintette of Sanford girls loved to +call themselves, were once more settled in the country of college, their +devoted friends had already planned to honor them. Leila and Vera, who +invariably returned early to college, had encountered Phyllis on the +campus on the day previous. Informing her of the Lookouts’ expected +arrival on the next afternoon, Phyllis had planned the serenade and +demanded Leila’s help. Leila had rashly promised to keep the arrivals at +home that evening. She was now of the opinion that a promise was +sometimes easier made than fulfilled. + +“Since Vera has told you everything she can remember about her new +roadster, I shall now do a little talking myself.” Leila was having the +utmost difficulty in controlling her risibles. She dared not look at +Vera; nor dared Vera look at her. “Ahem! When I was in Ireland,” she +pompously announced, “I saw——” + +Came the welcome interruption for which she had been waiting. Clear and +sweet under the windows of the room rose the strains of Tosti’s +“Serenata.” A brief prelude and voices took it up, filling the evening +air with harmony. + +“Thank my stars! A-h-h!” Leila relaxed exaggeratedly in her chair, her +Cheshire-cat smile predominating her features. + +“You bad old rascal!” Marjorie paused long enough to shake Leila +playfully by the shoulders. Then she hurried to one of the windows. +Jerry, Muriel and Lucy had reached one. Ronny and Vera were at the +other. Marjorie joined them. Leila made no move to rise. She preferred +sitting where she was. + +“Keep quiet,” Jerry had admonished at the first sounds. “If we start to +talk to them, they’ll stop singing. Whoever they are, they certainly can +sing.” Her companions of her mind, it was a silent and appreciative +little audience that gathered at the open windows to listen to the +serenaders. + +There was no moon that night. It was impossible to see the faces of the +carolers, nor, in the general harmony of melodious sound, was it +possible to identify any one voice. An energetic clapping of hands, from +other windows as well as those of Marjorie’s room, greeted the close of +the “Serenata.” Then a high soprano voice, which the girls recognized as +Robin Page’s, began that most beautiful of old songs, “How Fair Art +Thou.” A violin throbbed a soft obligato. + +The marked hush that hung over the Hall during the rendering of the song +was most complimentary to the soloist. The serenaders were not out for +glory, however. Hardly had the applause accorded Robin died out, when +mandolins, guitar and violin took up the stately “Hymn to Hamilton.” + + “First in wisdom, first in precept; teach us to revere + thy way: + Grant us mind to know thy purpose, keep us in + thy brightest ray. + Let our acts be shaped in honor; let our steps be + just and free: + Make us worthy of thy threshold, as we pledge our + faith to thee.” + +Thus ran the first stanza, set to a sonorous air which the combined +harmony of voices and musical instruments rendered doubly beautiful. It +seemed to those honored by the serenaders that they had never before +heard the fine old hymn so inspiringly sung. The whole three stanzas +were given. The instant the hymn was ended the familiar melody “How Can +I Leave Thee Dear?” followed. + +“That means they are going to beat it,” called Jerry in low tones. “Let +us head them off before they can get away and take them with us to +Baretti’s. We’ll have to start now, if we expect to catch them. They’re +beginning the second stanza. We’ll just give _them_ a little surprise.” + +With one accord the appreciative and mischievous audience left the +windows and made a rush for the stairs. Headed by Jerry they exited +quietly from the house and stole around its right-hand corner. + +Absorbed in their own lyric efforts, the singers had reached the third +sentimentally pathetic stanza: + + “If but a bird were I, homeward to thee I’d fly; + Falcon nor hawk I’d fear, if thou wert near. + Shot by a hunter’s ball; would at thy feet I fall, + If but one ling’ring tear would dim thine eye.” + +Ready to leave almost on the last line, they were not prepared for the +merry crowd of girls who pounced suddenly upon them. + +“How can you leave us, dears?” caroled Muriel Harding, as she caught +firm hold of Robin Page. “You are not going to leave us. Don’t imagine +it for a minute.” + + + + +CHAPTER II—UNDER THE SEPTEMBER STARS + + +“Captured by Sanfordites!” exclaimed Robin dramatically. “What fate is +left to us now?” Despite her tragic utterance, she proceeded to a +vigorous hand-shaking with Muriel. + +“Now why couldn’t you have stayed upstairs like nice children and +praised our modest efforts in your behalf instead of prancing down +stairs to head us off?” inquired Phyllis in pretended disgust. “Not one +of you has the proper idea of the romance which should attend a +serenade. Of course, you didn’t _know_ who was singing to you, and, of +course, you just simply _had_ to find out.” + +“Don’t delude yourself with any such wild idea,” Jerry made haste to +retort. “We knew Robin’s voice the minute she opened her mouth to sing +‘How Fair Art Thou.’ Now which one of us were you particularly referring +to in that number? I took it straight to myself. Of course I _may_ be a +trifle presumptuous, Ahem!” + +“Yes; ‘Ahem!’” mimicked Phyllis. “You are just the same good old, funny +old scout, Jeremiah. Somebody please hold my violin while I embrace +Jeremiah.” + +“Hold it yourself,” laughed Portia. “We have fond welcomes of our own to +hand around and need the use of our arms.” + +Full of the happiness of the meeting the running treble of girlhood, +mingled with ripples of gay, light laughter, was music in itself. + +“The Moore Symphony Orchestra and Concert Company will have to be moving +on,” Elaine reminded after fifteen minutes had winged away. “This is +Phil’s organization but she seems to have forgotten all about it. We are +supposed to serenade Barbara Severn, Isabel Keller and Miss Humphrey +while the night is yet young. I can see where someone of the trio will +have to be unserenaded this evening.” + +“Couldn’t you serenade them tomorrow night?” coaxed Marjorie. “We had it +all planned to go to Baretti’s before we hustled down to head you off. +The instant I recognized Robin’s heavenly soprano I knew that the +Silvertonites were under our windows. I guess the rest knew, too. We +didn’t want to talk while you were singing.” + +“Very polite in you, I am sure.” In the darkness Elaine essayed a +profound bow. Result, her head came into smart contact with Blanche’s +guitar. + +“Steady there! I need my guitar for the next orchestral spasm.” Blanche +swung the instrument under her arm out of harm’s way. + +“I need my head, too,” giggled Elaine, ruefully rubbing that slightly +injured member. + +“Do serenade the others tomorrow night.” Ronny now added her plea. “How +would you like to take us along with you, then? Not to sing, but just +for company, you know. I never went out serenading, and I fully feel the +need of excitement.” + +“What you folks need is fresh peach ice cream and lots of it,” Jerry +advised with crafty enthusiasm. “It’s to be had at Giuseppe Baretti’s.” + +“I know of nothing more refreshing to tired soloists than fresh peach +ice cream,” seconded Vera. “I leave it to my esteemed friend, Irish +Leila, if I am not entirely correct in this.” + +“You are. Now what is it that you are quite right about?” Leila had +caught the last sentence and risen to the occasion. + +“Such support,” murmured Vera, as a laugh arose. + +“Is it not now?” Leila blandly commented. “Never worry. There is little +I would not agree with you in, Midget. Be consoled with that handsome +amend. As for you singers and wandering musicians, you had better come +with us. + + “We’ll feed you on fine white bread of the wheat + And the drip of honey gold: + We’ll give you pale clouds for a mantle sweet, + And a handful of stars to hold.” + +Leila sang lightly the quaint words of an old Irish ditty. + +“Can we resist such a prospect?” laughed Phyllis. “How about it, girls? +Is it on with the serenade or on to Baretti’s?” + +“Baretti’s it had better be, since we are invited there by such +distinguished persons,” was Robin’s decision. “Leila, you are to teach +me that song you were just humming. It is sweet!” + +Her companions were nothing loath to abandon their project for the +evening in order to hob-nob with their Wayland Hall friends. They came +to this decision very summarily. Now fourteen strong, the company turned +their steps toward their favorite restaurant. + +They were nearing the cluster lights stationed at each side of the wide +walk leading up to the entrance of the tea room, when Lucy Warner +stopped short with: “Oh, girls; I know something that I think would be +nice to do.” + +“Speak up, respected Luciferous,” encouraged Vera. “You say so little it +is a pleasure to listen to you. I wish I could say that of everyone I +know,” she added significantly. + +“Have you an idea of whom she may be talking about?” quizzed Leila, +rolling her eyes at her companions. + +“She certainly doesn’t mean us, even if she didn’t say ‘present company +excepted.’” Muriel beamed at Leila with trustful innocence. “Go ahead, +Luciferous Warniferous, noble Sanfordite, and tell us what’s on your +mind.” + +“I had no idea I was so greatly respected in this crowd. I never before +saw signs of it. Much obliged. This is what I thought of.” Lucy came to +the point with her usual celerity. “Why not serenade Signor Baretti? He +is an Italian. The Italians all love music. I know he would like it. You +girls sing and play so beautifully.” + +“Of course he would.” Marjorie was the first to endorse Lucy’s proposal +“This is really a fine time for it, too. It’s late enough in the evening +so that there won’t be many persons in the restaurant.” + +“It would delight his little, old Giuseppeship,” approved Blanche. + +“No doubt about it,” Robin heartily concurred. “We ought to sing +something from an Italian opera. That would please him most. The Latins +don’t quite understand the beauty of our English and American songs.” + +“We can sing the sextette from ‘Lucia,’” proposed Elaine. “It doesn’t +matter about the words. We know the music. We have sung that together so +many times we wouldn’t make a fizzle of it.” + +“Yes, and there is the ‘Italian Song at Nightfall’ that Robin sings so +wonderfully. We can help out on the last part of it.” Tucking her violin +under her chin, Phyllis played a few bars of the selection she had +named. “I can play it,” she nodded. “I never tried it on the fiddle +before.” + +“That’s two,” counted Robin. “For a third and last let’s give that +pretty ‘Gondelier’s Love Song,’ by Nevin. It doesn’t matter about words +to that, either. There aren’t any. People ought to learn to appreciate +songs without words. Giuseppe won’t care a hang about anything but the +music. If any of you Wayland Hallites decide to sing with us, sing +nicely. Don’t you dare make the tiniest discord.” + +“She has some opinion of herself as a singer,” Leila told the others, +with comically raised brows. “Be easy. We have no wish to lilt wid yez.” + +Having decided to serenade the unsuspecting proprietor of the tea room, +the next point to be settled was where they should stand to sing. + +“Wait a minute. I’ll go and look in one of the windows,” volunteered +Ronny. “Perhaps I shall be able to see just where he is.” + +“He is usually at his desk about this time in the evening. We’ll gather +around the window nearest where he is sitting,” planned Phyllis. + +Ronny flitted lightly ahead of her companions, stopping at a window on +the right-hand side, well to the rear. The others followed her more +slowly in order to give her time to make the observation. Before they +reached her she turned from her post and came quickly to them. + +“He is back at the last table on the left reading a newspaper. There +isn’t a soul in the room but himself,” she said in an undertone. “The +time couldn’t be more opportune.” + +“Oh, fine,” whispered Robin. “We can go around behind the inn and be +right at the window nearest him.” + +“The non-singers, I suppose we might call ourselves the trailers, will +politely station our magnificent selves at the next window above the +singers to see how the victim takes it,” decided Jerry. “Contrary, ‘no.’ +I don’t hear any opposing voices.” + +“There mustn’t be _any_ voices heard for the next two minutes,” warned +Portia Graham. “Slide around the inn and take your places as quietly as +mice.” + +In gleeful silence the girls divided into two groups, each group taking +up its separate station. + +“I hope the night air hasn’t played havoc with my strings,” breathed +Phyllis. “I don’t dare try them. Are we ready?” She rapped softly on the +face of her violin with the bow. + +Followed the tense instant that always precedes the performance of an +orchestra, then Phyllis and Robin began the world-known sextette from +“Lucia.” Robin had sung it so many times in private to the accompaniment +of her cousin’s violin that the attack was perfect. The others took it +up immediately, filling the night with echoing sweetness. + +From their position at the next window the watchers saw the dark, solemn +face of the Italian raised in bewildered amazement from his paper. Not +quite comprehending at first the unbidden flood of music which met his +ears, he listened for a moment in patent stupefaction. Soon a smile +began to play about his tight little mouth. It widened into a grin of +positive pleasure. Giuseppe understood that a great honor was being done +him. He was not only being serenaded, but he was listening to the music +of his native country as well. + +His varying facial expressions, as the sextette rose and fell, showed +his love of the selection. As it ended, he did an odd thing. He rose +from his chair, bowed his profound thanks toward the window from whence +came the singing, and sat down again, looking expectant. + +“He knows very well he’s being watched,” whispered Marjorie. “Doesn’t he +look pleased? I’m so glad you thought of him, Lucy.” + +Lucy was also showing shy satisfaction at the success of her proposal. +She was secretly more proud of some small triumph of the kind on her +part than of her brilliancy as a student. + +Had Signor Baretti been attending a performance of grand opera, he could +not have shown a more evident pleasure in the programme. He listened to +the entertainment so unexpectedly provided him with the rapt air of a +true music-lover. + +“There!” softly exclaimed Phyllis, as she lowered her violin. “That’s +the end of the programme, Signor Baretti. Now for that fresh peach ice +cream. I shall have coffee and mountain cake with it. I am as hungry as +the average wandering minstrel.” + +“Let’s walk in as calmly as though we had never thought of serenading +Giuseppe,” said Robin. “Oh, we can’t. I forgot. The orchestra part of +this aggregation is a dead give-away.” + +“We don’t care. He will know it was we who were out there. There is no +one else about but us. I hope he won’t think we are a set of little +Tommy Tuckers singing for our suppers. That’s a horrible afterthought on +my part,” Elaine laughed. + +“Come on.” Jerry and her group had now joined the singers. “He saw us +but not until you were singing that Nevin selection. He kept staring at +the window where the sound came from. We had our faces right close to +our window and all of a sudden he looked straight at us. You should have +seen him laugh. His whole face broke into funny little smiles.” + +“He may have thought we were the warblers,” suggested Muriel hopefully. +“We can parade into the inn on your glory. If I put on airs he may take +me for the high soprano.” She glanced teasingly at Robin. + +“Oh, go as far as you like. It won’t be the first instance in the +world’s history where some have done all the work and others have taken +all the credit,” Robin reminded. + +In this jesting frame of mind the entire party strolled around to the +inn’s main entrance. At the door they found Giuseppe waiting for them, +his dark features wreathed in smiles. + +“I wait for you here,” he announced, with an eloquent gesture of the +hand. “So I know som’ my friendly young ladies from the college sing +just for me. You come in. You are my com’ny. You say what you like. I +give the best. Not since I come this country I hear the singing I like +so much. The Lucia! Ah, that is the one I lov’! + +“I tell you the little story while you stan’ here. Then you come in. +When I come this country, I am the very poor boy. Come in the steerage. +No much to eat. I fin’ work. Then the times hard, I lose work. All over +New York I walk, but don’t fin’. I have _no one cent_. I am put from the +bed I rent. I can no pay. For four days I have the nothing eat. I say, +‘It is over.’ I am this, that I will walk to the river in the night an’ +be no more. + +“It is the very warm night and I am tired. I walk an’ walk.” His face +took on a shade of his by-gone hopelessness as he continued. “Soon I +come the river, I think. Then I hear the music. It is in the next street +jus’ I go turn into. It is the harp an’ violin. Two my countrymen play +the Lucia. I am so sad. I sit on a step an’ cry. Pretty soon one these +ask the money gif’ for the music. He touch me on shoulder, say very kind +in Italian, ‘_Che c’è mai?_’ That mean, ‘What the matter?’ He see I am +the Italiano. We look each other. Both cry, then embrac’. He is my +oldes’ brother. He come here long before me. My mother an’ I, we don’t +hear five years. Then my mother die. Two my brothers work in the _vigna_ +for the rich vignaiuolo in my country. My father is dead long time. So I +come here. + +“My brother give me the eat, the clothes, the place sleep. He have good +room. He work in the day for rich Italian importer. Sometimes he go out +play at night for help his friend who play the harp. He is the old man +an’ don’t work all the time. So it is I lov’ the Lucia. They don’t play +that, mebbe I don’t sit on that step. Then never fin’ my brother. An’ +you have please me more than for many years you play the Lucia for me +this night.” + + + + +CHAPTER III—A VERANDA ENCOUNTER + + +It lacked but a few minutes of eleven o’clock when the serenading party +said goodnight to Signor Baretti and trooped off toward the campus. The +usually taciturn Italian had surprised and touched them by the impulsive +story of his most tragic hour. He had afterward played host to his +light-hearted guests with the true grace of the Latin. No one came to +the inn for cheer after they entered in that evening, so they had the +place quite to themselves. After a feast of the coveted peach ice cream +and cakes, the obliging orchestra tuned up again at Giuseppe’s earnest +request. Robin sang Shubert’s “Serenade” and “Appear Love at Thy +Window.” Phyllis played Raff’s “Cavatina” and one of Brahm’s “Hungarian +Dances.” Blanche Scott sang “Asleep in the Deep,” simply to prove she +had a masculine voice when she chose to use it. + +“We’ll come and make music for you again sometime,” promised +kind-hearted Phyllis as they left their beaming host. + +“I thank you. An’ you forget you say you come an’ play, I tell you ’bout +it sometime you come here to eat,” he warned the party as they were +leaving. + +“Talk about truth being stranger than fiction, what do you think of +Giuseppe’s story?” Jerry exclaimed as soon as they were well away from +the inn. “Imagine how one would feel to meet one’s long-lost brother +just as one was getting ready to commit suicide!” + +“One half of the world doesn’t know how the other half lives,” Ronny +said with a shake of her fair head. + +“To see Giuseppe today, successful and well-to-do, one finds it hard to +visualize him as the poor, starved, despondent Italian boy who cried his +heart out on the doorstep.” Vera’s tones vibrated with sympathy. The +Italian’s story had impressed her deeply. + +The girls discussed it soberly as they wended a leisurely way across the +campus. Even care-free Muriel, who seldom liked to take life seriously, +remarked with becoming earnestness that it was such stories which made +one realize one’s own benefits. + +“Be on hand tomorrow night at eight-thirty sharp,” was Phyllis’s parting +injunction to the Wayland Hall girls as the Silvertonites left them to +go on to their own house. “We have three fair ladies to sing to and we +don’t want to slight any of them.” + +“I think we ought to get up some entertainments of our own this year. I +never stopped to realize before how few clubs and college societies +Hamilton has. There’s only the ‘Silver Pen’,—one has to have high +literary ability to make that,—the ‘Twelfth Night Club’ and the +‘Fortnightly Debating Society.’ We haven’t a single sorority,” Vera +declared with regret. + +“Miss Remson told me once of a sorority that Hamilton used to have +called the ‘Round Table.’ It flourished for many years. Then all of a +sudden she heard no more of it. She said Hamilton was very different +even ten years ago from now. There was little automobiling and more +sociability among the campus houses. There were house plays going on +every week and different kinds of entertainments in which almost +everyone joined.” + +“That’s the way college ought to be,” commended Vera. “Even if Hamilton +hasn’t yet won back to those palmy days, we had more fellowship here +last year than the year before. Why, during Leila’s and my freshman year +here we were seldom invited anywhere. We hardly knew Helen Trent until +late in the year. Nella and Selma, Martha Merrick and Rosalind Black +were our only friends.” + +“And now we are to lose Selma.” Leila heaved an audible sigh. She had +already informed the girls of Selma’s approaching marriage to a young +naval officer. + +“Did Selma know last year she was not going to finish college?” asked +Muriel. “If I had gone through three years of my college course I +wouldn’t give up the last and most important year just to be married.” + +“That is because you know nothing about love,” teased Ronny. + +“Do you?” challenged Muriel. + +“I do not. I have a good deal more sentiment than you have though,” +retorted Ronny. “I can appreciate Selma’s sacrifice at the shrine of +love.” + +“So could I if I knew more about it,” Muriel flung back. + +“Precisely what I said to you. So glad you agree with me,” chuckled +Ronny. + +“I don’t agree with you at all. I meant if I knew more about what you +were pleased to call ‘Selma’s sacrifice,’ not _love_.” Muriel’s emphasis +of the last word proclaimed her disdain of the tender passion. + +“Hear the geese converse,” commented Leila. “Let me tell you both that +Selma had to lose either college or her fiancé for two years. He was +ordered to the Philippines to take charge of a naval station on one of +the islands. They were to have been married anyway as soon as she was +graduated from Hamilton. As it was she chose to go with him. So Selma +gained a husband and lost her seniorship and we lost Selma. I shall miss +her, for a finer girl never lived.” + +“Nella will miss her most of all,” Vera said quickly. “We must try to +make it up to Nella by taking her around with us a lot.” + +They had by this time reached the Hall. Girl-like they lingered on the +steps, enjoying the light night breeze that had sprung up in the last +hour. Marjorie’s old friend, the chimes, had rung out the stroke of +eleven before they reached the Hall. College having not yet opened +officially, they claimed the privilege of keeping a little later hours. + +As they loitered outside, conversing in low tones, the front door opened +and a girl stepped out on the veranda. She uttered a faint sound of +surprise at sight of the group of girls. She made a half movement as +though to retreat into the house. Then, her face turned away from them, +she hurried across the veranda and down the steps. + +Though the veranda light was not switched on, the girls had seen her +face plainly. To four of them she was known. + +“Who was _she_ and what ailed her?” was Muriel’s light question. “She +acted as though she were afraid we might eat her up.” + +“That was Miss Sayres, President Matthews’ private secretary,” answered +Leila in a peculiar tone. “As to what ailed her, she did not expect to +see us and she was not pleased. We have an old Irish proverb: ‘When a +man runs from you be sure his feet are at odds with his conscience.’” + + + + +CHAPTER IV—A CONGENIAL PAIR + + +“Well, here we are at the same old stand again.” Leslie Cairns yawned, +stretched upward her kimono-clad arms and clasped them behind her head. +Lounging opposite her, in a deep, Sleepy-Hollow chair, Natalie Weyman, +also in a negligee, scanned her friend’s face with some anxiety. + +“Les, do you or do you not intend to try to make a new stand this year +for our rights? I think the way we were treated last year after that +basket-ball affair was simply outrageous. I don’t mean by Miss Dean and +her crowd, I mean by girls we had lunched and done plenty of favors +for.” + +“If you are talking about the freshies they never were to be depended +upon from the first. Bess Walbert stood by us, of course. So did a lot +of Alston Terrace kids. She did good work for us there.” + +“Every reason why she should have,” Natalie tartly pointed out. She was +still jealous of Leslie’s friendship with Elizabeth Walbert. “You did +enough for _her_. She certainly will not win the soph presidency, no +matter how much you may root for her. She was awfully unpopular with her +class before college closed. I know that to be a fact.” + +“Why is it that you have to go up in the air like a sky rocket every +time I mention Bess Walbert’s name?” Leslie scowled her impatience. “You +wouldn’t give that poor kid credit for anything clever she had done, no +matter how wonderful it was.” + +“Humph! I have yet to learn of anything wonderful she ever did or ever +will do,” sneered Natalie. “I am not going to quarrel with you, Leslie, +about her.” Natalie modified her tone. “She isn’t worth it. You think I +am awfully jealous of her. I am not. I don’t like her because she is so +untruthful.” + +“Why don’t you say she is a liar and be done with it?” ‘So untruthful!’ +Leslie mimicked. “That sounds like Bean and her crowd.” Displeased with +Natalie for decrying Elizabeth Walbert, Leslie took revenge by mimicking +her chum. She knew nothing cut Natalie more than to be mimicked. + +“All right. I will say it. Bess Walbert _is_ a liar and you will find it +out, too, before you are done with her. Besides, she is treacherous. If +you were to turn her down for any reason, she wouldn’t care what she +said about you on the campus. I have watched her a good deal, Les. She’s +like this. She will take a little bit of truth for a foundation and then +build up something from it that’s entirely a lie. If she would stick to +facts; but she doesn’t.” + +“She has always been square enough with me,” Leslie insisted. + +“Because you have made a fuss over her,” was the instant explanation. +“She knows you are at the head of the Sans and she has taken precious +good care to keep in with you. She cares for no one but herself.” + +“Oh, nonsense! That’s what you always said about Lola Elster. I’ve never +had any rows with Lola. We’re as good friends today as ever.” + +“Still Lola dropped you the minute she grew chummy with Alida Burton,” +Natalie reminded. “Lola was just ungrateful, though. She has more honor +in a minute than Bess will ever have. She isn’t a talker or a +mischief-maker. She never thinks of much but having a good time. She +hardly ever says anything gossipy about anyone.” + +“I thought you didn’t like Lola?” Leslie smiled in her slow fashion. + +“I don’t,” came frankly. “Of the two evils, I prefer her to Bess. My +advice to you is not to be too pleasant with Bess until you see what her +position here at Hamilton is going to be. I tell you she isn’t well +liked. You can keep her at arm’s length, if you begin that way, without +making her sore. If you baby her and then drop her, look out!” Natalie +shook a prophetic finger at Leslie. + +“We can’t afford to take any chances this year, Les. With all the things +we have done that would put us in line for being expelled, we have +managed by sheer good luck to slide from under. If we hadn’t worked like +sixty last spring term to make up for the time we lost fooling with +basket-ball we wouldn’t be seniors now. I don’t want any conditions to +work off this year.” + +“Neither do I. Don’t intend to have ’em. I begin to believe you may be +right about keeping Bess in her place.” Natalie’s evident earnestness +had made some impression on her companion. + +“I _know_ I am,” Natalie emphasized with lofty dignity. “Are you sure +she doesn’t know anything about that hazing business? She made a remark +to Harriet Stephens last spring that sounded as though she knew all +about it.” + +“Well, she does not, unless someone of the Sans besides you or I has +told her of it.” Leslie sat up straight in her chair, looking rather +worried. “I must pump her and find out what she knows. If she does know +of it, then we have a traitor in the camp. Mark me, I’ll throw any girl +out of the club who has babbled that affair. Didn’t we doubly swear, +afterward, never to tell it to a soul while we were at Hamilton?” + +“Hard to say who told Bess,” shrugged Natalie. “Certainly it was not I.” + +“No; you’re excepted. I said that.” Leslie’s assurance was bored. She +was tired of hearing Natalie extol her own loyalty. It was an everyday +citation. “That hazing stunt of ours doesn’t worry me half so much as +that trick we put over on Trotty Remson. I am always afraid that Laura +will flivver someday and the whole thing will come to light. If it +happens after I leave Hamilton, I don’t care. All I care about is +getting through. If I keep on the soft side of my father he is going to +let me help run his business. That’s my dream. But I have to be +graduated with honors, if there are any I can pull down. At least I must +stick it out here for my diploma.” + +“What would your father do if you flunked this year in any way?” + +“He would disown me. I mean that. I have money of my own; lots of it. +That part of it wouldn’t feaze me. But my father is the only person on +earth I really have any respect for. I’d never get over it; _never_.” + +Leslie’s loose features showed a tightened intensity utterly foreign to +them. Her hands took hold on the chair arms with a grip which revealed +something of the nervous emotion the fell contingency inspired in her. + +The two girls had arrived on the seven o’clock train from the north that +evening. They had stopped at the Lotus for dinner and had reached the +hall shortly before the beginning of the serenade. Leslie had been +Natalie’s guest at the Weymans’ camp in the Adirondacks. Thus the two +had come on to college together instead of accepting Dulcie Vale’s +invitation to journey from New York City to Hamilton in the Vales’ +private car, as they had done the three previous years. Since the hazing +party on St. Valentine’s night, Leslie and Dulcie had not been on +specially good terms. Leslie was still peeved with Dulcie for not having +locked the back door of the untenanted house as she had been ordered to +do. Had she obeyed orders the Sans would not have been put to +panic-stricken flight by unknown invaders. While those who had come to +Marjorie’s rescue might have hung about the outside of the house, they +could not have found entrance easy with both back and front doors +properly locked. + +“I don’t know what is the matter with me tonight.” Leslie rose and +commenced a restless walk up and down the room, hands clasped behind her +back. “That music upset me, I guess. I wonder who the singers were. +Serenading Bean and her gang. Humph! Nobody ever serenaded us that I can +recall. I suppose Beanie arrived in all her glory this afternoon, hence +those yowlers under her window tonight.” + +“They really sang beautifully. Whoever played the violin was a fine +musician. I never heard a better rendition of ‘How Fair Art Thou.’” Fond +of music, Natalie was forced to admit the high quality of the +performance, even though the serenade had been in honor of the girl of +whom she had always been so jealous. + +“I don’t care much for music unless it is rag-time or musical comedy +stuff. Sentimental songs get on my nerves. I hate that priggish old +‘Hymn to Hamilton.’ I hope Laura got out of here without being seen.” +Leslie went back to the subject still uppermost in her mind. “It was +risking something to send for her to come over here, but I was anxious +to see her and find out if anything had happened this summer detrimental +to us. I didn’t feel like meeting her along the road tonight.” + +“Oh, I don’t believe anyone saw her,” reassured Natalie. “It was after +eleven when she left here. The house was quiet as could be. I noticed it +when I went out in the hall before she left to see if the coast was +clear. Not more than half the girls who belong here are back yet. Bean +and her crowd had gone to bed, I presume. You wouldn’t catch such angels +as they even making a dent in the ten-thirty rule.” + +“That’s so.” Leslie made one more trip up and down the room, then +resumed the chair in which she had been sitting. “Well, I’ll take it for +granted that Sayres made a clean get-away. One thing about her, she will +stand by us as long as she is paid for it. Besides, she would get into +more trouble than we if the truth were known. That’s where we have the +advantage of her. She has to protect herself as well as us. What I have +always been afraid of is this: If Remson and old Doctor Know-it-all ever +came to an understanding he would go to quizzing Sayres. If she lost her +nerve, for he is a terror when he’s angry, she might flivver.” + +“Don’t cross bridges until you come to them,” counseled Natalie. She was +beginning to see the value of assuming the role of comforter to Leslie. +One thing Natalie had determined. She would strain a point to be first +with Leslie during their senior year. She had importuned Leslie to visit +her for the purpose of regaining her old footing. She and Leslie had +spent a fairly congenial month together in the Adirondacks. Now Natalie +intended to hold the ground she had gained against all comers. + +“I’m not going to. I shall forget last year, so far as I can. I +certainly spent enough money and didn’t gain a thing. Our best plan is +to go on as we did last spring. If I see a good opportunity to bother +Bean and her devoted beanstalks, I shall not let it pass me by. I am not +going to take any more risks, though. If I manage to live down those +I’ve taken, I’ll do well.” + +“I know I wouldn’t _raise a hand_ to help a freshie this year,” Natalie +declared with a positive pucker of her small mouth. “Think of the way we +rushed the greedy ingrates! Then they wouldn’t stand up for us during +that basket-ball trouble.” + +“Put all that down to profit and loss.” Leslie had emerged from the +brief spasm of dread which invariably visited her after seeing Laura +Sayres. “We had the wrong kind of girls to deal with. There were more +digs and prigs in that class than eligibles. That’s why we lost. I am +all done with that sort of thing. If I can’t be as popular as Bean,” +Leslie’s intonation was bitterly sarcastic, “I can be a good deal more +exclusive. As it is, I expect to have all I can do to keep the Sans in +line. Dulcie Vale has an idea that she ought to run the club. Give her a +chance and she’d run it into the ground. She has as much sense as a +peacock. She can fan her feathers and squawk.” + +Natalie laughed outright at this. It was so exactly descriptive of +Dulcie. + +Leslie looked well pleased with herself. She thoroughly enjoyed saying +smart things which made people laugh. It was a sore cross to her that +after three years of the hardest striving she had not attained the kind +of popularity at Hamilton which she craved. Yet she could not see +wherein she was to blame. + +Gifted with a keen sense of humor, she had tricks of expression so +original in themselves that she might have easily gained a reputation as +the funniest girl in college. Had good humor radiated her peculiarly +rugged features she would have been that rarity, an ugly beauty. Due to +her proficiency at golf and tennis, she was of most symmetrical figure. +She was particularly fastidious as to dress, and made a smart +appearance. Having so much that was in her favor, she was hopelessly +hampered by self. + + + + +CHAPTER V—A LUCKY MISHAP + + +The serenading expedition of the next night was the beginning of a +succession of similar gaieties for the Lookouts. As Hamilton continued +to gather in her own for the college year, the Sanford quintette found +themselves in flattering demand. + +“If I don’t stay at home once in a while I shall never be able to find a +thing that belongs to me,” Muriel Harding cried out in despair as Jerry +reminded her at luncheon that they were invited to Silverton Hall that +evening to celebrate Elaine Hunter’s birthday. “You girls may laugh, but +honestly I haven’t finished unpacking my trunk. Every time I plan to +wind up that delightful job, along comes some friendly, but misguided +person and invites me out.” + +“Stay at home then,” advised Jerry. “If that last remark of yours was +meant for me, I am _not_ misguided and I shall _not_ be friendly if you +hurl such adjectives at me.” + +“Neither was meant for you. You are only the bearer of the invitation. +Why stir up a breeze over nothing?” + +“If you don’t go to Elaine’s birthday party she will think you stayed +away because you were too stingy to buy her a present. We are all going +to drive to Hamilton this afternoon after classes to buy gifts for her. +Don’t you wish you were going, too?” Ronny regarded Muriel with +tantalizing eyes. + +“Oh, I’m going along,” Muriel glibly assured. “You can’t lose me. What I +like to do and what I ought to do are two very different things. After +this week I shall settle down to the student life in earnest. My +subjects are terrific this term. I am sorry I started calculus. I had +enough to do without that.” + +“This will have to be my last party for a week or two,” Marjorie +declared. “I haven’t done any real studying this week, and I owe all my +correspondents letters. I feel guilty for not having done more toward +helping this year’s freshies. I’ve only been down to the station twice.” + +“They’re in good hands. Phil and Barbara have done glorious work. They +have had at least twenty sophs helping them. It’s a cinch this year. +Very different from last.” Jerry gave a short laugh. “Phil says,” Jerry +discreetly lowered her voice, “that not a Sans has come near the station +since she has been on committee duty there to welcome the freshies. I +told her it didn’t surprise me.” + +“I didn’t know Miss Cairns and Miss Weyman had come back until I +happened to pass them in the upstairs hall,” Muriel said. + +“They were here for a couple of days before Leila knew it, and she +generally knows who is back and who isn’t. Miss Remson told Leila she +didn’t know it herself until the next day after they arrived. The two of +them came back together on the night we were serenaded. They simply +walked into the house and went to their rooms. She didn’t see them until +noon the next day.” It was Veronica who delivered this information. + +“Did Miss Remson say anything to them on account of it?” questioned +Muriel. + +“No; she wasn’t pleased, but she said she thought it best to ignore it. +It was just one more discourtesy on their part.” + +“That accounts for our meeting Miss Sayres on the veranda.” Lucy’s +greenish eyes had grown speculative. “She had been calling on those two. +We spoke of it after she passed, you will remember. Leila said ‘No,’ +they had not come back yet. We wondered on whom she had been calling at +the Hall. While we can’t prove that it was Miss Cairns and Miss Weyman +she had come to see, that would be the natural conclusion,” Lucy summed +up with the gravity of a lawyer. + +“I object, your honor. The evidence is too fragmentary to be +considered,” put in Muriel in mannish tones. She bowed directly to +Marjorie. + +“Court’s adjourned. I have nothing to say.” Marjorie laughed and pushed +back her chair from the table. “I’m not making light of what you said, +Lucy.” She turned to the latter. “I was only funning with Muriel. I +think as you do. Still none of us can prove it.” + +“I wish the whole thing would be cleared up before those girls are +graduated and gone from Hamilton,” Katherine Langly said almost +vindictively. “I wouldn’t care if it made a lot of trouble for them all. +Miss Remson has stood so much from them and she still feels so hurt at +Doctor Matthews’ unjust treatment of her. I can’t believe he wrote that +letter. She believes it.” + +“I don’t see how she can in face of all the contemptible things the Sans +have done,” asserted Jerry. + +“She believes it because she says he signed the letter, so he must have +written it. I told her the signature might be a forgery. She said ‘No, +it could hardly be that.’ I saw she was set on that point, so I didn’t +argue it further.” + +“Excuse me for abruptly changing the subject, but where are we to meet +after classes this P.M.?” inquired Muriel. + +The chums had left the table and proceeded as far as the hall, where +their ways separated. + +“Go straight over to the garage. Our two Old Reliables will be there +with their buzz wagons. Be on time, too,” called Jerry, as with an “All +right, much obliged, Jeremiah,” Muriel started up the stairs. Half way +up she turned and asked, “What time?” + +“Quarter past four. If you aren’t there on the dot we shall go without +you. None of us know what we are going to buy, so we want all the time +we can have to look around. Remember, we have to hustle back to the +Hall, have dinner and dress.” + +“I’ll remember.” With a wag of her head Muriel resumed her ascent of the +stairs and quickly disappeared. + +The others stopped briefly in the hall to talk. Marjorie was next to +leave the group. She remembered she had intended to change her white +linen frock, which did not look quite fresh enough for a trip to town. +Her last recitation of the afternoon being chemistry, she knew she would +have no time to return to the Hall before meeting her chums at the +garage. + +Alas for the pretty gown of delft blue pongee which she had donned with +girlish satisfaction at luncheon time. An accident at the chemical desk +sent a veritable deluge of discoloring liquid showering over her. +Despite her apron, her frock was plentifully spotted by it. + +Ordinarily she would have made light of the misfortune. As it was she +felt ready to cry with vexation. She would have to change gowns again in +order to be presentable for the trip to Hamilton. The girls had set +four-fifteen as the starting time. She could not possibly make it before +four-thirty. + +Her first resolve was to hurry over to the garage immediately after the +chemistry period and tell the the girls not to wait for her. + +In spite of Jerry’s assertion to Muriel that they would not wait a +moment after four-fifteen, Marjorie knew that they would strain a point +and linger a little longer if she did not put in an appearance at the +time appointed. Recalling the fact that Lucy was in the Biological +Laboratory, situated across the hall from the Chemical Laboratory, +Marjorie decided to try to catch Lucy before she left the building and +send word to the others to go on without her. She could then hurry +straight to the Hall, slip into another gown and hail a taxicab going to +the town of Hamilton. There were usually two or three to be found in the +immediate vicinity of the campus. + +“Oh, there you are!” Marjorie hailed softly, when, at precisely four +o’clock Lucy emerged from the laboratory across the hall. “I thought you +would be out on the minute on account of going to town. I left chemistry +five minutes earlier for fear of missing you. Just see what happened to +me.” She displayed the results of the accident. “I am a sight. Tell the +girls not to wait. I must go on to the Hall and make myself presentable. +I’ll take a taxi and meet them at the Curio Shop. If they’re ready to go +on before I reach there, tell them to leave word with the proprietor +where they are going next.” + +“All right. What a shame about your dress. Do you think those stains +will come out?” Lucy scanned the unsightly spots and streaks with a +dubious eye. + +“I know they won’t.” Marjorie voiced rueful positiveness. “This is the +first time I ever wore this frock. I gave it a nice baptism, didn’t I? +Well, it can’t be helped now. I mustn’t stop.” The two had come to the +outer entrance to Science Hall. “See you at the Curio Shop.” With a +parting wave of the hand Marjorie ran lightly down the steps and trotted +across the campus. + +Always quick of action, it did not take her long, once she had gained +her room, to discard the unlucky blue pongee gown for one of pink linen. + +“Just half-past four. I didn’t do so badly,” she congratulated, +consulting her wrist watch as she hastened down the driveway toward the +west gate. “Now for a taxi.” + +No taxicab was in sight, however. Three of these useful vehicles had +recently reaped a harvest of students bound for town and started off +with them. Five minutes passed and Marjorie grew more impatient. To +undertake to walk to Hamilton would add greatly to the delay in joining +the gift seekers. True she might meet a taxicab on the way. Whether the +driver would turn back for a single fare she was not sure. She +determined to walk on rather than stand still. If she were lucky enough +to meet a taxicab on the highway she would offer its driver double fare +to turn around and take her into town. + +The brisk pace at which she walked soon brought her to the western end +of the campus wall. Presently she had reached the beginning of Hamilton +Estates. And still no sign of a taxicab! + +“It looks as though I’d have to walk after all,” she remarked, half +aloud. “How provoking!” She would reach the Curio Shop about the time +the others were starting for the campus was her vexed calculation. +Besides, there was Lucy, who would patiently wait for her when she might +be going on with the others. They had planned to visit two or three +shops. + +In the midst of her annoyance, the sound of a motor behind caused her to +turn. To her surprise she recognized the driver and machine as being of +the regular jitney service between the campus and the town. His only +fare was a young man, evidently a salesman who had had business at the +college. He was occupying the front seat beside the driver. + +The latter stopped at Marjorie’s sign and opened the door of the tonneau +for her. Very thankfully she stepped in. Engaged in conversation with +the salesman, the man at the wheel drove along at a leisurely rate of +speed. Marjorie could only wish that he would hurry a little faster. + +Coming opposite to Hamilton Arms, Marjorie forgot her impatience as her +eyes eagerly took in the estate she so greatly admired. The +chrysanthemums had begun to throw out luxuriant bloom in border and bed, +while the bronze and scarlet of fallen leaves lay lightly on the +short-cropped grass. + +Almost opposite the point where Hamilton Arms adjoined the next estate, +Marjorie spied a small, familiar figure trotting along at the left of +the highway. It was Miss Susanna Hamilton. In one hand she carried a +good-sized splint basket from which nodded a colorful wealth of +chrysanthemums in little individual flower pots. She was bare-headed, +though over her black silk dress she wore the knitted scarlet shawl +which gave her the odd likeness to a lively old robin. + +Marjorie leaned forward a trifle as the machine came opposite Miss +Susanna. She viewed the last of the Hamiltons with kindly, non-curious +eyes. The taxicab had almost slid past the sturdy pedestrian when +something happened. The handle of the splint basket treacherously gave +way, landing the basket on the ground with force. It tipped side-ways. +Two or three of the flower pots rolled out of it. + +Forgetting everything but the mishap to Brooke Hamilton’s eccentric +descendant, Marjorie called out on impulse: “Driver; please stop the +taxi! I wish to get out here!” + + + + +CHAPTER VI—THE LAST OF THE HAMILTONS + + +The man promptly brought the machine to a slow stop. He was too well +acquainted with the whims of “them girls from the college” to exhibit +surprise. Having paid her fare on entering the taxicab, Marjorie now +quitted it with alacrity and ran back to the scene of the mishap. + +“Please let me help you,” she offered in a gracious fashion which came +straight from her heart. “I saw the handle of that basket break and I +made the driver stop and let me out of the taxi.” + +Without waiting for Miss Susanna’s permission, Marjorie stooped and lay +hold on one of the scattered flower pots. Thus far the old lady had made +no effort to gather them in. She had stood eyeing the unstable basket +with marked disgust. + +“And who are you, may I ask?” The brisk manner of question reminded +Marjorie of Miss Remson. + +“Oh, I am Marjorie Dean from Hamilton College,” Marjorie said, +straightening up with a smile. + +For an instant the two pairs of dark eyes met. In the old lady’s +appeared a gleam half resentful, half admiring. In the young girl’s +shone a pleasant light, hard to resist. + +“Yes; I supposed you were one of them,” nodded Miss Susanna. “Let me +tell you, young woman, you are the first I have met in all these years +from the college who had any claim on gentle breeding.” + +Marjorie smiled. “There are a good many fine girls at Hamilton,” she +defended without intent to be discourteous. “Any one of a number I know +would have been glad to help you.” + +“Then that doll shop has changed a good deal recently,” retorted the old +lady with rapidity. “Nowadays it is nothing but drive flamboyant cars +and spend money for frivolities over there. I hate the place.” + +Marjorie was silent. She did not like to contradict further by saying +pointedly that she loved Hamilton, neither could she bear the thought of +not defending her Alma Mater. + +“I can’t say that I hate Hamilton College, because I don’t,” she finally +returned, before the pause between the two had grown embarrassing. “I am +sure you must have good reason to dislike Hamilton and its students or +you would not say so.” + +The pink in her cheeks deepened. Marjorie bent and completed the task of +returning the last spilled posy to the basket. + +“There!” she exclaimed good-naturedly. “I have them all in the basket +again, and not a single one of those little jars are broken. I wish you +would let me carry the basket for you, Miss Hamilton. It is really a +cumbersome affair without the handle.” + +“You are quite a nice child, I must say.” Miss Susanna continued to +regard Marjorie with her bright, bird-like gaze. “Where on earth were +you brought up?” + +Signally amused, Marjorie laughed outright. She had raised the basket +from the ground. As she stood there, her lovely face full of light and +laughter, arms full of flowers, Miss Susanna’s stubborn old heart +softened a trifle toward girlhood. + +“I come from Sanford, New York,” she answered. “This is my junior year +at Hamilton. Four other girls from Sanford entered when I did.” + +“Sanford,” repeated her questioner. “I never heard of the place. If +these girls are friends of yours I suppose they escape being +barbarians.” + +“They are the finest girls I ever knew,” Marjorie praised with +sincerity. + +“Well, well; I am pleased to hear it.” The old lady spoke with a +brusquerie which seemed to indicate her wish to be done with the +subject. “You insist on helping me, do you?” + +“Yes; if it pleases you to allow me.” + +“It’s to my advantage, so it ought to,” was the dry retort. “I am not +particular about lugging that basket in my arms. I loaded it too +heavily. Brian, the gardener, would have carried it for me, but I didn’t +care to be bothered with him. I am carrying these down to an old man who +used to work about the lawns. His days are numbered and he loves flowers +better than anything else. He lives in a little house just outside the +estate. It is still quite a walk. If you have anything else to do you +had better consider it and not me.” + +“I was on my way to town. It is too late to go now.” Marjorie explained +the nature of her errand as they walked on. “The girls will probably +come to the conclusion that I found it too late to go to Hamilton after +I had changed my gown. One or another of them will buy me something +pretty to give to Elaine,” she ended. + +“It is a good many years since I bought a birthday gift for anyone. I +always give my servants money on their birthdays. I have not received a +birthday gift for over fifty years and I don’t want one. I do not allow +my household to make me presents on any occasion.” Miss Susanna +announced this with a touch of defiance. + +“It seems as though my life has been full of presents. My father and +mother have given me hundreds, I guess. My father is away from home a +good deal. When he comes back from his long business trips he always +brings Captain and I whole stacks of treasures.” + +Marjorie was not sure that this was what she should have said. She found +conversing with the last of the Hamiltons a trifle hazardous. She had no +desire to contradict, yet she and her new acquaintance had thus far not +agreed on a single point. + +“Who is ‘Captain,’” was the inquiry, made with the curiosity of a child. + +Marjorie turned rosy red. The pet appellation had slipped out before she +thought. + +“I call my mother ‘Captain,’” she informed, then went on to explain +further of their fond home play. She fully expected Miss Susanna would +criticize it as “silly.” She was already understanding a little of the +lonely old gentlewoman’s bitterness of heart. Her earnest desire to know +the last of the Hamiltons had arisen purely out of her great sympathy +for Miss Susanna. + +“You seem to have had a childhood,” was the surprising reception her +explanation called forth. “I can’t endure the children of today. They +are grown up in their minds at seven. I must say your father and mother +are exceptional. No wonder you have good manners. That is, if they are +genuine. I have seen some good imitations. Young girls are more +deceitful than young men. I don’t like either. There is nothing I +despise so much as the calloused selfishness of youth. It is far worse +than crabbed age.” + +“I know young girls are often selfish of their own pleasure,” Marjorie +returned with sudden humility. “I try not to be. I know I am at times. +Many of my girl friends are not. I wish I could begin to tell you of the +beautiful, unselfish things some of my chums have done for others.” + +Miss Susanna vouchsafed no reply to this little speech. She trotted +along beside Marjorie for several rods without saying another word. When +she spoke again it was to say briefly: “Here is where we turn off the +road. Is that basket growing very heavy?” + +“It is quite heavy. I believe I will set it down for a minute.” Marjorie +carefully deposited her burden on the grass at the roadside and +straightened up, stretching her aching arms. The basket had begun to be +considerable of a burden on account of the manner in which it had to be +carried. + +“I couldn’t have lugged that myself,” Miss Susanna confessed. “I found +it almost too much for me with the handle on. Ridiculous, the flimsy way +in which things are put together today! Splint baskets of years ago +would have stood any amount of strain. If you had not kindly come to my +assistance, I intended to pick out as many of those jars as I could +carry in my arms and go on with them. The others I would have set up +against my own property fence and hoped no one would walk off with them +before my return. I dislike anyone to have the flowers I own and have +tended unless I give them away myself.” + +“I have often seen you working among your flowers when I have passed +Hamilton Arms. I knew you must love them dearly or you would not spend +so much time with them.” + +“Hm-m!” The interjection might have been an assent to Marjorie’s polite +observation. It was not, however. Miss Susanna was understanding that +this young girl who had shown her such unaffected courtesy had thought +of her kindly as a stranger. She experienced a sudden desire to see +Marjorie again. Her long and concentrated hatred against Hamilton +College and its students forbade her to make any friendly advances. She +had already shown more affability according to her ideas than she had +intended. She wondered why she had not curtly refused Marjorie’s offer. + +“I am rested now.” Marjorie lifted the basket. The two skirted the +northern boundary of Hamilton Arms, taking a narrow private road which +lay between it and the neighboring estate. The road continued straight +to a field where it ended. At the edge of the field stood a small +cottage painted white. Miss Susanna pointed it out as their destination. + +“I will carry this to the door and then leave you.” Marjorie had no +desire to intrude upon Miss Susanna’s call at the cottage. + +“Very well. I am obliged to you, Marjorie Dean.” Miss Susanna’s thanks +were expressed in tones which sounded close to unfriendly. She was +divided between appreciation of Marjorie’s courtesy and her dislike for +girls. + +“You are welcome.” They were now within a few yards of the cottage. +Arriving at the low doorstep, Marjorie set the basket carefully upon it. +“Goodbye, Miss Hamilton.” She held out her hand. “I am so glad to have +met you.” + +“What’s that? Oh, yes.” The old lady took Marjorie’s proffered hand. The +evident sincerity of the words touched a hidden spring within, long +sealed. “Goodbye, child. I am glad to have met at least one young girl +with genuine manners.” + +Marjorie smiled as she turned away. She had never before met an old +person who so heartily detested youth. She knew her timely assistance +had been appreciated. On that very account Miss Susanna had tried to +smother, temporarily, her standing grudge against the younger +generation. + +Well, it had happened. She had achieved her heart’s desire. She had +actually met and talked with the last of the Hamiltons. + + + + +CHAPTER VII—TWO KINDS OF GIRLS + + +“You are a dandy,” was Jerry’s greeting as Marjorie walked into their +room at ten minutes past six. “Where were you? Lucy said you ruined your +blue pongee with some horrid old chemical. It didn’t take you two hours +to change it, did it? I see we have on our pink linen.” + +“You know perfectly well it did not take me two hours to change it. A +plain insinuation that I’m a slowpoke. Take it back.” In high good +humor, Marjorie made a playful rush at her room-mate. + +“Hold on. I am not made of wood, as Hal says when I occasionally hammer +him in fun.” Jerry put up her hands in comic self-defense. “You +certainly are in a fine humor after keeping your poor pals waiting for +you for an hour and a half and then not even condescending to appear.” + +“I’ve had an adventure, Jeremiah. That’s why I didn’t meet you girls in +Hamilton. I started for there in a taxicab. Then I met a lady in +distress, and, emulating the example of a gallant knight, I hopped out +of the taxi to help her.” + +“Wonderful! I suppose you met Phil Moore or some other Silvertonite with +her arms full of bundles. About the time she saw you she dropped ’em. +‘With a sympathetic yell, Helpful Marjorie leaped from the taxicab to +aid her overburdened but foolish friend.’ Quotation from the last best +seller.” Jerry regarded Marjorie with a teasing smile. + +“Your suppositions are about a mile off the track. I haven’t seen a +Silvertonite this afternoon. The lady in distress I met was——” Marjorie +paused by way of making her revelation more effective, “Miss Susanna +Hamilton.” + +“_What?_ You don’t say so.” Jerry exhibited the utmost astonishment. +“Good thing you didn’t ask me to guess. She is the last person I would +have thought of. Now how did it happen? I am glad of it for your sake. +You’ve been so anxious to know her.” + +Rapidly Marjorie recounted the afternoon’s adventure. As she talked she +busied herself with the redressing of her hair. After dinner she would +have no more than time to put on the white lingerie frock she intended +to wear to Elaine’s birthday party. + +Jerry listened without comment. While she had never taken the amount of +interest in the owner of Hamilton Arms which Marjorie had evinced since +entering Hamilton College, she had a certain curiosity regarding Miss +Susanna. + +“I knew you girls would wait and wonder what had delayed me. I am +awfully sorry. You know that, Jeremiah,” Marjorie apologized. “But I +couldn’t have gone on in the taxi after I saw what had happened to Miss +Susanna. She couldn’t have carried the basket as I did clear over to +that cottage. She said she would have picked up as many plant jars as +she could carry in her arms and gone on with them.” + +“One of the never-say-die sort, isn’t she? Very likely in the years she +has lived near the college she has met with some rude girls. On the +order of the Sans, you know. If, in the past twenty years, Hamilton was +half as badly overrun with snobs as when we entered, one can imagine why +she doesn’t adore students.” + +“It doesn’t hurt my feelings to hear her say she disliked girls. I only +felt sorry for her. It must be dreadful to be old and lonely. She is +lonely, even if she doesn’t know it. She has deliberately shut the door +between herself and happiness. I am so glad we’re young, Jeremiah.” +Marjorie sighed her gratitude for the gift of youth. “I hope always to +be young at heart.” + +“I sha’n’t wear a cap and spectacles and walk with a cane until I have +to, believe me,” was Jerry’s emphatic rejoinder. “Are you ready to go +down to dinner? My hair is done, too. I shall dress after I’ve been fed. +Oh, I forgot to tell you. I bought you a present to give Elaine. We +bought every last thing we are going to give her at the Curio Shop.” + +“You are a dear. I knew some of the girls would help me out. I supposed +it would be you, though. Do let me see my present.” + +“There it is on my chiffonier. You’d better examine it after dinner. It +is a hand-painted chocolate pot; a beauty, too. Looks like a bit of +spring time.” + +“I’ll look at it the minute I come back. I’m oceans obliged to you.” +Marjorie cast a longing glance at the tall package on the chiffonier, as +the two girls left the room. + +At dinner that night Marjorie’s adventure of the afternoon excited the +interest of her chums. She was obliged to repeat, as nearly as she could +what she said to Miss Susanna and what Miss Susanna had said to her. + +“Did she mention the May basket?” quizzed Muriel with a giggle. + +“Now why should she?” counter-questioned Marjorie. + +“Well; she was talking about not receiving a birthday present for over +fifty years. She might have said, ‘But some kind-hearted person hung a +beautiful violet basket on my door on May day evening!’” + +“Only she didn’t. That flight of fancy was wasted,” Jerry informed +Muriel. + +“Wasted on you. You haven’t proper sentiment,” flung back Muriel. + +“I’ll never acquire it in your company,” Jerry assured. The subdued +laughter the tilt evoked reached the table occupied by Leslie Cairns, +Natalie Weyman, Dulcie Vale and three others of the Sans. + +“Those girls seem to find enough to laugh at,” commented Dulcie Vale +half enviously. + +“Simpletons!” muttered Leslie Cairns. She was out of sorts with the +world in general that evening. “They sit there and ‘ha-ha-ha’ at their +meals until I can hardly stand it sometimes. I hate eating dinner here. +I’d dine at the Colonial every evening, but it takes too much time. I +really must study hard this year to get through. I certainly will be +happy to see the last of this treadmill. I’m going to take a year after +I’m graduated just to sail around and have a good time. After that I +shall help my father in business.” + +“There’s one thing you ought to know, Leslie, and that is you had better +be careful what you do this year. I have heard two or three rumors that +sound as though those girls over there had told about what happened the +night of the masquerade. I wouldn’t take part in another affair of that +kind for millions of dollars.” + +Dulcie Vale assumed an air of virtuous resolve as she delivered herself +of this warning to Leslie. + +“Don’t worry. There won’t be any occasion. I don’t believe those muffs +ever told a thing outside of their own crowd. They’re a close +corporation. I wish I could say the same of us.” Leslie laughed this +arrow with cool deliberation. + +“What do you mean?” Harriet Stephens said sharply. “Who of us would be +silly enough to tell our private affairs?” + +“I hope you wouldn’t.” Leslie’s eyes narrowed threateningly. “I have +heard one or two things myself which may or may not be true. I am not +ready to say anything further just now. My advice to all of you is to +keep your affairs to yourselves. If you are foolish enough to babble +your own about the campus, on your head be it. Be sure you will hear +from me if you tell tales. Besides, you are apt to lose your diplomas by +it. A word to the wise, you know. I have a recitation in psychology in +the morning. I must put in a quiet evening. Kindly let me alone, all of +you.” She rose and sauntered from the room, leaving her satellites to +discuss her open insinuation and wonder what she had heard to put her in +such an “outrageous” humor. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII—A FROLIC AT SILVERTON HALL + + +The “simpletons” finished their dinner amid much merriment, quite +unconscious of their lack of sense, and hustled up to their rooms to +dress for the party. Leila, Vera, Helen, Hortense Barlow, Eva Ingram, +Nella Sherman and Mary Cornell had also been invited. Shortly after +seven the elect started for Silverton Hall, primed for a jubilant +evening. Besides their gifts, each girl carried a small nosegay of mixed +flowers. The flowers had been purchased in bulk by Helen, Eva and Mary. +The trio had made them up into dainty, round bouquets. These were to be +showered upon Elaine, immediately she appeared among them. Helen had +also composed a Nonsense Ode which she said had cost her more mental +effort than forty themes. + +Every girl at Silverton Hall was invited to the party. It was not in +gentle Elaine to slight anyone. With twenty girls from other campus +houses, the long living room at the Hall was filled. Across one of its +lower corners had been hung a heavy green curtain. What it concealed +only those who had arranged the surprise knew. Elaine had been seized by +Portia Graham and Blanche Scott and made to swear on her sacred honor +that she would absolutely shun the living room until granted permission +to enter it. + +“I hope you have all put cards with your presents,” were Portia’s first +words after greeting them at the door. “You can’t give them to Elaine +yourselves. We’ve arranged a general presentation. So don’t be snippy +because I rob you of your offerings.” + +“Glad of it.” Jerry promptly tendered her gift to Portia. “I always feel +silly giving a present.” + +The others from Wayland Hall very willingly surrendered their good-will +offerings. Their bouquets they kept. Entering the reception hall, Elaine +stepped forward to welcome them and received a sudden flower pelting, to +the accompaniment of a lively chorus of congratulations. + +“How lovely! Umm! The dear things!” she exclaimed, as the rain of +blossoms came fast and furious. Her sweet, fair face aglow with the love +of flowers, she gathered them up in the overskirt of her white chiffon +frock and sat down on the lower step of the stairs to enjoy their +fragrance. “I am not allowed in the living room, girls. Everyone can go +in there but poor me. I thank you for these perfectly darling bouquets. +I’ll have a different one to wear every day this week. If you want to +fix your hair or do any further beautifying go up to Robin’s room. If +not, go into the living room.” + +Lingering for a little further chat with Elaine, whom they all adored, +they entered the living room to be met by a vociferous welcome from the +assembled Silvertonites. When the last guest had arrived and been +ushered into the reception room, from somewhere in the house a bell +suddenly tinkled. In order to give more space the chairs had been +removed and the guests lined the sides of the apartment and filled one +end of it halfway to the wide doorway opening into the main hall. + +At sound of the bell a hush fell upon the merry-makers. Again it tinkled +and down the stairs came a procession that might have stepped from a +tapestry depicting the life of the greenwood men. Four merry men, their +green cambric costumes carefully modeled after the attire of Robin Hood +and his followers, had come to the party. The first, instead of being +Robin Hood, was Robin Page. She bowed low to Elaine, who was still +languishing in exile in the hall, and offered her arm. + +“Delighted; I am so tired of hanging about that old hall!” Elaine seized +Robin’s arm with alacrity and the two passed into the adjoining room. +The other three faithful servitors followed their leader. The last one +carried a violin and drew from it an old-time greenwood melody as Elaine +and Robin joined forces and paraded into the living room. + +Straight toward the green curtain Robin piloted Elaine to the fiddler’s +plaintive tune. Stationed before the curtain, Blanche Scott drew it +aside. + +A surprised and admiring chorus of exclamations arose. There stood a +real greenwood tree. Portia and Blanche could have amply testified to +this fact as the two of them, armed with a hatchet, had laboriously +chopped down a small maple and brought it to the house from the woods on +the afternoon previous. Its branches were as well loaded with packages +of various sizes as those of a Christmas tree. Under the tree was a +grassy mound built up of hard cushions, the whole covered with real sod +dug up by the patient wood cutters. + +On this Elaine was invited to sit. She formed a pretty picture in her +fluffy white gown in conjunction with the greenery. The four merry men +gathered round her and bowed low, then sang her an ancient ballad to the +accompaniment of the violin. Followed a short speech by the tallest of +the four congratulating her, in stately language on the anniversary of +her birth. Three of the four then busied themselves with stripping the +tree of its spoils and laying them at her feet. During this procedure +the fiddler evoked further sweet thin melodies from his violin. + +Last, Elaine’s gallant escort, who had left her briefly, returned to the +scene with a large green and white straw basket, piled high with gifts. +These duly presented, the quaint bit of forest play was over and the +enjoying spectators crowded about the lucky recipient of friendly +riches. + +“I don’t know what I shall ever do with them all,” she declared in an +amazed, quavering voice. “I’m not half over the shock of so much wealth +yet. I simply can’t open them now. I’ll weep tears of gratitude over +every separate one of them.” + +“You aren’t expected to look at them now,” was Robin’s reassurance. +“Your merry men are going to carry Elaine’s nice new playthings up to +her room. So there! Tomorrow’s Saturday. You can spend the afternoon +exploring. We are going to have a stunt party now. Anyone who is called +upon to do a stunt has to conform or be ostracized.” + +“If we are going to do stunts there is no use in bringing back the +chairs. After Elaine’s presents have all been carted upstairs everybody +can stand in that half of the room. We can roll the rug up from the +other end exactly half way. That will give room and a smooth floor for +dancing stunts. We shall surely have some,” planned Blanche. “I had +better inform the company of what’s going to happen next. It will give +them a chance to think up a stunt.” + +While the faithful greenwood men busied themselves in Elaine’s behalf, +Blanche proceeded to make a humorous address to the guests. Her +announcement sent them into a flutter. At least half of the crowd +protested to her and to one another that they did not know any stunts to +perform. + +When the deck was finally clear for action and the show began, it was +amazing the number of funny little stunts that came to light. The first +girl called upon was Hortense Barlow. She marched solemnly to the center +of the improvised stage and announced “‘Home Sweet Home,’ by our +domestic animals.” A rooster lustily crowed the first few bars of the +old song, then two hens took it up. They relinquished it in favor of a +bleating lamb. It was succeeded by a pair of grunting pigs. The opening +bars of the chorus were mournfully “mooed” by a lonely cow, and the rest +of it was ably sung by a donkey, a dog and a guinea hen. She then +repeated the chorus as a concerted effort on the part of the barnyard +denizens. + +The manner in which she managed to imitate each creature, still keeping +fairly in tune, was clever in the extreme. Her final concert chorus +convulsed her audience and she was obliged to repeat it. + +Hers was the only encore allowed. Portia announced that, owing to the +lack of time, encores would have to be dispensed with. The guests had +received permission to be out of their house until half-past eleven and +no later. + +Leila was the next on the list and responded with an old-time Irish jig. +Vera Ingram and Mary Cornell gave a brief singing and dancing sketch. +Jerry responded with the one stunt she could do to perfection. She had +half closed her eyes, opened her mouth to its widest extent, and wailed +a popular song just enough off the key to be funny. Heartily detesting +this class of melody, she never failed to make her chums laugh with her +mocking imitation. + +Portia being in charge of the stunt programme, she called upon Blanche +who gave the “Prologue from Pagliacci” in a baritone voice and with +expression which would have done credit to an opera singer. Lucy Warner +surprised her chums by a fine recital of “The Chambered Nautilus,” +giving the quiet dramatic emphasis needed to bring out Holmes’ poem. +Marie Peyton danced a fisher’s hornpipe. Vera Mason borrowed one of +Robin’s kimonos and a fan and performed a Japanese fan dance. Several of +the Silvertonites sang, danced, recited, or told a humorous story. + +“As we shall have time for only one more stunt, I will call on Ronny +Lynne,” Portia announced, smiling invitingly at Ronny. “Wait a minute +until I call the orchestra together. We will play for you,” she added. + +“Play for me for what?” Ronny innocently inquired. Nevertheless she +laughed. Though she had yet to dance for the first time at Hamilton, she +knew that her ability as a dancer was an open secret. + +“For your dance, of course. What kind of dance are you going to do? +Mustn’t refuse. Everyone else has been so obliging.” Portia beamed +triumph of having thus neatly caught Ronny. + +“I suppose I must fall in line. I don’t know what to dance. Most of my +dances require special costumes.” Ronny glanced dubiously at the white +and gold evening frock she was wearing. “I know one I can do,” she said, +after a moment’s thought. + +Raising her voice so as to be heard by all, she continued in her clear +tones: “Girls, I am going to do a Russian interpretative dance for you. +The idea is this: A dancer at the court of a king, who is honored +because of her art, loses her sweetheart. She becomes so despondent that +no amount of praise can lift her from her gloom. She tries to decide +whether she had best kill her rival or herself. Finally she decides to +kill her rival. I shall endeavor to make this plain in a dance +containing two intervals and three episodes. The first depicts the +dancer in her glory. The second, in her dejection. The third, her +decision to kill.” + +A brief consultation with the orchestra as to what they could play, +suitable to the interpretation, and Ronny was ready. Phyllis, the +reliable, who had been proficient on the violin from childhood, and +possessed a wide musical repertoire, both vocal and instrumental, played +over a few measures of a valse lente. Her musicians were familiar enough +with it to follow her lead. Moskowski’s “Serenade” was chosen for the +second episode, and Scharwenki’s “Polish Dance” for the third. + +Every pair of eyes was centered on Ronny’s slight, graceful figure as +she stood at ease for an instant waiting for the music to begin. Many of +the girls present had never seen an interpretative dance. With the first +slow, seductive strains of the waltz, Ronny became the court dancer. In +perfect time to the music she made the low sweeping salutes to an +imaginary court, then executed a swaying, beautiful dance of intricate +steps in which her whole body seemed to take part in the expression of +her art. The grace of that symphonic, white and gold figure was such the +watchers held their breath. At the end of the episode there was a dead +silence. Applause, when it came, was deafening. + +Ronny claimed the tiny interval for rest, merely raising her hands in a +despairing gesture at the hub-bub her dance had created. By the time she +was ready to continue it had subsided. All were now anxious to see her +interpretation of the jilted woman. + +The second, though much harder to execute, Ronny liked far better than +the first. Particularly fond of the Russian idea of the dance, she threw +her whole heart into the story she was endeavoring to convey by motion. +When she had finished she was tired enough to gladly claim a rest while +Portia went upstairs for a paper knife which would serve as a dagger for +the third episode. + +The wild strains of the “Polish Dance” were well suited to the character +of the episode. The flitting, white and gold figure of indolent grace +had now become one of tense purpose. Every line of her figure had now +become charged with the desire for revenge. Every step of the dance and +movement of the arms were in accordance with the mood she was +portraying. She enacted the dancer’s plan to steal upon her rival +unawares and deliver the fatal knife thrust. + +Had Ronny not explained the dance beforehand, so vivid was her +interpretation, her audience could have gained the meaning of it without +difficulty. A united sighing breath of appreciation went up as she +concluded the Terpsichorean tragedy by a triumphant flinging of her arms +above her head, one hand tightly grasping the murder knife. + +Carried out of life ordinary by the glimpse of another world of emotion, +it took the admiring girls a minute or so to realize that Ronny was +herself and a fellow student. She had cast over them the perfect +illusion of the tragic dancer; the sure measure of her art. When they +came out of it they crowded about her asking all sorts of eager +questions. + +“Ronny has brought down the house, as usual. Look at those girls fairly +idolizing her.” Jerry’s round face was wreathed with smiles over Ronny’s +triumph. “I shall go in for interpretative dancing myself, hereafter. +It’s about time I did something to make myself popular around here.” + +“What are you going to interpret?” Muriel demanded to know. + +“I haven’t yet decided,” Jerry vaguely replied. “Anyway, I wouldn’t tell +you if I had. I should expect to practice my dance awhile before I +sprang it on anyone. It might give my victim a horrible scare.” + +“You wouldn’t scare me,” was the valorous assurance. “You had better try +it on me first when you are ready to burst upon the world as a dancer. I +will give you valuable criticism.” + +“Laugh at me, you mean. Come on. Let’s interview the orchestra. Phil is +certainly some little fiddler.” + +Taking Muriel by the arm, Jerry marched her up to Phyllis, who, with the +other members of the orchestra, were also coming in for adulation. The +addition of Jerry and Muriel to the group was soon noticeable by the +burst of laughter which ascended therefrom. Good-natured Jerry had not +the remotest idea of how very popular she really was. + +Promptly on the heels of the stunt party followed a collation served in +the dining room. An extra table had been added to the two long ones used +by the residents. When the company trooped into the prettily-decorated +room with its flower-trimmed tables, the Wayland Hall girls were +pleasantly surprised to see Signor Baretti in charge there. While he had +repeatedly refused at various times to cater for private parties given +at the campus houses, Elaine had secured his valued services without +much coaxing. He had long regarded her as “one the nicest, maybe the +best, all my young ladies from the college.” + +It was one minute past eleven when the guests rose from the table after +a vigorous response to Portia’s toast to Elaine, and joined in singing +one stanza of “Auld Lang Syne.” With the last note of the song hasty +goodnights were said. “Not one minute later than half-past eleven” had +been the stipulation laid down with the permission for the extra hour. + +“We’ll have to walk as though we all wore seven league boots,” declared +Jerry, as the Wayland Hall girls hurried down the steps of Silverton +Hall. “But, oh, my goodness me, haven’t we had a fine time? Tonight was +like our good old Sanford crowd parties at home, wasn’t it? It looks to +me as though the right kind of times had actually struck Hamilton!” + + + + +CHAPTER IX—HER “DEAREST” WISH + + +It did not need Elaine’s party to cement more securely the friendship +which existed between the Silvertonites and the group of Wayland +Hallites who had co-operated with them so loyally from the first. They +had fought side by side for principle. Now they were beginning to +glimpse the lighter, happier side of affairs and experience the pleasure +of discovering how much each group had to admire in the other. + +“What we ought to do is organize a bureau of entertainment and give +musicales, plays, revues and one thing or another,” Robin proposed to +Marjorie as the two were returning from a trip to the town of Hamilton +one afternoon in early October. “We would charge an admission fee, of +course, and put the money to some good purpose. I don’t know what we +would do with it. There are so few really needy students here. We’d find +some worthy way of spending it. I know we would make a lot. The students +simply mob the gym when there’s a basket-ball game. They’d be willing to +part with their shekels for the kind of show we could give.” + +“I think the same,” Marjorie made hearty response. “At home we gave a +Campfire once, at Thanksgiving. We held it in the armory. We had booths +and sold different things. We had a show, too. That was the time Ronny +danced those two interpretative dances I told you of the other night. We +made over a thousand dollars. Half of it went to the Sanford guards and +the Lookouts got the other half.” + +“We could make a couple of hundred dollars at one revue, I believe. We +could give about three entertainments this year and three or four next,” +planned Robin. “It would have to be a fund devoted to helping the +students, I guess. Come to think of it, I would not care to get up a +show unless our purpose was clearly stated in the beginning. A few +unjust persons might start the story that we wanted the money for +ourselves. By the way, the Sans are not interesting themselves in our +affairs this year, are they? Do you ever clash with them at the Hall?” + +“No; they never notice us and we never notice them. It isn’t much +different in that respect than it was in the beginning. I’d feel rather +queer about it sometimes if they hadn’t been so utterly heartless in so +many ways. This is their last year. It will seem queer when we come back +next fall as seniors to have almost an entirely new set of girls in the +house. I can’t bear to think of losing Leila and Vera and Helen. Then +there are Rosalind, Nella, Martha and Hortense; splendid girls, all of +them. I wish they had been freshies with us. That’s the beauty of the +Silvertonites. They will all be graduated together.” + +“We are fortunate. Think of poor Phil! She is going to be lonesome when +we all leave the good old port of Hamilton. To go back to the show idea. +I’m going to talk it over with my old stand-bys at our house. You do the +same at yours. Maybe some one of them will have a brilliant inspiration. +I mean, about what we ought to do with the money, once we’ve made it.” + +A sudden jolt of the taxicab in which they were riding, as it swung to +the right, combined with an indignant yell of protest from its driver, +startled them both. A blue and buff car had shot past them, barely +missing the side of the taxicab. + +“Look where you’re goin’ or get off the road!” bawled the man after it. +His face was scarlet with anger, he turned in his seat, addressing his +fares. “That blue car near smashed us,” he growled. “The young lady that +drives it had better quit and give somebody else the wheel. This is the +third time she near put my cab on the blink. She can’t drive for sour +apples. I wisht, if you knew her, you’d tell her she’s gotta quit it. I +don’t own this cab. I don’t wanta get mixed up in no smash-up. If she +does it again I’ll go up to the college boss and report that car.” + +“Neither of us know her well enough to give her your message,” Marjorie +smiled faintly, as she pictured herself giving the irate driver’s +warning to Elizabeth Walbert. She had recognized the girl at the wheel +as the blue and buff car had passed her. + +“I’ll stop her myself and tell her where she gets off at,” threatened +the man. “I ain’t afraida her.” + +“I think that would be a very good idea,” calmly agreed Marjorie. “There +is no reason why you should not rebuke her for her recklessness. She was +at fault; not you.” + +“Do you imagine he really would report Miss Walbert to Doctor Matthews,” +inquired Robin in discreetly lowered tones, as the driver resumed +attention at the wheel. + +“He might. He would be more likely to do his talking to her,” was +Marjorie’s opinion. “I tried to encourage him in that idea. A report of +that kind to Dr. Matthews might result in the banning of cars at +Hamilton.” + +“Did you hear last year, at the time Katherine was hurt, that Miss +Cairns received a summons from Doctor Matthews? I was told that he gave +her a severe lecture on reckless driving. She told some of the Sans and +it came to Portia and I in a round-about way.” + +“I believe it to be true.” Marjorie hesitated, then continued frankly. +“Katherine did not report her.” + +Unbound by any promise of secrecy to any person, Marjorie acquainted +Robin with the way the report of the accident had been put before the +president. She and her chums had heard the story from Lillian +Wenderblatt, who had so ardently urged her father to take up the cudgels +for Katherine directly after the accident. + +“Lillian explained to her father that Katherine utterly refused to take +the matter up. He reported it to the doctor of his own accord, saying +that Katherine wished the affair closed. So Doctor Matthews didn’t send +for her at all. While he never referred to the subject afterward to +Professor Wenderblatt, he said at the time of their talk that he would +send Miss Cairns a summons to his office. Lillian’s father said the +doctor’s word was equivalent to the summons. So I believe she received +one. None of us who are Kathie’s close friends ever mentioned it to +others. Lillian told no one but us. She did not ask us to keep it a +secret. We simply _did not talk_ about it. That’s why I felt free to +tell you, since you asked me a direct question.” + +“Strange, isn’t it, that the Sans can’t even be loyal to one another,” +Robin commented. “Very likely Leslie Cairns told them in confidence, not +expecting it would be betrayed. She may not know to this day that a girl +of her own crowd told tales.” + +“She is not honorable herself. Her intimates know that.” Marjorie’s +rejoinder held sternness. “There is nothing truer than the Bible verse: +‘As ye sow, so must ye also reap.’ She tries to gain whatever she +happens to want by dishonorable methods. In turn, her chums behave +dishonorably toward her. + +“An unhappy state of affairs.” Robin shrugged her disfavor. “Phil says +Miss Walbert is a talker; that she is becoming unpopular with the sophs +who voted for her last year because she gossips.” + +Marjorie smiled whimsically. “Wouldn’t it be poetic justice if she were +to turn the half of her class who were for her last year against her by +her own unworthiness? After Miss Cairns worked so hard to establish her +too! There’s surely a greater inclination toward democracy than last +year, or Phil wouldn’t have won the sophomore presidency.” + +“Yes; and she won it by eighteen votes this year over Miss Keene, and +she is one of Miss Walbert’s pals. Last year she lost it by nine. Some +difference!” Robin looked her pride of her lovable cousin. “I think +there is a great change for the better in Hamilton since we were +freshies, don’t you?” + +Marjorie made quick assent. “You Silverites have done the most for +Hamilton,” she commended. “We Lookouts have tried our hardest, but we +couldn’t have done much if you hadn’t been behind us like a solid wall.” + +“You Lookouts deserve as much credit as we. You girls are social +successes in the nicest way, because you have all been so friendly and +sweet to everyone. Then you have fought shoulder to shoulder with us. +Now that we have begun to make our influence felt, we should follow it +up by giving entertainments in which the whole college can have a part.” + +“Let’s do this,” Marjorie proposed. “Bring the orchestra and Hope +Morris, she’s so nice, over to Wayland Hall on Saturday evening. I’ll +have a spread. Then we can plan something to give in the near future. +Here’s my getting-off place. Goodbye.” + +The taxicab having reached a point on the main campus drive where two +other drives branched off right and left, the machine slowed down. She +rarely troubled the driver to take her to the door of the Hall, it being +but a few rods distant from this point. + +Swinging up the drive and into the Hall in her usual energetic fashion, +Marjorie’s first move was toward the bulletin board. Three letters was +the delightful harvest she reaped from it. One in Constance’s small fine +hand, one from General. The third she eyed rather suspiciously. It was +in an unfamiliar hand and bore the address, “Marjorie Dean, Hamilton +College.” + +“An advertisement, I guess,” was her frowning reflection as she went on +upstairs. “Anyone I know, well enough to receive a letter from, would +know my house address.” + +Anxious to relieve her arms of several bundles containing purchases made +at Hamilton before opening her letters, Marjorie did not stop to examine +her mail on the landing. Entering her room, she found it deserted of +Jerry’s always congenial company. Immediately she dropped her packages +on the center table and plumped down to enjoy her letters. + +Second glance at the letter informed her that the envelope was of fine +expensive paper. This fact dismissed the advertisement idea. Marjorie +toyed with it rather nervously. In the past she had received enough +annoying letters to make her dread the sight of her address in +unfamiliar handwriting. On the verge of reveling in the other two whose +contents she was sure to love, she hated the idea of a disagreeable +shock. She knew of no reason why she should be the recipient of any such +letter. That, however, would not prevent an unworthy person from writing +one. + +Determined to read it first and have it over with, Marjorie tore open an +end of the envelope and extracted the missive from it. A hasty glance at +the end and she vented a relieved “A-h-h!” Turning back to the +beginning, she read with rising color: + + “Marjorie Dean, + Hamilton College. + + “Dear Child: + + “Will you come to Hamilton Arms to tea next Thursday afternoon at + five o’clock? I find I have the wish to see and talk with you again. + I prefer you to keep the matter of your visit from your girl + friends. I am not on good terms with Hamilton College and its + students, and the information that I had invited you to tea would + form a choice bit of campus gossip. + + “Yours sincerely, + “Susanna Craig Hamilton.” + + + + +CHAPTER X—HAMILTON ARMS AND ITS OWNER + + +“Well, of all things!” Marjorie could not get over her undiluted +amazement. For a second it struck her that she might again be the victim +of a hoax. Perhaps an unkindly-minded person wished her to essay a call +on Miss Susanna, thinking she might receive a sound snubbing. She shook +her head at this canny suspicion. The phrasing was unmistakably Miss +Susanna’s. She doubted also whether anyone had seen her that day with +the old lady. Only a few cars had passed them before they had turned +into the private road. These had contained persons not from the college. +Outside the Lookouts, only Katherine, Leila and Vera knew of her +encounter with Miss Susanna. She had not thought of keeping it a secret. +She now made mental note to tell the girls not to mention it to anyone. + +This resolve brought with it the annoying cogitation that the girls +would wonder why she suddenly wished the matter kept secret. Nor could +she explain to them without violating Miss Hamilton’s request. She could +readily understand the latter’s point of view. Miss Susanna could not be +blamed for taking it. Marjorie could only wish the old lady knew how +honorable and discreet her chums were. She decided she would endeavor to +make her hostess acquainted with that truth during her call. + +She came to the conclusion that she could not pledge her close friends +to secrecy regarding her recent adventure until after she had been to +Hamilton Arms and talked with its eccentric owner. Miss Susanna would no +doubt be displeased to learn that she had already mentioned their +meeting to others. She would have to be told of it, nevertheless. + +Marjorie’s next problem was to slip quietly away on Thursday afternoon +without saying where she was going. That would not be difficult, +provided none of the Lookouts happened to desire her company on some +particular jaunt or merry-making. An indefinite refusal on her part +would bring down on her a volley of mischievous questions. + +“I’ll have to keep clear of the girls on Thursday,” she ruminated, with +a half vexed smile. “I’ll have to put on the gown I’m going to wear to +tea in the morning and wear it all day so as not to arouse their +curiosity. That’s a nuisance. I’d like to wear one of my best frocks and +I can’t on account of chemistry. I’ll wear that organdie frock Jerry +likes so much; the one with the yellow rosebud in it. It is not fussy. +If it is cold or rainy I can wear a long coat over it. I hope it’s a +nice day. I can wear my picture hat. It goes so well with that gown. I +can slip it out of the Hall without them noticing if I swing it on my +arm. I hope to goodness I don’t ruin my organdie during chemistry. I +feel like a conspirator.” + +Marjorie chuckled faintly as she rose from her chair, letter in hand. +She tucked the letter away in the top drawer of her chiffonier with the +optimistic opinion that it would not be very long before she could +frankly tell her chums of its contents. + +Fortune favored her on Thursday. She awoke with a stream of brilliant +sunshine in her face. She rejoiced that the day was fair and hoped Miss +Susanna would suggest a walk about the grounds. Then she remembered the +request the latter had made, and smiled at her own stupidity. A walk +about the grounds would probably be the last thing Miss Susanna would +suggest. + +As it happened, Jerry had made an engagement to go to Hamilton with +Helen. Ronny had a theme in French to write, which she said would take +her spare time both in the afternoon and evening. Lucy and Katherine +would be in the Biological Laboratory until dinner time, and Leila and +Vera were invited to a tea given by a senior to ten of her class-mates. +These were the only ones to be directly interested in her movements. To +Jerry’s invitation, “Want to go to town with Helen and I this +afternoon?” she had replied, “No, Jeremiah,” in as casual a tone as she +could command, and that had ended the matter. + +Marjorie was doubly careful in the Chemical Laboratory that afternoon +and walked from it this time with no disfiguring stains on her dainty +organdie frock. The letter had named the hour for her visit as five +o’clock. This gave her ample time to return to the Hall, re-coif her +curly hair and add a pretty satin sash of wide pale yellow ribbon to her +costume. The absence of Jerry was, for once, welcome. She had a free +hand to put the finishing touches to her toilet. It appealed to a +certain sense of dignity, latent within her, to be able to quietly +adjust her hat before the mirror and walk openly out of Wayland Hall. +Marjorie inwardly hated anything connected with secrecy, yet it seemed +to her she was always becoming involved in something which demanded it. + +When finally she emerged from the Hall, she did not follow the main +drive but cut across the campus, making for the western entrance. +Reaching the highway, she kept a sharp lookout for passing automobiles. +She laughed to herself as she thought of how disconcerting it would be +after all her pains to run squarely into Jerry and Helen. The latter had +just been the lucky recipient of a limousine, long promised her by her +father, and she and Jerry were trying it out that afternoon. + +It was ten minutes to five when, without having met anyone save two or +three campus acquaintances, Marjorie walked sedately between the high, +ornamental gate posts of Hamilton Arms, and on up the drive to the +house. She compared her present approach to that of last May Day +evening, when she had stolen like a shadow to the veranda to hang the +May basket. It did not seem quite real to her that now she was actually +coming to Hamilton Arms as an invited guest. + +The knocker was no easier to pull than it had been on that night. She +waited, feeling as though she were about to leave the college world +behind and enter one rich in the romance of Colonial days. Then the door +opened slowly and a dignified old man with thick, snow-white hair and a +smooth-shaven face stood regarding her solemnly. + +“You are Marjorie Dean?” he interrogated in deep, but very gentle tones. +This before she had time to ask for Miss Susanna. + +“Yes,” she affirmed, smiling in her unaffected, charming fashion. +“I—Miss Hamilton expects me to tea.” + +“I know.” He bowed with grave politeness. “Come in. Miss Susanna is in +the library. I will show you the way.” + +Marjorie drew a long breath of admiration as she was ushered into a wide +almost square reception hall paneled in walnut. Her feet sank deep into +the heavy brown velvet rug which completely covered the floor. Walking +quickly behind her guide, she had no more than time for a passing glance +at the massive elegance of the carved walnut furniture. She caught a +fleeting glimpse of herself in the great square mirror of the hall rack +and thought how very small and insignificant she appeared. + +“How are you, Marjorie Dean?” Ushered into the library by the stately +old man, the last of the Hamiltons now came forward to greet her. + +“I am very well, thank you. I hope you are feeling well, too, Miss +Susanna.” + +Marjorie took the small, sturdy hand Miss Susanna extended in both her +own. The mistress of Hamilton Arms looked so very tiny in the great +room. Marjorie experienced a wave of sudden tenderness for her. + +“Yes; I am well, by the grace of God and my own good sense,” returned +her hostess in her brisk, almost hard tones. “You are prompt to the +hour, child. I like that. I hate to be kept waiting. I have my tea at +precisely five o’clock. It is years since I had a guest to tea. Sit down +there.” She indicated a straight chair with an ornamental leather back +and seat. “Jonas will bring the tea table in directly, and serve the +tea. Take off your hat and lay it on the library table. I wish to see +you without it.” + +She had not more than finished speaking, when the snowy-haired servitor +wheeled in a good-sized rosewood tea-table. He drew it up to where +Marjorie sat, and brought another chair for the mistress of Hamilton +Arms similar to the one on which the guest was sitting. Withdrawing from +the room, he left youth and age to take tea together. + +“Who would have thought that I should ever pour tea for one of my +particular aversions,” Miss Susanna commented with grim humor. “Do you +take sugar and cream, child?” + +“Two lumps of sugar and no cream.” Marjorie held out her hand for the +delicate Sevres cup. + +“Help yourself to the muffins and jam. It is red raspberry. I put it up +myself. Now eat as though you were hungry. I am always ravenous for my +tea. I do not have dinner until eight and I am outdoors so much I grow +very hungry as five o’clock approaches.” + +“I am awfully hungry,” Marjorie confessed. “I love five o’clock tea. We +have it at home in summer but not in winter. We girls at Hamilton hardly +ever have it, because we have dinner shortly after six.” + +“At what campus house are you?” was the abrupt question. + +“Wayland Hall. I like it best of all, though Silverton Hall is a fine +house.” + +“Wayland Hall,” the old lady repeated. “It was his favorite house.” + +“You are speaking of Mr. Brooke Hamilton?” Marjorie inquired with +breathless interest. “Miss Remson said it was his favorite house. He was +so wonderful. ‘We shall ne’er see his like again,’” she quoted, her +brown eyes eloquent. + +Miss Susanna stared at her in silence, as though trying to determine the +worth of Marjorie’s unexpected remarks. + +“He _was_ wonderful,” she said at last. “I am amazed at your +appreciation of him. You _are_ an amazing young person, I must say. How +much do you know concerning my great uncle that you should have arrived +at your truly high opinion of him?” + +“I know very little about him except that he loved Hamilton and planned +it nobly.” Marjorie’s clear eyes looked straight into her vis-a-vis’s +sharp dark ones. “I have asked questions. I have treasured every scrap +of information about him that I have heard since I came to Hamilton +College. No one seems to know much of him except in a general way.” + +“That is true. Well, the fault lies with the college.” The reply hinted +of hostility. “Perhaps I will tell you more of him some day. Not now; I +am not in the humor. I must get used to having you here first. I try to +forget that you are from the college. I told you I did not like girls. I +may call you an exception, child. I realized that after you had left me, +the day you helped me to the cottage with the chrysanthemums. I was +cheered by your company. I am pleased with your admiration for him. He +was worthy of it.” + +As on the day of her initial meeting with Brooke Hamilton’s great niece, +Marjorie was again at a loss as to what to say next. She wished to say +how greatly she revered the memory of the founder of Hamilton College. +In the face of Miss Susanna’s declaration that she did not wish to talk +of him, she could not frame a reply that conveyed her reverence. + +“Try these cakes. They are from an old recipé the Hamiltons have used +for four generations. Ellen, my cook, made these. I seldom do any baking +now. I used to when younger. I spend most of my time out of doors in +good weather. Let me have your cup.” + +Her hostess tendered a plate of delicate little cakes not unlike +macaroons. Marjorie helped herself to the cakes and forebore asking +questions about Brooke Hamilton. Miss Susanna had partially promised to +tell her of him some day. She could do no more than possess her soul in +patience. + +“What do you do in winter, Miss Hamilton, when you can’t be out?” she +questioned interestedly. “Do you live at Hamilton Arms the year round?” + +“Yes; I have not been away from here for a number of years. In winter I +read and embroider. I do plain sewing for the poor of Hamilton. Jonas +takes baskets of clothing and necessities to needy families in the town +of Hamilton. ‘The poor ye have always with ye,’ you know.” + +“I know,” Marjorie affirmed, her lovely face growing momently sad. +“Captain, I mean, my mother, does a good deal of such work in Sanford. I +have helped her a little. During our last year at high school a number +of us organized a club. We called ourselves the Lookouts and we rented a +house and started a day nursery for the mill children. The house was in +their district.” + +“And how long did you keep it up?” was the somewhat skeptical inquiry. + +“Oh, it is running along beautifully yet.” Marjorie laughed as she made +answer. + +“I am more amazed than before. A club of girls usually hangs together +about six weeks. Each girl feels that she ought to be at the head of it +and in the end a grand falling-out occurs.” Miss Susanna’s eyes were +twinkling. This time her remarks were not pointedly ill-natured. “You +are to tell me about this club,” she commanded. + +Marjorie complied, giving her a brief history of the day nursery. + +“Are any of your Lookouts here at Hamilton with you?” she was +interrogated. + +“Four of them. One, Lucy Warner, won a scholarship to Hamilton.” Now on +the subject, Marjorie determined to make a valiant stand for her chums. +She therefore told of the offering of the scholarship by Ronny and of +Lucy’s brilliancy as a student. She told of Lucy’s ability as a +secretary and of how much she had done to help herself through college. +She did not forget to speak of Katherine Langly, and her exceptional +winning of a scholarship especially offered by Brooke Hamilton. + +“I had no idea there were any such girls over there.” The old lady spoke +half to herself. “I might have known there would be some apostles.” + +“Miss Susanna,”—Marjorie decided that this would be the best time to +acquaint her hostess with what she had purposed to tell her,—“I told my +intimate friends of meeting you the day the basket handle broke. I +thought you ought to know that. You had asked me in your letter not to +mention to anyone that I was coming here. I did not say a word to anyone +of the letter. I would ask my chums not to mention what I told them +about meeting you in the first place, but, if I do, they will wish to +know why.” + +“Humph!” The listener used Jerry’s pet interjection. “Where did you tell +them you were going today? Some of them must have seen you as you came +away.” + +“No; they were all out except one girl. She was busy writing a theme.” + +“What would you have told them if they had seen you?” Miss Hamilton eyed +the young girl searchingly. + +“I would have said I was going out and hoped they wouldn’t feel hurt if +I didn’t tell them my destination. What else could I have said?” It was +Marjorie’s turn to fix her gaze upon her hostess. + +“Nothing else, by rights. If I allowed you to tell your chums, as you +call them, that you were here today, would they keep your counsel? How +many of them would have to know it?” The older woman’s face had softened +wonderfully. + +Marjorie thought for an instant. “Eight,” she answered. “They are +honorable. I would like to tell them.” + +“Very well, you may.” The permission came concisely. “I will take your +word for their discretion. I have my own proper reasons for not wishing +to be gossiped about on the campus. I wish you to come again. I do not +wish your visits to be a secret. I abhor that kind of secrecy. Perhaps +in time I shall not care if the whole college knows. At present what +they do not know will not hurt them. In the words of my distinguished +uncle, ‘Be not secret; be discreet.’” + + + + +CHAPTER XI—COMPARING NOTES + + +Tea over, Jonas removed the tea-table and Miss Susanna waved her guest +toward a leather-covered arm chair. Changing her own chair for one +corresponding to Marjorie’s, Miss Hamilton proceeded to ply Marjorie +with interested questions concerning her college course. She exhibited a +kind of repressed eagerness to hear of the college and her guest’s +doings there. + +The tall rosewood floor clock had chimed six, then again the musical +stroke of half hour, before Marjorie found graceful opportunity to take +her leave. She was willing to stay longer, but was not certain that her +erratic hostess would wish her to do so. The shadows had begun to fall +across the sombre elegance of the library and the October twilight would +soon be upon them. + +Miss Susanna made no effort to detain her beyond saying: “So you think +you must go. Well, you will be coming again soon to see me. You have +given me much to think of.” She accompanied Marjorie to the front door, +giving her a warm handshake in parting. Marjorie noticed, however, that +her small face wore a pensive expression quite at variance with her +accustomed alert demeanor. It gave her the appearance of great age, +though her brown hair was only partially streaked with gray. Marjorie +thought she could not be much more than sixty years old. + +A happy little smile touched the pleased lieutenant’s lips as she +hurried toward the campus through the gathering twilight. Far from being +dissatisfied at not hearing more of Brooke Hamilton, she was blissfully +content with her visit. Miss Susanna had promised to tell her of him. +She had given her consent to allowing Marjorie to inform her chums of +her visit to Hamilton Arms. She had actually set foot in the house of +her dreams. The two rooms she had seen had more than justified her +expectations of what it would be like inside. + +Dinner was on when she reached Wayland Hall. Marjorie had fared too well +on hot muffins, jam, cakes, and the most delicious tea she had ever +drunk, to care for anything more to eat. + +“Where, may I ask, have you been keeping yourself?” saluted Jerry about +twenty minutes after Marjorie’s return. Coming into their room she +beheld her missing room-mate calmly preparing her French lesson for the +next day. “Why don’t you go and have your dinner? Or have you had it?” + +“I have had tea instead of dinner. I couldn’t eat another mouthful to +save me. ‘An’ ye hae been where I hae been,’” hummed Marjorie +mischievously. + +“Something like that,” satirized Jerry. “Where did you say you were? +Never mind. I am sure you will tell me some day.” She simpered at +Marjorie. “You should have been with Helen and I today. Something +awfully funny happened. Not to us. The girls are coming up to hear about +it soon. Helen and I didn’t care to tell it at the table on account of +the Sans.” + +“Then farewell to my peaceful study hour.” Marjorie laid away the +translation she had been making. + +“You can chase the girls away at eight-thirty, that will give you time +enough. If you don’t, I will. I have studying of my own to do.” + +“As long as the gang will be here I may as well save _my_ remarks until +then.” + +A buzz of voices outside the door announced the “gang.” Beside the three +Lookouts and Katherine were the beloved trio, Helen, Leila and Vera. The +entire crowd pounced upon Marjorie, demanding to know where she had +been. It was unusual for her to be away without having left word with +some one of them. + +“Will I tell you where I was? Certainly! It’s no secret; at least not +now,” she added tantalizingly. “Don’t you want to hear Jerry’s tale +first? I do.” + +“Nothing doing. You go ahead and relieve our anxious minds. We didn’t +know but maybe you had been spirited away by a bogus note again.” + +A peculiar expression appeared in Marjorie’s eyes as she went to her +chiffonier and drew from it Miss Hamilton’s letter. + +“It’s queer, but when I received this letter the other day, I was almost +afraid it was another fake. Notice the address, then read it,” she +commanded, handing it to Vera who was nearest her. + +It brought forth exclamatory comment from all, once each had acquainted +herself with its contents. + +“No wonder you didn’t leave word where you were going. Did you have a +nice time?” Jerry’s chubby features registered her pleasure of the honor +accorded her room-mate. + +“Yes; I had a beautiful time. I was worried because I couldn’t speak of +going to any of you. Miss Susanna gave me permission to tell you eight, +but no others.” Marjorie recounted her visit in detail. “I wish she +would invite the rest of you to Hamilton Arms. It is a beautiful house +inside. I only saw the hall and library, but they were magnificent.” + +“Don’t weep, Marvelous Manager.” Ronny had noted Marjorie’s wistful +expression. “Through your miraculous machinations we shall all be +parading about Hamilton Arms in the near future.” + +“I certainly hope so,” was the fervent response. + +For a little the bevy of girls discussed Marjorie’s news. All were +elated over the pleasure which had come to her. Her generous thought of +the peculiar old lady on May Day of the previous year had touched them. + +“She hasn’t asked you yet if you hung that basket, has she?” queried +Lucy. + +“How could she possibly suspect me of hanging it?” laughed Marjorie. + +“Because it was like you. It carried your atmosphere. Some day she will +suddenly notice that and ask you about the basket,” Lucy sagely +prophesied. “She seems to be a shrewd old person.” + +“She is.” Marjorie smiled at the candid criticism. She wondered if Miss +Susanna had not been in her youth a trifle like Lucy. + +“Now for what Helen and I saw and heard this afternoon,” declared Jerry +gleefully. The first interest in Marjorie’s visit to Hamilton Arms had +abated. + + “Oh, a horrible tale I have to tell, + Of the terrible fate that once befell + A couple of students who resided + In the very same neighborhood that I did,” + +chanted Helen. “You tell it, Jeremiah. You can make it funnier than I +can.” + +“Helen and I started out with the new car as proudly as you please this +afternoon,” began Jerry with a reminiscent chuckle. “We hadn’t gone much +further than Hamilton Arms when whiz, bing, buzz! Along came that Miss +Walbert in her blue and buff car and nearly bumped into us. She came up +from behind and her car just missed scraping against Helen’s. Leslie +Cairns was with her. We never said a word, but I heard Miss Cairns raise +her voice. I think she gave Miss Walbert a call down.” + +“There was no excuse for her, except that she never seems to pay any +particular attention to anyone’s car but her own,” put in Helen. “I have +heard complaint of her from I don’t remember how many girls who own +cars. Occasionally you will find a girl who can’t learn to drive a car. +She belongs in that class. Excuse me for butting in. Proceed, Jeremiah.” + +“That’s all of the prologue,” Jerry continued. “Now comes the first act. +We went on to town, drove around a little, did our errands, had ice +cream at the Lotus and started back highly pleased with ourselves. You +know that place just before you leave the town where the turn into +Hamilton Highway is made? There is a grocery store and a garage on one +side of the road and a hotel on the other. Just before we came to that +point Miss Walbert and her car whizzed by us again. She took that corner +with a lurch. When we struck the place a minute later we saw something +had happened. She had actually scraped the side of one of those taxis +that run between town and the college. It was coming from the college, I +suppose. Anyway, Miss Cairns and she were both out of their car and so +was the taxi driver. Maybe he wasn’t giving those two a call down!” + +Jerry and Helen exchanged joyful smiles at the recollection of the +reckless couple’s discomfiture. + +“Helen drove very slowly past them. We wanted to hear what the man was +saying,” Jerry continued. “He was laying down the law to them to beat +the band. We heard Leslie Cairns say, ‘Do you know to whom you are +talking?’ He shouted out, ‘Yes; to a simpleton of a girl who don’t know +no more about drivin’ than a goose. I seen you drive your own car, lady, +an’ I never had no trouble with you. Your friend, there, is the limit. +You’re runnin’ chances of landin’ in the hospital or worse when you go +ridin’ with her.’ Leslie Cairns was furious. I could tell that by her +expression. Miss Walbert fairly shrieked something at him. She was mad +as hops, too. We had passed them by that time so we couldn’t catch what +she was saying. There was quite a crowd around them, mostly men and +youngsters.” + +“That must be the man Robin and I rode with the other day,” Marjorie +said. “Is he short, with a red face and quite gray hair?” + +“Yes; that’s the man. How did you know which one it was?” Jerry showed +surprise. + +“He had a near collision with Miss Walbert that day.” Marjorie related +the incident. + +“It is a shame!” Leila’s face had darkened as she listened to both +girls. “I hope Leslie Cairns takes her in hand. She’s the very one to +cause a bad accident and then home go our cars. She is such a poor +driver. She bowls along the road without regard for man or beast. She +has a good car which will presently be in the ditch.” + +“Do you think President Matthews would ban cars if a Hamilton girl were +to ditch her car or met with serious accident to herself?” Vera asked +reflectively. + +“Hard to say, Midget. It would depend upon the seriousness of the +accident. Suppose a girl were to ditch her car and be killed. It would +be horrifying. I doubt whether we would be allowed our cars after any +such accident.” + +“Grant nothing like that ever happens.” Lucy Warner gave a slight +shudder. “I shall never forget the day Kathie was hurt.” + +“None of us who were with her that day are likely ever to forget it. +Miss Cairns escaped easily considering the way she was driving. She +ought to be the very one to tell that Miss Walbert a few things not in +the automobile guide,” declared Jerry. “She certainly did not appear at +advantage this afternoon.” + + + + +CHAPTER XII—A TRAITOR IN CAMP + + +Leslie Cairns’ opinion of the matter coincided with Jerry’s, though the +latter could not know it. To become involved in a roadside argument with +an irate taxicab driver did not appeal to her in the least. She was not +half so angry with him, however, as with Elizabeth Walbert. She blamed +the latter for the whole thing. For several minutes after Helen and +Jerry had driven by them, Elizabeth and the driver continued to quarrel. + +“How much do you want for the damage you say we have done your cab?” +Leslie had impatiently inquired of the man. “Cut it out, Bess, and get +back to your car,” she had ordered in the next breath. “Let me settle +this business.” + +A momentary hesitation and Elizabeth had obeyed. She could not afford to +antagonize Leslie, at present. She had an axe of her own yet to be +ground. + +“I oughtta have twenty-five dollars. It ain’t my car. Repairin’ comes +high.” + +“Very good. Here is your money. Wait a minute.” Leslie had extracted the +sum from her handbag. With it came a small pad of blank paper and a +fountain pen. Then and there she obtained not only a receipt for the +money but a statement of release as well. She was well aware that it +would not cost twenty-five dollars to repaint the side of the cab +scraped by their car, but she preferred the matter summarily closed. + +Returning to the car she had said shortly: “I’ll take the wheel.” +Elizabeth had resumed the driver’s seat. Nor had she made any move +toward relinquishing it. + +“You heard what I said, Bess,” she had sharply rebuked. “Either that, or +you and I are on the outs for good. You let me drive that car and show +you a few things you need badly to know about driving.” Leslie’s +lowering face and tense utterance had had its effect. Elizabeth had +allowed her to drive back to Hamilton but had sulked all the way to the +campus. + +At the garage she had unbent a little and inquired how much Leslie had +paid the driver. “I’ll return it to you next week,” she had promised. + +“Suit yourself about that. I’m in no hurry. I took it upon myself to +settle with the idiot. It wouldn’t worry me if you never paid it. I +thought it best to pacify him. I don’t care to have him reporting us to +Matthews as he threatened to do.” This had been Leslie’s mind on the +subject. + +“I don’t believe he would ever go near Doctor Matthews. Still _you_ +couldn’t afford to risk being reported,” Elizabeth had retorted with +special emphasis on the “you.” + +To this Leslie had vouchsafed no reply. She had merely stared at her +companion in a most disconcerting fashion and walked off and left her. +She was thoroughly nettled with Elizabeth for her lack of gratitude. +Natalie was right about her it seemed. She was also wondering where the +ungrateful sophomore had obtained certain information which she +apparently possessed. No one beyond her seven intimates among the Sans +knew that she had been reprimanded by President Matthews for the +accident to Katherine Langly. To the other members of the club she had +intimated that she had adjusted the matter quietly with Katherine. + +That evening, while Jerry was recounting to her chums what she and Helen +had heard of the altercation between the cab driver and the two girls, +Leslie was having a confidential talk with Natalie Weyman. She had gone +straight from the garage to her room, eaten dinner at the Hall and asked +Natalie to come to her room after dinner. + +“Nat, you are right about Bess. She is no good,” Leslie began, dropping +into a chair opposite that of her friend. Briefly narrating the +happening of the afternoon, she repeated the remark Elizabeth had made +to her at the garage. “What would you draw from that?” she asked. + +“Someone has been talking.” Natalie compressed her lips in a tight line. +“You are sure you never told her yourself?” + +“_Positively, no._ I have never babbled my private affairs to Bess, or +Lola either. Only the old crowd were told the facts of that trouble. We +have a traitor in the camp and _I know who it is_.” Leslie’s eyes +narrowed with sinister significance. “It’s Dulcie. I am going to find +out quietly what all she has been saying about me and to whom she has +been saying it. I’m sure she told Bess about the summons. That isn’t so +serious. I could overlook that, although I don’t like it. It is the +other things she may have told. That’s what worries me. She and I have +been on the outs since that Valentine masquerade last year. She hardly +ever comes to my room. I am not sorry. I never got along well with +Dulcie. I never trusted her.” + +“Dulcie ought to know better than tell all she knows to that Walbert +creature,” Natalie made indignant return. “Why, Les, suppose she were +foolish enough to tell her about that high tribunal stunt?” Natalie drew +a sharp breath of consternation. “Dulcie knows the rights of the Remson +mix-up, too.” + +“Dulcie knows too much. So do some of the other girls. If I had it to do +over again, I would not tell anyone but you how I put over a stunt. Why +did we haze Bean? Simply because she reported me to Matthews after +Langly had agreed to drop it. The girls were all in on the hazing, so +not one of them would be safe if they told it.” + +“The Remson affair would do you the most harm if it got out,” Natalie +said decidedly. “It is contemptible in Dulcie to gossip about you after +all the favors you have done her. You’ve lent her money over and over +again. You know she never pays it back if she can slide out of it.” + +Leslie made an indifferent gesture of assent. “She owes me over two +hundred dollars now. I lent it to her during her freshie year. She paid +up what she borrowed of me last year, but she never said a word about +the other. Dulcie has _nerve_, Nat; pure, unadulterated _nerve_. She +can’t bear me lately because I run the Sans to suit myself. I always ran +the club and she knows that. Last year she decided that she would like +to run it herself. I sat down on her every time she tried it. She +deliberately left the back door of that house unlocked the night we +hazed Bean. I told her to see to it. She was edgeways at me. She never +went near the door. You know what happened.” + +“Dulcie will have to be told a few plain truths.” Natalie frowned +displeased anxiety. The news of Dulcie’s defection was rather alarming. + +“She is going to hear them from me, but not yet. I shall catch her dead +to rights before I have things out with her. I’ve made up my mind just +how I am going to do it, provided the rest of the Sans stand by me. It +will be to their interest to do so. I mean, with their support, I can +give her precisely what she deserves.” + +“I’ll stand by you. Joan will, too. She is down on Dulcie for some +reason or other. They haven’t been on speaking terms for a week. I asked +Joan what the trouble was between them. She said Dulcie made her weary +and she didn’t care whether she ever spoke to her again or not. That was +all I could get out of her.” + +“Hm-m!” Leslie looked interested. “I shall find out tomorrow what Joan +has against her. If Dulcie hasn’t gabbed anything worse to Bess, and I +presume a few others, than the news that I received a summons from his +high and cranky mightiness, I will let her off with my candid opinion of +her. If she has been a busy little news distributor of secret matters, +she will rue it. I’ll have no traitors among the Sans.” + + + + +CHAPTER XIII—WELL MATCHED + + +Leslie’s first crafty move toward determining Dulcie Vale’s treachery +was in the direction of Elizabeth Walbert. The latter had promised to +return the next week the twenty-five dollars Leslie had expended in her +behalf. Leslie planned to wait until she did so before making an attempt +to discover how many of the Sans’ secrets Elizabeth knew. She was +certain that Elizabeth would return the loan promptly, as she received a +large allowance from home and as much more as she chose to demand. + +To seek the self-satisfied sophomore’s society was not what Leslie +proposed to do. She intended matters should be the other way around. She +could then take Elizabeth completely off her guard and find out more +easily what Dulcie had imparted to her. + +Elizabeth also had views of her own regarding Leslie. The latter had not +been nearly so friendly with her since college had opened as she had +been during the previous year. Leslie had renewed her old comradeship +with Natalie Weyman, whom Elizabeth detested and stood a little in fear +of. Natalie had never been friendly with her. She had always held +herself aloof. Whenever they chanced to meet she treated Elizabeth as a +mere acquaintance. It was galling to the ambitious, self-seeking +sophomore, but she loftily ignored Natalie’s frigidity. She had +complained of it once to Leslie and been soundly snubbed for her pains. +“You needn’t expect much of Nat. She doesn’t like you. That’s why she +freezes you out. It won’t do you any good to tell me about it, for Nat +is my particular pal.” This had been Leslie’s unsympathetic reception of +the complaint. + +In her heart Elizabeth did not like Leslie. She resented Leslie’s +domineering ways. This did not deter her from fawning upon the despotic +senior. She was depending on Leslie to help her regain a certain +popularity which had been hers as a freshman. She had cherished a vain +hope that she might be elected to the sophomore presidency. To her +chagrin she had not even been nominated. Determined to shine on the +campus, her thoughts were now turning toward basket ball. She was now +anxious to enlist Leslie’s services in helping her devise a means of +making the sophomore team. As a senior Leslie could easily influence the +sports committee to favor her. Mae Lowry and Sarah Pierce, both Sans, +were on the committee. + +It had been rumored that Professor Leonard and the sports committee had +disagreed; that the instructor had coolly advised the committee to do as +it pleased and dropped all interest in sports for that year. With him +out of the reckoning, nothing stood in her way provided Leslie chose to +favor her. + +Her greatest ambition, however, was to belong to the Sans. She was +always privately wishing that one member of the club would drop out. +Leslie had once more told her that the club limit was eighteen members. +If anyone left the club an outside eligible would be chosen to replace +the retiring member so as to keep the number of girls at eighteen. She +had also tried on the previous June to arrange for a room at Wayland +Hall for the ensuing college year. She had been unsuccessful in the +attempt. + +After leaving Leslie on the occasion of her mishap on Hamilton Highway, +she had realized her folly in showing spleen against her companion. She +resolved to offset it as speedily as possible. She wrote Leslie a note +which remained unanswered. She then telephoned the Hall, but Leslie was +out. Her allowance check having arrived, she had an excuse to go to see +Leslie. Her afternoon classes over, she set out for Wayland Hall one +rainy afternoon, hoping the inclement weather had kept Leslie indoors. + +Her baby-blue eyes gleamed triumph at the cheering news that Miss Cairns +was in. As she ascended the stairs to Leslie’s room, which was the +largest and most expensive in the house, her curious glances roved +everywhere. She wished she could see into the room of every student. Her +lips fell into an envious pout as she thought of her own failure to get +into the Hall. She would try again in June, on that she was determined. + +Coming to the door of Leslie’s room, she uttered a muffled exclamation +of impatience. A large “Busy” sign stared her in the face. She did not +turn and go away. Instead her surveying eyes took in the long hall from +end to end. Next, she drew close to the door and listened. She could +hear no voices from within. Leslie was evidently alone and studying. + +With a defiant lifting of her chin Elizabeth rapped on the panel twice +and loudly. She listened again and was repaid by the sound of a chair +being hastily moved, then approaching footsteps. The door opened with a +jerk. Leslie stared at her visitor with no pleasantness. + +“I came to return that twenty-five dollars.” Elizabeth did not give +Leslie a chance to speak first. “I saw the sign on your door. I thought +I would knock, anyway. I’ve been trying to see you for a week to give it +to you. Why didn’t you answer my note, or didn’t you receive it?” + +Leslie continued to stare. She was taken aback for an instant by the +cool impudence of the other girl. This was in reality the only thing +about Elizabeth that Leslie liked. She found the sophomore’s bold +assurance amusing. + +“Come in,” she drawled, assuming her most indifferent pose. “I intended +asking you if you could read. I’ll forgive you. I told you there was no +hurry about that money.” + +“What’s money to me? Not that much!” Elizabeth snapped her fingers. “I +can have all the money I want to spend here. I simply happened to be +without it the other day. I won’t stay. I see you are really busy +writing letters. It goes to show you can write. I thought perhaps you +had forgotten how.” + +Having delivered this thrust she busied herself with her handbag. “Here +you are; much obliged.” She tendered the money to Leslie. “I must go.” +She turned as though to depart. + +“Oh, sit down!” Leslie tossed the little wad of bills on the table. “I +can finish this letter later. I have to keep that sign on the door when +I want to be alone. I’d be mobbed if I did not.” + +At heart Leslie was distinctly glad to see her caller. She had her part +to play on the stage of deceit, however. + +“I suppose the Sans are running in and out of your room a good deal,” +Elizabeth returned enviously. “I wish I could live here. It makes me so +cross when I think of that Miss Dean and those girls living here and I +can’t get in. There will be a lot of girls graduated from here in June. +I think I can make it next fall. What’s the use, though. You’ll be gone. +It is on your account I’d like to be here. I think more of you, Leslie, +than of all the rest of the girls put together.” Elizabeth simulated +wistful regret. She had tried out that particular expression before the +mirror until she had perfected it. It was useful on so many occasions. + +“Do you truly think as much of me as you say, Bess, or are you simply +talking to hear yourself talk?” Leslie carried out admirably a pretense +of sudden earnestness. + +“Why, _of course_, I care a lot about you, Leslie.” Elizabeth adopted a +slightly grieved tone. “Think of how _much_ you have done for me.” + +“Oh, that’s all right.” Leslie dismissed the reminder with a wave of the +hand. “I have a reason for asking you that question. I have one or two +other questions to ask you, too. If you are my friend, _and wish to +continue to be my friend_, you will answer them.” + +“I certainly will, if I can,” was the glib promise. + +“You can,” Leslie curtly assured. “First, who told you about my having +received a summons to Matthews’ office on account of that accident to +Langly last fall?” + +“How do you know——” began the sophomore, then bit her lip. + +“I _know_. There isn’t much goes on on the campus that I don’t know.” +This with intent to intimidate. “I know who told you, for that matter.” + +“I promised I wouldn’t tell. Still, if you say you know who it was, I +believe you do.” Elizabeth hastily conceded, remembering her own +interests. “You won’t let on that I told you?” + +Leslie shook her head. “Trust me to be discreet,” she said. + +“It was Dulcie Vale,” came the treacherous answer. + +“I knew it.” Leslie brought one hand sharply down against the other. +“What else has Dulcie told you?” + +“About what?” counter-questioned the sophomore. + +“That’s what I am asking you.” Leslie leaned forward in her chair, +steady eyes on her vis-a-vis. + +Elizabeth experienced inward trepidation. Dulcie had told her a great +many things which she had promptly repeated to friends of hers under +promise of secrecy. Suppose Leslie had traced some bit of gossip to her. +She had heard that Leslie could pretend affability when she was the +angriest. She might be only using Dulcie as a blind in order to extract +a confession from her. + +“I don’t quite understand you, Leslie,” she asserted, knitting her light +brows. “Dulcie has talked to me a little about the Sans. I never +mentioned a word she said to anyone else.” + +“That’s not the point. I am not accusing you of talking too much. You +made a remark the other day which I took as an assumption that you had +been told about the summons. I knew Dulcie had told you. Dulcie has said +things to others, too.” + +“Oh, I know that.” Confidence returning, Elizabeth was quick to place +the blame on the absent Dulcie. + +“Yes; and so do I. It is very necessary that I should get to the bottom +of her talk. Some say one thing about her, some another. I thought I +could rely on you for the facts.” + +“I don’t care to have any trouble with Dulcie over this,” deprecated +Elizabeth. + +“You won’t. Your name won’t be mentioned in it. All I need is the facts. +You will be doing me a great favor. If there is anything I can do for +you in return, let me know.” Leslie had donned her cloak of +pseudo-sincerity. + +“Oh, no; there is nothing.” Elizabeth slowly shook her head. “I—well, I +wouldn’t want you to think I _cared_ for a return.” Her manner plainly +indicated that there was something Leslie might do for her if she chose. + +“What is it you want?” Leslie exhibited marked impatience. “Favor for +favor you know,” she added boldly. “I never mince matters.” + +“I am crazy to play on the soph basket-ball team. Do you think you can +fix it for me?” + +“Surest thing ever. Leonard is peeved and has tossed up sports. Two of +the Sans are on committee. Is that all you need?” + +“Yes.” The wide babyish eyes registered a flash of gratification. “You +are so _kind_, Leslie. Thank you a thousand times. I know you won’t fail +me.” + +“You’re welcome. I’ll fix it for you tomorrow. One bit of advice. Don’t +play unless you are an expert.” + +“I am. When I was at prep school——” + +“Never mind about that now. You go ahead and tell me what I asked you. +It is almost six and Nat will be here soon.” + +“Oh, will she?” The sophomore cast an apprehensive glance toward the +door. “Is she a very good friend of Dulcie’s?” + +“She’s a better friend of mine,” was the bored reply. Leslie was growing +tired of being kept from what she burned to know. “Please don’t waste +any more time, Bess. We can’t talk after Nat comes in. I don’t believe +I’ll be able to see you again before Saturday. I’m awfully busy. I’ll +lunch you at the Lotus then. We’ll use my roadster for the trip to town. +What?” + +Elated at having gleaned from Leslie a promise of benefit to herself and +an invitation to luncheon, Elizabeth once more stipulated that her name +should be left out of the revelation. Again reassured, she proceeded to +regale Leslie with the confidences Dulcie had imparted to her at various +times. She talked steadily for almost half an hour. Leslie gave her free +rein, interrupting her but little. + +“It’s even worse than I had thought,” Leslie declared grimly, when +Elizabeth could recall nothing more to tell. “Bess, if you know when you +are well off, you will never tell a soul what you have told me. Part of +it isn’t true. Dulcie was romancing to you about that hazing affair. We +talked about it for fun, but that was all. Why, we were all at the +masquerade that night.” + +“Dulcie wasn’t,” flatly contradicted the other. “She had a black eye. +She said she was hurt at that house when——” + +“Dulcie bumped into the door of her room that night with her mask on,” +interrupted Leslie angrily. “So she told us. If she was where she claims +she was, certainly we were not with her. This isn’t the first foolish +rumor of the kind she has started. It’s a good thing the rest of the +girls don’t know this. They’d never forgive Dulcie for starting such +yarns. As for that trouble she claims we had with Miss Remson. There was +nothing to that, either. We have never exchanged a word with Remson on +the subject. I don’t mind what she told you about the summons. The rest +of her lies! Well, there is this much to it, Dulcie is due to hear from +me and in short order.” + + + + +CHAPTER XIV—SANS’ MERCY + + +Despite Leslie’s denials, Elizabeth left her room only half convinced. +Being as lost to honor as Leslie, she was also as shrewd. She made a vow +to keep her own counsel thereafter. She knew herself to be as guilty as +Dulcie. She hoped Leslie would never discover that. Leslie had promised +that her name should not be mentioned in the matter. If brought to book +by Leslie, Dulcie could not accuse her of circulating the stories +intrusted to her without incriminating herself. Elizabeth felt quite +safe on that score. + +For two or three days after her call upon Leslie, she kept out of +Dulcie’s way for fear the latter had been taken to task for her +treachery and might suspect her as being instrumental in having brought +it about. On Friday, however, she met Dulcie in the library. Dulcie +invited her to dinner at the Colonial and she went without a tremor of +conscience. The former was not in a gossiping humor that day. She was +doing badly in all her subjects and worried in consequence. + +Elizabeth went calmly to luncheon at the Lotus with Leslie on Saturday, +pluming herself in that she was on excellent terms with both factions. +She reported to Leslie her meeting with Dulcie on Friday, saying lamely +that Dulcie never gossiped a bit about the Sans. “She hadn’t better,” +Leslie had returned vengefully. “She has done mischief enough already.” +When Elizabeth had ventured to inquire when Dulcie was to be “called +down,” Leslie had said, “When I get ready to do it. I’m not ready yet.” + +Natalie and Joan Myers had been informed by Leslie of Dulcie’s +treachery. The trio had then set to work to discover how much damage she +had done; something not easy to determine. Natalie and Joan demanded +that she should be dropped from the club. They were sure the others +would be of the same mind. Even Eleanor Ray, her former chum, was on the +outs with Dulcie. There would be no objection to the penalty from +Eleanor. Leslie’s plan was to gather the evidence against Dulcie, place +it before the Sans, minus the culprit, at a private meeting, and let +them decide her fate. In spite of Leslie Cairns’ unscrupulous +disposition, she had a queer sense of justice which occasionally stirred +within her. Thus she was bent on being sure of her ground before +accusing Dulcie to her face. + +After a week had passed and the three had learned nothing new regarding +the circulation of their misdeeds about the campus, Leslie called a +meeting of the club in her room while Dulcie was absent from the Hall. +Indignation ran high at the revelation. The verdict was, “Drop her from +the club.” Notwithstanding the possibility pointed out by Leslie that +she might turn on them and betray them to headquarters, her associates +were keen for dropping her. + +“What harm can she do us?” argued Margaret Wayne. “She can’t give us +away to Doctor Matthews without cooking her own goose. That’s our only +danger from her. It’s our word against hers. Any stories she has told on +the campus will never go further than among the students. It is too bad! +Dulcie should have known better than to be so utterly treacherous. She +deserves to be dropped. We could never trust her again.” + +“That’s what I think,” concurred Joan Myers. “Even if her tales _did_ +bring about a private inquiry, it is our word against hers. We have +really walked with a sword over our heads since last Saint Valentine’s +night. It has never fallen. I say, _simply fire_ Dulcie from the Sans, +and be done with it. Let it be a lesson to the rest of us to be +discreet.” + +“When is the deed to be done?” Adelaide Forman inquired. + +“I don’t know yet. I want you girls to see what you can glean on the +campus. I must have every scrap of evidence against her that I can get,” +Leslie announced. “We may not be able to spring it on her for a week or +two. When we do, the meeting will be in this room. I’ll hang a heavy +curtain over the door so we won’t be heard. If she gets very angry she +will raise her voice to a positive shriek.” + +“Wouldn’t it be better to hold that meeting outside the Hall? Dulcie +will raise an awful fuss. If she hadn’t told something I made her swear +she wouldn’t tell, I would not hear to having her treated that way. I am +down on her for that very reason. Otherwise I would feel very sorry for +her,” explained Eleanor Ray. + +“I am not on good terms with her. She made trouble between Evangeline +and me last week. We only straightened it up today.” Joan volunteered +this information. “Leslie’s room is the best place for the meeting. It +is situated so that Dulcie won’t be heard if she cries or flies into a +temper.” + +While among the Sans there was not one girl who had not stooped to +dishonorable acts since her entrance into Hamilton College, the fact of +Dulcie’s defection seemed monstrous indeed. + +“Be careful what you say to Bess Walbert,” Natalie took the liberty of +saying. “How much does she know about what we shall do with Dulc? What +did you tell her about it?” + +“I said I had heard other things Dulcie had been saying; that she was +due to hear from me for gossiping. That such yarns must be stopped. I +warned her to keep to herself whatever Dulc had told her. She promised +silence. I don’t know.” Leslie shrugged dubiously. “Take a leaf from +Nat’s book, girls, and keep mum to Bess. She may try to pump you. She’s +crazy to know what I am going to say to Dulc and when the fuss is to +come off.” + +Natalie flushed her gratification of Leslie’s approbation. The others +received their leader’s counsel with marked respect. The news of +Dulcie’s perfidy had given them food for uneasy reflection. + +“We’ll just have to depend on you, Les, to deal with Dulcie,” Joan Myers +said emphatically. “You can do it scientifically. Of course, we expect +to stand by you. When the time comes you ought to do the talking.” + +“The firing, you mean,” corrected Leslie, smiling in her most unpleasant +fashion. “Leave it to me. It’s our campus reputation against her +feelings; if she has any. We all have a certain pride in ourselves as +seniors. I’m not anxious to be looked down upon by the other classes. It +is only a few months until Commencement. We must hang on until then, and +at the same time keep up an appearance of senior dignity.” + +An assenting murmur arose. Allowed to do as they pleased by doting or +careless parents, not one of the Sans would escape parental wrath were +she to fail in her college course. Even more serious consequences would +be attached to expellment. + +“How are we to behave toward Dulcie?” was Eleanor Ray’s question as the +meeting broke up. + +“As though nothing had happened,” Leslie directed. “I shall take her by +surprise. I wish her to be so completely broken up she won’t have the +nerve to fight back, either on the night of the fuss or afterward.” + + + + +CHAPTER XV—PLANNING FOR OTHERS + + +While the Sans were experiencing the discomfort of internal friction, +the Lookouts and their friends were traveling the pleasant ways of +harmony and peace. The sophomores had so thoroughly taken their freshman +sisters under their genial wing that the juniors had little welfare work +to do in that direction. + +In the matter of basket ball they lost all active interest after the +first game between the freshman and sophomore teams which took place on +the first Saturday afternoon in November. The Sans still had friends +enough among the seniors to make their influence felt in this respect. +With two Sans elected to the sports committee, Professor Leonard had +thrown up his hands in disgust after a vain attempt to get along +pleasantly with the arrogant committee. He refused to be present at the +try-out. Afterward he made it a point to be away from the gymnasium +during team practice. + +Leslie Cairns kept her word to Elizabeth Walbert to the letter. She was +chosen by the committee to play on the official sophomore team. Phyllis +Moore was also picked solely on account of her prowess. When she found +herself on the same team with Elizabeth, she promptly resigned. + +The freshman team was picked by the committee entirely according to Sans +tactics. Therefore, the democratic element of Hamilton foresaw a series +of uninteresting games ahead. Dutifully they attended the initial game +of the season which the sophs won. Most of the applause came from the +seniors present at the game. According to Muriel Harding, she had seen +better games played by the grammar school children of Sanford. + +Basket ball thus failing to arouse their marked enthusiasm, the former +faithful fans and expert players turned their moments of recreation into +channels which pleased them better. Incidental with the decline of +basket ball, Marjorie and Robin took to looking earnestly about them for +a motive for the entertainments they had discussed giving. + +Marjorie scouted about diligently in an effort to locate students off +the campus who needed financial help. She took Anna Towne into her +confidence at last and found out something of interest. + +“It isn’t half so much that most of the girls living off the campus +can’t pull themselves through college. They manage to do it by working +through the summer vacations. It is the way we have to live that is so +nerve-racking at times. The food isn’t always good, and there’s so +little variety if one boards. The girls who cook for themselves have to +market. That’s a strain. One is out of bread or butter or another staple +and forgets all about it until supper time. Then the small stores nearby +are closed. Perhaps one wishes to spend an hour or two in the library +after recitations. There is the marketing to do, or else it has to be +done early in the morning when one is hurrying to get ready for a first +recitation. That’s merely one of the difficulties attached to trying to +lead the student life and doing light housekeeping at the same time. + +“On the other hand,” Anna had further explained, “if one boards one +isn’t always allowed to do one’s own laundering. That’s quite an item of +expense. It costs more in money to board, and it is more of an expense +of spirit to keep house on a small scale. It is a great irritation +either way. That is the opinion of every girl off the campus I have +talked with. You girls in your beautiful campus house are lucky. Many of +these boarding and rooming houses are so cold in winter. For the amount +of board or rental we pay the proprietors claim they can’t afford to +give adequate heat. + +“You see, Marjorie, when girls like myself decide on enrolling at a +certain college, they have only the prospectus to go by. They read in +the Bulletin of Students’ Aids and Bureaus of Self-help but they do not +reckon on them. They go to college on their own resources. They wouldn’t +dream of asking help as freshmen; perhaps not at all during their whole +course.” + +“I see,” Marjorie had assented very soberly. It hurt her to hear of the +struggles for an education going on so near her, while she had +everything and more than heart could desire. “There ought to be one or +two houses on the campus where students could live as cheaply as in +boarding and rooming houses and still have their time entirely for study +and recreation.” + +“That won’t be in my time at Hamilton,” Anna had declared with a tired +little smile. “I hope it will happen some day.” + +When Marjorie had left Anna, it was with a certain generous resolve. +That night she made it known to Jerry. + +“Do you know what I am going to do?” she asked, after recounting to her +room-mate her conversation of the afternoon. + +“I do not. I’ll be pleased to hear your remarks, whatever they may be,” +encouraged Jerry with one of her wide smiles. + +“You know what a lot of vacancies there will be here in June,” Marjorie +began. “Those vacancies ought to be filled by off-the-campus girls. Take +Anna, for instance. She earns about one-third enough money summers to +keep her at Wayland Hall. I shall furnish the other two-thirds for her. +I shall begin now and save something from my allowance toward it. I +shall ask Captain not to buy me a lot of new clothes for next year, but +to give me the money instead. I am going to do a little sacrificing. I +shall cut out dinners and luncheons off the campus. I’ll go only to +Baretti’s and not so very often.” + +“We are an extravagant set,” Jerry confessed. “Our board is paid at the +Hall; the very best board, too. Yet away we go every two or three days +for a feed at our favorite tea-rooms. That’s a good idea, Marvelous +Manager. I shall presently adopt an off-the-campusite myself. Ronny will +adopt a dozen.” + +“Ronny would finance them all, but I sha’n’t let her. General would give +me the money to see Anna through college, but I don’t wish it to be that +way. I want it to be self-denial money. I’d like to find a way to help +the off-the-campus girls this year.” + +“Give shows. Make money. Turn it over to ’em,” suggested Jerry, with an +airy wave of the hand. “Nothing easier.” + +“Nothing harder, you mean,” corrected Marjorie. “They wouldn’t like to +accept it as a private gift, I’m afraid. Besides, some of them board; +others do light housekeeping. Those who keep house could use the money +we offered to make things easier. Still they’d have the strain of +housework on their minds. Those who board wouldn’t be benefited much +unless they changed boarding places. There is only that one collection +of boarding houses near the campus. One is about the same as another. +Hamilton has been a rich girls’ college for a long time. The fine +equipment and super-excellent faculty have filled it up with well-to-do +and moneyed students.” + +“I’d like to see every Hamilton student on the campus,” declared Jerry +heartily. “It would take three campus houses to do it. There must be +close to seventy-five girls in that bunch of off-campus houses.” + +“We could start our fund for that purpose,” was the hopeful response. + +“Who’d take care of the plan after we were graduated? It would take a +lot of money to build campus houses. Besides, how would we get the site? +Maybe the Board wouldn’t hear to the project” + +“Too true, too true, Jeremiah,” Marjorie conceded gayly. “That plan is a +little far-fetched just yet. Later it may seem feasible. The fact +remains that Robin and I yearn to get up a show; object to give away the +proceeds.” + +“You can do this. Arrange for the show. Advertise it as being given for +the purpose of founding a students’ beneficiary association. Take a +third of the proceeds and start the society. Give the other two-thirds +to Anna and let her distribute it privately among the girls who need it. +She knows them. She can get away with it better than you can. If anyone +comes down on the treasury for our little lone third we can hand it out +and keep it up by private contributions until some more money is earned. +I suppose you two marvelous managers will continue in the show business +as long as it is profitable.” + +“Your head is level, Jeremiah,” laughed Marjorie, her eyes sparkling. +“That’s a good plan. I’ll see Robin tomorrow, and Anna too. Robin can +begin to gather up the performers. Anna can find out for me as to how +her flock are situated. I shall call the girls in tomorrow evening and +ask them if they each would like to finance a student next year. Leila, +Vera and Helen will like to, even if they have been graduated from +Hamilton. Kathie can’t, but she will wish to help in some other way.” + +“Anna Towne was my freshie catch. You may have her. I’ll scout around +and find someone else,” magnanimously accorded Jerry. + +Marjorie spent her leisure hours during the ensuing few days in +interviewing her friends and helping Robin plan the show. With +Thanksgiving only ten days off, the show would not take place until +after that holiday. The girls tackled the programme, however, and +completed it within three days. + +Ronny was to dance twice. Marjorie had written to Constance Stevens, who +had promised to sing at the revue. These two numbers were to be the +features. The Silverton Hall orchestra would contribute two numbers. +Leila and Vera had promised an ancient Irish contra dance in costume. +Phyllis would give a violin solo. Blanche Scott would offer a grand +opera selection in her best baritone voice. Ronny agreed to train eight +girls in a singing and dancing number. As a wind-up, four Acasia House +girls were to put on a one-act French play. + +Busy with her new project, Marjorie had not forgotten Miss Susanna. The +day after her visit to Hamilton Arms she had written the old lady one of +her sincere, friendly notes. She had not expected a reply. Nevertheless, +Miss Hamilton had returned a few lines of acknowledgment. Since then the +wires of communication between them had been idle. + +Marjorie regretted this. She would have liked, during the beautiful +autumn weather, to walk about the grounds of Hamilton Arms with its +owner. With the last leaves off the trees and the earth frost-bitten, +she began to feel that Miss Susanna had not desired her further +acquaintance. In passing Hamilton Arms she strained her eyes, +invariably, for a sight of the old lady. She saw her but once, and at a +distance. + +She wondered as Thanksgiving approached what kind of Thanksgiving Miss +Hamilton would have. She resolved, before leaving college for home, to +write the last of the Hamiltons as cheerful a note as she could compose. + +Three days before college closed for the holiday she found a letter in +the Hall bulletin board in Miss Susanna’s handwriting. This letter bore +the address “Wayland Hall,” and read: + + “Dear Child: + + “I have a curiosity to meet some of the young women you exalted to + me when you took tea at the Arms. Will you bring them with you to + five o’clock tea tomorrow afternoon? I had intended writing you + before this date, but have been ill and out of sorts. I believe you + mentioned eight young women as your particular friends. I can + entertain you and the beloved eight, but no more. Do not trouble to + answer this note. I shall expect to see you, even if the others + can’t come to tea. + + “Yours sincerely, + “Susanna Craig Hamilton.” + +Marjorie uttered a kind of exultant crow and performed a funny little +dance of jubilation about the room. Jerry had not yet come from +recitations, so she hurried out to find the other Lookouts. Ronny was +the only one in. She rejoiced with Marjorie, her interest in Hamilton +Arms and its owner being second only to that of her chum. + +“She loves flowers. We must take her a big box of roses,” was Marjorie’s +generous thought. “Pink, white and red ones; yellow roses, too, if we +can find them. It is hard to find a certain kind of fragrant, very +double yellow rose at the florist’s now.” + +“You mean ‘Perle de Jaddin,’” Ronny said quickly. “We have acres of them +at ‘Manana.’ They are my favorite rose.” + +“I love them, too,” Marjorie nodded. “I remember that name now. I will +collect two dollars apiece from the girls. Two times nine are eighteen. +We ought to be able to buy an armful of roses for eighteen dollars. I’ll +ask Leila to drive to Hamilton for them. She has no class the last hour. +I think we had better walk to Hamilton Arms. Miss Susanna seems to be +rather down on girls who drive cars. So there is no use in flaunting her +dislike in her face. I may be in error on that point. She made a remark +on the day I met her that led me to think so.” + +“You go and find the other girls. I’ll tell Lucy as soon as she comes +in,” Ronny offered. “The sooner you see them, the better. If they have +engagements for tomorrow afternoon they will have to gracefully slide +out of them. We all must accept Miss Susanna’s invitation. It is a case +of now or never.” + +Marjorie left Ronny to go joyfully on her pleasant errand. Her second +quest was more successful. Leila and Vera had returned while she was in +Ronny’s room. Both were elated over the unexpected honor. Leila was more +than willing to make the trip to the florist’s shop. Marjorie met +Katherine in the hall just as she was leaving Leila’s room. + +The trio of absentees, Helen, Muriel and Jerry, she decided must be out +somewhere together. She smiled to herself as she pictured Jerry’s face +when she heard the news. “Just because I am in a hurry to tell Jerry she +will probably go to dinner off the campus and come marching in about +nine o’clock,” was her half-vexed rumination. + +To her satisfaction Jerry walked into the room at ten minutes to six. +She and Helen had taken a ride in the latter’s car. Jerry was full of +mirth over the fact that they had met Elizabeth Walbert’s car at the +side of the road with a blown-out tire. A mechanician from a Hamilton +garage was on the scene adjusting a new one under the verbose direction +of the owner. + +“Helen drove her car past at a crawl. We wanted to hear what she was +saying to the man from the garage. Honestly, we could hear her voice +before we came very near her. She shrieks at the top of her lungs. She +was trying to tell him what to do. He wasn’t paying any more attention +to her than if she hadn’t been there. That blond freshie, who snubbed +Phil the day she tried to help her at the station, was with her. I heard +her say, ‘My, but he is slow. Our chauffeur could have put on three +tires while he was thinking about putting on one.’ So encouraging to the +workman!” Jerry’s tones registered gleeful sarcasm. “I wish she had been +stuck there for about four hours.” + +“You should not rejoice at the downfall of others,” Marjorie reproved +with a giggle. “That is, if you can class a bursted tire as a downfall.” + +“It did me a world of good to see those two little snips stuck at the +side of the road,” returned Jerry. “That Walbert girl and her car are a +joke. I wish we had a college paper. I’d write her up. Funny there isn’t +one at Hamilton. Almost every other college has one, sometimes two. I +think I shall start one next year, if I’m not too busy.” + +“You might call it ‘Jeremiah’s Journal,’” suggested Marjorie. Both girls +laughed at this conceit. Marjorie then acquainted her room-mate with the +invitation, at the same time handing her Miss Hamilton’s note. + +“Will wonders never cease!” Jerry laid down the note and beamed at +Marjorie. “All your fault, Marvelous Manager. You went ahead and paved +the way into Miss Susanna’s good graces for the rest of us. You +certainly do get on the soft side of people without trying.” + +“Not a bit of it,” Marjorie stoutly contested. “Any one of you girls +would have done as I did and with the same results. I am so glad you are +all going to meet her. She can’t help but have a better opinion of our +dear old Alma Mater after she has met some of her nicest children. I +guess that basket handle broke at the psychological moment.” + + + + +CHAPTER XVI—OUT OF THE PAST + + +The invited guests were in scarcely more of an anticipatory flutter than +Miss Susanna herself. She had broken down her prejudice against girls +partly out of curiosity to see and know Marjorie’s friends, partly +because of her growing fondness for Marjorie. The innocent beauty of the +young girl, and her utter lack of conceit and affectation, had made a +deep impression on the suspicious, embittered old lady. She had no +expectation of liking Marjorie’s friends as she was learning to like the +courteous, gracious lieutenant. It was her skeptical opinion, uttered to +Jonas, that, if _one_ of the “new ones” turned out to be half as worthy +as “that pretty child,” she would not regret the experiment. + +“You may take me for an old fool, Jonas,” she declared to her faithful +servitor of many years. “Here I am entertaining college misses after +I’ve sworn enmity against them for so long. Well, everything once, +Jonas; everything once. If I don’t like ’em, they won’t be invited here +again.” + +“The young lady’s friends will be all right, Miss Susanna,” Jonas had +earnestly assured. “She is a fine little lady.” + +The “young lady’s friends,” however, were seized with a certain amount +of trepidation when, on the designated afternoon, they advanced on +Hamilton Arms, looking their prettiest. Each had worn the afternoon +frock she liked best in honor of her hostess. Marjorie, Leila and Jerry +headed the van, Leila bearing in her arms a huge box of roses. Marjorie +had insisted that Leila must present these to Miss Susanna. Leila had +sturdily demurred, then accepted the honor thrust upon her. All the way +to Hamilton Arms she had kept the party in a gale of laughter with the +humorous presentation speeches which she framed en route. + +Within a few steps of the house her fund of words deserted her. “Take +these yourself, Marjorie,” she implored. “I am in too much of a glee at +my own foolishness. I shall laugh and disgrace us all if I undertake to +give her the roses.” + +“You’ll be all right, you goose. I refuse to help you out.” Marjorie +waved aside the proffered box. “Rally your nerve and say the first thing +that occurs to you. It will be sure to be the best thing you could +possibly say.” + +“I doubt it. Well, I can but take firm hold on the box and make the best +of a bad matter.” Leila grasped the box with exaggerated force, cleared +her throat and burst out laughing. She continued to laugh as they +ascended the steps. She had hardly straightened her face when Jonas +answered the door and ushered the guests over the threshold they had +never expected to cross. + +“I have not seen so many girls at close range for a long time,” +announced a brisk voice. Miss Susanna had come from the library into the +hall to greet her visitors. She was attired in a one-piece dress of dark +gray silk with a white fichu at the throat of frost-like lace. + +“How are you, my child?” She now took Marjorie’s hand. “And these are +your friends.” Her bright brown eyes were inspecting the group of young +women with a kind of reflective curiosity. “Introduce them to me and +tell me each name slowly. I wish to know each one by name from now on. I +used to have a good memory for names.” + +Marjorie complied with the instruction, adding some friendly little +point descriptive of each chum. This evoked laughter and helped to ease +the slight strain attached to the presentation. Leila then proffered the +box of roses with a frank, “Here is our good will to you, Miss +Hamilton.” + +“What’s this?” Miss Susanna viewed the long box in amazement. A swift +tide of color rose to her cheeks. She reached for it mechanically as +though uncertain what to do next. She held it for an instant, then said: +“I thank you, girls. You could have done nothing that would please me +more. I love flowers; particularly roses. Come into the library now and +let us get acquainted.” + +In the library Miss Susanna explored the florist’s box with the pleasure +of a child. She exclaimed happily over the masses of gorgeous roses as +she lifted them from the box and inhaled their fragrance. She sent Jonas +for vases and arranged them to suit her fancy, talking animatedly to her +guests as her small hands busied themselves with the pleasant task. + +The girls gathered informally about her, looking on with gratified eyes. +The flower gift had established a bond of sympathy between them. Already +Miss Susanna was beginning to glimpse the reason for Marjorie’s devotion +to her special friends. The girls also understood Marjorie’s growing +interest in the last of the Hamiltons. Miss Hamilton had an oddly +fascinating personality which commanded liking. + +“There!” Miss Susanna exclaimed, as the last rose went into a vase to +her satisfaction. “I shall leave them in the library while you are here. +Afterward I shall take my posies to my room. They will be the last thing +I see tonight and the first in the morning. I have selfishly fussed with +my lovely roses instead of giving you hungry children your tea. We are +going to have it in the tea room today. I will ask you to come now.” + +She led the way from the library to an apartment directly behind it. A +subdued chorus of admiration ascended from the guests as they stepped +into a room which was quite Chinese in character. The walls were hung +with rare Chinese embroideries and delicately-tinted prints. A pale +green matting rug with intricately-wrought lavender and buff characters +covered the floor. The tables and chairs were of polished teak, +beautifully inlaid with mother of pearl. In one corner was a tall +Chinese cabinet topped by two exquisite peachblow vases. Here and there +were other vases of value and beauty. It was an amazing room. With so +much to look at, it required time to appreciate fully its worth from an +artistic point of view. + +While there were several small tables, there was a large oblong one +which would seat the party. It was laid for tea and graced by the most +wonderful tea set the girls had ever seen. It was of faint, almost +translucent, green banded by an odd Chinese scroll border in silver. + +“What a perfectly wonderful room!” gasped Vera, her hands coming +together in an admiring clasp, so characteristic of her. + +Her approval was echoed by the others. The mistress of Hamilton Arms +piloted them to the large table, taking her place at the head of it. + +“Have your tea first, then you may explore Uncle Brooke’s famous tea +room as much as you please.” Miss Susanna glanced about at the circle of +eager young faces with a bright smile. She was enjoying this innovation +so much more than she had thought she might. “This will really be a meat +tea. I know you girls will need something more substantial than tea and +cakes, as you won’t be home in time for dinner.” + +The invaluable Jonas now appearing, an appetizing collation consisting +of creamed chicken, hot muffins, a salad and sweets was served, together +with much tea and more talk and laughter. The girls were hungry enough +to enjoy every mouthful of the delicious food provided by their hostess, +agreeing with Marjorie as to the super-excellence of the tea. + +“Please tell us about this tea room, Miss Susanna,” coaxed Marjorie. The +repast finished, the party still sat at table. “I suppose it was planned +and arranged by Mr. Brooke Hamilton.” + +“Yes; it is considered the finest private tea room in America,” was the +reply. The odd part of this room is that every article in it was a gift +to my great uncle. Shortly after LaFayette’s visit to America, when +Uncle Brooke was a young man in his early twenties, he embarked on a +business venture to China. He expected to be gone only a year. Instead, +he remained in China for twelve years. Unlike many persons, he did not +antagonize the Chinese. They learned to appreciate him for his nobility, +and became his firm friends. Every now and then, someone would make him +a present. A true Chinaman will give the best he has if he wishes to +give. + +“Uncle Brooke was so much pleased with his growing collection of things +Chinese, that he announced his intention of having a Chinese room in his +home when he returned to America,” continued the old lady, a gleam of +pride in her eyes. “He told his Chinese friends of his idea and they +were delighted. Eventually a rich noble, who had been one of Uncle +Brooke’s truest friends, died. He bequeathed a priceless collection of +Chinese antiquities to my ancestor. Among them was this tea set, those +two peachblow vases, and that print on the east wall. When he returned +to America it took him six months to arrange this room to his +satisfaction. He arranged it and pulled it to pieces dozens of times +before he produced the effect he desired.” + +“Do you remember him, Miss Susanna?” asked Marjorie eagerly, then +blushed for fear her question might be considered too pointed by her +hostess. + +“Very well, indeed. I was a young woman when he died. He was +seventy-nine years old the week before his death. My father was the son +of his only brother who was several years older than Uncle Brooke. +Father was an invalid during the last years of his life. We came here to +live when I was twelve. As a child, Uncle Brooke would often take me for +walks about the estate. He taught me the names and habits of trees, +shrubs and flowers. He was a true nature man.” + +“It seems odd to hear so much, all at once, of Mr. Brooke Hamilton,” +observed Helen. “We have not heard anything of him before except what +little is known on the campus. He is almost a mystery at Hamilton +College.” + +“The fault of the college,” retorted Miss Susanna with bitterness. +“There was a time when the college board might have had the data for his +biography. That time has passed. They shall never have one scrap of +information concerning him from me. What I have told you of him today is +in strict confidence. I have spoken freely of him because Marjorie has +assured me that you are to be trusted. Were you to break this +confidence, I would refuse to verify whatever you might tell and forbid +any publication of the information.” + +Miss Hamilton glanced defiantly about the circle. Her kindly expression +had entirely vanished. + +“We can but assure you of our discretion.” It was Leila who made an +answer, a hint of wounded pride in her blue eyes. + +“You can trust us, Miss Susanna,” added Marjorie, smiling bravely. She +was experiencing a queer little sinking of the heart at the displeased +old lady’s intent to permanently withhold from the college the true +history of its founder. + +“I daresay I can, child. Let us change the subject. It is unpleasant to +me. You girls had better walk about the tea room and enjoy the curios +until I recover my good humor.” + +Prompt to obey the mandate, the girls spent at least a half hour in the +Oriental room, examining and admiring the departed connoisseur’s +individual arrangement of a marvelous collection. Miss Susanna sat and +watched them, almost moodily. Returned to the library, the sight of her +roses mollified her. She decided to do a certain thing which had risen +to her mind. The desire to give pleasure to these young girls who had +thought of her conquered her sudden gust of spleen against Hamilton +College. + +“Would you like to see my great uncle’s study?” she asked, turning from +the flowers to her guests. + +“Oh!” Ronny drew a wondering audible breath. She could hardly believe +her ears. + +The others laughed at her, but the eager light in their eyes told its +own story. + +“May we see it, Miss Susanna?” Vera’s tone was almost imploring. + +“You may. Another time, when all of you come to see me, I will show you +about the house. It is well worth seeing. My great uncle gathered beauty +from the four corners of the earth. He loved to travel and brought back +with him the treasure of other lands. I should like you to see the +study. It holds one thing, in particular, in which I am sure you will be +interested.” + +“There is no corner of this house without interest,” Leila said warmly. +“I am sure of that.” + +“So it seems to me,” nodded Miss Hamilton. “I have lived in it many +years. I am not over the wonder of it yet. At times I am sorry that +others cannot enjoy it with me. Again I am glad to be alone.” + +Following the old lady, who mounted the broad staircase as nimbly as any +of them, they found on the second landing the same solid magnificence of +furnishing that marked the first floor. Down a long hallway, which +extended back from the main reception hall, they went. At the end of the +hall was a door of heavy walnut, its upper half of stained glass. This +their guide opened. They were now seeing the room where the founder of +Hamilton College had spent so many hours planning the institution which +bore his name. + +The murmur of voices died out among them as they stepped into the study. +Compared with other rooms in the house which the girls had seen, it was +rather small. The floor was bare save for one medium-sized rug in the +center of the room, on which stood a heavy-legged mahogany writing +table. A tall desk, a book-case, three high-backed chairs and a filing +cabinet, all of carved mahogany, completed the furnishings, plus one +broad-seated chair, leather cushioned, and with a rounding back. It was +drawn up before the library table; Brooke Hamilton’s own chair. + +The most notable object in the study was a framed, illuminated oblong +about five feet long and perhaps two and a half feet wide. It was hung +at a point on the wall directly opposite the founder’s chair. + +“This is what you wished us to see, isn’t it?” Marjorie cried out, +stopping in front of the oblong. “I think I know what it is.” + +“Tell us, then.” Miss Susanna was smiling fondly at the animated face +Marjorie turned toward her. + +“The maxims of Mr. Brooke Hamilton,” she guessed breathlessly. Her eyes +traveled slowly down the oblong. “There are fifteen of them,” she +announced. “What a beautiful illumination!” + +“Yes; they were his favorite sayings. He originated them all except the +first one. More, he lived up to them.” The old lady’s intonation had +grown singularly gentle. + +A reverent silence visited the study as the knot of girls gathered about +the oblong to read the sayings of one long gone from earth. The colors +used in the illumination were principally blue and gold with mere +touches of green and black. Red had been left out entirely from the +color scheme. + +“Remember the stranger within thy gates.” + +“To the wise nothing is forbidden.” + +“Becoming earnestness is never out of place.” + +“Let thy gratitude be lasting.” + +“Ask Heaven for courtesy; the supply is greater than the demand.” + +“Make thy deference to age not too marked.” + +“Truth flies a winning pennant.” + +“Beware, lest what seems unattainable falls too near thine hand.” + +“Let thy learning be seasoned with merriment.” + +“O, Justice, how fair art thine heights!” + +“Be motivated by the grace of God.” + +“Be not secret; be discreet.” + +“For the gift of life give thanks.” + +“The ways of light reach upward to eternity.” + +“To stumble honorably is to learn to walk.” + +Such were the informal rules of conduct which Brooke Hamilton had carved +for himself with the blade of experience. + +“We have five of these at the college, Miss Susanna.” Ronny finally +broke the spell which had fallen. “The first, third, fourth, seventh and +ninth. ‘Remember the stranger within thy gates,’ is over the doorway of +Hamilton Hall. The ninth one is in the library and the third, fourth and +seventh are in the chapel.” + +“I knew some of them were there. The first he had placed over the door +of Hamilton Hall. The others were to be presented to the college as the +students earned them.” + +“Earned them?” queried Muriel impulsively. “I don’t understand——” She +broke off, coloring at her own temerity. Her companions were also +looking slightly mystified. + +“His idea was this. He wished to reward any particularly noteworthy act +on the part of a student, of which he chanced to hear, by an honor. The +recipient was to receive a citation in chapel and one of his favorite +maxims, decoratively framed, was to be hung in one of the campus +buildings. A record of the citation was to be established in an honor +book kept in a special niche in the chapel. This was one of his later +ideas. He did not live to carry it out. I don’t know how they managed to +get hold of four of his sayings. They have no right to them.” + +Acridity again dominated Miss Susanna’s tones. She appeared to resent +deeply the fact that the college authorities held any information +whatsoever regarding her famous kinsman. + +“Maybe a person who knew your great uncle remembered these four maxims +of his and they were thus handed down,” suggested Lucy, always +interested in a mystery. + +“I wish we had them all; everyone of them!” Marjorie gave an audible +sigh of regret. “I can’t help saying it, Miss Susanna. It is the way I +feel about these true, wonderful sayings of Mr. Brooke Hamilton.” + +“You may say it without offending me, my dear. I understand you and your +affection for Hamilton College. _He_ would have liked you to say it. +_He_ never held a grudge. I have held one many years. I shall continue +to hold it.” Miss Susanna crested her stubborn head. “It is a supreme +pleasure to me to know that I have thwarted the college board in some +respects. I shall continue to thwart them.” + + + + +CHAPTER XVII—LUCY’S NEWS + + +On the heels of their memorable visit to Hamilton Arms came the added +joy of going home for Thanksgiving. All the pleasure that the occasion +afforded was crowded into those four brief days. The Nine Travelers, as +they agreed to call themselves, returned to college more firmly +amalgamated than ever. + +The Lookouts had long since included their four close friends in the +formal association which they had dubbed the Five Travelers. At first +they had decided that the name should remain the same, though four +members were added. Later, Ronny suggested that Nine Travelers would be +more appropriate. At the end of their college course, they would choose +nine girls to replace them with a new chapter, as they had done in the +case of the Lookout Club. All nine were anxious to leave a sorority +behind them of which they could claim to have founded. + +Marjorie and Robin Page, who, according to Jerry, “had gone into the +show business,” had their hands full the moment they returned to +Hamilton. They tackled the enterprise with a will, however, and within a +couple of days after resuming the difficult duties of managership they +had made considerable headway. + +“Have you those posters yet?” greeted Robin, as she joyfully pounced +upon Marjorie on the steps of the library. “I have been trying to see +you ever since yesterday morning. I was coming over last night, but I +simply had to stay at home and study. I struck a horrible snag in +calculus and struggled with it half the evening.” + +“Ethel said she would have them done tomorrow,” was the comforting news. +“She made four. I imagine they must be beauties, too.” + +“Uh-h-h!” Robin pretended to crumple with relief. “That’s one torture +off my mind. Naturally they will be great stuff. Ethel Laird draws +better than any other girl at Hamilton. It was mighty fine in her to +take such a job on herself. I asked her for only one you know.” + +“Probably she saw a wistful gleam in your eye and was kind,” laughed +Marjorie. + +“There will be an entirely different gleam in my eye if those printers +don’t hurry up with the programmes. Last I heard from them they hadn’t +even started the work. We really took a good deal upon ourselves when we +started this show. I’m glad I am not a manager for my living. It is too +strenuous a life for Robin.” + +“We ought to call a rehearsal Saturday evening. There won’t be anyone +caring to use the gym, and there won’t be much time for it next week in +the evenings, with all the studying we have to do. Just recall, the show +is to be next Friday evening,” was Marjorie’s reminder. + +“Oh, I know it,” groaned Robin. “I shall be enraged, infuriated and +foaming at the mouth if those aggravating printers don’t have our +programmes done in time.” + +“They will. Don’t worry. When did they promise you the tickets?” + +“Tomorrow. They’ve done fairly well with the tickets,” Robin grudgingly +conceded. “That is, provided they deliver them tomorrow, as promised. I +am just a little tired, I guess. I like the programme part of getting up +a show, but I don’t like the tiresome details.” + +“Come on over to Baretti’s,” invited Marjorie. “What you need is +sustenance. We can talk things over and have dinner at the same time. I +can stay out until eight. It’s only five-fifteen now. We shall have +oceans of time.” + +“All right. Don’t you believe, though, that we’ll have much chance to +talk. Some of our gang will be there, sure as fate,” Robin +prognosticated. + +Surely enough, they were greeted by a hospitable quartette occupying a +table near the door. It was composed of Ronny, Jerry, Elaine Hunter and +Barbara Severn. + +“Aren’t you going home to dinner?” quizzed Jerry accusingly. “And you +never said a word to me this noon of your secret intentions.” + +“I hadn’t any. May I ask why you are here without having obtained my +permission?” Marjorie drew down her face in an imitation of Miss Merton, +a Sanford teacher both girls had greatly disliked. + +“I have nothing to say,” chuckled Jerry. “You and your friend may sit at +our table, if you like.” + +“Thank you. My friend and I have weighty matters to discuss. We’re in +the show business now, Jeremiah. We are bound for that last table in the +row.” Marjorie pointed. “We’ll join you later, and please don’t disturb +us. Ahem!” + +“I don’t even know either of you by sight. Beat it.” Jerry waved both +girls away with a magnificent gesture of disdain which sent them, +giggling, toward their table. + +“This is my first off-the-campus treat since we talked about getting up +the show that day we went to Hamilton,” Marjorie confided to Robin. “I +have thirty-eight dollars saved. Captain gave me twenty-five when I came +away from home. I told her I did not need it, but you see I had told her +about saving my money, too. That’s the reason she gave it to me. I seem +not to be able to make any real sacrifices,” Marjorie smiled ruefully. + +“I have saved close to thirty. I could have saved more, but I have had +three Silvertonites to remember on their birthdays. Not my pals, but +girls who appreciate remembrances and who don’t receive many. I haven’t +been here but twice since we had that talk. We mustn’t desert Signor +Baretti, either. He would feel dreadfully if we stopped patronizing his +tea room.” + +“We will have to try to please all our friends somehow, and ourselves, +too,” Marjorie said gayly. + +Their dinner ordered, the two settled down to talk over the progress of +their “show” with the business energy of two real theatrical managers. +Later, however, Jerry and her trio sidled up to the forbidden table and +were graciously allowed to remain. In consequence, it was half-past +eight before the party left the tea room. + +“Lucy will wonder what has become of me,” Ronny declared, as the three +Lookouts entered Wayland Hall. “I told her this noon I was not going +anywhere after recitations. Oh, dear! I am a nice person! I promised to +help Muriel with her French, before dinner. I forgot all about it until +this minute. She will be raving.” + +“You seem to be in a bad case all around,” sympathized Marjorie in most +unsympathetic tones. “I’m sorry for you.” + +“I’m a great deal more sorry for myself,” retorted Jerry. + +“I haven’t broken any promise by staying out, but I won’t do much +studying tonight. Let me see, what recitations do I have tomorrow that I +can slight the least tiny bit?” Marjorie puckered her brows over her +problem. + +Entering their room, the first sight that met hers and Jerry’s eyes was +Lucy Warner, fast asleep in an arm chair. Jerry laid a warning finger +against her lips, then she stole softly up to Lucy. + +“Wake up and pay for your lodgings,” she growled in a deep, hoarse +voice. + +“Oh-h! Ah-h!” Lucy sat up with a suddenness which narrowly missed +landing her on the floor. “I thought you would never come home,” she +mumbled, not yet fully awake. Blinking sleepily at the two laughing +girls, she continued: “I had some news for you. I sat down to wait until +you came. Ronny was out; so was Muriel. I’ve been here since eight +o’clock. Were you out to dinner?” + +“That means _you_ were not here.” Jerry pointed an arraigning finger at +Lucy. “Where have you been? Lately you have become a regular gad-about. +It must be stopped, Luciferous.” + +“Gad-about nothing,” disclaimed Lucy. “You, not I, belong to that +deplorable class, Jeremiah Macy. _I_ have been working. True, I dined +outside the Hall, and in distinguished company. I am President Matthews’ +secretary pro tem. I had dinner at his house tonight. I told you I had +news for you.” + +“Can you beat that?” Jerry sank into the nearest chair as though about +to collapse. “You are mounting the college scale by leaps and bounds, +aren’t you? Chummy with the registrar, a friend of Professor +Wenderblatt’s, and now established in Doctor Matthews’ good graces. The +unprecedented rise of Luciferous Warniferous; or, Secretaries who have +become famous.” + +“How did it happen? Where is Miss Sayres?” Marjorie exhibited lively +curiosity at the news. + +“Miss Sayres is at home with a cold. Nothing very serious, I imagine. +Miss Humphrey recommended me to the doctor. He was away behind in his +correspondence. Miss Sayres has been ill for two days. It was nearly six +when I finished his letters. He still had an address to dictate. He +asked me if I would stay until after dinner and take the dictation. I +had a beautiful time. He and his wife are such friendly persons. He is a +great biologist, too. His son was there. He is a New York lawyer and is +home for a few days’ visit.” Lucy added this last without enthusiasm. + +“Well, well, Luciferous!” patronized Jerry. “And were you afraid to talk +to the young man?” + +“Oh, stop teasing me! No, I was not. He talked to his mother most of the +time, anyway. I must go and find Ronny. Was she with you girls?” Lucy +rose, gathered her books from the table, and prepared to depart. + +“She was with us, Lucy. You’d better stay and talk to us,” coaxed +Marjorie. “It’s growing later and later and still I am not studying. I +might as well wind up a pleasant but unprofitable evening with gossiping +about Doctor Matthews. Come on back and resume your chair, Miss Warner.” + +Lucy had now reached the door. “Wait until I go and see Ronny, and I +will come back.” She exited, returning five minutes afterward with +Ronny. + +“You don’t seem to have the study habit tonight, either,” commented +Jerry genially to the new arrival. “Well, sit down and have a good time. +That’s what college is for.” + +“How do you like the doctor, Lucy?” There was a note of sharp interest +in the question. Marjorie was anxious to hear Lucy’s opinion of the +president. “I know you said he was friendly; but, I mean, what do you +think of him in other ways?” + +“I understand you. You are thinking of Miss Remson. So was I, whenever I +had a chance to study the man. He is one of the kindest, finest men I +have ever come in contact with,” Lucy declared impressively. “He is so +courteous; he goes to great pains in answering his letters. I know he +never wrote that letter to Miss Remson.” + +“I felt that way about him, too, the day I played messenger for Miss +Humphrey.” Marjorie nodded agreement of Lucy’s emphatic praise. + +“I wish I could solve that letter mystery while I am there.” Lucy’s +green eyes gleamed. “My one chance would be to have a talk about it with +Doctor Matthews. That’s not likely to happen. I could find out a good +deal about Miss Sayres by going through the letter files, but I would +die rather than touch one of them. I shall only be there for a day or +two, I suppose. If I could be his secretary for two or three weeks I +might be able to say a good word for Miss Remson. I am sure there has +been a great misrepresentation and I believe Miss Sayres is at the +bottom of it.” + +“What would you do, Luciferous, if, while you were there, you found out +something that was plain proof against the Sans?” was Marjorie’s +thoughtful query. + +“I would take it up with Doctor Matthews at once, wouldn’t you, in the +same circumstances?” + +“Yes,” came the unhesitating reply. “That is the one thing I have always +thought I would not mind telling against the Sans.” Marjorie’s features +grew sternly determined. “It was such a cruel thing to do; to estrange +two friends of such long standing. For all we know, Doctor Matthews may +wonder why Miss Remson has not visited him and his wife for over a +year.” + +“It is not likely that I shall find any such proof. If I should, I would +use it very quickly. Miss Remson was dreadfully hurt over that miserable +letter. I would put the proof before Doctor Matthews if I had to fight +all the Sans single-handed afterward.” + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII—WHEN FRIENDS BECOME FOES + + +Lucy’s secretaryship for Doctor Matthews lasted only three days. During +that short space of time she found out nothing special, bearing on the +wrong to Miss Remson which she longed to right. She learned to like the +president of Hamilton College better than ever, and wished she might +work for him longer. The only item of interest she came across was at +his residence. In the secretary’s desk there she discovered the New York +address of Leslie Cairns in a small red leather address book. To her +analytical mind this was proof enough of an acquaintance between the +two. + +She had not expected to do anything of moment toward helping Miss Remson +during those three days. Still she could not help confessing to Marjorie +that she was a wee bit disappointed at not having learned a single +thing. + +“Never mind, Luciferous,” Marjorie had consoled. “You had the will to +help Miss Remson if you did not have the opportunity. It may all come to +light when you least expect it. That’s the way such things often +happen.” + +While Lucy had deplored her inability to obtain the desired information +she legitimately sought, the Sans loudly deplored among themselves her +temporary appointment as secretary. Coupled with it a story had reached +the ears of Natalie Weyman and Joan Myers which caused them to flee to +Leslie Cairns in a hurry. It had to do with the hazing party the +previous February. Joan had been slyly taxed with it first. Pretending +innocence, she had made an excuse to leave the senior who had intimated +it to her without having betrayed herself in any particular. + +Several days afterward she and Natalie Weyman had gone through almost +the same experience with two juniors who had appeared to treat the +affair as a huge joke. The girl who had first hinted it to Joan had been +rather horrified over what she had evidently heard. + +“I think it is high time we called Dulcie Vale to account!” Natalie +exclaimed stormily, as she finished the recital of what she and Joan had +just heard. + +The two had burst in upon Leslie, regardless of the “Busy” sign which +now ornamented her door a good deal of the time when she was in her +room. + +“Calm down, Nat. You are so mad you are fairly shouting. Take seats and +have some candy, both of you.” Leslie lazily pushed a huge box of nut +chocolates across the table within easy reach of her excited callers. + +“Um-m! Glaucaire’s best!” Natalie forgot her wrath and helped herself to +sweets. + +“I had made up my mind before you two burst in with your tale of woe +that Dulcie had escaped long enough. I have heard things, too, and just +lately. Dulcie is not the only one. She talked to Bess. Bess Walbert is +as busy a little news circulator as you’d care to find.” + +“What did I tell you?” Natalie cried out in triumph. + +“You were right, Nat. I give you credit for reading her correctly. I +haven’t seen her since the first of the week. When I do——” Leslie nodded +her head, looking thoroughly disagreeable. Elizabeth Walbert was in for +a very stormy interview with her. + +“When will you call the meeting, Les?” anxiously inquired Joan. “Don’t +put it off. No telling how much more mischief Dulcie may do if she isn’t +curbed promptly.” + +“Tomorrow night,” Leslie named. “See as many of the Sans as you can +between now and the ten-thirty bell. Don’t go near Loretta Kelly’s and +Della Byron’s room. Dulcie goes there a good deal lately. Della is +coming to see me this evening after dinner. I’ll tell her then. Let me +know before the last bell tonight how many of the girls are on, Nat. +Will you?” + +“Surely, Leslie dear.” Natalie had simmered down to affability. She was +very proud of Leslie’s confidence in her. + +Left alone, Leslie settled back in her chair very much as her father +might have done on the eve of a pitched battle on the stock exchange. +Her eyes roved about her room as she planned where the culprit should +stand, where she wished the Sans to group themselves, and where her +place as conductor of the arraignment should be. + +A half smile flitted across her face as she remembered the last high +tribunal she had conducted. This time the culprit was a real one. It had +been hard to trump up charges against “Bean.” There would be no masks +worn save the mask of deceit which she would ruthlessly strip from +Dulcie, showing her in her true colors. After she was “all through” with +Dulcie she would read the riot act to Bess Walbert. She wished to wait, +however, until the sophomore unsuspectingly came to her for a favor. +Then she would be shown a side of Leslie she had not dreamed existed. + +At twenty minutes after ten Natalie came to Leslie’s room with the +welcome news that “every last Sans” except Loretta and Della had been +told and would be on hand promptly at eight o’clock the next evening. + +“I saw Loretta and Della,” Leslie informed her chum. “They are wild. +They heard that Dulc told two juniors about my renting that house for +six months so we could use it when we hazed Bean. That’s a nice report +to have in circulation on the campus, now isn’t it? Does that sound like +Dulc, or doesn’t it?” + +“Dulcie told that, undoubtedly. There were not more than six or seven of +us who knew the terms on which you rented that house. Dulc knew. You +always let her into extra private matters because she was one of the old +guard. You and she were not so edgeways toward each other until after +the night of the masquerade.” + +“We never agreed on a single thing. Away back at prep school Dulc and I +were always squabbling. In her heart she has never really liked me. +Since the masquerade she has cordially hated me. That’s about my feeling +toward her. I want her out of the Sans. She is a disgrace to them. I +expected Nell Ray would fight for her, but she gave in as nicely as you +please.” + +“The girls are all down on her for telling tales,” returned Natalie. “I +wonder if she thinks they don’t know the way she has gossiped about +them?” + +“She will know it tomorrow night,” asserted Leslie shortly. + +“There goes the bell. I had better beat it. I have an hour’s studying to +do tonight yet, and I am so sleepy,” Natalie yawned. “One thing more.” +Half way across the threshold she turned and reentered the room. “How +are you going to get Dulc on the scene?” + +“Harriet is to tell her, late tomorrow afternoon, that the Sans are to +meet in my room tomorrow night at eight to discuss something very +important. She will come. She will be eaten up with curiosity to know +what is going on. She’ll be just a little bit surprised when she learns +how much she has to do with that important discussion.” Leslie threw +back her head and laughed in her silent fashion. + +“She deserves it.” Natalie’s whole face hardened perceptibly. “Look out +for her, Les. She is capable of making a lot of fuss. We don’t care to +have Remson coming up here to see what the trouble is.” + +“If she is noisy, half a dozen of us will simply take her by the arms +and bundle her off to her own room. It is only three doors from here,” +Leslie answered with cool decision. “I can manage her, I think.” + +The next day Dulcie received word of the meeting through the medium of +Harriet. The latter delivered the notice in a careless tone which +completely misled Dulcie. + +“Why can’t it be some place besides Leslie Cairns’ room?” Dulcie +pettishly demanded. “I hate to go near her!” + +“Suit yourself,” shrugged Harriet. “You can’t say I didn’t tell you +about it. It won’t be any place other than Leslie’s room.” + +Her simulated indifference merely aroused in Dulcie a contrary resolve +to attend that meeting at all costs. She had not been in Leslie’s room +since the opening of college. She had a curiosity to see what changes +Leslie had made in it from the previous year. Strangely enough, her own +misdeeds never crossed her mind. She had no thought, when regaling +others with her chums’ private affairs, that such treachery might +possibly bring her a day of reckoning. The recent quarrels she had had +with her former intimate, Eleanor Ray, and also Joan Myers, left no +impression on her save a sullen dislike for the two girls because they +had taken her to task for betraying their confidence. + +As it was, she accepted an invitation to dinner at the Colonial extended +her by Alida Burton. She lingered so long at the tea room that she +walked into Leslie’s room at ten minutes past eight. + +Slow of comprehension, even she felt dimly the tension of the moment. +The Sans sat or stood in little groups about the room. With her +entrance, conversation suddenly languished and died out. Every pair of +eyes was leveled at her in a cool fashion which bordered on hostility. + +“It seems to me you are all very quiet tonight. What’s the _matter?_ +Peevish because I’m late? _Yes? What?_ Don’t cry. Ten minutes won’t kill +any of you,” she greeted flippantly. “Hope I haven’t _missed_ anything +by being a tiny bit behind time.” She had adopted Leslie’s insolent +swagger. + +“No; you haven’t missed anything,” Leslie said dryly. “We were waiting +for you.” She turned abruptly from Dulcie, addressing the others. + +“Girls,” she raised her voice a trifle, “bring your chairs and arrange +them on each side of the davenport in a half circle. Six girls can sit +on the davenport. We are all here now, so we can proceed with the +business of the evening.” + +Her order promptly obeyed, the Sans settled themselves in their chairs +with mingled emotions. None of them had a definite idea of how Leslie +intended to conduct the embarrassing session against Dulcie. Face to +face with the momentous occasion, a few of them felt slightly inclined +toward clemency. The older members of the Sans were too greatly incensed +by her treachery to do other than approve of the humiliation about to +descend on the traitor. + +It had been Leslie’s first idea to seat Dulcie in a particular chair. +Second thought assured her that Dulcie would refuse the chair, merely to +be contrary. She would undoubtedly sit where she would be most +conspicuous if left to her own devices. Leslie decided the rest of the +Sans must sit in a compact group. Wherever Dulcie might choose to post +herself in the room she could not escape arraignment. + +While the girls were arranging their chairs, Leslie occupied herself +with hanging a heavy velvet curtain in front of the door leading to the +hall. That task completed, she turned to find Dulcie had seated herself +on the left hand side of the semi-circle, the last girl in the row. She +had pulled her chair forward a trifle so as to command a good view of +the company. + +Dulcie was well-pleased with herself. She was still admiring her brazen +entrance into the room. She felt that she had quite outdone Leslie in +matter of cool insolence. In fact she was much better able to direct the +club than Leslie. She wondered the girls had never realized it. She eyed +Leslie with ill-concealed contempt as the latter seated herself in the +chair of office which Natalie had placed in the fairly wide space +between the ends of the half circle. Les grew homelier every day, was +her uncharitable opinion. + +“We are here tonight to perform a duty, which, though not pleasant, +_must be done_.” Leslie made this beginning with only a slight drawl to +her tones. “When we organized the Sans Soucians we all promised to be +loyal to one another. I regret to say that one of our number has so +completely violated this promise it becomes necessary to take drastic +measures. We cannot allow a Sans to betray deliberately either club or +personal secrets.” + +Leslie placed great stress on “deliberately.” She was careful not to +look toward Dulcie. “Do you agree with me in this?” She put the question +generally. + +_“Yes,”_ was the concerted, emphatic answer. Dulcie’s voice helped to +swell the chorus. + +“The Sans have done certain things as a matter of reprisal and +self-defense, which, if generally known, would entail very serious +consequences. It is vital to our welfare at Hamilton that these matters +should be kept secret, yet a member of the Sans has gossiped them to +outsiders. For example, it is known to a number of seniors and juniors +outside the Sans that a hazing affair took place last St. Valentine’s +night, conducted by the Sans. Seven of us have been approached on this +subject. We know, to a certainty, that a faction, antagonistic to us, +did not start this story. + +“Still more serious is a report brought to me concerning the methods +employed by Joan and I to keep a residence for the Sans at the Hall when +we were threatened with expulsion from here as sophomores. A person who +will betray such intimate matters, knowing that her treachery may ruin +the prospects of her chums for graduation from college, is not only a +fool for risking her own safety, but a menace to the club as well.” + +For ten minutes Leslie talked on in this strain, her hearers observing a +strained silence. She was purposely piling up the enormity of Dulcie’s +misdeed so as to impress the others. As for Dulcie, she had begun to +show signs of nervousness. Once or twice her eyes measured the distance +from her chair to the door as if she were meditating sudden flight. What +remnants of conscience she still had, stirred to the point of informing +her that the coat Leslie was airing fitted her too snugly for comfort. +She had not yet arrived at the moment of awakening, however. She +believed Leslie’s remarks to be directed toward someone else. Margaret +Wayne, perhaps; or, Loretta Kelly. Leslie had once said to her that +Loretta was a gossip. Dulcie now tried to recall an instance of +Loretta’s perfidy. It would be to her interest to cite an instance of it +should Leslie call for special evidence. It would pay Loretta back for +once having called her a stupid little owl. + +In the midst of racking her vindictive brain for evidence against a +fellow member, Dulcie lost briefly the thread of Leslie’s discourse. +Mention of her own name re-furnished her with it. + +“Dulciana Vale,” she heard Leslie saying in a tense note quite different +from her indolent drawl, “do you know of any reason why you should be +allowed a further membership in the Sans Soucians after having become an +utter traitor to their interests?” + +Dulcie struggled to her feet, her sulky features a study in slow-growing +rage. “What—what—do you—mean?” Her voice was rising to a gasping scream. +“How dare you call me a traitor. You are telling lies; just nothing but +lies.” + + + + +CHAPTER XIX—IN THE INTEREST OF PRIVATE SAFETY + + +“Sit down,” ordered Leslie sharply, “and keep your voice down! You have +made us all enough trouble. We don’t propose that you shall add to it.” + +“I have not,” shrieked Dulcie. “I don’t know what you are talking about. +You’re crazy if you say I told all that stuff you mentioned. Why don’t +you put the blame where it belongs? You told me yourself that Loretta +and Margaret were both gossips. You told Bess Walbert a lot of things +yourself. She told me so. You used to tell Lola Elster a lot, too. Nat +Weyman isn’t above gossiping, either. She has said some _hateful_ things +about you, if you care to know it.” + +Fully launched, Dulcie bade fair to stir up dissension in a breath. +Worse, her lung power seemed to increase with every word. + +“Pay no attention to her,” Leslie advised her chums in a cold, level +voice. “She can tell more yarns to the second than anyone else I know.” + +“You said you could manage her, Les. For goodness’ sake do so. I am +afraid she’ll be heard down stairs.” Joan Myers sprang to her feet in +exasperation. + +“Leave that to me.” Leslie’s eyes snapped. She was fast losing the +admirable poise she had held so well. The real Leslie Cairns was coming +to the surface. + +Three or four lithe steps and she was facing Dulcie. The latter still +stood by her chair shrieking forth invective. + +“Listen to me, you _idiot_,” she said with an intensity of wrath that +approached a snarl. “Cut out that screaming—_now_. We are done with you. +We know you for what you are. Not one of us will ever speak to you again +after you leave this room. Get that straight. If you ever repeat another +word on the campus of the Sans’ business you will be a sorry girl. +_Don’t you forget that._ You carried the idea that, if trouble came from +your talk, you could slide out of it and leave us to face it. You +couldn’t have cleared yourself. What you are to do from now on is——” + +A sharp rapping at the door interrupted Leslie. Raising a warning finger +to her lips, she crossed the room to answer the knock. + +“Good evening, Miss Remson,” she coldly greeted. “Will you come in? Our +club is holding a meeting in my room.” She made an indifferent gesture +toward the assembled girls. + +“Good evening, Miss Cairns. No; I do not wish to enter your room. I must +insist, however, that you conduct your meeting quietly. The commotion +going on in here can be heard downstairs.” + +The very impersonality of the manager’s reproof brought a quick rush of +blood to Leslie’s cheeks. It was as though Miss Remson considered Leslie +and her companions so far beneath her it took conscientious effort on +her part even to reprove them. It stung Leslie to a desire to clear +herself of the opprobrium. + +“I am sorry about the noise,” she apologized in annoyed embarrassment. +“Miss Vale is responsible for it. I have been trying to quiet her. She +is very angry with us for calling her to account for disloyalty. She has +done so many despicable things we felt it necessary to call a meeting of +the club to——” + +“Pardon me. I am not interested in anything save the fact that there +must be no more screaming or loud altercation from this room tonight or +at any other time. As it is your room, Miss Cairns, I shall hold you +responsible for the good behavior of your guests.” + +Again the aloofness of the rebuke cut Leslie through and through. She +had never believed that she could be so utterly snubbed by “Trotty” +Remson. + +“Very well.” It was the only thing she could think of to say. + +Miss Remson turned from the door and went on down the long hall. Leslie +was seized with a savage inclination to bang the door. She refrained +from indulging it. There had been enough noise already. + +She returned to her companions to find Dulcie furious because she had +been reported to Miss Remson as the author of the commotion. + +“Talk about anyone being treacherous,” she stormed, but in a more +subdued key. “_You’re_ treacherous as a snake. _You’d_ tell tales on—on +your own father, if it would save you from disgrace.” + +“That’s enough.” Leslie’s last atom of self-control vanished. “I am +tired of your foolishness. Get out of my room, instantly. Don’t you ever +dare even speak to me again. Let me hear one word you have said against +any of us and I will have you expelled within twenty-four hours +afterward. I can do it, too. If you go to headquarters with any tales +against us, remember you are one and we are seventeen who will act as +one in denying your fairy stories. You——” + +“Not fairy stories,” sneered Dulcie. “I’d be satisfied to tell the truth +about you deceitful things. It would more than run you out of Hamilton.” + +“You couldn’t tell the truth to save your life,” retorted Leslie with a +caustic contempt which hit Dulcie harder than anything else Leslie had +said to her. + +“I—I—think——” Dulcie struggled with her emotions, then suddenly burst +into hysterical sobs. Her arm against her face to shut her distorted +features from sight of her accusers, she stumbled to the door, groping +for the knob with her free hand. An instant and she had gone, too +thoroughly humiliated to slam the door after her. The sounds of her +weeping could be faintly heard by the others until her own door closed +behind her. + +“Gone!” Joan Myers sighed exaggerated relief. + +“Yes; and _broken_,” announced Leslie Cairns with cruel satisfaction. + +“Oh, I don’t know,” differed Margaret Wayne. She had not forgotten +Dulcie’s assertion as to what Leslie had said of her and Loretta. “Dulc +had spunk enough to answer you back to the very last. I don’t see +that——” + +“No, you don’t see. Well, I do. I say that Dulcie Vale left here just +now _utterly crushed_,” argued Leslie with stress. “You are peeved, +Margaret, because of what she claimed I said of you and Retta. She +lied.” + +“Certainly, Dulcie lied,” supported Natalie. “Do you believe that _I_, +Leslie’s best friend, would say hateful things about her? Yet Dulc said +I had. Didn’t Les warn you not to pay any attention to what she said? We +knew she would try to make trouble among the Sans the minute we called +her down.” + +“We did, indeed.” Leslie made a movement of her head that betokened +Dulcie’s utter hopelessness. + +“I didn’t say I believed what Dulcie said,” half-apologized Margaret. In +her heart she did not trust Leslie, however. It was like her to make +just such remarks about any of the Sans if in bad humor. + +“Never mind. It isn’t worrying me,” was the purposely careless response. +“To go back to what you said about Dulc not being broken. I have known +her longer than you, Margaret. She can keep up a row about so long, then +she crumples. After that there isn’t a spark of fight left in her. She +always ends by a fit of crying, next door to hysterics. Isn’t that true +of her, Nat?” + +Natalie nodded. “Yes; Dulcie will mind her own affairs now and keep her +mouth closed for a long time to come.” + +“She’s afraid of me,” Leslie continued, her intonation harsh. “She +doesn’t know just the extent of my influence here.” + +“Could you truly have her expelled within twenty-four hours?” queried +Harriet Stephens somewhat incredulously. + +“You heard me say so. It would take a very slight effort to do that. I +could wire my father, then——” Leslie paused, looking mysterious. “Sorry, +girls, but I can’t tell you any more than that. I’ll simply say that my +wonderful father’s influence can remove mountains, if necessary. That’s +why I was so furious with that little sneak for daring even to mention +his name.” + +“Could your father’s influence save you from being expelled if different +things you have done here were brought up against you?” demanded +Adelaide Forman. + +Leslie’s eyes narrowed at the question. It was a little too searching +for comfort. In reality her father’s influence at Hamilton was a minus +quantity. She had been boasting with a view toward increasing her own +importance. + +“It would depend entirely on what I had done,” she answered after a +moment’s thought. “You must understand that my father would be wild if +he knew I had gone out hazing when it is strictly against rules. He +wouldn’t do a thing to help me if I had trouble with Matthews over that. +If I wrote him that Dulcie, for instance, was trying, by lies, to have +me or my friends expelled from Hamilton, he would fight for me in a +minute.” + +The Sans stayed for some time in Leslie’s room planning how they would +meet further remarks leveled at them on the campus as a result of +Dulcie’s defection. Leslie brought forth a fresh five-pound box of +chocolates and another of imported sweet crackers. The party feasted and +enjoyed themselves regardless of the fact that three doors from them a +former comrade writhed and wept in an agony of angry shame. While in a +measure their course might be justified, there was not one among them +who had not, to a certain extent, and at some time or other, betrayed +friendship. + +This was also Dulcie’s most bitter grievance against those who had been +her chums. She knew now that she had talked too much. So had the others. +Still, she was sorry for herself. She had been deceived in Bess Walbert. +Bess was the one who had circulated most of the Sans’ private affairs. +She could not recall just how much she had told Bess; very likely no +more than had Leslie. If they had given her time she would have been +able to defend herself. With such reflections she strove to palliate her +own offenses. + +“Do you imagine Dulc will try to get back at us?” was Natalie’s first +remark to Leslie as the door closed on the departing Sans. “She carried +on about as I thought she might. We came off easily with Remson, didn’t +we?” + +“Dulcie is done, I tell you,” reasserted Leslie with an impatient scowl. +“Remson! Humph! My worst enemy couldn’t have delivered a more telling +snub. She may suspect us of making trouble between her and Matthews. +I’ll say, I wish this year was done and Commencement here. If we slide +through and capture those precious diplomas without the sword falling it +will be a miracle.” + + + + +CHAPTER XX—A BITTER PILL + + +Dulcie’s tumultuous resentment of accusation had been heard throughout +the Hall. More than one door opened along the second, third and fourth +story halls as the shrill-sounding voice continued. + +Among others, Jerry had gone to the door to ascertain what was happening +in the house of such an unusual nature. Two or three moments of intent +listening and she had returned to her chair before the center table. + +“Why waste my good time listening to the far-off scrapping of the Sans?” +she had lightly questioned. “There is some kind of row going on in Miss +Cairns’ room. That’s the way it sounds to me. I can’t say who is giving +the vocal performance. I don’t know the dear creatures well enough to +tag that sweet voice. I could hear other doors besides ours open. We are +not alone in our curiosity.” + +“Your curiosity,” Marjorie had corrected. “I wasn’t enough interested to +go to the door.” Marjorie had laughed teasingly. + +“Stand corrected. My curiosity,” Jerry had obligingly answered. With +that the subject had dropped as abruptly as the noise had begun. + +The Sans were fortunate, in that the students residing at Wayland Hall, +with the exception of themselves, were too fruitfully engaged in the +minding of their own affairs to give more than a passing attention to +the disturbance created by Dulcie Vale. Within the next two or three +days they were agreeably surprised to find that no word of it had +uttered on the campus. + +“Has anyone said anything to you of Dulcie’s roars, howls and shrieks?” +Leslie asked Natalie, half humorously. It was the fourth evening after +the meeting in her room and the two were lounging in Natalie’s room +doing a little studying and a good deal of talking. + +“No. You can see for yourself what the girls in this house are; a +mind-your-own-business crowd.” Natalie’s reply contained a certain +amount of admiration. “If the story of it spreads over the campus, it +will not be their fault. Sometimes I am sorry, Les, we didn’t go in for +democracy from the first. We are cut out of a lot of good times by being +so exclusive. Take this show that Miss Page and Miss Dean are going to +give in the gym tomorrow night. Not one of the Sans was asked to be in +it.” + +“Hardly!” Leslie laughed and raised her eyebrows. “I can’t imagine Bean +doing anything like that.” + +“You needn’t make fun of me. We couldn’t expect to be asked to take +part. I simply mentioned it as an example of the way things are. There +is a great deal of sociability going on this year at Hamilton among the +whole four classes, yet the Sans are as utterly out of it as can be,” +Natalie complained with evident bitterness. + +“Glad of it,” was the unperturbed retort. “Why yearn to be in a show, +Nat, at this late stage of the game? Next winter, when you are in New +York society, you’ll have plenty of opportunity for amateur +theatricals.” + +“Oh, I daresay I shall.” This did not console Natalie. Of all the Sans, +she was the only one not satisfied with her lot. She would not have +exchanged places with any student outside her own particular coterie. +Still, she had dreamed from her freshman year of shining as a star in +college theatricals. To her lasting disappointment, she had never been +invited to take part in an entertainment. The Sans had neither the +inclination nor the ability to engineer a play or revue. The democratic +element at Hamilton did not require the Sans’ services. + +“Are you going to that show?” Leslie cast a peculiar glance at her +friend. + +“I—well, yes; I bought a ticket.” Natalie appeared rather ashamed of the +admission. “Did you buy one?” she hastily countered. + +“Yes; two. Laura Sayres bought them for me. Humphrey has them for sale +in her office. I asked Laura if everything were just the same with +Matthews since that Miss Warner substituted for her. She said all was +O. K. She has her files, letters and papers arranged so that no one +could ever make trouble for her.” + +“Too bad, Leslie, that Miss Warner was the one to substitute for Laura. +It gave her a chance to meet Doctor Matthews. One never can tell what +might develop from even so small an incident as that.” Natalie was not +disposed to be reassuring that evening. + +“Will you cut out croaking, Nat?” Leslie sprang from her chair and began +a nervous pacing of the floor. “You might as well pour ice-water down +the back of my neck. Enough annoying things have happened lately to +worry me without having to reckon on what ‘might’ happen. I told Sayres +to take good care of herself and try not to be away from her position +again. I advised her, if ever she had to be away, even for a day, to +supply her own sub. She should have had sense enough to do so the last +time.” + +“I am surprised that Miss Warner does secretarial work when that Miss +Lynne she rooms with is wealthy in her own right,” commented Natalie. + +“I suppose that green-eyed ice-berg wants to earn her own money. I made +a mistake about Lynne. Her father is the richest man in the far west. My +father told me so last summer. I always meant to tell you that and kept +on forgetting it. He said then I ought to be friends with her, but I +told him ‘nay, nay.’ She and I would be _so pleased_ with each other.” +Leslie smiled ironically. + +“‘The richest man in the far west,’” repeated Natalie, her mind on that +one enlightening sentence. “Too bad she isn’t our sort. We could ask her +into the Sans in Dulcie’s place.” + +“She wouldn’t leave Bean and Green-eyes and those two savages, Harding +and Macy. I sometimes admire those two. They have so much nerve. +Dulcie’s place will stay vacant. I wouldn’t ask Lola to join us after +the way she has dropped me for Alida. As for Bess; she has yet to hear +from me. I have an idea she and Dulc will get together. Dulc will tell +her the news. Then Bess will sidle around me thinking she can get into +the Sans. What? Watch my speed!” The corners of Leslie’s mouth went down +contemptuously. She was a match for the self-seeking sophomore. + +The next evening being that of the revue, Leslie and Natalie attended it +together. The rest of the Sans had elected also to go to it. Leslie had +advised against going in a body. “If we do, they’ll think we were +anxious to see their old show,” she had argued. “We’d better scatter by +twos and threes about the gym.” + +By a quarter to eight the gymnasium was packed with students, faculty, +and a goodly sprinkle of persons from the town of Hamilton who had +friends among the students. Robin and Marjorie had worried for fear the +programme might be too long. There would be sure to be encores. Their +choice of talent, however, was so happy that the audience could not get +enough of the various performers. + +Marjorie was keyed up to the highest pitch of joy by the presence of +Constance Stevens and Harriet Delaney. They had arrived from New York +late that afternoon on purpose to take part in the show. While the +wonder of Constance’s matchless high soprano notes in two grand opera +selections awarded her a fury of applause, Harriet came in for her share +of glory. It may be said that Constance and Veronica divided honors that +evening. + +Urged by Marjorie, Ronny had sent to Sanford for the black robe she used +in the “Dance of the Night.” It had been in her room in Miss Archer’s +house since the evening of the campfire three years before. Besides the +“Dance of the Night” she gave a fine exhibition of Russian folk dancing +in appropriate costume. + +Marjorie had felt impelled to write Miss Susanna a special note of +invitation inclosing several tickets. “Jonas or the maids might like our +show, even if Miss Susanna won’t come. Of course she won’t, but I wanted +her to have the tickets,” she had said to Jerry, who had agreed that her +head was level and her heart in the right place as usual. + +For the first time since the beginning of her hatred for Hamilton +College, Miss Susanna had been sorely tempted to break her vow and +attend the show. Realizing the sensation her presence on the campus +would create, she quickly abandoned the impulse. She was half vexed with +Marjorie for sending her tickets and made note to warn her never to send +any more. + +Of all the audience, those most impressed by performance and performers +were the Sans. While they enjoyed the revue, girl-fashion, as a +spectacle, the knowledge of the enemy’s triumph was hard to swallow. +Ronny’s dancing was a revelation to them, astonishing and bitter. As +each number appeared, perfect in its way, the realization of the +cleverness of the girls they had affected to despise came home as a +sharp thrust. + +Leslie Cairns was particularly disgruntled as she hurried Natalie from +the gymnasium and into the cold clear December night. + +“Don’t talk to me, Nat,” she warned. “I am so upset I feel like howling +my head off. The way Beanie has come to the front is a positive crime. +Did you see her marching around the gym tonight as though she owned it?” + +“It was a good show,” Natalie ventured. + +“Entirely too good,” grumbled Leslie. “I don’t like to talk of it. Did I +mention that Bess wrote me a note. She wants to see me about something +very important.” Leslie placed satirical stress on the last three words. +“She may see me but she won’t be pleased. I’m in a very bad humor +tonight. I shall be in a worse one tomorrow.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXI—“DISPOSING” OF BESS + + +Leslie’s ominous prediction regarding herself was not idle. She awoke +the next morning signally out of sorts. Though she had declared to +Natalie she did not care to discuss the revue, when she arrived at the +Hall she had changed her mind. She had invited Natalie into her room for +a “feed.” The two had gorged themselves on French crullers, assorted +chocolates and strong tea. Nor did they retire until almost midnight. + +Leslie greeted the light of day with a sour taste in her mouth and a +desire to snap at her best friend, were that unlucky person to appear on +her immediate horizon. She had thought herself fairly well prepared in +psychology for the morning recitation. Instead she could not remember +definitely enough of what she had studied the afternoon before to make a +lucid recitation. This did not tend to render her more amiable. She +prided herself particularly on her progress in the study of psychology +and was inwardly furious at her failure. + +Exiting from Science Hall that afternoon, the first person her eyes came +to rest upon was Elizabeth Walbert. She stood at one side of the broad +stone flight of steps eagerly watching the main entrance to the +building. + +“Oh, there you are!” she hailed. “I have been waiting quite a while for +you.” + +“That’s too bad.” It was impossible to gauge Leslie’s exact humor from +the reply. Her answers to impersonal remarks so often verged on +insolence. + +“So I thought,” pertly retorted the other girl. At the same time she +furtively inspected Leslie. + +“What is it now? You make me think of that old story of the ‘Flounder’ +in ‘Grimms’ Fairy Tales.’ You are like the fisherman’s wife who was +always asking favors of the flounder. We will assume that I am the +flounder.” + +“How do you know that I wish to ask a favor?” Elizabeth colored hotly at +the insinuation. She put on an injured expression, her lips slightly +pouted. + +“I’m a mind reader,” was the laconic reply. + +“Hm! Suppose I were to ask you to do something for me? Haven’t you +_said_ lots of times that I could rely on you?” persisted Elizabeth. “I +don’t understand you, Leslie. You are so sweet to me at times and so +horrid at others.” + +“You’ll understand me better after today,” came the significant +assurance. “Come on. We will walk across the campus to your house.” + +“Why not yours?” Elizabeth demanded in patent disappointment. “I see +enough of Alston Terrace. I’d rather go with you to Wayland Hall. Your +nice room is a fine place for a confidential chat.” + +“You won’t see the inside of it this P.M. I am not going into the house +when we come to Alston Terrace. I have a severe headache and choose to +stay out in the open air. It’s a fair day, and not cold enough to bar a +walk on the campus.” + +“Very well.” Elizabeth sighed and looked patient. “I hope we don’t meet +any of the girls. I have a private matter to discuss with you.” + +“Go ahead and discuss it,” imperturbably ordered Leslie. + +“Why—you—perhaps, if you have a headache, I had better wait until +another time,” deprecated the sophomore. It occurred to her that she +ought to pretend solicitude. “I am so sorry,” she hastily condoled. + +“Thank you. There is no ‘if’ about my headache. Get that straight. What? +It won’t hinder me from listening to you. Let’s hear your remarks now +and have them over with.” + +“I have seen Dulcie,” began Elizabeth impressively, “and she has told me +what happened the other night. Really, Leslie, I was _shocked, simply +shocked_. Yet I couldn’t blame you in the least. The way Dulcie has +talked about you on the campus is disgraceful. But I went over all that +with you the day I first told you of how treacherous she had been.” + +“Quite true. You did, indeed,” Leslie conceded with pleasant irony. “Now +proceed. What next?” + +“You are so _funny_, _Leslie_. You are so _deliciously_ matter-of-fact.” +Elizabeth was hoping the compliment would restore the difficult senior +to a more equitable frame of mind. + +“You may not always appreciate my matter-of-fact manner.” The ghost of a +smile, cruel in its vagueness, touched Leslie’s lips. + +“Oh, I am _sure_ I shall. To go back to Dulcie, I hope you didn’t +mention my name the other night. You promised you wouldn’t.” + +“Is that what you have been so anxious to tell me?” Leslie asked the +question with exaggerated weariness, eyes turned indifferently away from +her companion. + +“No; it is not.” Elizabeth shot an exasperated glance at her. “I merely +mentioned it. Dulcie tried to make me take the blame for it the first +time I met her after the meeting. I simply told her I had nothing to do +with it whatever.” + +Leslie sniffed audible contempt at this information. “Let me say this: +Dulcie herself mentioned your name, or rather she screamed it out at the +top of her voice the other night. The rest of us said nothing. I made +the charges against Dulcie and mentioned no names.” + +“I wish I had been there.” A wolfish light flashed into the wide, +babyish blue eyes. “It must have been quite a party. Leslie,” Elizabeth +decided that the time had come to speak for herself, “you said once that +I couldn’t be a member of the Sans because there was no vacancy; that +the club must be kept to the number of eighteen. There is a vacancy +_now_. The club has only seventeen members. Why can’t I fill that +vacancy and become the eighteenth member? I don’t mind because it will +be only for the rest of this year. I shall count it an honor to have +been a Sans even that long. I will certainly make a more loyal Sans than +Dulcie was.” + +Leslie drew a long breath. The wished-for moment had come. She was in +fine fettle to deliver to the ambitious climber the “turn-down” she had +earned. + +“Why can’t you become a member of the Sans?” she asked, then drew back +her head and indulged in soundless laughter. “Do you think it would make +you very happy to join us?” + +“You may better believe it,” Elizabeth made flippant reply. More +seriously, she added: “You know how my heart has been set upon it from +the very first.” + +“Yes, I know. The fact of the matter is,” Leslie measured each word, +“there is one great drawback to your joining.” + +“If it is about money, I am sure my father has as much as the fathers of +the other members,” cut in Elizabeth. “Our social position in New York +is——” + +“All that has nothing to do with the drawback I mentioned.” Leslie waved +away Elizabeth’s attempt at defending her position. They were not more +than half way across the campus, but Leslie was tired of keeping up the +suspense of the moment. Her head ached violently. She was so utterly +disgusted with the other girl she could have cheerfully pummeled her. + +“Then I don’t quite understand——” began Elizabeth. + +“You’re going to—at once. We dropped one girl from the Sans for being a +liar and a gossip. What would be the use in filling her place with +another liar and gossip. That’s the drawback. It applies strictly to +you.” + +Leslie stopped short in her walk and faced her companion, her heavy +features a study in malignant contempt. Elizabeth’s eyes widened +involuntarily this time. She could not believe the evidence of her own +ears. Her moment of stupefaction gave Leslie the very opportunity to +continue and finish her remarks before the other had time for angry +defense. + +“You would have been nothing socially on the campus if I hadn’t taken +you up,” she said forcefully. “The other girls in my club, it is my +club, didn’t like you. I had a good many quarrels with a number of them +for trying to stand up for you, you worthless little schemer. If you had +had one shred of principle or gratitude in your deceitful composition, +you would have come to me at once with the first story against the club +which Dulc told you. But you did not. You simply gossiped all she said +to you to other students on the campus. Dulcie told you things about us +that were ridiculous. You not only listened to them. You repeated them, +making them worse. + +“I had heard of your tactics before I sent for you to ask you about +Dulc. I wanted to pump you and hear what you had to offer. I made it my +business afterward to look up your record as a tale-bearer. Some little +record! I know exactly to whom you have talked and what you have +circulated concerning the Sans. You ought to be _ashamed_ of yourself. +Such ingrates as you have no sense of shame. Now, I believe, you +understand why the Sans don’t care to put you in Dulcie’s place. It +would merely be a case of out of the frying pan into the fire. Of the +two, you are worse than Dulc. She is a liar, but stupid. You are a liar +and tricky.” + +“Don’t you _dare_ call me a story-teller again,” burst forth Elizabeth +in a fury. + +“I didn’t say story-teller. I said liar. I never mince matters. I’ve +said that to you before.” Leslie stood smiling at the culprit, the soul +of mockery. + +“You won’t be at Hamilton long enough to insult me ever again, Leslie +Cairns,” threatened Elizabeth, a world of vindictiveness in every word. +“I don’t believe you, when you say that Dulcie hasn’t told the truth. I +guess Dulcie knows enough that is true to make it very uncomfortable for +you. I’ll help her do it, too. No one can speak to me as you have and +expect I won’t get even.” + +“Try it,” challenged Leslie. “Unless you have Dulcie to back you you +can’t prove one single thing against our record at Hamilton. Dulcie +doesn’t care to make trouble for herself. You couldn’t get her to go +with you to headquarters. She has either to be graduated from college +with a fair rating or fall into a bushel of trouble with her father. Let +me give you and Dulc both a last piece of advice. You’ll tell her all +about this, of course, only you will be careful not to mention wanting +her place in the club. Keep a brake on those mill-clapper tongues of +yours for the rest of the year.” + +Without giving Elizabeth time for another outburst of wrath, Leslie +wheeled and started away at double quick. The other girl forgot dignity +entirely and pursued the senior, talking shrilly as she ran. She might +as well have pursued a fleeing shadow. Leslie set her jaw and increased +her pace. The enraged sophomore kept up the chase for a matter of yards, +then stopped. Placing her hands to her mouth, trumpet fashion, she +hurled after Leslie one pithy threat: “You’ll be sorry.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXII—PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE + + +The approach of the Christmas holidays called a halt in the internal war +which raged between the Sans and their two betrayers. Having delivered +her ultimatum to Elizabeth Walbert, Leslie promptly proceeded to forget +her, so far as she could. As a result of the tactics she had pursued +with both Dulcie and Elizabeth, she was more at ease than for a long +time. She was confident she had bullied both to a point where they would +hesitate before doing any more idle talking about the Sans’ +misdemeanors. Every day which passed over her head without mishap to +herself was one day nearer Commencement and freedom. She had no regret +for her misdeeds. She was merely in fear lest they might be brought to +light. + +She had lost all interest in leadership at Hamilton. Her one idea now +was to end her college course creditably and thus earn her father’s +approval. Natalie Weyman was on better terms with her than were the +other Sans. They found her moody indifference harder to combat than her +bullying. She was interested in nothing the club did or wished to do. +“Go as far as you like, but let me alone,” became her pet answer to her +chums’ appeals for advice or an expression of opinion. + +“The Sans have become so exclusive they’ve nearly effaced themselves +from the college map,” Jerry remarked to Marjorie several days after +their return from the Christmas vacation at home. + +“They have had to settle down and do some studying, I presume,” was +Marjorie’s opinion. “They used to be out evenings a good deal oftener +than ever we were. I’ve wondered how they kept up at all.” + +“Leila said that Miss Vale had been conditioned two or three times, and +had to hire a tutor to help pull her through. I notice she doesn’t go +around with any of the Sans. You remember I spoke of her having changed +her seat at table the next day after that fuss up in Miss Cairns’ room.” + +“I have seen her with Miss Walbert a good deal lately. It seems odd, +Jeremiah, that, after all the trouble we had with those girls as +freshies and sophs, we should be almost free of them this year. It has +been such a beautiful, peaceful year, thus far. We’ve had the gayest, +happiest kind of times. If only we could keep Leila, Vera, Kathie and +Helen with us next year everything would be perfect.” + +“Would it? Well, I rather guess so. Gives me the blues every time I stop +to think about losing them. Just when we are traveling along so +pleasantly, too. Here we are, victorious democrats. We know Miss +Susanna, even if we don’t dare boast of it. We’ve been entertained at +Hamilton Arms; something President Matthews can’t say. You and Robin are +successful theatrical managers. Oh, I can tell you, everything is upward +striving. + + “’Tis as easy now for hearts to be true, + As for grass to be green and skies to be blue. + ’Tis the natural way of living” + +gayly quoted Marjorie, patting Jerry’s plump shoulder in her walk across +the room to find a pencil she had mislaid. + +“I wish we would hear from Miss Susanna,” she continued, a little +wistful note in the utterance. “Perhaps she did not like our Christmas +remembrance. She doesn’t like birthday observances. She loves flowers, +though. So she couldn’t really regard those we sent her as a present. +And that letter was delightful, I thought. We may have made a mistake in +sending the wreath.” + +The letter to which Marjorie referred was a composite. Each of the nine +girls had contributed a paragraph. They had tucked it into a box of +long-stemmed red roses which they had selected as a Yule-tide offering +to the last of the Hamiltons. With it had gone a laurel wreath, to which +was attached a large bunch of double, purple violets. They had asked +that the wreath be hung in Brooke Hamilton’s study above the oblong +which contained the founder’s sayings. + +“I don’t believe Miss Susanna is on her ear at us,” observed Jerry +inelegantly. “She will write when she feels like it. Maybe she thought +it better to postpone writing until she was sure we were all back at +college after Christmas. When did you last hear from her?” + +“Not since she sent me the money for the tickets for the show. I bought +those tickets for her myself. She didn’t understand, I guess. I +re-mailed the money to her, explaining that they were from me. Since +then I have heard not a word from her. I should have taken the tickets +back to her instead of mailing them, but I was so busy just then. +Besides, I don’t like to go to the Arms without a special invitation.” + +Almost incident with Marjorie’s worry over Miss Susanna’s silence came a +note from her new friend, appointing an evening for her to dine at +Hamilton Arms. + +“I am not asking your friends this time,” the old lady wrote, “as I +prefer to devote my attention to you, dear child. I could not answer the +Christmas letter for I had no medium of expression. I loved it, and the +flowers. Best of all, was the honor you did Uncle Brooke. You may show +this letter to your friends, extending to them a crabbed old person’s +sincere thanks and good wishes.” + +Marjorie kept her dinner appointment with Miss Susanna and spent a happy +evening with the old lady. Miss Hamilton showed active interest in the +subject of the recent revue. The obliging lieutenant had brought with +her a programme which the old lady insisted in going over, number by +number, inquiring about each performer. She expressed a wish to hear +Constance Stevens sing and asked Marjorie to bring Constance to Hamilton +Arms if she should again come to Hamilton College. + +“I was truly sorry to have missed that show,” the last of the Hamiltons +frankly confessed. “It would never do for me to set foot on that campus. +I should be on bad terms with myself forever after; on as bad terms as I +am with the college.” + +“I’ll tell you what we might do, Miss Hamilton,” Marjorie ventured. “We +could give a stunt party here, just for you, at some time when it +pleased you to have us here. Perhaps Constance would come from New York +for a day or two. She isn’t so far away. Then Ronny and Vera would dance +and Leila sings the most charming ancient Celtic songs.” + +Her lovely face had grown radiant as she described her chums’ talents, +and again, for her sake, Miss Susanna had softened toward all girlhood. +She had assented with only half-concealed eagerness to Marjorie’s plan. + +Two days after Marjorie’s visit to her, she sent her a check for five +hundred dollars, asking that it be placed with the money earned from the +revue. The youthful managers had charged a dollar apiece for tickets +with no reservations. To their intense joy and amusement, the gross +receipts amounted to six hundred and seventy-two dollars. Their only +expenses being for printing and lighting the gymnasium, they had, +counting Miss Susanna’s gift, a little over one thousand dollars with +which to start the beneficiary fund. + +Anna Towne had done good work among the girls off the campus. Due to her +efforts they had been brought to look upon the new avenue of escape from +signal discomfort, now open to them, as an opportunity to be embraced. +Marjorie had said conclusively that the funds at their disposal were to +be given, not lent. She argued on the basis that money thus easily +gained should be distributed where it would benefit most, then be +forgotten. The girls who were struggling along to put themselves through +college would have enough to do to earn their living afterward without +stepping over the threshold of their chosen work saddled with an +obligation. + +It took tact, delicacy and more than one friendly argument to establish +this theory among the sensitive, proud-spirited girls for whose benefit +the project had been carried out. Gradually it gained ground and a new +era of things began to spring up for those who had sacrificed so much +for the sake of the higher education. The money so easily earned by +Ronny’s nimble feet, Constance’s sweet singing and the talent of the +other performers revolutionized matters in the row of cheerless houses, +in one of which Anne Towne resided. Ability to pay a higher rate for +board brought better food and heat. The drudgery of laundering was +lifted, the work being intrusted to several capable laundresses in the +vicinity. Those who had kept house abandoned cooking and took their +meals at one or another of the boarding houses. According to Anna Towne, +the restfulness of the changed way of living was unbelievable. + +As successful theatrical managers, Robin and Marjorie had rosy visions +of a dormitory built where several of the dingy boarding houses now +stood. Perhaps by next year they would have the means to buy the +properties. They purposed agitating the subject so strongly, during +their senior year, that, at least, a few of the students among the other +three classes would be willing to go on with the work. + +Both had agreed that they had set themselves a hard row to hoe, yet +neither would have relinquished the self-imposed task. In the first +flush of their ambition they had asked Miss Humphrey to ascertain, if +she could, whether the regulations of the college forbade the erection +of more houses on the campus. She had returned the answer, that, owing +to a peculiar will left by Mr. Brooke Hamilton, the consent to build on +the campus would have to come from Miss Hamilton, who had been +prejudiced against Hamilton College for many years. + +This was a disturbing revelation to Marjorie. She was fairly certain +that Miss Susanna would never give any such consent. She therefore +promptly abandoned the idea and laid her plans for the outside +territory. + +As the winter winged away Marjorie made more than one visit to Hamilton +Arms. Occasionally her chums accompanied her. The Nine Travelers gave +their stunt party at the Arms on Saint Valentine’s eve. To please their +lonely hostess they dressed in the costumes they intended wearing at the +masquerade the next evening. Constance and Harriet managed to get away +from the conservatory for three days, and a merry party ate a six +o’clock dinner with Miss Susanna so as to have plenty of time for the +stunts afterward. + +Discreet to the letter, their visits to Hamilton Arms were known to no +one outside their own group. Over and over again, when alone with the +old lady, she would say to Marjorie: “I had no idea girls could be +honorable. I had always considered boys far more honest and loyal.” + +“You and Miss Susanna Hamilton are getting very chummy, aren’t you?” +greeted Jerry, as Marjorie sauntered into their room one clear frosty +evening in March, after having had tea at Hamilton Arms. + +“I don’t know whether we are or not.” A tiny pucker decorated Marjorie’s +forehead. “I always feel a little uncertain of how to take her. She is +kindness itself, then, all of a sudden, she turns crotchety and says she +hates everything and everybody. Then she generally adds, ‘Don’t take +that to yourself, child.’” + +“She thinks a lot of you or she wouldn’t be so friendly with you. She +looks at you in the most affectionate way. I’ve noticed it every time we +have been to the Arms with you.” + +“I am glad of it. I was fond of her before I met her. Captain would like +her. So would your mother, Jeremiah. Next year when our mothers come to +Hamilton to see us graduate, I hope Miss Susanna will like to meet them. +Only one more year after this. Oh, dear! I do love college, don’t you?” +Marjorie began removing her hat and coat, an absent look in her brown +eyes. + +“I have seen worse ranches,” Jerry conceded with a grin. “Speaking of +ranches reminds me of the West. The West reminds me of Ronny. Ronny +promised to help me with my French tonight. Mind if I leave you? Such +partings wring the heart; mine I mean. You go galavanting off to tea +with no regard for my feelings.” Jerry gave a bad imitation of a sob, +giggled, and began gathering up her books. + +“I’ll try to have more consideration for your feelings hereafter,” +Marjorie assured, a merry twinkle in her eyes. + +“I’ll believe that when I see signs of reform,” Jerry threw back over +her shoulder as she exited. + +Left alone, Marjorie tried to shut out the memory of Hamilton Arms and +settle down to her studying. The fascination the old house held for her +remained with her long after she had left it behind her on her now +fairly frequent visits there. Nicely launched on the tide of psychology, +an uncertain rapping at the door startled her from her absorption of the +subject in hand. It flashed across her as she rose to answer the +knocking that it had been done by an unfamiliar hand. None of the girls +she knew rapped on the door in that weak, hesitating fashion. + +As she swung open the door she made no effort to force back the +expression of complete astonishment which she knew had appeared on her +face. Her caller was Dulcie Vale. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII—AN AMAZING PROPOSAL + + +“I—are you alone, Miss Dean? I would like to talk with you, but not +unless you are alone.” Dulcie spoke just above a whisper, peering past +Marjorie into the room so far as she could see from where she was +standing. + +“Yes, I am alone. Miss Macy will not be back for an hour, perhaps. Will +you come in, Miss Vale?” Marjorie endeavored to make the invitation +courteous. She could not feign cordiality. + +“I am glad you are alone.” This idea seemed uppermost in Dulcie’s mind. +“I know you don’t like me, Miss Dean. You haven’t any reason to after +the way you were treated by the Sans last Saint Valentine’s night. Of +course, I know you know who we were that night.” She paused, as though +considering what to say next. + +“I saw no faces, but I knew Miss Cairns’ and Miss Weyman’s voices,” +Marjorie said with a suspicion of stiffness. She was not pleased to hear +Dulcie preface her remarks with implied aspersions against the Sans. She +knew that the latter had quarreled with her. She guessed that pique +might have actuated the call. + +“You never told anyone a single thing about it, did you?” The question +was close to wistful. It seemed remarkable to Dulcie that Marjorie could +have kept the matter secret. + +“No.” Marjorie shook her head slightly. + +“Did your friends ever say a word about it? Those were your friends who +burst in on us and made such a noise, weren’t they? Who was the one who +looked so horrible and blew out the candles?” Dulcie seemed suddenly to +give over to curiosity. + +“I can’t answer your questions, Miss Vale.” Marjorie could not repress +the tiny smile that would not stay in seclusion. “I wish you would sit +down and tell me frankly why you came to see me. You have not been in my +room since the night of my arrival at Wayland Hall as a freshman.” + +“I know.” Dulcie’s gaze shifted uneasily from Marjorie’s face. “I +thought I would come again,” she excused, “but——” + +The steadiness of Marjorie’s eyes forbade further untruth. She became +suddenly silent. Very humbly she accepted the chair her puzzled hostess +shoved forward. Marjorie sat down in one at the other side of the center +table. + +“I suppose you’ve heard all about my trouble with the Sans,” the visitor +commenced afresh and awkwardly. “I don’t belong to the Sans Soucians +now. I wouldn’t stay in a club with such dishonorable girls. I simply +made Leslie Cairns accept my resignation. She was wild about it.” + +Now safely launched upon her story, Dulcie began to gather up her +self-confidence. “You see, my father, who is president of the L. T. and +M. Railroad, has done a great deal for the Sans. You know we have always +come to Hamilton in the fall in his private car. I have lent the Sans +money and done them endless favors, yet they couldn’t be even moderately +square with me.” She fixed her eyes on Marjorie after this outburst as +though waiting for sympathy. + +“I have heard nothing in regard to your having left the Sans Soucians. I +have noticed that you were no longer at the table where you formerly sat +at meals.” Marjorie could not honestly concede less than this. + +“Didn’t you hear us fussing one night in Leslie’s room? It was before +Christmas. That was the night I called them all down. I was so angry! I +went into a perfect frenzy! I’m so temperamental! When I am _really_ in +a rage it simply shakes me from head to foot.” There was a faint impetus +toward complacency in the statement. + +“Yes; I heard a commotion going on up there one evening, but only +faintly. My door was closed. I didn’t pay any attention to the noise, +for it did not concern me.” Marjorie was struggling against an +irresistible desire to laugh. To her mind Dulcie was the last person she +would have classed as temperamental. + +“The rest of that crowd were just as noisy as I, but Leslie Cairns +blamed me for it all. She told Miss Remson it was I alone who made the +disturbance. I’ll never forgive her; _never_. What I thought was this, +Miss Dean. The Sans deserve to be punished for hazing you. I was a +victim, too, that night. They made me go along with them, and I didn’t +wish to go. I came home with my eye blackened. I won’t say how it +happened, only that Leslie Cairns was to blame. I know about the whole +plan for the hazing. Leslie rented that house for six months and paid +the rent in advance so as to have a good place to take you. She would +have left you there all night but Nell Ray and I said we would not stand +for that. We were the only ones who stood up for you. Leslie Cairns was +the Red Mask. + +“You know that Doctor Matthews is awfully down on hazing,” Dulcie +continued, taking a fresh supply of breath. “I thought if you would go +with me to his office we could put the case before him. So long as I +have all the facts of that affair and you and I were the ones hazed, he +would certainly expel those Sans from Hamilton. You could say, just to +clear me, that you knew I was hazed, too. That is, I was forced to go +with them against my will. You see I had said I wouldn’t have a thing to +do with it. I put on a domino that night over my costume and started +across the campus by myself. Half a dozen of the Sans headed me off and +simply dragged me along with them. I couldn’t get away from them, +either. If that wasn’t hazing, then what was it?” + +Marjorie was sorely tempted to reply, “Nothing but a yarn.” She did not +credit Dulcie’s story and was growing momentarily more disgusted with +the author of it. + +“I can get away with it nicely if you will help me.” Dulcie evidently +took Marjorie’s silence as favorable to her plan. “I’ve resigned from +the Sans of my own accord. That will be in my favor. Matthews doesn’t +like Leslie. You know she received a summons after Miss Langly was hurt. +Maybe the doctor didn’t call her down! With you on my side. Oh, _fine_! +I can see the Sans packing to leave Hamilton in a hurry!” Dulcie +brightened visibly at the dire picture her mind had painted of her +enemies’ disaster. “I can tell you a lot more things against them, too. +Leslie is afraid all the time that Miss Remson will find out how she +worked that stunt to keep us our rooms here. She——” + +Marjorie interrupted with a quick, stern: “Stop, Miss Vale! I don’t wish +to hear such things. I listened to what you said about the hazing as +that concerned myself only. I have no desire to know the Sans’ private +affairs. Whatever they may have done that is against the rules and +traditions of Hamilton they will have to answer for. In the long run +they will not be happy. I would not inform against them to President +Matthews or anyone else.” + +“Would you let them go on and be graduated after what they have done +against both of us?” demanded Dulcie, her voice rising. + +“It has not hurt me; being hazed, I mean,” was the calm reply. “I do not +approve of hazing. I would not take part in any such disgraceful thing. +Still, I do not believe in tale-bearing. You will gain more, Miss Vale, +by going on as though all that has annoyed and hurt you had never been. +Whoever has wronged you will be punished, eventually. The higher law, +the law of compensation, provides for that.” + +“I don’t know a thing about law. I wouldn’t care to take the matter into +court.” Marjorie’s little preachment had gone entirely over the stupid +senior’s head. Leslie had often remarked, and with truth, that Dulc was +“thick.” + +“I mean by the higher law, ‘As ye mete it out to others, so shall it be +measured back to you again,’” Marjorie quoted with reverence. + +“Oh, I see. You mean what the Bible says. Uh-huh! That’s true, I guess.” +Dulcie looked vague. “I’m sorry you won’t help me, Miss Dean. I feel +that Doctor Matthews ought to _know_ what’s going on, when it is as +serious as hazing.” + +Marjorie felt her patience winging away. She wished Jerry would suddenly +return and thus end the interview. It was evident Dulcie intended to +report the hazing, despite her refusal to become a party to the report. +That meant she would be dragged into the affair. + +“I wish you would not go to Doctor Matthews about the hazing, Miss +Vale,” she said abruptly. “If I, who was put to more inconvenience than +you by it, have never reported it, I see no reason why you should. If +you should succeed in having your former chums expelled you would feel +miserably afterward for having betrayed them, no matter how much they +might have deserved it.” + +“I surely should not.” Dulcie’s short upper lip lifted in scorn. “I +would love to see them disgraced. They tried to down me. I have a +splendid case against them because you are so well-liked on the campus. +The use of your name will be of great help. Sorry you won’t stand by me. +You’ll have to admit the truth if you are sent for at the office,” she +ended as a triumphant afterthought. + +Marjorie contemplated her visitor in some wonder. The small, mean soul +of the vengeful girl stood forth in the smile that accompanied her +threatening utterance. It seemed strange to the upright lieutenant that +a young woman with every material advantage in life could be so devoid +of principle. + +“Do not count on me.” Marjorie’s reply rang out with deliberate +contempt. “If I were to be summoned to Doctor Matthews’ office +concerning the hazing, I would answer no questions and give no +information.” + +This time it was Dulcie who lost patience. She rose with an angry +flounce. Sulkiness at being thus thwarted replaced her earlier attempt +at amenability. + +“I might have known better than ask you,” she sputtered, giving free +rein to her displeasure. “I shall do just as I please about going to +Matthews. I hope he sends for you. He will make you admit you were hazed +by the Sans. Goodnight.” She switched to the door. Her hand on the knob, +she called over one shoulder: “I don’t blame Les for having named you +‘Bean.’ You are just about as stupid as one.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV—“THERE’S MANY A SLIP” + + +Dulcie’s parting fling drove away Marjorie’s righteous indignation. It +was so utterly childish. She smiled as she arranged her books and papers +to her mind and sat down to study. Two or three times in the course of +study the remark re-occurred to her and she giggled softly. The name +‘Bean,’ as applied to her by Leslie Cairns, had invariably made her +laugh whenever she had heard it. + +When Jerry finally put in an appearance, Lucy and Ronny at her heels, +Marjorie related to them the incident of Dulcie’s call. + +“Oh, oh, oh!” groaned Jerry. “Why wasn’t I here? I always miss the most +exciting moments of life.” + +“I wished with all my heart that you would walk in and end the +interview. She had so little honor about her I felt once as though I +couldn’t endure having her here another minute. Then she took herself +off so suddenly I was amazed.” + +“Do you think she will go to Doctor Matthews?” Ronny asked rather +skeptically. “Possibly what you said will take hold on her after all.” + +“No. She will go,” Marjorie predicted with conviction. “She is +determined on that. Maybe not right away. Goodness knows how much +trouble it will stir up.” + +“You’re right,” nodded Jerry. “Bring the Sans to carpet and they will +probably name us as the crowd who broke in on their ridiculous tribunal. +What then?” + +“If we are accused of any such thing we can only tell the truth,” smiled +Lucy. “We were in our masquerade costumes. We weren’t wearing dominos, +but our own coats and scarfs. We went to rescue Marjorie. We were not +out on a hazing expedition.” + +“The only thing we should not have done, perhaps, was to blow out the +candles,” declared Ronny with a reminiscent chuckle. “That was my doing. +Some of the Sans might have been quite seriously hurt in the dark. They +deserved the few bumps they garnered. I’m not sorry for that part of our +rescue dash on them.” + +“What a wonderful time we’ll have if we are brought up to face the Sans +in Doctor Matthews’ office. Lead me to it; away from it, I had better +say.” Jerry made a wry face. + +“Don’t worry. I shall be on outpost duty,” laughed Lucy. “I am going to +begin substituting for the Doctor tomorrow morning. Miss Humphrey sent +for me after biology this P.M. to ask me if I would. Miss Sayres has +bronchitis. I am so far ahead in my subjects I can spare two weeks to +the doctor’s work. I was at Lillian’s house for dinner tonight, so I +didn’t have a chance to tell you girls the news. If this affair comes up +while I am working for the doctor, I shall no doubt hear of it. So long +as we are all concerned in it, I shall feel I have the right to tell you +if Miss Vale starts trouble.” + +The Lookouts were not in the least worried over their own position in +the matter. While they might not escape reprimand, they had done nothing +underhanded nor disgraceful. According to Jerry they had “sprung a +beautiful scare where it was needed.” + +During the first week of her secretaryship for the doctor, Lucy heard +nothing that would indicate the promised exposé on Dulcie’s part. They +saw her several times on the campus or driving with Elizabeth Walbert, +apparently well pleased with herself. It was Jerry’s opinion that she +had built upon Marjorie’s aid. Being denied this, she had abandoned the +project as too risky to undertake alone. + +One thing lynx-eyed Lucy discovered concerning the secretary was her +extreme carelessness in filing. More than once the doctor’s patience and +her own were taxed by protracted hunts on her part for correspondence on +file. + +“I exonerate you from blame for this, Miss Warner,” the kindly doctor +declared more than once. “I have spoken to Miss Sayres of this fault. I +shall take it up with her again when she returns.” + +As the first week merged into the second and the second into the third, +and still Lucy remained as the doctor’s secretary, the two began to be +on the best of terms. Quick to appreciate Lucy’s remarkable brilliancy +as a student, not to mention her perfect work as secretary, the doctor +and she had several long talks on biology, mathematics, and the affairs +of Hamilton College as well. + +During one of these talks a gleam of light shone for a moment on the +mystery Lucy never gave up hoping to solve. In mentioning Wayland Hall, +the president referred to Miss Remson as one of his oldest friends on +the campus. “I have not seen Miss Remson for a very long time,” he said +with a slight frown. “Let me see. It will be——can it be possible?——two +years in June. And she living so near me! She used to be a fairly +frequent visitor at our house. I must ask Mrs. Matthews to write her to +dine with us soon. Kindly remind me of that, Miss Warner; say this +afternoon before you leave. I will make a note of it.” + +Lucy reminded him of the matter that afternoon with a glad heart. She +confided it to her Lookout chums and they rejoiced with her. She would +have liked to tell Miss Remson the good news but courtesy forbade the +doing. The Lookouts agreed among themselves that it showed very plainly +who was responsible for the misunderstanding. + +At the beginning of the fourth week Miss Sayres returned. Lucy could +only hope that Doctor Matthews had not forgotten to remind his wife of +the dinner invitation. She was sure, had Miss Remson received it, that +she would have mentioned it to them. She would have wished the Nine +Travelers to know it. Whether Miss Remson would have accepted it was a +question. She had her own proper pride in the matter. The girls had +agreed that should she mention it, Lucy was then to tell her of the +conversation with Doctor Matthews. + +“Queer, but Miss Remson hasn’t said a word about receiving that +invitation,” Ronny said to Lucy one evening shortly before the closing +of college for the Easter holidays. “The doctor must have forgotten all +about it. That shows his conscience is clear. It would appear that he +doesn’t even suspect Miss Remson has a grievance against him.” + +“I am sure he forgot it.” Lucy looked rather gloomy over the doctor’s +omission. “It was such a fine opportunity, and now it’s lost. If I +should work for him again I might remind him of it. If I did, I’d do +more than mere reminding. I’d ask him to try to see Miss Remson and tell +him I thought there had been a misunderstanding. I would have said so +this time, but when he spoke of inviting her to their house for dinner, +I supposed the tangle would be straightened post haste.” + +“He may happen to recall it months from now,” Ronny consoled. “That’s +the way my father does. Men of affairs hardly ever forget things for +good. Sooner or later a memory of that kind crops up again.” + +While Lucy worried because the doctor had forgotten his kindly intention +toward their faithful elderly friend, Leslie Cairns was plunged in the +depths of apprehension because of Lucy’s substitution for Laura Sayres. +Each day she wondered if the sword would fall. She visited Laura and +made her worse by her irritating questions regarding the secretary’s +methods of filing. Was there any danger of old Matthews going through +the files himself? Was Laura sure that she had eliminated every bit of +evidence against them? Was she positive she had destroyed the letter +Miss Remson had written him, supposedly? Nor had Leslie any mercy on the +secretary’s weakened condition. Laura bore her unfeeling selfishness +without much protest. Leslie had given her one hundred dollars in her +first visit. This palliated the senior’s faults. + +When at the end of the third week nothing had occurred of a dismaying +nature, Leslie began to believe that her college career was safe. With +Easter just ahead, a very late Easter, too, only two months stretched +between her and Commencement, that dear day of honor and freedom for +her. She had worried but little over Dulcie’s threats. Elizabeth +Walbert’s parting shot, “You’ll be sorry,” crossed her mind +occasionally. She attached not much importance to it at first and less +as winter drew on toward spring. + +Dulcie Vale, however, was only biding her time. She never relinquished +for an hour her resolve to bring disgrace upon the Sans. Leslie having +ordered her chums to steer clear of Bess Walbert, the latter also burned +for revenge. She and Dulcie, after one glorious quarrel over what each +had said about the other to Leslie, had made up and joined forces. They +had a common object. Thus they clung together. They made elaborate plans +for retaliation, only to abandon them for the one great plan, the +betrayal of the Sans to Doctor Matthews. + +Dulcie had at first decided to go to the president of Hamilton College +within a few days after her unsuccessful talk with Marjorie. Then she +thought of something else which pleased her better. She would wait until +after Easter. If the Sans were expelled from college just before Easter, +they would endeavor to slip away quietly, making it appear that they had +left of their own accord. If she waited until they had returned, the +blow would be far more crushing. + +Regarding herself, Dulcie had her own plans. Her family, including her +father, were in Europe. Her mother would not return until the next July. +Her father, luckily for her, was to be in Paris until the following +January. Her mother allowed her to do as she pleased. What Dulcie +intended to do to please herself was to leave Hamilton on the Easter +vacation not to return. She was not too stupid to realize that the Sans, +accused of many faults by her, would turn on her _en masse_ and +implicate her. She could not hold out against them if arraigned in the +presence of Doctor Matthews. She was also too heavily conditioned to +graduate, and she hated college since her ostracization by the Sans. She +was more than ready to leave. She would walk out and let her former +chums bear the consequences. They had not spared her. She would not +spare them. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV—WHEN THE SWORD FELL + + +The longer Dulcie pondered the matter, the more she became convinced she +could do more damage by letter than to go to the doctor in person. +Elizabeth Walbert had several times advised this course. The latter knew +nothing of Dulcie’s resolve to leave college. Dulcie did not purpose she +should until she wrote the sophomore from her New York apartment after +leaving Hamilton. She had planned to take an apartment in an exclusive +hotel on Central Park West. From there she would write her mother that +she was too ill to return to college. She left it to her mother’s tact +to break the news to her father. He was not to know she had failed +miserably in all respects at Hamilton. + +Over and over again she wrote the damaging letter to Doctor Matthews. +She wrote at first at length, putting in everything she could think of +against the Sans. She made effort to stick to facts. There were enough +of them to create havoc. Then she rewrote the letter, eliminating and +revising until the finished product of her spite was worded to suit her. +It was necessarily a long letter and could not fail in its object. + +When college closed for Easter, Dulcie shook the dust of Hamilton from +her feet and took her letter to New York with her. She did not inform +the registrar that she would not return. She would write that from New +York. The day after college reopened, following the ten days’ vacation, +Dulcie mailed four letters. One to Elizabeth Walbert, one to Miss +Humphrey, one to Leslie Cairns, and _the_ letter. + +Those four letters created amazement, displeasure, consternation, +according to the recipient. Miss Humphrey was annoyed as only a +registrar can be annoyed by such a procedure. Elizabeth Walbert was +surprised and miffed because Dulcie had not confided in her. Doctor +Matthews’ indignation soared to still heights. Leslie Cairns opened her +letter at the breakfast table. She read the first page and hurriedly +rose, tipping over her coffee in her haste. Paying no attention to the +stream of coffee which flowed to the floor, she rushed from the dining +room to her own. Locking the door, she sat down with trembling knees to +read the letter. She read it twice, uttered a half sob of agony and +threw herself face downward on her bed. The sword had fallen, the end +had come. + +Of the four letters, the one Dulcie had written her was the shortest and +read: + + “Leslie: + + “When you read this you will not feel so secure as you did the night + you humiliated me so. You thought I would not dare say a word about + a number of things because I was afraid of being expelled from + college. You will see now that you made a serious mistake; so + serious you won’t be at Hamilton long after President Matthews + receives the letter I have written him. I have told him + _everything_. The Sans are in for trouble with him. It doesn’t make + a particle of difference to me what happens to you and your pals, + for I am not coming back to Hamilton. My letter to Doctor Matthews + is convincing. You will surely receive a summons. What? Oh, yes! I + think I have proved myself almost as clever as you. + + “Dulciana Maud Vale.” + +Not far behind Leslie came Natalie Weyman to her friend’s room. Startled +by Leslie’s peculiar behavior she had followed her upstairs, her own +breakfast untouched. + +“Leslie,” she called softly, “May I come in? It’s Nat.” + +“Go away.” Leslie’s voice was harsh and broken. “Come back after +recitations this afternoon.” + +“Very well.” Natalie retreated, puzzled but not angry. She was +understanding that something very unusual had happened to Leslie. Her +mind took it up, however, as presumably bad news from home. She hoped +nothing serious had happened to Leslie’s father. Her shallow serenity +soon returned and she went about her affairs smugly unconscious of what +was in store for her. + +Meanwhile, President Matthews was holding a long and unpleasant session +with Laura Sayres. Dulcie had not failed to describe Laura’s part in the +plot against Miss Remson. Now the incensed doctor was endeavoring to pin +his shifty secretary down to lamentable facts. + +Laura had always assured Leslie she would never divulge the Sans’ +secrets under pressure. For a short period only she lied, evaded and +pretended ignorance. Little by little the ground was cut from under her +treacherous feet. Before the morning was over President Matthews had the +complete story of the trickery which had brought misunderstanding +between him and Miss Remson. Of the hazing Laura knew little; enough, +however, to establish the truth of Dulcie’s confession. + +“I have yet to find a more flagrant case of dishonorable dealing,” were +the doctor’s cutting words at the close of that painful morning. “I +trusted you. Knowing that, you should have been above trading upon my +confidence. I cannot comprehend your object in allying yourself with +these lawless young women. You say you are not a member of their club. +Why, then, were their dishonest interests so dear to you?” + +To this Laura made no reply save by sobs. She had crumpled entirely. One +thing only she had rigorously kept back. She would not admit that she +had been paid by Leslie Cairns for her ignoble services. If the doctor +suspected this he made no sign of it. He dismissed her with stern +brevity and was glad to see her go. Aside from her worthless character, +she had not been a satisfactory secretary. + +Immediately she was gone, he put on his hat and overcoat and set out for +Wayland Hall. To right matters with his old friend was to be his second +move. + +Arriving at the Hall at the hour the students were returning for +luncheon, his appearance caused no end of private flutter. Having, as +yet, held no communication with Leslie, the older members of the Sans +were thrown into panic, nevertheless. What they had least desired had +come to pass. The Lookouts, on the contrary, were overjoyed. Helen Trent +had spied the president and promptly passed the word of it to her chums. + +To Miss Remson the surprise of her caller amounted to a shock. It did +not take long for the manager to produce the letter she had received, +purporting to be from Doctor Matthews. + +“I never dictated any such letter,” was his blunt denial. “Yes, the +signature is mine. I can only explain it by saying that it may have been +traced and copied from another letter, or else it has been handed me to +sign when I was in a hurry. Miss Sayres had an annoying habit of +bringing me my letters for signature at the very last minute before I +was due to leave my office. I dropped the matter of the way these girls +at your house had behaved because I received a letter from you which +stated that you had come to a better understanding with them and would +like to have the matter closed. I deferred to your judgment, as always. +I know no one better qualified as manager of a campus house than you.” + +“I never wrote you any such letter,” avowed the manager. “Several of my +devoted friends in the house among the students were confident that +there had been trickery used. I was obliged to acquaint them with the +fact that you had refused to act in the matter of transferring these +girls to another campus house. My friends had suffered many annoyances +at their hands. I had promised them of my own accord that these girls +should be transferred. It has all been a sad misunderstanding. I am glad +to have it cleared up.” Miss Remson avoided all mention of her own +personal humiliation. + +Returned to his office at Hamilton Hall after a late luncheon, Doctor +Matthews requested Miss Humphrey to lend him her stenographer for the +rest of the afternoon. His business correspondence attended to, he +brought forth Dulcie Vale’s letter from an inside coat pocket and +composed a stiff, brief summons. This summons the stenographer had the +pleasure of typing seventeen times. A list of names which Dulcie had +thoughtfully included in her letter furnished seventeen addresses. The +Sans were curtly informed that Doctor Matthews required their presence +in his office at Hamilton Hall at four o’clock on Wednesday afternoon. + +Almost incidental with the time at which these notes were being typed, a +bevy of white-faced girls had gathered in Leslie Cairns’ room to discuss +the dire situation. Leslie had recovered from her first spasm of grief +and fear and had let Natalie into her room immediately the latter had +come from recitations. Natalie brought more bad news in the shape of an +apprehensive report of the doctor’s call on Miss Remson. + +During the afternoon Leslie had received a telephone call from Laura +Sayres. Laura had refused to go into much detail over the telephone. She +announced herself as having been discharged from the doctor’s employ and +asserted that he knew “all about everything” without her having said a +word of betrayal. Leslie had not stopped to consider whether she +believed the secretary’s story or not. She had said: “You can’t tell me +anything. I know too much already. Goodbye.” With that she had hung up +the receiver. Her eyes blinded by tears of defeat and real fear, she had +stumbled her way to her room. There she had spent the most unhappy +afternoon of her life. + +“It’s no use, girls. We are done. You may as well be thinking what +excuse you can make to your families, for you will be expelled as sure +as fate. Matthews’ call on Remson shows that Dulcie betrayed us. Sayres +was fired by the doctor; all on account of that Remson mix-up. She +didn’t see Dulcie’s letter, but I know he received it. Sayres called me +on the ’phone.” + +“But, Leslie, some of us don’t know a thing about how you worked that +Remson affair! You never told us. I don’t see why we should be expelled +for something we know nothing of.” Eleanor made this half tearful +defense. + +“Oh, that isn’t _all_.” Leslie’s loose-lipped mouth curled in a bitter +smile. “There is the hazing business, too. Dulc told that, of course. +Perhaps she told the ‘soft talk’ stunt Ramsey taught the soph team last +year. I don’t know. All is over for us. I do know that. I expected to go +into business with my father after I was graduated from Hamilton. Now!” +She walked away from her companions and stood with her back toward them +at the window. + +“Perhaps it will blow over,” ventured Margaret Wayne. “I shall make a +hard fight to stay on at Hamilton. I won’t be cheated out of my diploma, +if I can help it. It’s our word against Dulcie’s.” + +“That’s of no use to us now.” Leslie turned suddenly from the window +with this gloomy utterance. “Remember Laura Sayres has been discharged +from Matthews’ employ. Remson and Matthews have had an understanding. +What chance have we? Sayres told me the doctor quizzed her for over two +hours. She claims she told nothing against us. I know better. If Dulcie, +the little wretch, had sprung this before Easter we might have saved our +faces. She waited purposely. She and Walbert deliberately planned this +exposé. Look for a summons soon. We won’t escape. I shall begin to pack +tonight. So far as this rattletrap old college is concerned, I don’t +care a rap about leaving it. All that is worrying me is: What shall I +say to my father?” + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI—MAY DAY EVENING + + +For two days, in a second floor class room at Hamilton Hall, a real +tribunal, consisting of Doctor Matthews and the college Board, convened. +Very patiently the body of dignified men listened to what the offenders +against Hamilton College had to say by way of confession and appeal for +clemency. To her great disgust, Marjorie was summoned before the Board +on the morning of the second day. Questioned, she admitted to having +been hazed. More than that she refused to state. + +“I claim the right to keep my own counsel,” she had returned, when +pressed to relate the details of the incident. “I was not injured. I did +not even contract a slight cold. I did not see the faces of those who +hazed me. I know only two of the Sans Soucians personally, and these two +slightly. My evidence would, therefore, be too purely circumstantial. I +do not wish to give it. I beg to be excused.” + +Not satisfied, two members of the Board had requested that she state the +time and manner of her return to her house. Her quick assurance, “My +friends found out where I was and came for me. We were all in the +gymnasium at half-past nine, in time for the unmasking,” was accepted, +not without smiles, by her inquisitors. She was allowed to go. She took +with her a memory of two rows of white, despairing girl faces. It hurt +her not a little. She could not rejoice in the Sans’ downfall, though +she knew it to be merited. + +At the end of the inquiry the verdict was unanimous for expellment, to +go into effect at once. The culprits were given one week to pack and +arrange with their families for their return home. + +Leslie Cairns had received the major share of blame. Throughout the +inquiry she had worn an exasperating air of indifference, which she had +doggedly fought to maintain. Not a muscle of her rugged face had moved +during the reading of the long letter written by Dulcie Vale to the +president. She had laconically admitted the truth of it, coolly +correcting one or two erroneous statements Dulcie had made. Afterward, +in her room, she had broken down and sobbed bitterly. This no one but +herself knew. + +The disgraced seventeen left Hamilton for New York on the seventh +morning after sentence had been pronounced upon them. They departed +early in the morning before the majority of the Wayland Hall girls were +up and stirring. Marjorie was glad not to witness their departure. She +had not approved of them. Still they were young girls like herself. She +experienced a certain pity for their weakness of character. Jerry, +however, was openly delighted to be rid of her pet abomination. + +With the approach of May Day the Nine Travelers had something pleasant +to look forward to. Miss Susanna had sent them invitations to dinner on +May Day evening. Very gleefully they planned to deluge the mistress of +Hamilton Arms with May baskets. These they intended to leave in one of +the two automobiles which they would use. After dinner, Ronny had +volunteered to slip away from the party, secure the baskets and place +them before the front door. She would lift the knocker, then scurry +inside, leaving Jonas, who was to be in the secret, to call Miss Susanna +to the door. + +When, as Miss Hamilton’s guests on May Day evening, they were ushered +into the beautiful, mahogany-panelled dining room at Hamilton Arms, a +surprise awaited them. The long room, an apartment of state in Brooke +Hamilton’s day, was a veritable bower of violets. Bouquets of them, +surrounded by their own decorative green leaves were in evidence +everywhere in the room. They were the double English variety, and their +fragrance was as a sweet breath of spring. A scented purple mound of +them occupied the center of the dining table. It was topped by a +familiar object; a willow, ribbon-trimmed basket. As on the previous May +Day evening it was full of violets. Narrow violet satin ribbon depended +from the center of the basket to each place, at which set a small +replica of the basket Marjorie had left before Miss Susanna’s door, just +one year ago that evening. + +“I knew Miss Susanna would guess who went Maying a year ago this +evening!” Jerry exclaimed. “After you had known Marvelous Marjorie a +little while the guessing came easy, didn’t it?” She turned impulsively +to Miss Hamilton. + +“Yes; you are quite correct, Jerry,” the old lady made quick answer. +“One year ago tonight was a very happy occasion for me. Violets were +Uncle Brooke’s favorite flower. I cannot tell you how strangely I felt +at sight of that basket. Jonas came into the library and asked me to go +to the front door. He said in his solemn way: ‘There’s something at the +door I would like you to see, Miss Susanna.’ He looked so mysterious, I +rose at once from my chair and went to the door. I must explain, too, +that the first of May was Uncle Brooke’s birthday. When I looked out and +saw that basket of violets, it was like a silent message from him. Jonas +had no more idea than I from whom the lovely May offering had come. He +had heard the clang of the knocker, but when he opened the door there +was not a soul in sight. The good fairy had vanished, leaving me a +fragrant May Day remembrance.” + +Marjorie had laughed at first sight of the familiar basket. She was +still smiling, rather tremulously, however. The beauty of the +decorations, the fragrance of the violets and the amazing knowledge that +she had brought Brooke Hamilton’s favorite flower to the doorstep on the +anniversary of his birth, made strong appeal to the fund of sentiment +which lay deep within her, rarely coming to the surface. + +“How came you to remember a crotchety person like me, child?” Miss +Susanna’s bright brown eyes were soft with tenderness. She reached +forward and took both Marjorie’s hands in hers. + +Thus they stood for an instant, youth and age, beside the violet-crowned +table. The other girls, lovely in their pale-hued evening frocks, +surrounded the pair with smiling faces. + +“I—I don’t know,” stammered Marjorie. “I—I thought perhaps you would +like it. I couldn’t resist putting it on your doorstep. We were all +making May baskets to hang on one another’s doors. I thought of you. I +knew you loved flowers, because I had seen you working among them. +That’s all.” + +“No, that was only the beginning.” Miss Susanna released Marjorie’s +hands. “It gave me much to think of for many months; in fact until a +little girl put aside her own plans to help a poor old lady pick up a +basket of spilled chrysanthemums.” + +Appearing a trifle embarrassed at her own rush of sentiment, Miss +Hamilton turned to the others and proceeded briskly to seat her guests +at table. While she occupied the place at the head, she gave Marjorie +that at the foot. Lifting the little basket at her place to inhale the +perfume of the flowers, something dropped therefrom. It struck against +the thin water glass at her place with a little clang. Next instant she +was exclaiming over a dainty lace pin of purple enameled violets with +tiny diamond centers. + +“I would advise all of you to do a little exploring.” Miss Susanna’s +voice held a note of suppressed excitement. + +Obeying with the zest of girlhood, the others found pretty lace pins of +gold and silver, chosen with a view toward suiting the personality of +each. + +As Marjorie fastened her new possession on the bodice of the +violet-tinted crêpe gown, which had been Mah Waeo’s gift to her father +for her, she had a feeling of living in a fairy tale. Hamilton Arms had +always seemed as an enchanted castle to her. She had never expected to +penetrate its fastnesses and become an honored guest within its walls. + +“Miss Susanna, when did you first guess that it was I who left you a May +basket?” she asked, rather curiously. “Lucy and Jerry said you would +find me out. I didn’t think so.” + +“It was after Christmas, Marjorie,” the old lady replied. “Perhaps it +was the bunch of violets on the wreath you girls sent for Uncle Brooke’s +study that established the connection. I really can’t say. It dawned +upon me all of a sudden one evening. I spoke of it to Jonas. The old +rascal simply said: ‘Oh, yes. I have thought so for a long time.’ Not a +word to me of it had he peeped. It furnished me with pleasant thoughts +for so long, I decided that one good turn deserves another. I succeeded +in surprising you children tonight, but no one could have been more +astonished than I when I gathered in that blessed violet basket last May +Day night.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII—CONCLUSION + + +“And tomorrow is another day; the great day!” Leila Harper sat with +clasped hands behind her head, fondly viewing her chums. + +The Nine Travelers had gathered in her room for a last intimate talk. +Tomorrow would be Commencement. Directly after the exercises were over +the nine had agreed to meet for a last celebration at Baretti’s. Evening +of that day would see them all going their appointed ways. + +“I can’t make it seem true that you girls won’t be back here next year,” +Marjorie said dolefully, setting down her lemonade glass with a +despondent thump, a half-eaten macaroon poised in mid-air. + +“Eat your sweet cake child and don’t weep,” consoled Leila. While she +was trying hard to look sad, there was a peculiar gleam in her blue +eyes. As yet Marjorie had failed to catch it. + +“Nothing will seem the same,” grumbled Jerry. “With you four good scouts +lifted out of college garden there will be an awful vacancy.” Jerry +fixed almost mournful eyes on Helen. “Why couldn’t you girls have +entered a year later or else we a year earlier?” she asked +retrospectively. + +“Cheer up, Jeremiah. The worst is yet to come.” Vera patted Jerry on the +back. Standing behind Jerry’s chair she cast an odd glance at Leila. +Leila passed it on to Helen, who in turn telegraphed some mute message +to Katherine Langly. + +“I can’t see it,” Jerry said, her round face unusually sober. “It is +hard enough now to have to lose four good pals at one swoop. I sha’n’t +feel any worse at the last minute tomorrow than I do tonight. I have an +actual case of the blues this evening which even lemonade and cakes +won’t dispel.” + +“Let us not talk about it,” advised Veronica. “Every time the subject +comes up we all grow solemn.” + +“I’m worse off than the rest of you,” complained Muriel. “I am torn +between two partings. I can’t bear to think of losing good old +Moretense.” + +“While we are on the subject of partings,” began Leila, ostentatiously +clearing her throat, “I regret that I shall have to say something which +can but add to your sorrow. I—that is——” She looked at Vera and burst +into laughter which carried a distinctly happy note. + +“What ails you, Leila Greatheart?” Marjorie focused her attention on the +Irish girl’s mirthful face. “I am just beginning to see that something +unusual is on foot. The idea of parading mysteries before us at the very +last minute of your journey through the country of college!” + +“’Tis a beautiful country, that.” Leila spoke purposely, with a faint +brogue. “And did you say it was my last minute there? Suppose it was +not? What? As our departed bogie, Miss Cairns, used to say.” + +“Do you know what you are talking about?” inquired Jerry. “I hope you +do. I haven’t caught the drift of your remarks—yet.” + +“Do you tell her then, Midget.” Leila fell suddenly silent, her Cheshire +cat grin ornamenting her features. + +“Oh, let Helen tell it. She knows.” Vera beamed on Helen, who passed the +task, whatever it might be, on to Katherine. She declined, throwing it +back to Leila. + +“What is this bad news that none of you will take upon yourselves to +tell us?” Lucy’s green eyes sought Katherine’s in mock reproach. + +“I have it.” Leila held up a hand. “Now; altogether! We are going to——” +she nodded encouragement to Kathie, Vera and Helen. + +“We are going to stay!” shouted four voices in concert. + +“Stay where? What do——” Jerry stopped abruptly. Her face relaxed of a +sudden into one of her wide smiles. She rose and began hugging Helen, +shouting: “You don’t mean it? Honestly?” + +The rest of the Lookouts were going through similar demonstrations of +joy. For a moment or two everyone talked and laughed at once. Gradually +the first noisy reception of the news subsided and Leila could be heard: + +“It’s like this, children,” she said. “Vera wants to specialize in +Greek. I am still keen on physics and psychology. Helen wants to make a +new and more comprehensive study of literature, and Kathie is going to +teach English. Miss Fernald is leaving and Kathie is to have her place. +We’ve had all we could do to keep it from you. Vera and I might better +be here next year than at home. We’d have not much to do there. We are +anxious to help make the dream of the dormitory come true.” + +“It is too beautiful for anything!” was Marjorie’s childish but +heartfelt rejoicing. “With you four to help us next year we shall +accomplish wonders. Oh, I shall love being a senior!” + +What Marjorie’s senior year at Hamilton brought her will be told in +“Marjorie Dean, College Senior.” + + THE END + + + + +The Camp Fire Girls Series + +By HILDEGARD G. 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BURT COMPANY + +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET, NEW YORK + + + + +Marjorie Dean College Series + +BY PAULINE LESTER. + +Author of the Famous Marjorie Dean High School Series. + +Those who have read the Marjorie Dean High School Series will be eager +to read this new series, as Marjorie Dean continues to be the heroine in +these stories. + +All Clothbound. Copyright Titles. + +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH. + + MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE FRESHMAN + MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE SOPHOMORE + MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE JUNIOR + MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE SENIOR + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +Publishers. + +A. L. 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Drake, +the author, is an experienced naval officer, and he describes admirably +the many exciting adventures of the two boys. + + + THE BOY ALLIES ON THE NORTH SEA PATROL; or, Striking + the First Blow at the German Fleet. + + THE BOY ALLIES UNDER TWO FLAGS; or, Sweeping the + Enemy from the Sea. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE FLYING SQUADRON; or, The + Naval Raiders of the Great War. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE TERROR OF THE SEA; or, + The Last Shot of Submarine D-16. + + THE BOY ALLIES UNDER THE SEA; or, The Vanishing + Submarine. + + THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALTIC; or, Through Fields of + Ice to Aid the Czar. + + THE BOY ALLIES AT JUTALND; or, The Greatest Naval Battle + of History. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH UNCLE SAM’S CRUISERS; or, Convoying + the American Army Across the Atlantic. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE SUBMARINE D-32; or, The + Fall of the Russian Empire. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE VICTORIOUS FLEETS; or, + The Fall of the German Navy. + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +Publishers + +A. L. BURT COMPANY + +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET, NEW YORK + + + + +The Boy Allies with the Army + +(Registered in the United States Patent Office) + +BY CLAIR W. HAYES + +For Boys 12 to 16 Years. + +All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles + +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH + +In this series we follow the fortunes of two American lads unable to +leave Europe after war is declared. They meet the soldiers of the +Allies, and decide to cast their lot with them. Their experiences and +escapes are many, and furnish plenty of good, healthy action that every +boy loves. + + THE BOY ALLIES AT LIEGE; or, Through Lines of Steel. + + THE BOY ALLIES ON THE FIRING LINE; or, Twelve Days + Battle Along the Marne. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE COSSACKS; or, A Wild Dash + Over the Carpathians. + + THE BOY ALLIES IN THE TRENCHES; or, Midst Shot and + Shell Along the Aisne. + + THE BOY ALLIES IN GREAT PERIL; or, With the Italian + Army in the Alps. + + THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALKAN CAMPAIGN; or, The + Struggle to Save a Nation. + + THE BOY ALLIES ON THE SOMME; or, Courage and Bravery + Rewarded. + + THE BOY ALLIES AT VERDUN; or, Saving France from the + Enemy. + + THE BOY ALLIES UNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES; or, + Leading the American Troops to the Firing Line. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH HAIG IN FLANDERS; or, The Fighting + Canadians of Vimy Ridge. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH PERSHING IN FRANCE; or, Over + the Top at Chateau Thierry. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE GREAT ADVANCE; or, Driving + the Enemy Through France and Belgium. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH MARSHAL FOCH; or, The Closing + Days of the Great World War. + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +Publishers + +A. 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Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/37176-0.zip b/37176-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0c39146 --- /dev/null +++ b/37176-0.zip diff --git a/37176-8.txt b/37176-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b2f1e63 --- /dev/null +++ b/37176-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6701 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Marjorie Dean College Junior, by Pauline Lester + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Marjorie Dean College Junior + +Author: Pauline Lester + +Release Date: August 23, 2011 [EBook #37176] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARJORIE DEAN COLLEGE JUNIOR *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +[Illustration: Under the tree was a grassy mound. On this Elaine was +invited to sit. _Page 66_] + + + + + MARJORIE DEAN + COLLEGE JUNIOR + + By PAULINE LESTER + + Author of + + "Marjorie Dean, College Freshman," "Marjorie Dean, + College Sophomore," "Marjorie Dean, College Senior," + and + The Marjorie Dean High School Series + + A. L. BURT COMPANY + Publishers--New York + + + + + THE + Marjorie Dean College Series + + A Series of Stories for Girls 12 to 18 Years of Age + + By PAULINE LESTER + + Marjorie Dean, College Freshman + Marjorie Dean, College Sophomore + Marjorie Dean, College Junior + Marjorie Dean, College Senior + + Copyright, 1922 + By A. L. BURT COMPANY + + MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE JUNIOR + + Made in "U. S. A." + + + + +MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE JUNIOR. + + + + +CHAPTER I--A MUSICAL WELCOME + + +"Remember; we are to begin with the 'Serenata.' Follow that with 'How +Fair Art Thou' and 'Hymn to Hamilton.' Just as we are leaving, sing 'How +Can I Leave Thee, Dear?' We will fade away on the last of that. Want to +make any changes in the programme?" + +Phyllis Moore turned inquiringly to her choristers. There were seven of +them including herself, and they were preparing to serenade Marjorie +Dean and her four chums. The Lookouts had returned to Hamilton College +that afternoon from the long summer vacation. This year, their Silverton +Hall friends had arrived before them. Hence Phyllis's plan to serenade +them. + +Robina Page, Portia Graham, Blanche Scott, Elaine Hunter, Marie Peyton +and Marie's freshman cousin, Hope Morris, comprised Phyllis's serenading +party. The latter had been invited to participate because she was still +company. Incidentally she knew the songs chosen, with the exception of +the "Hymn to Hamilton," and could sing alto. She was, therefore, a +valuable asset. + +"I hope Leila has managed to cage the girls in Marjorie's room," +remarked Blanche Scott. "We want all five Sanfordites in on the +serenade." + +"Leave it to Irish Leila to cage anything she starts out to cage," was +Robin's confident assurance. "If she says she will do a thing, she will +accomplish it, somehow. Leila is a diplomat, and so clever she is +amazing." + +"Vera Mason isn't far behind her. Those two have chummed together so +long their methods are similar. They were the first girls I knew at +Hamilton. They met the train I came in on. Nella Sherman and Selma +Sanbourne were with them. Two more fine girls. Portia looked pleasantly +reminiscent of her reception by the quartette to which she now referred. + +"I heard Selma Sanbourne wasn't coming back. I must ask Leila about +that." Robin made mental note of the question. + +"That will be hard on Nella," observed Elaine Hunter, with her usual +ready sympathy. "They have always been such great chums." + +"Sorry to interrupt, but we must be hiking, girls." In command of the +tuneful expedition, Phyllis tucked her violin case under her arm in +business-like fashion and cast a critical eye over her flock. + +"Be sure you have your instruments of torture with you," she laughed. +"One time, at home, three girls and myself started out to serenade a +friend of ours. Before we started we had all been sitting on our +veranda, eating ice cream. One of the girls was to accompany us on the +mandolin. She walked away and left it on the veranda. She never noticed +the omission until we were ready to lift up our voices. So we had to +sing without it, for it was over a mile to our house and she couldn't +very well go back after it." + +"Let this be a warning to you mandolin players not to do likewise." +Marie turned a severe eye on Elaine and Portia, who made pretext of +clutching their mandolins in a firmer grip. + +"My good old guitar is hung to me by a ribbon. I am not likely to go +away from here without it." Blanche patted the smooth, shining back of +the guitar. + +"We couldn't have chosen a better time for a serenade," exulted Robin. +"It is a fine night; just dark enough. Besides, there are not many girls +back at Wayland Hall yet. We won't be so conspicuous with our caroling." + +Meanwhile, in a certain room at Wayland Hall, wily Lelia Harper was +exerting herself to be agreeable to her Lookout chums. Three of them she +had marshaled to Marjorie's room on plea of showing them souvenirs of a +trip she had made through Ireland that summer. + +The souvenirs had been heartily admired, but even they could not stem +Muriel's and Jerry's determined desire to entertain. First Jerry +innocently proposed that they all walk over to Baretti's for ices. Leila +and Vera exhibited no enthusiasm at the invitation. Next, Muriel +re-proposed the jaunt at her expense. Vera cast an appealing look toward +Leila. The latter was equal to the occasion. + +"And are you so tired of me and my pictures of my Emerald Isle that you +want to hurry me off to Baretti's to be rid of me?" she questioned, in +an offended tone. + +"Certainly not, and you needn't pretend you think so, for you don't," +retorted Muriel, unabashed. "Your Irish views are wonderful. So is +Baretti's fresh peach ice cream. Helen was there and had some this +afternoon. She said it was better than ever. I was only trying to be +hospitable and so was Jerry. Sorry you had to take me too personally." +Muriel now strove to simulate offense. She turned up her nose, tossed +her head and burst out laughing. "It's no use," she said, "I couldn't +really fuss with you if I tried, Leila Greatheart." + +"I am relieved to hear it," Leila returned with inimitable dryness. + +"Lots of time for Baretti's and ice cream yet tonight. It's only +half-past eight." Marjorie indicated the wall clock with a slight move +of her head. "We can leave here about nine. We'll be there by ten +after." + +"Certainly; we have oceans of time," Leila agreed with alacrity. "The +ten-thirty rule is still on a vacation and won't be back for a week or +so." + +"Oh, I haven't told you about my new car," Vera began with sudden +inspiration. "Father bought it for me in August. It is a beauty. He is +going to send James, his chauffeur, here with it. It may arrive +tomorrow. I hope it does." Vera launched into a description of her car +with intent to kill time. Phyllis had set the hour for the serenade to +the Lookouts at a quarter to nine. + +"It will be good and dark then," she had told Leila and Vera. "We will +have to come as early as that, for we are going to Acasia House to +serenade Barbara Severn, and to Alston Terrace to sing to Isabel Keller. +Last, we are going to serenade Miss Humphrey. We'll have to hustle, in +order to go the rounds and get back to Silverton Hall before eleven +o'clock. I depend on you, Leila, to keep that lively bunch of +Sanfordites in until we get there." + +Leila, aided by Vera, was now endeavoring to carry out Phyllis's +request. She was privately hoping that the serenaders would be on time. +Should they delay until nine or after, they were quite likely to gather +in under the window of a deserted room. + +Readers of the "Marjorie Dean High School Series" have long been in +touch with Marjorie Dean and the friends of her high school days. +"Marjorie Dean, High School Freshman," recounted her advent into Sanford +High School and what happened to her during her first year there. +"Marjorie Dean, High School Sophomore," "Marjorie Dean, High School +Junior," and "Marjorie Dean, High School Senior," completed a series of +stories which dealt entirely with Marjorie's four years' course at +Sanford High School. Admirers of the loyal-hearted, high-principled +young girl, who became a power at high school because of her many fine +qualities, will recall her ardent wish to enroll as a student at +Hamilton College when she should have finished her high school days. + +In "Marjorie Dean, College Freshman," will be found the account of +Marjorie's doings as a freshman at Hamilton College. Entering college +full of noble resolves and high ideals, she was not disappointed in her +Alma Mater, although she was not long in discovering that an element of +snobbery was abroad at Hamilton which was totally against Hamilton +traditions. Aided by four of her Sanford chums, who had entered Hamilton +College with her, and a number of freshmen and upper class girls, of +democratic mind, the energetic band had endeavored to combat the +pernicious influence, exercised by a clique of moneyed girls, which was +fast taking hold upon other students. The end of the college year had +found their efforts successful, in a measure, and the way paved for +better things. + +In "Marjorie Dean, College Sophomore," the further account of Marjorie's +eventful college days was set forth. Opposed, from her return to +Hamilton College by certain girls residing in the same house with +herself, who disliked her independence and fair-mindedness, Marjorie was +later given signal proof of their enmity. How she and her chums fought +them on their own ground and won a notable victory over them formed a +narrative of pleasing interest and lively action. + +Now that the Five Travelers, as the quintette of Sanford girls loved to +call themselves, were once more settled in the country of college, their +devoted friends had already planned to honor them. Leila and Vera, who +invariably returned early to college, had encountered Phyllis on the +campus on the day previous. Informing her of the Lookouts' expected +arrival on the next afternoon, Phyllis had planned the serenade and +demanded Leila's help. Leila had rashly promised to keep the arrivals at +home that evening. She was now of the opinion that a promise was +sometimes easier made than fulfilled. + +"Since Vera has told you everything she can remember about her new +roadster, I shall now do a little talking myself." Leila was having the +utmost difficulty in controlling her risibles. She dared not look at +Vera; nor dared Vera look at her. "Ahem! When I was in Ireland," she +pompously announced, "I saw----" + +Came the welcome interruption for which she had been waiting. Clear and +sweet under the windows of the room rose the strains of Tosti's +"Serenata." A brief prelude and voices took it up, filling the evening +air with harmony. + +"Thank my stars! A-h-h!" Leila relaxed exaggeratedly in her chair, her +Cheshire-cat smile predominating her features. + +"You bad old rascal!" Marjorie paused long enough to shake Leila +playfully by the shoulders. Then she hurried to one of the windows. +Jerry, Muriel and Lucy had reached one. Ronny and Vera were at the +other. Marjorie joined them. Leila made no move to rise. She preferred +sitting where she was. + +"Keep quiet," Jerry had admonished at the first sounds. "If we start to +talk to them, they'll stop singing. Whoever they are, they certainly can +sing." Her companions of her mind, it was a silent and appreciative +little audience that gathered at the open windows to listen to the +serenaders. + +There was no moon that night. It was impossible to see the faces of the +carolers, nor, in the general harmony of melodious sound, was it +possible to identify any one voice. An energetic clapping of hands, from +other windows as well as those of Marjorie's room, greeted the close of +the "Serenata." Then a high soprano voice, which the girls recognized as +Robin Page's, began that most beautiful of old songs, "How Fair Art +Thou." A violin throbbed a soft obligato. + +The marked hush that hung over the Hall during the rendering of the song +was most complimentary to the soloist. The serenaders were not out for +glory, however. Hardly had the applause accorded Robin died out, when +mandolins, guitar and violin took up the stately "Hymn to Hamilton." + + "First in wisdom, first in precept; teach us to revere + thy way: + Grant us mind to know thy purpose, keep us in + thy brightest ray. + Let our acts be shaped in honor; let our steps be + just and free: + Make us worthy of thy threshold, as we pledge our + faith to thee." + +Thus ran the first stanza, set to a sonorous air which the combined +harmony of voices and musical instruments rendered doubly beautiful. It +seemed to those honored by the serenaders that they had never before +heard the fine old hymn so inspiringly sung. The whole three stanzas +were given. The instant the hymn was ended the familiar melody "How Can +I Leave Thee Dear?" followed. + +"That means they are going to beat it," called Jerry in low tones. "Let +us head them off before they can get away and take them with us to +Baretti's. We'll have to start now, if we expect to catch them. They're +beginning the second stanza. We'll just give _them_ a little surprise." + +With one accord the appreciative and mischievous audience left the +windows and made a rush for the stairs. Headed by Jerry they exited +quietly from the house and stole around its right-hand corner. + +Absorbed in their own lyric efforts, the singers had reached the third +sentimentally pathetic stanza: + + "If but a bird were I, homeward to thee I'd fly; + Falcon nor hawk I'd fear, if thou wert near. + Shot by a hunter's ball; would at thy feet I fall, + If but one ling'ring tear would dim thine eye." + +Ready to leave almost on the last line, they were not prepared for the +merry crowd of girls who pounced suddenly upon them. + +"How can you leave us, dears?" caroled Muriel Harding, as she caught +firm hold of Robin Page. "You are not going to leave us. Don't imagine +it for a minute." + + + + +CHAPTER II--UNDER THE SEPTEMBER STARS + + +"Captured by Sanfordites!" exclaimed Robin dramatically. "What fate is +left to us now?" Despite her tragic utterance, she proceeded to a +vigorous hand-shaking with Muriel. + +"Now why couldn't you have stayed upstairs like nice children and +praised our modest efforts in your behalf instead of prancing down +stairs to head us off?" inquired Phyllis in pretended disgust. "Not one +of you has the proper idea of the romance which should attend a +serenade. Of course, you didn't _know_ who was singing to you, and, of +course, you just simply _had_ to find out." + +"Don't delude yourself with any such wild idea," Jerry made haste to +retort. "We knew Robin's voice the minute she opened her mouth to sing +'How Fair Art Thou.' Now which one of us were you particularly referring +to in that number? I took it straight to myself. Of course I _may_ be a +trifle presumptuous, Ahem!" + +"Yes; 'Ahem!'" mimicked Phyllis. "You are just the same good old, funny +old scout, Jeremiah. Somebody please hold my violin while I embrace +Jeremiah." + +"Hold it yourself," laughed Portia. "We have fond welcomes of our own to +hand around and need the use of our arms." + +Full of the happiness of the meeting the running treble of girlhood, +mingled with ripples of gay, light laughter, was music in itself. + +"The Moore Symphony Orchestra and Concert Company will have to be moving +on," Elaine reminded after fifteen minutes had winged away. "This is +Phil's organization but she seems to have forgotten all about it. We are +supposed to serenade Barbara Severn, Isabel Keller and Miss Humphrey +while the night is yet young. I can see where someone of the trio will +have to be unserenaded this evening." + +"Couldn't you serenade them tomorrow night?" coaxed Marjorie. "We had it +all planned to go to Baretti's before we hustled down to head you off. +The instant I recognized Robin's heavenly soprano I knew that the +Silvertonites were under our windows. I guess the rest knew, too. We +didn't want to talk while you were singing." + +"Very polite in you, I am sure." In the darkness Elaine essayed a +profound bow. Result, her head came into smart contact with Blanche's +guitar. + +"Steady there! I need my guitar for the next orchestral spasm." Blanche +swung the instrument under her arm out of harm's way. + +"I need my head, too," giggled Elaine, ruefully rubbing that slightly +injured member. + +"Do serenade the others tomorrow night." Ronny now added her plea. "How +would you like to take us along with you, then? Not to sing, but just +for company, you know. I never went out serenading, and I fully feel the +need of excitement." + +"What you folks need is fresh peach ice cream and lots of it," Jerry +advised with crafty enthusiasm. "It's to be had at Giuseppe Baretti's." + +"I know of nothing more refreshing to tired soloists than fresh peach +ice cream," seconded Vera. "I leave it to my esteemed friend, Irish +Leila, if I am not entirely correct in this." + +"You are. Now what is it that you are quite right about?" Leila had +caught the last sentence and risen to the occasion. + +"Such support," murmured Vera, as a laugh arose. + +"Is it not now?" Leila blandly commented. "Never worry. There is little +I would not agree with you in, Midget. Be consoled with that handsome +amend. As for you singers and wandering musicians, you had better come +with us. + + "We'll feed you on fine white bread of the wheat + And the drip of honey gold: + We'll give you pale clouds for a mantle sweet, + And a handful of stars to hold." + +Leila sang lightly the quaint words of an old Irish ditty. + +"Can we resist such a prospect?" laughed Phyllis. "How about it, girls? +Is it on with the serenade or on to Baretti's?" + +"Baretti's it had better be, since we are invited there by such +distinguished persons," was Robin's decision. "Leila, you are to teach +me that song you were just humming. It is sweet!" + +Her companions were nothing loath to abandon their project for the +evening in order to hob-nob with their Wayland Hall friends. They came +to this decision very summarily. Now fourteen strong, the company turned +their steps toward their favorite restaurant. + +They were nearing the cluster lights stationed at each side of the wide +walk leading up to the entrance of the tea room, when Lucy Warner +stopped short with: "Oh, girls; I know something that I think would be +nice to do." + +"Speak up, respected Luciferous," encouraged Vera. "You say so little it +is a pleasure to listen to you. I wish I could say that of everyone I +know," she added significantly. + +"Have you an idea of whom she may be talking about?" quizzed Leila, +rolling her eyes at her companions. + +"She certainly doesn't mean us, even if she didn't say 'present company +excepted.'" Muriel beamed at Leila with trustful innocence. "Go ahead, +Luciferous Warniferous, noble Sanfordite, and tell us what's on your +mind." + +"I had no idea I was so greatly respected in this crowd. I never before +saw signs of it. Much obliged. This is what I thought of." Lucy came to +the point with her usual celerity. "Why not serenade Signor Baretti? He +is an Italian. The Italians all love music. I know he would like it. You +girls sing and play so beautifully." + +"Of course he would." Marjorie was the first to endorse Lucy's proposal +"This is really a fine time for it, too. It's late enough in the evening +so that there won't be many persons in the restaurant." + +"It would delight his little, old Giuseppeship," approved Blanche. + +"No doubt about it," Robin heartily concurred. "We ought to sing +something from an Italian opera. That would please him most. The Latins +don't quite understand the beauty of our English and American songs." + +"We can sing the sextette from 'Lucia,'" proposed Elaine. "It doesn't +matter about the words. We know the music. We have sung that together so +many times we wouldn't make a fizzle of it." + +"Yes, and there is the 'Italian Song at Nightfall' that Robin sings so +wonderfully. We can help out on the last part of it." Tucking her violin +under her chin, Phyllis played a few bars of the selection she had +named. "I can play it," she nodded. "I never tried it on the fiddle +before." + +"That's two," counted Robin. "For a third and last let's give that +pretty 'Gondelier's Love Song,' by Nevin. It doesn't matter about words +to that, either. There aren't any. People ought to learn to appreciate +songs without words. Giuseppe won't care a hang about anything but the +music. If any of you Wayland Hallites decide to sing with us, sing +nicely. Don't you dare make the tiniest discord." + +"She has some opinion of herself as a singer," Leila told the others, +with comically raised brows. "Be easy. We have no wish to lilt wid yez." + +Having decided to serenade the unsuspecting proprietor of the tea room, +the next point to be settled was where they should stand to sing. + +"Wait a minute. I'll go and look in one of the windows," volunteered +Ronny. "Perhaps I shall be able to see just where he is." + +"He is usually at his desk about this time in the evening. We'll gather +around the window nearest where he is sitting," planned Phyllis. + +Ronny flitted lightly ahead of her companions, stopping at a window on +the right-hand side, well to the rear. The others followed her more +slowly in order to give her time to make the observation. Before they +reached her she turned from her post and came quickly to them. + +"He is back at the last table on the left reading a newspaper. There +isn't a soul in the room but himself," she said in an undertone. "The +time couldn't be more opportune." + +"Oh, fine," whispered Robin. "We can go around behind the inn and be +right at the window nearest him." + +"The non-singers, I suppose we might call ourselves the trailers, will +politely station our magnificent selves at the next window above the +singers to see how the victim takes it," decided Jerry. "Contrary, 'no.' +I don't hear any opposing voices." + +"There mustn't be _any_ voices heard for the next two minutes," warned +Portia Graham. "Slide around the inn and take your places as quietly as +mice." + +In gleeful silence the girls divided into two groups, each group taking +up its separate station. + +"I hope the night air hasn't played havoc with my strings," breathed +Phyllis. "I don't dare try them. Are we ready?" She rapped softly on the +face of her violin with the bow. + +Followed the tense instant that always precedes the performance of an +orchestra, then Phyllis and Robin began the world-known sextette from +"Lucia." Robin had sung it so many times in private to the accompaniment +of her cousin's violin that the attack was perfect. The others took it +up immediately, filling the night with echoing sweetness. + +From their position at the next window the watchers saw the dark, solemn +face of the Italian raised in bewildered amazement from his paper. Not +quite comprehending at first the unbidden flood of music which met his +ears, he listened for a moment in patent stupefaction. Soon a smile +began to play about his tight little mouth. It widened into a grin of +positive pleasure. Giuseppe understood that a great honor was being done +him. He was not only being serenaded, but he was listening to the music +of his native country as well. + +His varying facial expressions, as the sextette rose and fell, showed +his love of the selection. As it ended, he did an odd thing. He rose +from his chair, bowed his profound thanks toward the window from whence +came the singing, and sat down again, looking expectant. + +"He knows very well he's being watched," whispered Marjorie. "Doesn't he +look pleased? I'm so glad you thought of him, Lucy." + +Lucy was also showing shy satisfaction at the success of her proposal. +She was secretly more proud of some small triumph of the kind on her +part than of her brilliancy as a student. + +Had Signor Baretti been attending a performance of grand opera, he could +not have shown a more evident pleasure in the programme. He listened to +the entertainment so unexpectedly provided him with the rapt air of a +true music-lover. + +"There!" softly exclaimed Phyllis, as she lowered her violin. "That's +the end of the programme, Signor Baretti. Now for that fresh peach ice +cream. I shall have coffee and mountain cake with it. I am as hungry as +the average wandering minstrel." + +"Let's walk in as calmly as though we had never thought of serenading +Giuseppe," said Robin. "Oh, we can't. I forgot. The orchestra part of +this aggregation is a dead give-away." + +"We don't care. He will know it was we who were out there. There is no +one else about but us. I hope he won't think we are a set of little +Tommy Tuckers singing for our suppers. That's a horrible afterthought on +my part," Elaine laughed. + +"Come on." Jerry and her group had now joined the singers. "He saw us +but not until you were singing that Nevin selection. He kept staring at +the window where the sound came from. We had our faces right close to +our window and all of a sudden he looked straight at us. You should have +seen him laugh. His whole face broke into funny little smiles." + +"He may have thought we were the warblers," suggested Muriel hopefully. +"We can parade into the inn on your glory. If I put on airs he may take +me for the high soprano." She glanced teasingly at Robin. + +"Oh, go as far as you like. It won't be the first instance in the +world's history where some have done all the work and others have taken +all the credit," Robin reminded. + +In this jesting frame of mind the entire party strolled around to the +inn's main entrance. At the door they found Giuseppe waiting for them, +his dark features wreathed in smiles. + +"I wait for you here," he announced, with an eloquent gesture of the +hand. "So I know som' my friendly young ladies from the college sing +just for me. You come in. You are my com'ny. You say what you like. I +give the best. Not since I come this country I hear the singing I like +so much. The Lucia! Ah, that is the one I lov'! + +"I tell you the little story while you stan' here. Then you come in. +When I come this country, I am the very poor boy. Come in the steerage. +No much to eat. I fin' work. Then the times hard, I lose work. All over +New York I walk, but don't fin'. I have _no one cent_. I am put from the +bed I rent. I can no pay. For four days I have the nothing eat. I say, +'It is over.' I am this, that I will walk to the river in the night an' +be no more. + +"It is the very warm night and I am tired. I walk an' walk." His face +took on a shade of his by-gone hopelessness as he continued. "Soon I +come the river, I think. Then I hear the music. It is in the next street +jus' I go turn into. It is the harp an' violin. Two my countrymen play +the Lucia. I am so sad. I sit on a step an' cry. Pretty soon one these +ask the money gif' for the music. He touch me on shoulder, say very kind +in Italian, '_Che c'è mai?_' That mean, 'What the matter?' He see I am +the Italiano. We look each other. Both cry, then embrac'. He is my +oldes' brother. He come here long before me. My mother an' I, we don't +hear five years. Then my mother die. Two my brothers work in the _vigna_ +for the rich vignaiuolo in my country. My father is dead long time. So I +come here. + +"My brother give me the eat, the clothes, the place sleep. He have good +room. He work in the day for rich Italian importer. Sometimes he go out +play at night for help his friend who play the harp. He is the old man +an' don't work all the time. So it is I lov' the Lucia. They don't play +that, mebbe I don't sit on that step. Then never fin' my brother. An' +you have please me more than for many years you play the Lucia for me +this night." + + + + +CHAPTER III--A VERANDA ENCOUNTER + + +It lacked but a few minutes of eleven o'clock when the serenading party +said goodnight to Signor Baretti and trooped off toward the campus. The +usually taciturn Italian had surprised and touched them by the impulsive +story of his most tragic hour. He had afterward played host to his +light-hearted guests with the true grace of the Latin. No one came to +the inn for cheer after they entered in that evening, so they had the +place quite to themselves. After a feast of the coveted peach ice cream +and cakes, the obliging orchestra tuned up again at Giuseppe's earnest +request. Robin sang Shubert's "Serenade" and "Appear Love at Thy +Window." Phyllis played Raff's "Cavatina" and one of Brahm's "Hungarian +Dances." Blanche Scott sang "Asleep in the Deep," simply to prove she +had a masculine voice when she chose to use it. + +"We'll come and make music for you again sometime," promised +kind-hearted Phyllis as they left their beaming host. + +"I thank you. An' you forget you say you come an' play, I tell you 'bout +it sometime you come here to eat," he warned the party as they were +leaving. + +"Talk about truth being stranger than fiction, what do you think of +Giuseppe's story?" Jerry exclaimed as soon as they were well away from +the inn. "Imagine how one would feel to meet one's long-lost brother +just as one was getting ready to commit suicide!" + +"One half of the world doesn't know how the other half lives," Ronny +said with a shake of her fair head. + +"To see Giuseppe today, successful and well-to-do, one finds it hard to +visualize him as the poor, starved, despondent Italian boy who cried his +heart out on the doorstep." Vera's tones vibrated with sympathy. The +Italian's story had impressed her deeply. + +The girls discussed it soberly as they wended a leisurely way across the +campus. Even care-free Muriel, who seldom liked to take life seriously, +remarked with becoming earnestness that it was such stories which made +one realize one's own benefits. + +"Be on hand tomorrow night at eight-thirty sharp," was Phyllis's parting +injunction to the Wayland Hall girls as the Silvertonites left them to +go on to their own house. "We have three fair ladies to sing to and we +don't want to slight any of them." + +"I think we ought to get up some entertainments of our own this year. I +never stopped to realize before how few clubs and college societies +Hamilton has. There's only the 'Silver Pen',--one has to have high +literary ability to make that,--the 'Twelfth Night Club' and the +'Fortnightly Debating Society.' We haven't a single sorority," Vera +declared with regret. + +"Miss Remson told me once of a sorority that Hamilton used to have +called the 'Round Table.' It flourished for many years. Then all of a +sudden she heard no more of it. She said Hamilton was very different +even ten years ago from now. There was little automobiling and more +sociability among the campus houses. There were house plays going on +every week and different kinds of entertainments in which almost +everyone joined." + +"That's the way college ought to be," commended Vera. "Even if Hamilton +hasn't yet won back to those palmy days, we had more fellowship here +last year than the year before. Why, during Leila's and my freshman year +here we were seldom invited anywhere. We hardly knew Helen Trent until +late in the year. Nella and Selma, Martha Merrick and Rosalind Black +were our only friends." + +"And now we are to lose Selma." Leila heaved an audible sigh. She had +already informed the girls of Selma's approaching marriage to a young +naval officer. + +"Did Selma know last year she was not going to finish college?" asked +Muriel. "If I had gone through three years of my college course I +wouldn't give up the last and most important year just to be married." + +"That is because you know nothing about love," teased Ronny. + +"Do you?" challenged Muriel. + +"I do not. I have a good deal more sentiment than you have though," +retorted Ronny. "I can appreciate Selma's sacrifice at the shrine of +love." + +"So could I if I knew more about it," Muriel flung back. + +"Precisely what I said to you. So glad you agree with me," chuckled +Ronny. + +"I don't agree with you at all. I meant if I knew more about what you +were pleased to call 'Selma's sacrifice,' not _love_." Muriel's emphasis +of the last word proclaimed her disdain of the tender passion. + +"Hear the geese converse," commented Leila. "Let me tell you both that +Selma had to lose either college or her fiancé for two years. He was +ordered to the Philippines to take charge of a naval station on one of +the islands. They were to have been married anyway as soon as she was +graduated from Hamilton. As it was she chose to go with him. So Selma +gained a husband and lost her seniorship and we lost Selma. I shall miss +her, for a finer girl never lived." + +"Nella will miss her most of all," Vera said quickly. "We must try to +make it up to Nella by taking her around with us a lot." + +They had by this time reached the Hall. Girl-like they lingered on the +steps, enjoying the light night breeze that had sprung up in the last +hour. Marjorie's old friend, the chimes, had rung out the stroke of +eleven before they reached the Hall. College having not yet opened +officially, they claimed the privilege of keeping a little later hours. + +As they loitered outside, conversing in low tones, the front door opened +and a girl stepped out on the veranda. She uttered a faint sound of +surprise at sight of the group of girls. She made a half movement as +though to retreat into the house. Then, her face turned away from them, +she hurried across the veranda and down the steps. + +Though the veranda light was not switched on, the girls had seen her +face plainly. To four of them she was known. + +"Who was _she_ and what ailed her?" was Muriel's light question. "She +acted as though she were afraid we might eat her up." + +"That was Miss Sayres, President Matthews' private secretary," answered +Leila in a peculiar tone. "As to what ailed her, she did not expect to +see us and she was not pleased. We have an old Irish proverb: 'When a +man runs from you be sure his feet are at odds with his conscience.'" + + + + +CHAPTER IV--A CONGENIAL PAIR + + +"Well, here we are at the same old stand again." Leslie Cairns yawned, +stretched upward her kimono-clad arms and clasped them behind her head. +Lounging opposite her, in a deep, Sleepy-Hollow chair, Natalie Weyman, +also in a negligee, scanned her friend's face with some anxiety. + +"Les, do you or do you not intend to try to make a new stand this year +for our rights? I think the way we were treated last year after that +basket-ball affair was simply outrageous. I don't mean by Miss Dean and +her crowd, I mean by girls we had lunched and done plenty of favors +for." + +"If you are talking about the freshies they never were to be depended +upon from the first. Bess Walbert stood by us, of course. So did a lot +of Alston Terrace kids. She did good work for us there." + +"Every reason why she should have," Natalie tartly pointed out. She was +still jealous of Leslie's friendship with Elizabeth Walbert. "You did +enough for _her_. She certainly will not win the soph presidency, no +matter how much you may root for her. She was awfully unpopular with her +class before college closed. I know that to be a fact." + +"Why is it that you have to go up in the air like a sky rocket every +time I mention Bess Walbert's name?" Leslie scowled her impatience. "You +wouldn't give that poor kid credit for anything clever she had done, no +matter how wonderful it was." + +"Humph! I have yet to learn of anything wonderful she ever did or ever +will do," sneered Natalie. "I am not going to quarrel with you, Leslie, +about her." Natalie modified her tone. "She isn't worth it. You think I +am awfully jealous of her. I am not. I don't like her because she is so +untruthful." + +"Why don't you say she is a liar and be done with it?" 'So untruthful!' +Leslie mimicked. "That sounds like Bean and her crowd." Displeased with +Natalie for decrying Elizabeth Walbert, Leslie took revenge by mimicking +her chum. She knew nothing cut Natalie more than to be mimicked. + +"All right. I will say it. Bess Walbert _is_ a liar and you will find it +out, too, before you are done with her. Besides, she is treacherous. If +you were to turn her down for any reason, she wouldn't care what she +said about you on the campus. I have watched her a good deal, Les. She's +like this. She will take a little bit of truth for a foundation and then +build up something from it that's entirely a lie. If she would stick to +facts; but she doesn't." + +"She has always been square enough with me," Leslie insisted. + +"Because you have made a fuss over her," was the instant explanation. +"She knows you are at the head of the Sans and she has taken precious +good care to keep in with you. She cares for no one but herself." + +"Oh, nonsense! That's what you always said about Lola Elster. I've never +had any rows with Lola. We're as good friends today as ever." + +"Still Lola dropped you the minute she grew chummy with Alida Burton," +Natalie reminded. "Lola was just ungrateful, though. She has more honor +in a minute than Bess will ever have. She isn't a talker or a +mischief-maker. She never thinks of much but having a good time. She +hardly ever says anything gossipy about anyone." + +"I thought you didn't like Lola?" Leslie smiled in her slow fashion. + +"I don't," came frankly. "Of the two evils, I prefer her to Bess. My +advice to you is not to be too pleasant with Bess until you see what her +position here at Hamilton is going to be. I tell you she isn't well +liked. You can keep her at arm's length, if you begin that way, without +making her sore. If you baby her and then drop her, look out!" Natalie +shook a prophetic finger at Leslie. + +"We can't afford to take any chances this year, Les. With all the things +we have done that would put us in line for being expelled, we have +managed by sheer good luck to slide from under. If we hadn't worked like +sixty last spring term to make up for the time we lost fooling with +basket-ball we wouldn't be seniors now. I don't want any conditions to +work off this year." + +"Neither do I. Don't intend to have 'em. I begin to believe you may be +right about keeping Bess in her place." Natalie's evident earnestness +had made some impression on her companion. + +"I _know_ I am," Natalie emphasized with lofty dignity. "Are you sure +she doesn't know anything about that hazing business? She made a remark +to Harriet Stephens last spring that sounded as though she knew all +about it." + +"Well, she does not, unless someone of the Sans besides you or I has +told her of it." Leslie sat up straight in her chair, looking rather +worried. "I must pump her and find out what she knows. If she does know +of it, then we have a traitor in the camp. Mark me, I'll throw any girl +out of the club who has babbled that affair. Didn't we doubly swear, +afterward, never to tell it to a soul while we were at Hamilton?" + +"Hard to say who told Bess," shrugged Natalie. "Certainly it was not I." + +"No; you're excepted. I said that." Leslie's assurance was bored. She +was tired of hearing Natalie extol her own loyalty. It was an everyday +citation. "That hazing stunt of ours doesn't worry me half so much as +that trick we put over on Trotty Remson. I am always afraid that Laura +will flivver someday and the whole thing will come to light. If it +happens after I leave Hamilton, I don't care. All I care about is +getting through. If I keep on the soft side of my father he is going to +let me help run his business. That's my dream. But I have to be +graduated with honors, if there are any I can pull down. At least I must +stick it out here for my diploma." + +"What would your father do if you flunked this year in any way?" + +"He would disown me. I mean that. I have money of my own; lots of it. +That part of it wouldn't feaze me. But my father is the only person on +earth I really have any respect for. I'd never get over it; _never_." + +Leslie's loose features showed a tightened intensity utterly foreign to +them. Her hands took hold on the chair arms with a grip which revealed +something of the nervous emotion the fell contingency inspired in her. + +The two girls had arrived on the seven o'clock train from the north that +evening. They had stopped at the Lotus for dinner and had reached the +hall shortly before the beginning of the serenade. Leslie had been +Natalie's guest at the Weymans' camp in the Adirondacks. Thus the two +had come on to college together instead of accepting Dulcie Vale's +invitation to journey from New York City to Hamilton in the Vales' +private car, as they had done the three previous years. Since the hazing +party on St. Valentine's night, Leslie and Dulcie had not been on +specially good terms. Leslie was still peeved with Dulcie for not having +locked the back door of the untenanted house as she had been ordered to +do. Had she obeyed orders the Sans would not have been put to +panic-stricken flight by unknown invaders. While those who had come to +Marjorie's rescue might have hung about the outside of the house, they +could not have found entrance easy with both back and front doors +properly locked. + +"I don't know what is the matter with me tonight." Leslie rose and +commenced a restless walk up and down the room, hands clasped behind her +back. "That music upset me, I guess. I wonder who the singers were. +Serenading Bean and her gang. Humph! Nobody ever serenaded us that I can +recall. I suppose Beanie arrived in all her glory this afternoon, hence +those yowlers under her window tonight." + +"They really sang beautifully. Whoever played the violin was a fine +musician. I never heard a better rendition of 'How Fair Art Thou.'" Fond +of music, Natalie was forced to admit the high quality of the +performance, even though the serenade had been in honor of the girl of +whom she had always been so jealous. + +"I don't care much for music unless it is rag-time or musical comedy +stuff. Sentimental songs get on my nerves. I hate that priggish old +'Hymn to Hamilton.' I hope Laura got out of here without being seen." +Leslie went back to the subject still uppermost in her mind. "It was +risking something to send for her to come over here, but I was anxious +to see her and find out if anything had happened this summer detrimental +to us. I didn't feel like meeting her along the road tonight." + +"Oh, I don't believe anyone saw her," reassured Natalie. "It was after +eleven when she left here. The house was quiet as could be. I noticed it +when I went out in the hall before she left to see if the coast was +clear. Not more than half the girls who belong here are back yet. Bean +and her crowd had gone to bed, I presume. You wouldn't catch such angels +as they even making a dent in the ten-thirty rule." + +"That's so." Leslie made one more trip up and down the room, then +resumed the chair in which she had been sitting. "Well, I'll take it for +granted that Sayres made a clean get-away. One thing about her, she will +stand by us as long as she is paid for it. Besides, she would get into +more trouble than we if the truth were known. That's where we have the +advantage of her. She has to protect herself as well as us. What I have +always been afraid of is this: If Remson and old Doctor Know-it-all ever +came to an understanding he would go to quizzing Sayres. If she lost her +nerve, for he is a terror when he's angry, she might flivver." + +"Don't cross bridges until you come to them," counseled Natalie. She was +beginning to see the value of assuming the role of comforter to Leslie. +One thing Natalie had determined. She would strain a point to be first +with Leslie during their senior year. She had importuned Leslie to visit +her for the purpose of regaining her old footing. She and Leslie had +spent a fairly congenial month together in the Adirondacks. Now Natalie +intended to hold the ground she had gained against all comers. + +"I'm not going to. I shall forget last year, so far as I can. I +certainly spent enough money and didn't gain a thing. Our best plan is +to go on as we did last spring. If I see a good opportunity to bother +Bean and her devoted beanstalks, I shall not let it pass me by. I am not +going to take any more risks, though. If I manage to live down those +I've taken, I'll do well." + +"I know I wouldn't _raise a hand_ to help a freshie this year," Natalie +declared with a positive pucker of her small mouth. "Think of the way we +rushed the greedy ingrates! Then they wouldn't stand up for us during +that basket-ball trouble." + +"Put all that down to profit and loss." Leslie had emerged from the +brief spasm of dread which invariably visited her after seeing Laura +Sayres. "We had the wrong kind of girls to deal with. There were more +digs and prigs in that class than eligibles. That's why we lost. I am +all done with that sort of thing. If I can't be as popular as Bean," +Leslie's intonation was bitterly sarcastic, "I can be a good deal more +exclusive. As it is, I expect to have all I can do to keep the Sans in +line. Dulcie Vale has an idea that she ought to run the club. Give her a +chance and she'd run it into the ground. She has as much sense as a +peacock. She can fan her feathers and squawk." + +Natalie laughed outright at this. It was so exactly descriptive of +Dulcie. + +Leslie looked well pleased with herself. She thoroughly enjoyed saying +smart things which made people laugh. It was a sore cross to her that +after three years of the hardest striving she had not attained the kind +of popularity at Hamilton which she craved. Yet she could not see +wherein she was to blame. + +Gifted with a keen sense of humor, she had tricks of expression so +original in themselves that she might have easily gained a reputation as +the funniest girl in college. Had good humor radiated her peculiarly +rugged features she would have been that rarity, an ugly beauty. Due to +her proficiency at golf and tennis, she was of most symmetrical figure. +She was particularly fastidious as to dress, and made a smart +appearance. Having so much that was in her favor, she was hopelessly +hampered by self. + + + + +CHAPTER V--A LUCKY MISHAP + + +The serenading expedition of the next night was the beginning of a +succession of similar gaieties for the Lookouts. As Hamilton continued +to gather in her own for the college year, the Sanford quintette found +themselves in flattering demand. + +"If I don't stay at home once in a while I shall never be able to find a +thing that belongs to me," Muriel Harding cried out in despair as Jerry +reminded her at luncheon that they were invited to Silverton Hall that +evening to celebrate Elaine Hunter's birthday. "You girls may laugh, but +honestly I haven't finished unpacking my trunk. Every time I plan to +wind up that delightful job, along comes some friendly, but misguided +person and invites me out." + +"Stay at home then," advised Jerry. "If that last remark of yours was +meant for me, I am _not_ misguided and I shall _not_ be friendly if you +hurl such adjectives at me." + +"Neither was meant for you. You are only the bearer of the invitation. +Why stir up a breeze over nothing?" + +"If you don't go to Elaine's birthday party she will think you stayed +away because you were too stingy to buy her a present. We are all going +to drive to Hamilton this afternoon after classes to buy gifts for her. +Don't you wish you were going, too?" Ronny regarded Muriel with +tantalizing eyes. + +"Oh, I'm going along," Muriel glibly assured. "You can't lose me. What I +like to do and what I ought to do are two very different things. After +this week I shall settle down to the student life in earnest. My +subjects are terrific this term. I am sorry I started calculus. I had +enough to do without that." + +"This will have to be my last party for a week or two," Marjorie +declared. "I haven't done any real studying this week, and I owe all my +correspondents letters. I feel guilty for not having done more toward +helping this year's freshies. I've only been down to the station twice." + +"They're in good hands. Phil and Barbara have done glorious work. They +have had at least twenty sophs helping them. It's a cinch this year. +Very different from last." Jerry gave a short laugh. "Phil says," Jerry +discreetly lowered her voice, "that not a Sans has come near the station +since she has been on committee duty there to welcome the freshies. I +told her it didn't surprise me." + +"I didn't know Miss Cairns and Miss Weyman had come back until I +happened to pass them in the upstairs hall," Muriel said. + +"They were here for a couple of days before Leila knew it, and she +generally knows who is back and who isn't. Miss Remson told Leila she +didn't know it herself until the next day after they arrived. The two of +them came back together on the night we were serenaded. They simply +walked into the house and went to their rooms. She didn't see them until +noon the next day." It was Veronica who delivered this information. + +"Did Miss Remson say anything to them on account of it?" questioned +Muriel. + +"No; she wasn't pleased, but she said she thought it best to ignore it. +It was just one more discourtesy on their part." + +"That accounts for our meeting Miss Sayres on the veranda." Lucy's +greenish eyes had grown speculative. "She had been calling on those two. +We spoke of it after she passed, you will remember. Leila said 'No,' +they had not come back yet. We wondered on whom she had been calling at +the Hall. While we can't prove that it was Miss Cairns and Miss Weyman +she had come to see, that would be the natural conclusion," Lucy summed +up with the gravity of a lawyer. + +"I object, your honor. The evidence is too fragmentary to be +considered," put in Muriel in mannish tones. She bowed directly to +Marjorie. + +"Court's adjourned. I have nothing to say." Marjorie laughed and pushed +back her chair from the table. "I'm not making light of what you said, +Lucy." She turned to the latter. "I was only funning with Muriel. I +think as you do. Still none of us can prove it." + +"I wish the whole thing would be cleared up before those girls are +graduated and gone from Hamilton," Katherine Langly said almost +vindictively. "I wouldn't care if it made a lot of trouble for them all. +Miss Remson has stood so much from them and she still feels so hurt at +Doctor Matthews' unjust treatment of her. I can't believe he wrote that +letter. She believes it." + +"I don't see how she can in face of all the contemptible things the Sans +have done," asserted Jerry. + +"She believes it because she says he signed the letter, so he must have +written it. I told her the signature might be a forgery. She said 'No, +it could hardly be that.' I saw she was set on that point, so I didn't +argue it further." + +"Excuse me for abruptly changing the subject, but where are we to meet +after classes this P.M.?" inquired Muriel. + +The chums had left the table and proceeded as far as the hall, where +their ways separated. + +"Go straight over to the garage. Our two Old Reliables will be there +with their buzz wagons. Be on time, too," called Jerry, as with an "All +right, much obliged, Jeremiah," Muriel started up the stairs. Half way +up she turned and asked, "What time?" + +"Quarter past four. If you aren't there on the dot we shall go without +you. None of us know what we are going to buy, so we want all the time +we can have to look around. Remember, we have to hustle back to the +Hall, have dinner and dress." + +"I'll remember." With a wag of her head Muriel resumed her ascent of the +stairs and quickly disappeared. + +The others stopped briefly in the hall to talk. Marjorie was next to +leave the group. She remembered she had intended to change her white +linen frock, which did not look quite fresh enough for a trip to town. +Her last recitation of the afternoon being chemistry, she knew she would +have no time to return to the Hall before meeting her chums at the +garage. + +Alas for the pretty gown of delft blue pongee which she had donned with +girlish satisfaction at luncheon time. An accident at the chemical desk +sent a veritable deluge of discoloring liquid showering over her. +Despite her apron, her frock was plentifully spotted by it. + +Ordinarily she would have made light of the misfortune. As it was she +felt ready to cry with vexation. She would have to change gowns again in +order to be presentable for the trip to Hamilton. The girls had set +four-fifteen as the starting time. She could not possibly make it before +four-thirty. + +Her first resolve was to hurry over to the garage immediately after the +chemistry period and tell the the girls not to wait for her. + +In spite of Jerry's assertion to Muriel that they would not wait a +moment after four-fifteen, Marjorie knew that they would strain a point +and linger a little longer if she did not put in an appearance at the +time appointed. Recalling the fact that Lucy was in the Biological +Laboratory, situated across the hall from the Chemical Laboratory, +Marjorie decided to try to catch Lucy before she left the building and +send word to the others to go on without her. She could then hurry +straight to the Hall, slip into another gown and hail a taxicab going to +the town of Hamilton. There were usually two or three to be found in the +immediate vicinity of the campus. + +"Oh, there you are!" Marjorie hailed softly, when, at precisely four +o'clock Lucy emerged from the laboratory across the hall. "I thought you +would be out on the minute on account of going to town. I left chemistry +five minutes earlier for fear of missing you. Just see what happened to +me." She displayed the results of the accident. "I am a sight. Tell the +girls not to wait. I must go on to the Hall and make myself presentable. +I'll take a taxi and meet them at the Curio Shop. If they're ready to go +on before I reach there, tell them to leave word with the proprietor +where they are going next." + +"All right. What a shame about your dress. Do you think those stains +will come out?" Lucy scanned the unsightly spots and streaks with a +dubious eye. + +"I know they won't." Marjorie voiced rueful positiveness. "This is the +first time I ever wore this frock. I gave it a nice baptism, didn't I? +Well, it can't be helped now. I mustn't stop." The two had come to the +outer entrance to Science Hall. "See you at the Curio Shop." With a +parting wave of the hand Marjorie ran lightly down the steps and trotted +across the campus. + +Always quick of action, it did not take her long, once she had gained +her room, to discard the unlucky blue pongee gown for one of pink linen. + +"Just half-past four. I didn't do so badly," she congratulated, +consulting her wrist watch as she hastened down the driveway toward the +west gate. "Now for a taxi." + +No taxicab was in sight, however. Three of these useful vehicles had +recently reaped a harvest of students bound for town and started off +with them. Five minutes passed and Marjorie grew more impatient. To +undertake to walk to Hamilton would add greatly to the delay in joining +the gift seekers. True she might meet a taxicab on the way. Whether the +driver would turn back for a single fare she was not sure. She +determined to walk on rather than stand still. If she were lucky enough +to meet a taxicab on the highway she would offer its driver double fare +to turn around and take her into town. + +The brisk pace at which she walked soon brought her to the western end +of the campus wall. Presently she had reached the beginning of Hamilton +Estates. And still no sign of a taxicab! + +"It looks as though I'd have to walk after all," she remarked, half +aloud. "How provoking!" She would reach the Curio Shop about the time +the others were starting for the campus was her vexed calculation. +Besides, there was Lucy, who would patiently wait for her when she might +be going on with the others. They had planned to visit two or three +shops. + +In the midst of her annoyance, the sound of a motor behind caused her to +turn. To her surprise she recognized the driver and machine as being of +the regular jitney service between the campus and the town. His only +fare was a young man, evidently a salesman who had had business at the +college. He was occupying the front seat beside the driver. + +The latter stopped at Marjorie's sign and opened the door of the tonneau +for her. Very thankfully she stepped in. Engaged in conversation with +the salesman, the man at the wheel drove along at a leisurely rate of +speed. Marjorie could only wish that he would hurry a little faster. + +Coming opposite to Hamilton Arms, Marjorie forgot her impatience as her +eyes eagerly took in the estate she so greatly admired. The +chrysanthemums had begun to throw out luxuriant bloom in border and bed, +while the bronze and scarlet of fallen leaves lay lightly on the +short-cropped grass. + +Almost opposite the point where Hamilton Arms adjoined the next estate, +Marjorie spied a small, familiar figure trotting along at the left of +the highway. It was Miss Susanna Hamilton. In one hand she carried a +good-sized splint basket from which nodded a colorful wealth of +chrysanthemums in little individual flower pots. She was bare-headed, +though over her black silk dress she wore the knitted scarlet shawl +which gave her the odd likeness to a lively old robin. + +Marjorie leaned forward a trifle as the machine came opposite Miss +Susanna. She viewed the last of the Hamiltons with kindly, non-curious +eyes. The taxicab had almost slid past the sturdy pedestrian when +something happened. The handle of the splint basket treacherously gave +way, landing the basket on the ground with force. It tipped side-ways. +Two or three of the flower pots rolled out of it. + +Forgetting everything but the mishap to Brooke Hamilton's eccentric +descendant, Marjorie called out on impulse: "Driver; please stop the +taxi! I wish to get out here!" + + + + +CHAPTER VI--THE LAST OF THE HAMILTONS + + +The man promptly brought the machine to a slow stop. He was too well +acquainted with the whims of "them girls from the college" to exhibit +surprise. Having paid her fare on entering the taxicab, Marjorie now +quitted it with alacrity and ran back to the scene of the mishap. + +"Please let me help you," she offered in a gracious fashion which came +straight from her heart. "I saw the handle of that basket break and I +made the driver stop and let me out of the taxi." + +Without waiting for Miss Susanna's permission, Marjorie stooped and lay +hold on one of the scattered flower pots. Thus far the old lady had made +no effort to gather them in. She had stood eyeing the unstable basket +with marked disgust. + +"And who are you, may I ask?" The brisk manner of question reminded +Marjorie of Miss Remson. + +"Oh, I am Marjorie Dean from Hamilton College," Marjorie said, +straightening up with a smile. + +For an instant the two pairs of dark eyes met. In the old lady's +appeared a gleam half resentful, half admiring. In the young girl's +shone a pleasant light, hard to resist. + +"Yes; I supposed you were one of them," nodded Miss Susanna. "Let me +tell you, young woman, you are the first I have met in all these years +from the college who had any claim on gentle breeding." + +Marjorie smiled. "There are a good many fine girls at Hamilton," she +defended without intent to be discourteous. "Any one of a number I know +would have been glad to help you." + +"Then that doll shop has changed a good deal recently," retorted the old +lady with rapidity. "Nowadays it is nothing but drive flamboyant cars +and spend money for frivolities over there. I hate the place." + +Marjorie was silent. She did not like to contradict further by saying +pointedly that she loved Hamilton, neither could she bear the thought of +not defending her Alma Mater. + +"I can't say that I hate Hamilton College, because I don't," she finally +returned, before the pause between the two had grown embarrassing. "I am +sure you must have good reason to dislike Hamilton and its students or +you would not say so." + +The pink in her cheeks deepened. Marjorie bent and completed the task of +returning the last spilled posy to the basket. + +"There!" she exclaimed good-naturedly. "I have them all in the basket +again, and not a single one of those little jars are broken. I wish you +would let me carry the basket for you, Miss Hamilton. It is really a +cumbersome affair without the handle." + +"You are quite a nice child, I must say." Miss Susanna continued to +regard Marjorie with her bright, bird-like gaze. "Where on earth were +you brought up?" + +Signally amused, Marjorie laughed outright. She had raised the basket +from the ground. As she stood there, her lovely face full of light and +laughter, arms full of flowers, Miss Susanna's stubborn old heart +softened a trifle toward girlhood. + +"I come from Sanford, New York," she answered. "This is my junior year +at Hamilton. Four other girls from Sanford entered when I did." + +"Sanford," repeated her questioner. "I never heard of the place. If +these girls are friends of yours I suppose they escape being +barbarians." + +"They are the finest girls I ever knew," Marjorie praised with +sincerity. + +"Well, well; I am pleased to hear it." The old lady spoke with a +brusquerie which seemed to indicate her wish to be done with the +subject. "You insist on helping me, do you?" + +"Yes; if it pleases you to allow me." + +"It's to my advantage, so it ought to," was the dry retort. "I am not +particular about lugging that basket in my arms. I loaded it too +heavily. Brian, the gardener, would have carried it for me, but I didn't +care to be bothered with him. I am carrying these down to an old man who +used to work about the lawns. His days are numbered and he loves flowers +better than anything else. He lives in a little house just outside the +estate. It is still quite a walk. If you have anything else to do you +had better consider it and not me." + +"I was on my way to town. It is too late to go now." Marjorie explained +the nature of her errand as they walked on. "The girls will probably +come to the conclusion that I found it too late to go to Hamilton after +I had changed my gown. One or another of them will buy me something +pretty to give to Elaine," she ended. + +"It is a good many years since I bought a birthday gift for anyone. I +always give my servants money on their birthdays. I have not received a +birthday gift for over fifty years and I don't want one. I do not allow +my household to make me presents on any occasion." Miss Susanna +announced this with a touch of defiance. + +"It seems as though my life has been full of presents. My father and +mother have given me hundreds, I guess. My father is away from home a +good deal. When he comes back from his long business trips he always +brings Captain and I whole stacks of treasures." + +Marjorie was not sure that this was what she should have said. She found +conversing with the last of the Hamiltons a trifle hazardous. She had no +desire to contradict, yet she and her new acquaintance had thus far not +agreed on a single point. + +"Who is 'Captain,'" was the inquiry, made with the curiosity of a child. + +Marjorie turned rosy red. The pet appellation had slipped out before she +thought. + +"I call my mother 'Captain,'" she informed, then went on to explain +further of their fond home play. She fully expected Miss Susanna would +criticize it as "silly." She was already understanding a little of the +lonely old gentlewoman's bitterness of heart. Her earnest desire to know +the last of the Hamiltons had arisen purely out of her great sympathy +for Miss Susanna. + +"You seem to have had a childhood," was the surprising reception her +explanation called forth. "I can't endure the children of today. They +are grown up in their minds at seven. I must say your father and mother +are exceptional. No wonder you have good manners. That is, if they are +genuine. I have seen some good imitations. Young girls are more +deceitful than young men. I don't like either. There is nothing I +despise so much as the calloused selfishness of youth. It is far worse +than crabbed age." + +"I know young girls are often selfish of their own pleasure," Marjorie +returned with sudden humility. "I try not to be. I know I am at times. +Many of my girl friends are not. I wish I could begin to tell you of the +beautiful, unselfish things some of my chums have done for others." + +Miss Susanna vouchsafed no reply to this little speech. She trotted +along beside Marjorie for several rods without saying another word. When +she spoke again it was to say briefly: "Here is where we turn off the +road. Is that basket growing very heavy?" + +"It is quite heavy. I believe I will set it down for a minute." Marjorie +carefully deposited her burden on the grass at the roadside and +straightened up, stretching her aching arms. The basket had begun to be +considerable of a burden on account of the manner in which it had to be +carried. + +"I couldn't have lugged that myself," Miss Susanna confessed. "I found +it almost too much for me with the handle on. Ridiculous, the flimsy way +in which things are put together today! Splint baskets of years ago +would have stood any amount of strain. If you had not kindly come to my +assistance, I intended to pick out as many of those jars as I could +carry in my arms and go on with them. The others I would have set up +against my own property fence and hoped no one would walk off with them +before my return. I dislike anyone to have the flowers I own and have +tended unless I give them away myself." + +"I have often seen you working among your flowers when I have passed +Hamilton Arms. I knew you must love them dearly or you would not spend +so much time with them." + +"Hm-m!" The interjection might have been an assent to Marjorie's polite +observation. It was not, however. Miss Susanna was understanding that +this young girl who had shown her such unaffected courtesy had thought +of her kindly as a stranger. She experienced a sudden desire to see +Marjorie again. Her long and concentrated hatred against Hamilton +College and its students forbade her to make any friendly advances. She +had already shown more affability according to her ideas than she had +intended. She wondered why she had not curtly refused Marjorie's offer. + +"I am rested now." Marjorie lifted the basket. The two skirted the +northern boundary of Hamilton Arms, taking a narrow private road which +lay between it and the neighboring estate. The road continued straight +to a field where it ended. At the edge of the field stood a small +cottage painted white. Miss Susanna pointed it out as their destination. + +"I will carry this to the door and then leave you." Marjorie had no +desire to intrude upon Miss Susanna's call at the cottage. + +"Very well. I am obliged to you, Marjorie Dean." Miss Susanna's thanks +were expressed in tones which sounded close to unfriendly. She was +divided between appreciation of Marjorie's courtesy and her dislike for +girls. + +"You are welcome." They were now within a few yards of the cottage. +Arriving at the low doorstep, Marjorie set the basket carefully upon it. +"Goodbye, Miss Hamilton." She held out her hand. "I am so glad to have +met you." + +"What's that? Oh, yes." The old lady took Marjorie's proffered hand. The +evident sincerity of the words touched a hidden spring within, long +sealed. "Goodbye, child. I am glad to have met at least one young girl +with genuine manners." + +Marjorie smiled as she turned away. She had never before met an old +person who so heartily detested youth. She knew her timely assistance +had been appreciated. On that very account Miss Susanna had tried to +smother, temporarily, her standing grudge against the younger +generation. + +Well, it had happened. She had achieved her heart's desire. She had +actually met and talked with the last of the Hamiltons. + + + + +CHAPTER VII--TWO KINDS OF GIRLS + + +"You are a dandy," was Jerry's greeting as Marjorie walked into their +room at ten minutes past six. "Where were you? Lucy said you ruined your +blue pongee with some horrid old chemical. It didn't take you two hours +to change it, did it? I see we have on our pink linen." + +"You know perfectly well it did not take me two hours to change it. A +plain insinuation that I'm a slowpoke. Take it back." In high good +humor, Marjorie made a playful rush at her room-mate. + +"Hold on. I am not made of wood, as Hal says when I occasionally hammer +him in fun." Jerry put up her hands in comic self-defense. "You +certainly are in a fine humor after keeping your poor pals waiting for +you for an hour and a half and then not even condescending to appear." + +"I've had an adventure, Jeremiah. That's why I didn't meet you girls in +Hamilton. I started for there in a taxicab. Then I met a lady in +distress, and, emulating the example of a gallant knight, I hopped out +of the taxi to help her." + +"Wonderful! I suppose you met Phil Moore or some other Silvertonite with +her arms full of bundles. About the time she saw you she dropped 'em. +'With a sympathetic yell, Helpful Marjorie leaped from the taxicab to +aid her overburdened but foolish friend.' Quotation from the last best +seller." Jerry regarded Marjorie with a teasing smile. + +"Your suppositions are about a mile off the track. I haven't seen a +Silvertonite this afternoon. The lady in distress I met was----" Marjorie +paused by way of making her revelation more effective, "Miss Susanna +Hamilton." + +"_What?_ You don't say so." Jerry exhibited the utmost astonishment. +"Good thing you didn't ask me to guess. She is the last person I would +have thought of. Now how did it happen? I am glad of it for your sake. +You've been so anxious to know her." + +Rapidly Marjorie recounted the afternoon's adventure. As she talked she +busied herself with the redressing of her hair. After dinner she would +have no more than time to put on the white lingerie frock she intended +to wear to Elaine's birthday party. + +Jerry listened without comment. While she had never taken the amount of +interest in the owner of Hamilton Arms which Marjorie had evinced since +entering Hamilton College, she had a certain curiosity regarding Miss +Susanna. + +"I knew you girls would wait and wonder what had delayed me. I am +awfully sorry. You know that, Jeremiah," Marjorie apologized. "But I +couldn't have gone on in the taxi after I saw what had happened to Miss +Susanna. She couldn't have carried the basket as I did clear over to +that cottage. She said she would have picked up as many plant jars as +she could carry in her arms and gone on with them." + +"One of the never-say-die sort, isn't she? Very likely in the years she +has lived near the college she has met with some rude girls. On the +order of the Sans, you know. If, in the past twenty years, Hamilton was +half as badly overrun with snobs as when we entered, one can imagine why +she doesn't adore students." + +"It doesn't hurt my feelings to hear her say she disliked girls. I only +felt sorry for her. It must be dreadful to be old and lonely. She is +lonely, even if she doesn't know it. She has deliberately shut the door +between herself and happiness. I am so glad we're young, Jeremiah." +Marjorie sighed her gratitude for the gift of youth. "I hope always to +be young at heart." + +"I sha'n't wear a cap and spectacles and walk with a cane until I have +to, believe me," was Jerry's emphatic rejoinder. "Are you ready to go +down to dinner? My hair is done, too. I shall dress after I've been fed. +Oh, I forgot to tell you. I bought you a present to give Elaine. We +bought every last thing we are going to give her at the Curio Shop." + +"You are a dear. I knew some of the girls would help me out. I supposed +it would be you, though. Do let me see my present." + +"There it is on my chiffonier. You'd better examine it after dinner. It +is a hand-painted chocolate pot; a beauty, too. Looks like a bit of +spring time." + +"I'll look at it the minute I come back. I'm oceans obliged to you." +Marjorie cast a longing glance at the tall package on the chiffonier, as +the two girls left the room. + +At dinner that night Marjorie's adventure of the afternoon excited the +interest of her chums. She was obliged to repeat, as nearly as she could +what she said to Miss Susanna and what Miss Susanna had said to her. + +"Did she mention the May basket?" quizzed Muriel with a giggle. + +"Now why should she?" counter-questioned Marjorie. + +"Well; she was talking about not receiving a birthday present for over +fifty years. She might have said, 'But some kind-hearted person hung a +beautiful violet basket on my door on May day evening!'" + +"Only she didn't. That flight of fancy was wasted," Jerry informed +Muriel. + +"Wasted on you. You haven't proper sentiment," flung back Muriel. + +"I'll never acquire it in your company," Jerry assured. The subdued +laughter the tilt evoked reached the table occupied by Leslie Cairns, +Natalie Weyman, Dulcie Vale and three others of the Sans. + +"Those girls seem to find enough to laugh at," commented Dulcie Vale +half enviously. + +"Simpletons!" muttered Leslie Cairns. She was out of sorts with the +world in general that evening. "They sit there and 'ha-ha-ha' at their +meals until I can hardly stand it sometimes. I hate eating dinner here. +I'd dine at the Colonial every evening, but it takes too much time. I +really must study hard this year to get through. I certainly will be +happy to see the last of this treadmill. I'm going to take a year after +I'm graduated just to sail around and have a good time. After that I +shall help my father in business." + +"There's one thing you ought to know, Leslie, and that is you had better +be careful what you do this year. I have heard two or three rumors that +sound as though those girls over there had told about what happened the +night of the masquerade. I wouldn't take part in another affair of that +kind for millions of dollars." + +Dulcie Vale assumed an air of virtuous resolve as she delivered herself +of this warning to Leslie. + +"Don't worry. There won't be any occasion. I don't believe those muffs +ever told a thing outside of their own crowd. They're a close +corporation. I wish I could say the same of us." Leslie laughed this +arrow with cool deliberation. + +"What do you mean?" Harriet Stephens said sharply. "Who of us would be +silly enough to tell our private affairs?" + +"I hope you wouldn't." Leslie's eyes narrowed threateningly. "I have +heard one or two things myself which may or may not be true. I am not +ready to say anything further just now. My advice to all of you is to +keep your affairs to yourselves. If you are foolish enough to babble +your own about the campus, on your head be it. Be sure you will hear +from me if you tell tales. Besides, you are apt to lose your diplomas by +it. A word to the wise, you know. I have a recitation in psychology in +the morning. I must put in a quiet evening. Kindly let me alone, all of +you." She rose and sauntered from the room, leaving her satellites to +discuss her open insinuation and wonder what she had heard to put her in +such an "outrageous" humor. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII--A FROLIC AT SILVERTON HALL + + +The "simpletons" finished their dinner amid much merriment, quite +unconscious of their lack of sense, and hustled up to their rooms to +dress for the party. Leila, Vera, Helen, Hortense Barlow, Eva Ingram, +Nella Sherman and Mary Cornell had also been invited. Shortly after +seven the elect started for Silverton Hall, primed for a jubilant +evening. Besides their gifts, each girl carried a small nosegay of mixed +flowers. The flowers had been purchased in bulk by Helen, Eva and Mary. +The trio had made them up into dainty, round bouquets. These were to be +showered upon Elaine, immediately she appeared among them. Helen had +also composed a Nonsense Ode which she said had cost her more mental +effort than forty themes. + +Every girl at Silverton Hall was invited to the party. It was not in +gentle Elaine to slight anyone. With twenty girls from other campus +houses, the long living room at the Hall was filled. Across one of its +lower corners had been hung a heavy green curtain. What it concealed +only those who had arranged the surprise knew. Elaine had been seized by +Portia Graham and Blanche Scott and made to swear on her sacred honor +that she would absolutely shun the living room until granted permission +to enter it. + +"I hope you have all put cards with your presents," were Portia's first +words after greeting them at the door. "You can't give them to Elaine +yourselves. We've arranged a general presentation. So don't be snippy +because I rob you of your offerings." + +"Glad of it." Jerry promptly tendered her gift to Portia. "I always feel +silly giving a present." + +The others from Wayland Hall very willingly surrendered their good-will +offerings. Their bouquets they kept. Entering the reception hall, Elaine +stepped forward to welcome them and received a sudden flower pelting, to +the accompaniment of a lively chorus of congratulations. + +"How lovely! Umm! The dear things!" she exclaimed, as the rain of +blossoms came fast and furious. Her sweet, fair face aglow with the love +of flowers, she gathered them up in the overskirt of her white chiffon +frock and sat down on the lower step of the stairs to enjoy their +fragrance. "I am not allowed in the living room, girls. Everyone can go +in there but poor me. I thank you for these perfectly darling bouquets. +I'll have a different one to wear every day this week. If you want to +fix your hair or do any further beautifying go up to Robin's room. If +not, go into the living room." + +Lingering for a little further chat with Elaine, whom they all adored, +they entered the living room to be met by a vociferous welcome from the +assembled Silvertonites. When the last guest had arrived and been +ushered into the reception room, from somewhere in the house a bell +suddenly tinkled. In order to give more space the chairs had been +removed and the guests lined the sides of the apartment and filled one +end of it halfway to the wide doorway opening into the main hall. + +At sound of the bell a hush fell upon the merry-makers. Again it tinkled +and down the stairs came a procession that might have stepped from a +tapestry depicting the life of the greenwood men. Four merry men, their +green cambric costumes carefully modeled after the attire of Robin Hood +and his followers, had come to the party. The first, instead of being +Robin Hood, was Robin Page. She bowed low to Elaine, who was still +languishing in exile in the hall, and offered her arm. + +"Delighted; I am so tired of hanging about that old hall!" Elaine seized +Robin's arm with alacrity and the two passed into the adjoining room. +The other three faithful servitors followed their leader. The last one +carried a violin and drew from it an old-time greenwood melody as Elaine +and Robin joined forces and paraded into the living room. + +Straight toward the green curtain Robin piloted Elaine to the fiddler's +plaintive tune. Stationed before the curtain, Blanche Scott drew it +aside. + +A surprised and admiring chorus of exclamations arose. There stood a +real greenwood tree. Portia and Blanche could have amply testified to +this fact as the two of them, armed with a hatchet, had laboriously +chopped down a small maple and brought it to the house from the woods on +the afternoon previous. Its branches were as well loaded with packages +of various sizes as those of a Christmas tree. Under the tree was a +grassy mound built up of hard cushions, the whole covered with real sod +dug up by the patient wood cutters. + +On this Elaine was invited to sit. She formed a pretty picture in her +fluffy white gown in conjunction with the greenery. The four merry men +gathered round her and bowed low, then sang her an ancient ballad to the +accompaniment of the violin. Followed a short speech by the tallest of +the four congratulating her, in stately language on the anniversary of +her birth. Three of the four then busied themselves with stripping the +tree of its spoils and laying them at her feet. During this procedure +the fiddler evoked further sweet thin melodies from his violin. + +Last, Elaine's gallant escort, who had left her briefly, returned to the +scene with a large green and white straw basket, piled high with gifts. +These duly presented, the quaint bit of forest play was over and the +enjoying spectators crowded about the lucky recipient of friendly +riches. + +"I don't know what I shall ever do with them all," she declared in an +amazed, quavering voice. "I'm not half over the shock of so much wealth +yet. I simply can't open them now. I'll weep tears of gratitude over +every separate one of them." + +"You aren't expected to look at them now," was Robin's reassurance. +"Your merry men are going to carry Elaine's nice new playthings up to +her room. So there! Tomorrow's Saturday. You can spend the afternoon +exploring. We are going to have a stunt party now. Anyone who is called +upon to do a stunt has to conform or be ostracized." + +"If we are going to do stunts there is no use in bringing back the +chairs. After Elaine's presents have all been carted upstairs everybody +can stand in that half of the room. We can roll the rug up from the +other end exactly half way. That will give room and a smooth floor for +dancing stunts. We shall surely have some," planned Blanche. "I had +better inform the company of what's going to happen next. It will give +them a chance to think up a stunt." + +While the faithful greenwood men busied themselves in Elaine's behalf, +Blanche proceeded to make a humorous address to the guests. Her +announcement sent them into a flutter. At least half of the crowd +protested to her and to one another that they did not know any stunts to +perform. + +When the deck was finally clear for action and the show began, it was +amazing the number of funny little stunts that came to light. The first +girl called upon was Hortense Barlow. She marched solemnly to the center +of the improvised stage and announced "'Home Sweet Home,' by our +domestic animals." A rooster lustily crowed the first few bars of the +old song, then two hens took it up. They relinquished it in favor of a +bleating lamb. It was succeeded by a pair of grunting pigs. The opening +bars of the chorus were mournfully "mooed" by a lonely cow, and the rest +of it was ably sung by a donkey, a dog and a guinea hen. She then +repeated the chorus as a concerted effort on the part of the barnyard +denizens. + +The manner in which she managed to imitate each creature, still keeping +fairly in tune, was clever in the extreme. Her final concert chorus +convulsed her audience and she was obliged to repeat it. + +Hers was the only encore allowed. Portia announced that, owing to the +lack of time, encores would have to be dispensed with. The guests had +received permission to be out of their house until half-past eleven and +no later. + +Leila was the next on the list and responded with an old-time Irish jig. +Vera Ingram and Mary Cornell gave a brief singing and dancing sketch. +Jerry responded with the one stunt she could do to perfection. She had +half closed her eyes, opened her mouth to its widest extent, and wailed +a popular song just enough off the key to be funny. Heartily detesting +this class of melody, she never failed to make her chums laugh with her +mocking imitation. + +Portia being in charge of the stunt programme, she called upon Blanche +who gave the "Prologue from Pagliacci" in a baritone voice and with +expression which would have done credit to an opera singer. Lucy Warner +surprised her chums by a fine recital of "The Chambered Nautilus," +giving the quiet dramatic emphasis needed to bring out Holmes' poem. +Marie Peyton danced a fisher's hornpipe. Vera Mason borrowed one of +Robin's kimonos and a fan and performed a Japanese fan dance. Several of +the Silvertonites sang, danced, recited, or told a humorous story. + +"As we shall have time for only one more stunt, I will call on Ronny +Lynne," Portia announced, smiling invitingly at Ronny. "Wait a minute +until I call the orchestra together. We will play for you," she added. + +"Play for me for what?" Ronny innocently inquired. Nevertheless she +laughed. Though she had yet to dance for the first time at Hamilton, she +knew that her ability as a dancer was an open secret. + +"For your dance, of course. What kind of dance are you going to do? +Mustn't refuse. Everyone else has been so obliging." Portia beamed +triumph of having thus neatly caught Ronny. + +"I suppose I must fall in line. I don't know what to dance. Most of my +dances require special costumes." Ronny glanced dubiously at the white +and gold evening frock she was wearing. "I know one I can do," she said, +after a moment's thought. + +Raising her voice so as to be heard by all, she continued in her clear +tones: "Girls, I am going to do a Russian interpretative dance for you. +The idea is this: A dancer at the court of a king, who is honored +because of her art, loses her sweetheart. She becomes so despondent that +no amount of praise can lift her from her gloom. She tries to decide +whether she had best kill her rival or herself. Finally she decides to +kill her rival. I shall endeavor to make this plain in a dance +containing two intervals and three episodes. The first depicts the +dancer in her glory. The second, in her dejection. The third, her +decision to kill." + +A brief consultation with the orchestra as to what they could play, +suitable to the interpretation, and Ronny was ready. Phyllis, the +reliable, who had been proficient on the violin from childhood, and +possessed a wide musical repertoire, both vocal and instrumental, played +over a few measures of a valse lente. Her musicians were familiar enough +with it to follow her lead. Moskowski's "Serenade" was chosen for the +second episode, and Scharwenki's "Polish Dance" for the third. + +Every pair of eyes was centered on Ronny's slight, graceful figure as +she stood at ease for an instant waiting for the music to begin. Many of +the girls present had never seen an interpretative dance. With the first +slow, seductive strains of the waltz, Ronny became the court dancer. In +perfect time to the music she made the low sweeping salutes to an +imaginary court, then executed a swaying, beautiful dance of intricate +steps in which her whole body seemed to take part in the expression of +her art. The grace of that symphonic, white and gold figure was such the +watchers held their breath. At the end of the episode there was a dead +silence. Applause, when it came, was deafening. + +Ronny claimed the tiny interval for rest, merely raising her hands in a +despairing gesture at the hub-bub her dance had created. By the time she +was ready to continue it had subsided. All were now anxious to see her +interpretation of the jilted woman. + +The second, though much harder to execute, Ronny liked far better than +the first. Particularly fond of the Russian idea of the dance, she threw +her whole heart into the story she was endeavoring to convey by motion. +When she had finished she was tired enough to gladly claim a rest while +Portia went upstairs for a paper knife which would serve as a dagger for +the third episode. + +The wild strains of the "Polish Dance" were well suited to the character +of the episode. The flitting, white and gold figure of indolent grace +had now become one of tense purpose. Every line of her figure had now +become charged with the desire for revenge. Every step of the dance and +movement of the arms were in accordance with the mood she was +portraying. She enacted the dancer's plan to steal upon her rival +unawares and deliver the fatal knife thrust. + +Had Ronny not explained the dance beforehand, so vivid was her +interpretation, her audience could have gained the meaning of it without +difficulty. A united sighing breath of appreciation went up as she +concluded the Terpsichorean tragedy by a triumphant flinging of her arms +above her head, one hand tightly grasping the murder knife. + +Carried out of life ordinary by the glimpse of another world of emotion, +it took the admiring girls a minute or so to realize that Ronny was +herself and a fellow student. She had cast over them the perfect +illusion of the tragic dancer; the sure measure of her art. When they +came out of it they crowded about her asking all sorts of eager +questions. + +"Ronny has brought down the house, as usual. Look at those girls fairly +idolizing her." Jerry's round face was wreathed with smiles over Ronny's +triumph. "I shall go in for interpretative dancing myself, hereafter. +It's about time I did something to make myself popular around here." + +"What are you going to interpret?" Muriel demanded to know. + +"I haven't yet decided," Jerry vaguely replied. "Anyway, I wouldn't tell +you if I had. I should expect to practice my dance awhile before I +sprang it on anyone. It might give my victim a horrible scare." + +"You wouldn't scare me," was the valorous assurance. "You had better try +it on me first when you are ready to burst upon the world as a dancer. I +will give you valuable criticism." + +"Laugh at me, you mean. Come on. Let's interview the orchestra. Phil is +certainly some little fiddler." + +Taking Muriel by the arm, Jerry marched her up to Phyllis, who, with the +other members of the orchestra, were also coming in for adulation. The +addition of Jerry and Muriel to the group was soon noticeable by the +burst of laughter which ascended therefrom. Good-natured Jerry had not +the remotest idea of how very popular she really was. + +Promptly on the heels of the stunt party followed a collation served in +the dining room. An extra table had been added to the two long ones used +by the residents. When the company trooped into the prettily-decorated +room with its flower-trimmed tables, the Wayland Hall girls were +pleasantly surprised to see Signor Baretti in charge there. While he had +repeatedly refused at various times to cater for private parties given +at the campus houses, Elaine had secured his valued services without +much coaxing. He had long regarded her as "one the nicest, maybe the +best, all my young ladies from the college." + +It was one minute past eleven when the guests rose from the table after +a vigorous response to Portia's toast to Elaine, and joined in singing +one stanza of "Auld Lang Syne." With the last note of the song hasty +goodnights were said. "Not one minute later than half-past eleven" had +been the stipulation laid down with the permission for the extra hour. + +"We'll have to walk as though we all wore seven league boots," declared +Jerry, as the Wayland Hall girls hurried down the steps of Silverton +Hall. "But, oh, my goodness me, haven't we had a fine time? Tonight was +like our good old Sanford crowd parties at home, wasn't it? It looks to +me as though the right kind of times had actually struck Hamilton!" + + + + +CHAPTER IX--HER "DEAREST" WISH + + +It did not need Elaine's party to cement more securely the friendship +which existed between the Silvertonites and the group of Wayland +Hallites who had co-operated with them so loyally from the first. They +had fought side by side for principle. Now they were beginning to +glimpse the lighter, happier side of affairs and experience the pleasure +of discovering how much each group had to admire in the other. + +"What we ought to do is organize a bureau of entertainment and give +musicales, plays, revues and one thing or another," Robin proposed to +Marjorie as the two were returning from a trip to the town of Hamilton +one afternoon in early October. "We would charge an admission fee, of +course, and put the money to some good purpose. I don't know what we +would do with it. There are so few really needy students here. We'd find +some worthy way of spending it. I know we would make a lot. The students +simply mob the gym when there's a basket-ball game. They'd be willing to +part with their shekels for the kind of show we could give." + +"I think the same," Marjorie made hearty response. "At home we gave a +Campfire once, at Thanksgiving. We held it in the armory. We had booths +and sold different things. We had a show, too. That was the time Ronny +danced those two interpretative dances I told you of the other night. We +made over a thousand dollars. Half of it went to the Sanford guards and +the Lookouts got the other half." + +"We could make a couple of hundred dollars at one revue, I believe. We +could give about three entertainments this year and three or four next," +planned Robin. "It would have to be a fund devoted to helping the +students, I guess. Come to think of it, I would not care to get up a +show unless our purpose was clearly stated in the beginning. A few +unjust persons might start the story that we wanted the money for +ourselves. By the way, the Sans are not interesting themselves in our +affairs this year, are they? Do you ever clash with them at the Hall?" + +"No; they never notice us and we never notice them. It isn't much +different in that respect than it was in the beginning. I'd feel rather +queer about it sometimes if they hadn't been so utterly heartless in so +many ways. This is their last year. It will seem queer when we come back +next fall as seniors to have almost an entirely new set of girls in the +house. I can't bear to think of losing Leila and Vera and Helen. Then +there are Rosalind, Nella, Martha and Hortense; splendid girls, all of +them. I wish they had been freshies with us. That's the beauty of the +Silvertonites. They will all be graduated together." + +"We are fortunate. Think of poor Phil! She is going to be lonesome when +we all leave the good old port of Hamilton. To go back to the show idea. +I'm going to talk it over with my old stand-bys at our house. You do the +same at yours. Maybe some one of them will have a brilliant inspiration. +I mean, about what we ought to do with the money, once we've made it." + +A sudden jolt of the taxicab in which they were riding, as it swung to +the right, combined with an indignant yell of protest from its driver, +startled them both. A blue and buff car had shot past them, barely +missing the side of the taxicab. + +"Look where you're goin' or get off the road!" bawled the man after it. +His face was scarlet with anger, he turned in his seat, addressing his +fares. "That blue car near smashed us," he growled. "The young lady that +drives it had better quit and give somebody else the wheel. This is the +third time she near put my cab on the blink. She can't drive for sour +apples. I wisht, if you knew her, you'd tell her she's gotta quit it. I +don't own this cab. I don't wanta get mixed up in no smash-up. If she +does it again I'll go up to the college boss and report that car." + +"Neither of us know her well enough to give her your message," Marjorie +smiled faintly, as she pictured herself giving the irate driver's +warning to Elizabeth Walbert. She had recognized the girl at the wheel +as the blue and buff car had passed her. + +"I'll stop her myself and tell her where she gets off at," threatened +the man. "I ain't afraida her." + +"I think that would be a very good idea," calmly agreed Marjorie. "There +is no reason why you should not rebuke her for her recklessness. She was +at fault; not you." + +"Do you imagine he really would report Miss Walbert to Doctor Matthews," +inquired Robin in discreetly lowered tones, as the driver resumed +attention at the wheel. + +"He might. He would be more likely to do his talking to her," was +Marjorie's opinion. "I tried to encourage him in that idea. A report of +that kind to Dr. Matthews might result in the banning of cars at +Hamilton." + +"Did you hear last year, at the time Katherine was hurt, that Miss +Cairns received a summons from Doctor Matthews? I was told that he gave +her a severe lecture on reckless driving. She told some of the Sans and +it came to Portia and I in a round-about way." + +"I believe it to be true." Marjorie hesitated, then continued frankly. +"Katherine did not report her." + +Unbound by any promise of secrecy to any person, Marjorie acquainted +Robin with the way the report of the accident had been put before the +president. She and her chums had heard the story from Lillian +Wenderblatt, who had so ardently urged her father to take up the cudgels +for Katherine directly after the accident. + +"Lillian explained to her father that Katherine utterly refused to take +the matter up. He reported it to the doctor of his own accord, saying +that Katherine wished the affair closed. So Doctor Matthews didn't send +for her at all. While he never referred to the subject afterward to +Professor Wenderblatt, he said at the time of their talk that he would +send Miss Cairns a summons to his office. Lillian's father said the +doctor's word was equivalent to the summons. So I believe she received +one. None of us who are Kathie's close friends ever mentioned it to +others. Lillian told no one but us. She did not ask us to keep it a +secret. We simply _did not talk_ about it. That's why I felt free to +tell you, since you asked me a direct question." + +"Strange, isn't it, that the Sans can't even be loyal to one another," +Robin commented. "Very likely Leslie Cairns told them in confidence, not +expecting it would be betrayed. She may not know to this day that a girl +of her own crowd told tales." + +"She is not honorable herself. Her intimates know that." Marjorie's +rejoinder held sternness. "There is nothing truer than the Bible verse: +'As ye sow, so must ye also reap.' She tries to gain whatever she +happens to want by dishonorable methods. In turn, her chums behave +dishonorably toward her. + +"An unhappy state of affairs." Robin shrugged her disfavor. "Phil says +Miss Walbert is a talker; that she is becoming unpopular with the sophs +who voted for her last year because she gossips." + +Marjorie smiled whimsically. "Wouldn't it be poetic justice if she were +to turn the half of her class who were for her last year against her by +her own unworthiness? After Miss Cairns worked so hard to establish her +too! There's surely a greater inclination toward democracy than last +year, or Phil wouldn't have won the sophomore presidency." + +"Yes; and she won it by eighteen votes this year over Miss Keene, and +she is one of Miss Walbert's pals. Last year she lost it by nine. Some +difference!" Robin looked her pride of her lovable cousin. "I think +there is a great change for the better in Hamilton since we were +freshies, don't you?" + +Marjorie made quick assent. "You Silverites have done the most for +Hamilton," she commended. "We Lookouts have tried our hardest, but we +couldn't have done much if you hadn't been behind us like a solid wall." + +"You Lookouts deserve as much credit as we. You girls are social +successes in the nicest way, because you have all been so friendly and +sweet to everyone. Then you have fought shoulder to shoulder with us. +Now that we have begun to make our influence felt, we should follow it +up by giving entertainments in which the whole college can have a part." + +"Let's do this," Marjorie proposed. "Bring the orchestra and Hope +Morris, she's so nice, over to Wayland Hall on Saturday evening. I'll +have a spread. Then we can plan something to give in the near future. +Here's my getting-off place. Goodbye." + +The taxicab having reached a point on the main campus drive where two +other drives branched off right and left, the machine slowed down. She +rarely troubled the driver to take her to the door of the Hall, it being +but a few rods distant from this point. + +Swinging up the drive and into the Hall in her usual energetic fashion, +Marjorie's first move was toward the bulletin board. Three letters was +the delightful harvest she reaped from it. One in Constance's small fine +hand, one from General. The third she eyed rather suspiciously. It was +in an unfamiliar hand and bore the address, "Marjorie Dean, Hamilton +College." + +"An advertisement, I guess," was her frowning reflection as she went on +upstairs. "Anyone I know, well enough to receive a letter from, would +know my house address." + +Anxious to relieve her arms of several bundles containing purchases made +at Hamilton before opening her letters, Marjorie did not stop to examine +her mail on the landing. Entering her room, she found it deserted of +Jerry's always congenial company. Immediately she dropped her packages +on the center table and plumped down to enjoy her letters. + +Second glance at the letter informed her that the envelope was of fine +expensive paper. This fact dismissed the advertisement idea. Marjorie +toyed with it rather nervously. In the past she had received enough +annoying letters to make her dread the sight of her address in +unfamiliar handwriting. On the verge of reveling in the other two whose +contents she was sure to love, she hated the idea of a disagreeable +shock. She knew of no reason why she should be the recipient of any such +letter. That, however, would not prevent an unworthy person from writing +one. + +Determined to read it first and have it over with, Marjorie tore open an +end of the envelope and extracted the missive from it. A hasty glance at +the end and she vented a relieved "A-h-h!" Turning back to the +beginning, she read with rising color: + + "Marjorie Dean, + Hamilton College. + + "Dear Child: + + "Will you come to Hamilton Arms to tea next Thursday afternoon at + five o'clock? I find I have the wish to see and talk with you again. + I prefer you to keep the matter of your visit from your girl + friends. I am not on good terms with Hamilton College and its + students, and the information that I had invited you to tea would + form a choice bit of campus gossip. + + "Yours sincerely, + "Susanna Craig Hamilton." + + + + +CHAPTER X--HAMILTON ARMS AND ITS OWNER + + +"Well, of all things!" Marjorie could not get over her undiluted +amazement. For a second it struck her that she might again be the victim +of a hoax. Perhaps an unkindly-minded person wished her to essay a call +on Miss Susanna, thinking she might receive a sound snubbing. She shook +her head at this canny suspicion. The phrasing was unmistakably Miss +Susanna's. She doubted also whether anyone had seen her that day with +the old lady. Only a few cars had passed them before they had turned +into the private road. These had contained persons not from the college. +Outside the Lookouts, only Katherine, Leila and Vera knew of her +encounter with Miss Susanna. She had not thought of keeping it a secret. +She now made mental note to tell the girls not to mention it to anyone. + +This resolve brought with it the annoying cogitation that the girls +would wonder why she suddenly wished the matter kept secret. Nor could +she explain to them without violating Miss Hamilton's request. She could +readily understand the latter's point of view. Miss Susanna could not be +blamed for taking it. Marjorie could only wish the old lady knew how +honorable and discreet her chums were. She decided she would endeavor to +make her hostess acquainted with that truth during her call. + +She came to the conclusion that she could not pledge her close friends +to secrecy regarding her recent adventure until after she had been to +Hamilton Arms and talked with its eccentric owner. Miss Susanna would no +doubt be displeased to learn that she had already mentioned their +meeting to others. She would have to be told of it, nevertheless. + +Marjorie's next problem was to slip quietly away on Thursday afternoon +without saying where she was going. That would not be difficult, +provided none of the Lookouts happened to desire her company on some +particular jaunt or merry-making. An indefinite refusal on her part +would bring down on her a volley of mischievous questions. + +"I'll have to keep clear of the girls on Thursday," she ruminated, with +a half vexed smile. "I'll have to put on the gown I'm going to wear to +tea in the morning and wear it all day so as not to arouse their +curiosity. That's a nuisance. I'd like to wear one of my best frocks and +I can't on account of chemistry. I'll wear that organdie frock Jerry +likes so much; the one with the yellow rosebud in it. It is not fussy. +If it is cold or rainy I can wear a long coat over it. I hope it's a +nice day. I can wear my picture hat. It goes so well with that gown. I +can slip it out of the Hall without them noticing if I swing it on my +arm. I hope to goodness I don't ruin my organdie during chemistry. I +feel like a conspirator." + +Marjorie chuckled faintly as she rose from her chair, letter in hand. +She tucked the letter away in the top drawer of her chiffonier with the +optimistic opinion that it would not be very long before she could +frankly tell her chums of its contents. + +Fortune favored her on Thursday. She awoke with a stream of brilliant +sunshine in her face. She rejoiced that the day was fair and hoped Miss +Susanna would suggest a walk about the grounds. Then she remembered the +request the latter had made, and smiled at her own stupidity. A walk +about the grounds would probably be the last thing Miss Susanna would +suggest. + +As it happened, Jerry had made an engagement to go to Hamilton with +Helen. Ronny had a theme in French to write, which she said would take +her spare time both in the afternoon and evening. Lucy and Katherine +would be in the Biological Laboratory until dinner time, and Leila and +Vera were invited to a tea given by a senior to ten of her class-mates. +These were the only ones to be directly interested in her movements. To +Jerry's invitation, "Want to go to town with Helen and I this +afternoon?" she had replied, "No, Jeremiah," in as casual a tone as she +could command, and that had ended the matter. + +Marjorie was doubly careful in the Chemical Laboratory that afternoon +and walked from it this time with no disfiguring stains on her dainty +organdie frock. The letter had named the hour for her visit as five +o'clock. This gave her ample time to return to the Hall, re-coif her +curly hair and add a pretty satin sash of wide pale yellow ribbon to her +costume. The absence of Jerry was, for once, welcome. She had a free +hand to put the finishing touches to her toilet. It appealed to a +certain sense of dignity, latent within her, to be able to quietly +adjust her hat before the mirror and walk openly out of Wayland Hall. +Marjorie inwardly hated anything connected with secrecy, yet it seemed +to her she was always becoming involved in something which demanded it. + +When finally she emerged from the Hall, she did not follow the main +drive but cut across the campus, making for the western entrance. +Reaching the highway, she kept a sharp lookout for passing automobiles. +She laughed to herself as she thought of how disconcerting it would be +after all her pains to run squarely into Jerry and Helen. The latter had +just been the lucky recipient of a limousine, long promised her by her +father, and she and Jerry were trying it out that afternoon. + +It was ten minutes to five when, without having met anyone save two or +three campus acquaintances, Marjorie walked sedately between the high, +ornamental gate posts of Hamilton Arms, and on up the drive to the +house. She compared her present approach to that of last May Day +evening, when she had stolen like a shadow to the veranda to hang the +May basket. It did not seem quite real to her that now she was actually +coming to Hamilton Arms as an invited guest. + +The knocker was no easier to pull than it had been on that night. She +waited, feeling as though she were about to leave the college world +behind and enter one rich in the romance of Colonial days. Then the door +opened slowly and a dignified old man with thick, snow-white hair and a +smooth-shaven face stood regarding her solemnly. + +"You are Marjorie Dean?" he interrogated in deep, but very gentle tones. +This before she had time to ask for Miss Susanna. + +"Yes," she affirmed, smiling in her unaffected, charming fashion. +"I--Miss Hamilton expects me to tea." + +"I know." He bowed with grave politeness. "Come in. Miss Susanna is in +the library. I will show you the way." + +Marjorie drew a long breath of admiration as she was ushered into a wide +almost square reception hall paneled in walnut. Her feet sank deep into +the heavy brown velvet rug which completely covered the floor. Walking +quickly behind her guide, she had no more than time for a passing glance +at the massive elegance of the carved walnut furniture. She caught a +fleeting glimpse of herself in the great square mirror of the hall rack +and thought how very small and insignificant she appeared. + +"How are you, Marjorie Dean?" Ushered into the library by the stately +old man, the last of the Hamiltons now came forward to greet her. + +"I am very well, thank you. I hope you are feeling well, too, Miss +Susanna." + +Marjorie took the small, sturdy hand Miss Susanna extended in both her +own. The mistress of Hamilton Arms looked so very tiny in the great +room. Marjorie experienced a wave of sudden tenderness for her. + +"Yes; I am well, by the grace of God and my own good sense," returned +her hostess in her brisk, almost hard tones. "You are prompt to the +hour, child. I like that. I hate to be kept waiting. I have my tea at +precisely five o'clock. It is years since I had a guest to tea. Sit down +there." She indicated a straight chair with an ornamental leather back +and seat. "Jonas will bring the tea table in directly, and serve the +tea. Take off your hat and lay it on the library table. I wish to see +you without it." + +She had not more than finished speaking, when the snowy-haired servitor +wheeled in a good-sized rosewood tea-table. He drew it up to where +Marjorie sat, and brought another chair for the mistress of Hamilton +Arms similar to the one on which the guest was sitting. Withdrawing from +the room, he left youth and age to take tea together. + +"Who would have thought that I should ever pour tea for one of my +particular aversions," Miss Susanna commented with grim humor. "Do you +take sugar and cream, child?" + +"Two lumps of sugar and no cream." Marjorie held out her hand for the +delicate Sevres cup. + +"Help yourself to the muffins and jam. It is red raspberry. I put it up +myself. Now eat as though you were hungry. I am always ravenous for my +tea. I do not have dinner until eight and I am outdoors so much I grow +very hungry as five o'clock approaches." + +"I am awfully hungry," Marjorie confessed. "I love five o'clock tea. We +have it at home in summer but not in winter. We girls at Hamilton hardly +ever have it, because we have dinner shortly after six." + +"At what campus house are you?" was the abrupt question. + +"Wayland Hall. I like it best of all, though Silverton Hall is a fine +house." + +"Wayland Hall," the old lady repeated. "It was his favorite house." + +"You are speaking of Mr. Brooke Hamilton?" Marjorie inquired with +breathless interest. "Miss Remson said it was his favorite house. He was +so wonderful. 'We shall ne'er see his like again,'" she quoted, her +brown eyes eloquent. + +Miss Susanna stared at her in silence, as though trying to determine the +worth of Marjorie's unexpected remarks. + +"He _was_ wonderful," she said at last. "I am amazed at your +appreciation of him. You _are_ an amazing young person, I must say. How +much do you know concerning my great uncle that you should have arrived +at your truly high opinion of him?" + +"I know very little about him except that he loved Hamilton and planned +it nobly." Marjorie's clear eyes looked straight into her vis-a-vis's +sharp dark ones. "I have asked questions. I have treasured every scrap +of information about him that I have heard since I came to Hamilton +College. No one seems to know much of him except in a general way." + +"That is true. Well, the fault lies with the college." The reply hinted +of hostility. "Perhaps I will tell you more of him some day. Not now; I +am not in the humor. I must get used to having you here first. I try to +forget that you are from the college. I told you I did not like girls. I +may call you an exception, child. I realized that after you had left me, +the day you helped me to the cottage with the chrysanthemums. I was +cheered by your company. I am pleased with your admiration for him. He +was worthy of it." + +As on the day of her initial meeting with Brooke Hamilton's great niece, +Marjorie was again at a loss as to what to say next. She wished to say +how greatly she revered the memory of the founder of Hamilton College. +In the face of Miss Susanna's declaration that she did not wish to talk +of him, she could not frame a reply that conveyed her reverence. + +"Try these cakes. They are from an old recipé the Hamiltons have used +for four generations. Ellen, my cook, made these. I seldom do any baking +now. I used to when younger. I spend most of my time out of doors in +good weather. Let me have your cup." + +Her hostess tendered a plate of delicate little cakes not unlike +macaroons. Marjorie helped herself to the cakes and forebore asking +questions about Brooke Hamilton. Miss Susanna had partially promised to +tell her of him some day. She could do no more than possess her soul in +patience. + +"What do you do in winter, Miss Hamilton, when you can't be out?" she +questioned interestedly. "Do you live at Hamilton Arms the year round?" + +"Yes; I have not been away from here for a number of years. In winter I +read and embroider. I do plain sewing for the poor of Hamilton. Jonas +takes baskets of clothing and necessities to needy families in the town +of Hamilton. 'The poor ye have always with ye,' you know." + +"I know," Marjorie affirmed, her lovely face growing momently sad. +"Captain, I mean, my mother, does a good deal of such work in Sanford. I +have helped her a little. During our last year at high school a number +of us organized a club. We called ourselves the Lookouts and we rented a +house and started a day nursery for the mill children. The house was in +their district." + +"And how long did you keep it up?" was the somewhat skeptical inquiry. + +"Oh, it is running along beautifully yet." Marjorie laughed as she made +answer. + +"I am more amazed than before. A club of girls usually hangs together +about six weeks. Each girl feels that she ought to be at the head of it +and in the end a grand falling-out occurs." Miss Susanna's eyes were +twinkling. This time her remarks were not pointedly ill-natured. "You +are to tell me about this club," she commanded. + +Marjorie complied, giving her a brief history of the day nursery. + +"Are any of your Lookouts here at Hamilton with you?" she was +interrogated. + +"Four of them. One, Lucy Warner, won a scholarship to Hamilton." Now on +the subject, Marjorie determined to make a valiant stand for her chums. +She therefore told of the offering of the scholarship by Ronny and of +Lucy's brilliancy as a student. She told of Lucy's ability as a +secretary and of how much she had done to help herself through college. +She did not forget to speak of Katherine Langly, and her exceptional +winning of a scholarship especially offered by Brooke Hamilton. + +"I had no idea there were any such girls over there." The old lady spoke +half to herself. "I might have known there would be some apostles." + +"Miss Susanna,"--Marjorie decided that this would be the best time to +acquaint her hostess with what she had purposed to tell her,--"I told my +intimate friends of meeting you the day the basket handle broke. I +thought you ought to know that. You had asked me in your letter not to +mention to anyone that I was coming here. I did not say a word to anyone +of the letter. I would ask my chums not to mention what I told them +about meeting you in the first place, but, if I do, they will wish to +know why." + +"Humph!" The listener used Jerry's pet interjection. "Where did you tell +them you were going today? Some of them must have seen you as you came +away." + +"No; they were all out except one girl. She was busy writing a theme." + +"What would you have told them if they had seen you?" Miss Hamilton eyed +the young girl searchingly. + +"I would have said I was going out and hoped they wouldn't feel hurt if +I didn't tell them my destination. What else could I have said?" It was +Marjorie's turn to fix her gaze upon her hostess. + +"Nothing else, by rights. If I allowed you to tell your chums, as you +call them, that you were here today, would they keep your counsel? How +many of them would have to know it?" The older woman's face had softened +wonderfully. + +Marjorie thought for an instant. "Eight," she answered. "They are +honorable. I would like to tell them." + +"Very well, you may." The permission came concisely. "I will take your +word for their discretion. I have my own proper reasons for not wishing +to be gossiped about on the campus. I wish you to come again. I do not +wish your visits to be a secret. I abhor that kind of secrecy. Perhaps +in time I shall not care if the whole college knows. At present what +they do not know will not hurt them. In the words of my distinguished +uncle, 'Be not secret; be discreet.'" + + + + +CHAPTER XI--COMPARING NOTES + + +Tea over, Jonas removed the tea-table and Miss Susanna waved her guest +toward a leather-covered arm chair. Changing her own chair for one +corresponding to Marjorie's, Miss Hamilton proceeded to ply Marjorie +with interested questions concerning her college course. She exhibited a +kind of repressed eagerness to hear of the college and her guest's +doings there. + +The tall rosewood floor clock had chimed six, then again the musical +stroke of half hour, before Marjorie found graceful opportunity to take +her leave. She was willing to stay longer, but was not certain that her +erratic hostess would wish her to do so. The shadows had begun to fall +across the sombre elegance of the library and the October twilight would +soon be upon them. + +Miss Susanna made no effort to detain her beyond saying: "So you think +you must go. Well, you will be coming again soon to see me. You have +given me much to think of." She accompanied Marjorie to the front door, +giving her a warm handshake in parting. Marjorie noticed, however, that +her small face wore a pensive expression quite at variance with her +accustomed alert demeanor. It gave her the appearance of great age, +though her brown hair was only partially streaked with gray. Marjorie +thought she could not be much more than sixty years old. + +A happy little smile touched the pleased lieutenant's lips as she +hurried toward the campus through the gathering twilight. Far from being +dissatisfied at not hearing more of Brooke Hamilton, she was blissfully +content with her visit. Miss Susanna had promised to tell her of him. +She had given her consent to allowing Marjorie to inform her chums of +her visit to Hamilton Arms. She had actually set foot in the house of +her dreams. The two rooms she had seen had more than justified her +expectations of what it would be like inside. + +Dinner was on when she reached Wayland Hall. Marjorie had fared too well +on hot muffins, jam, cakes, and the most delicious tea she had ever +drunk, to care for anything more to eat. + +"Where, may I ask, have you been keeping yourself?" saluted Jerry about +twenty minutes after Marjorie's return. Coming into their room she +beheld her missing room-mate calmly preparing her French lesson for the +next day. "Why don't you go and have your dinner? Or have you had it?" + +"I have had tea instead of dinner. I couldn't eat another mouthful to +save me. 'An' ye hae been where I hae been,'" hummed Marjorie +mischievously. + +"Something like that," satirized Jerry. "Where did you say you were? +Never mind. I am sure you will tell me some day." She simpered at +Marjorie. "You should have been with Helen and I today. Something +awfully funny happened. Not to us. The girls are coming up to hear about +it soon. Helen and I didn't care to tell it at the table on account of +the Sans." + +"Then farewell to my peaceful study hour." Marjorie laid away the +translation she had been making. + +"You can chase the girls away at eight-thirty, that will give you time +enough. If you don't, I will. I have studying of my own to do." + +"As long as the gang will be here I may as well save _my_ remarks until +then." + +A buzz of voices outside the door announced the "gang." Beside the three +Lookouts and Katherine were the beloved trio, Helen, Leila and Vera. The +entire crowd pounced upon Marjorie, demanding to know where she had +been. It was unusual for her to be away without having left word with +some one of them. + +"Will I tell you where I was? Certainly! It's no secret; at least not +now," she added tantalizingly. "Don't you want to hear Jerry's tale +first? I do." + +"Nothing doing. You go ahead and relieve our anxious minds. We didn't +know but maybe you had been spirited away by a bogus note again." + +A peculiar expression appeared in Marjorie's eyes as she went to her +chiffonier and drew from it Miss Hamilton's letter. + +"It's queer, but when I received this letter the other day, I was almost +afraid it was another fake. Notice the address, then read it," she +commanded, handing it to Vera who was nearest her. + +It brought forth exclamatory comment from all, once each had acquainted +herself with its contents. + +"No wonder you didn't leave word where you were going. Did you have a +nice time?" Jerry's chubby features registered her pleasure of the honor +accorded her room-mate. + +"Yes; I had a beautiful time. I was worried because I couldn't speak of +going to any of you. Miss Susanna gave me permission to tell you eight, +but no others." Marjorie recounted her visit in detail. "I wish she +would invite the rest of you to Hamilton Arms. It is a beautiful house +inside. I only saw the hall and library, but they were magnificent." + +"Don't weep, Marvelous Manager." Ronny had noted Marjorie's wistful +expression. "Through your miraculous machinations we shall all be +parading about Hamilton Arms in the near future." + +"I certainly hope so," was the fervent response. + +For a little the bevy of girls discussed Marjorie's news. All were +elated over the pleasure which had come to her. Her generous thought of +the peculiar old lady on May Day of the previous year had touched them. + +"She hasn't asked you yet if you hung that basket, has she?" queried +Lucy. + +"How could she possibly suspect me of hanging it?" laughed Marjorie. + +"Because it was like you. It carried your atmosphere. Some day she will +suddenly notice that and ask you about the basket," Lucy sagely +prophesied. "She seems to be a shrewd old person." + +"She is." Marjorie smiled at the candid criticism. She wondered if Miss +Susanna had not been in her youth a trifle like Lucy. + +"Now for what Helen and I saw and heard this afternoon," declared Jerry +gleefully. The first interest in Marjorie's visit to Hamilton Arms had +abated. + + "Oh, a horrible tale I have to tell, + Of the terrible fate that once befell + A couple of students who resided + In the very same neighborhood that I did," + +chanted Helen. "You tell it, Jeremiah. You can make it funnier than I +can." + +"Helen and I started out with the new car as proudly as you please this +afternoon," began Jerry with a reminiscent chuckle. "We hadn't gone much +further than Hamilton Arms when whiz, bing, buzz! Along came that Miss +Walbert in her blue and buff car and nearly bumped into us. She came up +from behind and her car just missed scraping against Helen's. Leslie +Cairns was with her. We never said a word, but I heard Miss Cairns raise +her voice. I think she gave Miss Walbert a call down." + +"There was no excuse for her, except that she never seems to pay any +particular attention to anyone's car but her own," put in Helen. "I have +heard complaint of her from I don't remember how many girls who own +cars. Occasionally you will find a girl who can't learn to drive a car. +She belongs in that class. Excuse me for butting in. Proceed, Jeremiah." + +"That's all of the prologue," Jerry continued. "Now comes the first act. +We went on to town, drove around a little, did our errands, had ice +cream at the Lotus and started back highly pleased with ourselves. You +know that place just before you leave the town where the turn into +Hamilton Highway is made? There is a grocery store and a garage on one +side of the road and a hotel on the other. Just before we came to that +point Miss Walbert and her car whizzed by us again. She took that corner +with a lurch. When we struck the place a minute later we saw something +had happened. She had actually scraped the side of one of those taxis +that run between town and the college. It was coming from the college, I +suppose. Anyway, Miss Cairns and she were both out of their car and so +was the taxi driver. Maybe he wasn't giving those two a call down!" + +Jerry and Helen exchanged joyful smiles at the recollection of the +reckless couple's discomfiture. + +"Helen drove very slowly past them. We wanted to hear what the man was +saying," Jerry continued. "He was laying down the law to them to beat +the band. We heard Leslie Cairns say, 'Do you know to whom you are +talking?' He shouted out, 'Yes; to a simpleton of a girl who don't know +no more about drivin' than a goose. I seen you drive your own car, lady, +an' I never had no trouble with you. Your friend, there, is the limit. +You're runnin' chances of landin' in the hospital or worse when you go +ridin' with her.' Leslie Cairns was furious. I could tell that by her +expression. Miss Walbert fairly shrieked something at him. She was mad +as hops, too. We had passed them by that time so we couldn't catch what +she was saying. There was quite a crowd around them, mostly men and +youngsters." + +"That must be the man Robin and I rode with the other day," Marjorie +said. "Is he short, with a red face and quite gray hair?" + +"Yes; that's the man. How did you know which one it was?" Jerry showed +surprise. + +"He had a near collision with Miss Walbert that day." Marjorie related +the incident. + +"It is a shame!" Leila's face had darkened as she listened to both +girls. "I hope Leslie Cairns takes her in hand. She's the very one to +cause a bad accident and then home go our cars. She is such a poor +driver. She bowls along the road without regard for man or beast. She +has a good car which will presently be in the ditch." + +"Do you think President Matthews would ban cars if a Hamilton girl were +to ditch her car or met with serious accident to herself?" Vera asked +reflectively. + +"Hard to say, Midget. It would depend upon the seriousness of the +accident. Suppose a girl were to ditch her car and be killed. It would +be horrifying. I doubt whether we would be allowed our cars after any +such accident." + +"Grant nothing like that ever happens." Lucy Warner gave a slight +shudder. "I shall never forget the day Kathie was hurt." + +"None of us who were with her that day are likely ever to forget it. +Miss Cairns escaped easily considering the way she was driving. She +ought to be the very one to tell that Miss Walbert a few things not in +the automobile guide," declared Jerry. "She certainly did not appear at +advantage this afternoon." + + + + +CHAPTER XII--A TRAITOR IN CAMP + + +Leslie Cairns' opinion of the matter coincided with Jerry's, though the +latter could not know it. To become involved in a roadside argument with +an irate taxicab driver did not appeal to her in the least. She was not +half so angry with him, however, as with Elizabeth Walbert. She blamed +the latter for the whole thing. For several minutes after Helen and +Jerry had driven by them, Elizabeth and the driver continued to quarrel. + +"How much do you want for the damage you say we have done your cab?" +Leslie had impatiently inquired of the man. "Cut it out, Bess, and get +back to your car," she had ordered in the next breath. "Let me settle +this business." + +A momentary hesitation and Elizabeth had obeyed. She could not afford to +antagonize Leslie, at present. She had an axe of her own yet to be +ground. + +"I oughtta have twenty-five dollars. It ain't my car. Repairin' comes +high." + +"Very good. Here is your money. Wait a minute." Leslie had extracted the +sum from her handbag. With it came a small pad of blank paper and a +fountain pen. Then and there she obtained not only a receipt for the +money but a statement of release as well. She was well aware that it +would not cost twenty-five dollars to repaint the side of the cab +scraped by their car, but she preferred the matter summarily closed. + +Returning to the car she had said shortly: "I'll take the wheel." +Elizabeth had resumed the driver's seat. Nor had she made any move +toward relinquishing it. + +"You heard what I said, Bess," she had sharply rebuked. "Either that, or +you and I are on the outs for good. You let me drive that car and show +you a few things you need badly to know about driving." Leslie's +lowering face and tense utterance had had its effect. Elizabeth had +allowed her to drive back to Hamilton but had sulked all the way to the +campus. + +At the garage she had unbent a little and inquired how much Leslie had +paid the driver. "I'll return it to you next week," she had promised. + +"Suit yourself about that. I'm in no hurry. I took it upon myself to +settle with the idiot. It wouldn't worry me if you never paid it. I +thought it best to pacify him. I don't care to have him reporting us to +Matthews as he threatened to do." This had been Leslie's mind on the +subject. + +"I don't believe he would ever go near Doctor Matthews. Still _you_ +couldn't afford to risk being reported," Elizabeth had retorted with +special emphasis on the "you." + +To this Leslie had vouchsafed no reply. She had merely stared at her +companion in a most disconcerting fashion and walked off and left her. +She was thoroughly nettled with Elizabeth for her lack of gratitude. +Natalie was right about her it seemed. She was also wondering where the +ungrateful sophomore had obtained certain information which she +apparently possessed. No one beyond her seven intimates among the Sans +knew that she had been reprimanded by President Matthews for the +accident to Katherine Langly. To the other members of the club she had +intimated that she had adjusted the matter quietly with Katherine. + +That evening, while Jerry was recounting to her chums what she and Helen +had heard of the altercation between the cab driver and the two girls, +Leslie was having a confidential talk with Natalie Weyman. She had gone +straight from the garage to her room, eaten dinner at the Hall and asked +Natalie to come to her room after dinner. + +"Nat, you are right about Bess. She is no good," Leslie began, dropping +into a chair opposite that of her friend. Briefly narrating the +happening of the afternoon, she repeated the remark Elizabeth had made +to her at the garage. "What would you draw from that?" she asked. + +"Someone has been talking." Natalie compressed her lips in a tight line. +"You are sure you never told her yourself?" + +"_Positively, no._ I have never babbled my private affairs to Bess, or +Lola either. Only the old crowd were told the facts of that trouble. We +have a traitor in the camp and _I know who it is_." Leslie's eyes +narrowed with sinister significance. "It's Dulcie. I am going to find +out quietly what all she has been saying about me and to whom she has +been saying it. I'm sure she told Bess about the summons. That isn't so +serious. I could overlook that, although I don't like it. It is the +other things she may have told. That's what worries me. She and I have +been on the outs since that Valentine masquerade last year. She hardly +ever comes to my room. I am not sorry. I never got along well with +Dulcie. I never trusted her." + +"Dulcie ought to know better than tell all she knows to that Walbert +creature," Natalie made indignant return. "Why, Les, suppose she were +foolish enough to tell her about that high tribunal stunt?" Natalie drew +a sharp breath of consternation. "Dulcie knows the rights of the Remson +mix-up, too." + +"Dulcie knows too much. So do some of the other girls. If I had it to do +over again, I would not tell anyone but you how I put over a stunt. Why +did we haze Bean? Simply because she reported me to Matthews after +Langly had agreed to drop it. The girls were all in on the hazing, so +not one of them would be safe if they told it." + +"The Remson affair would do you the most harm if it got out," Natalie +said decidedly. "It is contemptible in Dulcie to gossip about you after +all the favors you have done her. You've lent her money over and over +again. You know she never pays it back if she can slide out of it." + +Leslie made an indifferent gesture of assent. "She owes me over two +hundred dollars now. I lent it to her during her freshie year. She paid +up what she borrowed of me last year, but she never said a word about +the other. Dulcie has _nerve_, Nat; pure, unadulterated _nerve_. She +can't bear me lately because I run the Sans to suit myself. I always ran +the club and she knows that. Last year she decided that she would like +to run it herself. I sat down on her every time she tried it. She +deliberately left the back door of that house unlocked the night we +hazed Bean. I told her to see to it. She was edgeways at me. She never +went near the door. You know what happened." + +"Dulcie will have to be told a few plain truths." Natalie frowned +displeased anxiety. The news of Dulcie's defection was rather alarming. + +"She is going to hear them from me, but not yet. I shall catch her dead +to rights before I have things out with her. I've made up my mind just +how I am going to do it, provided the rest of the Sans stand by me. It +will be to their interest to do so. I mean, with their support, I can +give her precisely what she deserves." + +"I'll stand by you. Joan will, too. She is down on Dulcie for some +reason or other. They haven't been on speaking terms for a week. I asked +Joan what the trouble was between them. She said Dulcie made her weary +and she didn't care whether she ever spoke to her again or not. That was +all I could get out of her." + +"Hm-m!" Leslie looked interested. "I shall find out tomorrow what Joan +has against her. If Dulcie hasn't gabbed anything worse to Bess, and I +presume a few others, than the news that I received a summons from his +high and cranky mightiness, I will let her off with my candid opinion of +her. If she has been a busy little news distributor of secret matters, +she will rue it. I'll have no traitors among the Sans." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII--WELL MATCHED + + +Leslie's first crafty move toward determining Dulcie Vale's treachery +was in the direction of Elizabeth Walbert. The latter had promised to +return the next week the twenty-five dollars Leslie had expended in her +behalf. Leslie planned to wait until she did so before making an attempt +to discover how many of the Sans' secrets Elizabeth knew. She was +certain that Elizabeth would return the loan promptly, as she received a +large allowance from home and as much more as she chose to demand. + +To seek the self-satisfied sophomore's society was not what Leslie +proposed to do. She intended matters should be the other way around. She +could then take Elizabeth completely off her guard and find out more +easily what Dulcie had imparted to her. + +Elizabeth also had views of her own regarding Leslie. The latter had not +been nearly so friendly with her since college had opened as she had +been during the previous year. Leslie had renewed her old comradeship +with Natalie Weyman, whom Elizabeth detested and stood a little in fear +of. Natalie had never been friendly with her. She had always held +herself aloof. Whenever they chanced to meet she treated Elizabeth as a +mere acquaintance. It was galling to the ambitious, self-seeking +sophomore, but she loftily ignored Natalie's frigidity. She had +complained of it once to Leslie and been soundly snubbed for her pains. +"You needn't expect much of Nat. She doesn't like you. That's why she +freezes you out. It won't do you any good to tell me about it, for Nat +is my particular pal." This had been Leslie's unsympathetic reception of +the complaint. + +In her heart Elizabeth did not like Leslie. She resented Leslie's +domineering ways. This did not deter her from fawning upon the despotic +senior. She was depending on Leslie to help her regain a certain +popularity which had been hers as a freshman. She had cherished a vain +hope that she might be elected to the sophomore presidency. To her +chagrin she had not even been nominated. Determined to shine on the +campus, her thoughts were now turning toward basket ball. She was now +anxious to enlist Leslie's services in helping her devise a means of +making the sophomore team. As a senior Leslie could easily influence the +sports committee to favor her. Mae Lowry and Sarah Pierce, both Sans, +were on the committee. + +It had been rumored that Professor Leonard and the sports committee had +disagreed; that the instructor had coolly advised the committee to do as +it pleased and dropped all interest in sports for that year. With him +out of the reckoning, nothing stood in her way provided Leslie chose to +favor her. + +Her greatest ambition, however, was to belong to the Sans. She was +always privately wishing that one member of the club would drop out. +Leslie had once more told her that the club limit was eighteen members. +If anyone left the club an outside eligible would be chosen to replace +the retiring member so as to keep the number of girls at eighteen. She +had also tried on the previous June to arrange for a room at Wayland +Hall for the ensuing college year. She had been unsuccessful in the +attempt. + +After leaving Leslie on the occasion of her mishap on Hamilton Highway, +she had realized her folly in showing spleen against her companion. She +resolved to offset it as speedily as possible. She wrote Leslie a note +which remained unanswered. She then telephoned the Hall, but Leslie was +out. Her allowance check having arrived, she had an excuse to go to see +Leslie. Her afternoon classes over, she set out for Wayland Hall one +rainy afternoon, hoping the inclement weather had kept Leslie indoors. + +Her baby-blue eyes gleamed triumph at the cheering news that Miss Cairns +was in. As she ascended the stairs to Leslie's room, which was the +largest and most expensive in the house, her curious glances roved +everywhere. She wished she could see into the room of every student. Her +lips fell into an envious pout as she thought of her own failure to get +into the Hall. She would try again in June, on that she was determined. + +Coming to the door of Leslie's room, she uttered a muffled exclamation +of impatience. A large "Busy" sign stared her in the face. She did not +turn and go away. Instead her surveying eyes took in the long hall from +end to end. Next, she drew close to the door and listened. She could +hear no voices from within. Leslie was evidently alone and studying. + +With a defiant lifting of her chin Elizabeth rapped on the panel twice +and loudly. She listened again and was repaid by the sound of a chair +being hastily moved, then approaching footsteps. The door opened with a +jerk. Leslie stared at her visitor with no pleasantness. + +"I came to return that twenty-five dollars." Elizabeth did not give +Leslie a chance to speak first. "I saw the sign on your door. I thought +I would knock, anyway. I've been trying to see you for a week to give it +to you. Why didn't you answer my note, or didn't you receive it?" + +Leslie continued to stare. She was taken aback for an instant by the +cool impudence of the other girl. This was in reality the only thing +about Elizabeth that Leslie liked. She found the sophomore's bold +assurance amusing. + +"Come in," she drawled, assuming her most indifferent pose. "I intended +asking you if you could read. I'll forgive you. I told you there was no +hurry about that money." + +"What's money to me? Not that much!" Elizabeth snapped her fingers. "I +can have all the money I want to spend here. I simply happened to be +without it the other day. I won't stay. I see you are really busy +writing letters. It goes to show you can write. I thought perhaps you +had forgotten how." + +Having delivered this thrust she busied herself with her handbag. "Here +you are; much obliged." She tendered the money to Leslie. "I must go." +She turned as though to depart. + +"Oh, sit down!" Leslie tossed the little wad of bills on the table. "I +can finish this letter later. I have to keep that sign on the door when +I want to be alone. I'd be mobbed if I did not." + +At heart Leslie was distinctly glad to see her caller. She had her part +to play on the stage of deceit, however. + +"I suppose the Sans are running in and out of your room a good deal," +Elizabeth returned enviously. "I wish I could live here. It makes me so +cross when I think of that Miss Dean and those girls living here and I +can't get in. There will be a lot of girls graduated from here in June. +I think I can make it next fall. What's the use, though. You'll be gone. +It is on your account I'd like to be here. I think more of you, Leslie, +than of all the rest of the girls put together." Elizabeth simulated +wistful regret. She had tried out that particular expression before the +mirror until she had perfected it. It was useful on so many occasions. + +"Do you truly think as much of me as you say, Bess, or are you simply +talking to hear yourself talk?" Leslie carried out admirably a pretense +of sudden earnestness. + +"Why, _of course_, I care a lot about you, Leslie." Elizabeth adopted a +slightly grieved tone. "Think of how _much_ you have done for me." + +"Oh, that's all right." Leslie dismissed the reminder with a wave of the +hand. "I have a reason for asking you that question. I have one or two +other questions to ask you, too. If you are my friend, _and wish to +continue to be my friend_, you will answer them." + +"I certainly will, if I can," was the glib promise. + +"You can," Leslie curtly assured. "First, who told you about my having +received a summons to Matthews' office on account of that accident to +Langly last fall?" + +"How do you know----" began the sophomore, then bit her lip. + +"I _know_. There isn't much goes on on the campus that I don't know." +This with intent to intimidate. "I know who told you, for that matter." + +"I promised I wouldn't tell. Still, if you say you know who it was, I +believe you do." Elizabeth hastily conceded, remembering her own +interests. "You won't let on that I told you?" + +Leslie shook her head. "Trust me to be discreet," she said. + +"It was Dulcie Vale," came the treacherous answer. + +"I knew it." Leslie brought one hand sharply down against the other. +"What else has Dulcie told you?" + +"About what?" counter-questioned the sophomore. + +"That's what I am asking you." Leslie leaned forward in her chair, +steady eyes on her vis-a-vis. + +Elizabeth experienced inward trepidation. Dulcie had told her a great +many things which she had promptly repeated to friends of hers under +promise of secrecy. Suppose Leslie had traced some bit of gossip to her. +She had heard that Leslie could pretend affability when she was the +angriest. She might be only using Dulcie as a blind in order to extract +a confession from her. + +"I don't quite understand you, Leslie," she asserted, knitting her light +brows. "Dulcie has talked to me a little about the Sans. I never +mentioned a word she said to anyone else." + +"That's not the point. I am not accusing you of talking too much. You +made a remark the other day which I took as an assumption that you had +been told about the summons. I knew Dulcie had told you. Dulcie has said +things to others, too." + +"Oh, I know that." Confidence returning, Elizabeth was quick to place +the blame on the absent Dulcie. + +"Yes; and so do I. It is very necessary that I should get to the bottom +of her talk. Some say one thing about her, some another. I thought I +could rely on you for the facts." + +"I don't care to have any trouble with Dulcie over this," deprecated +Elizabeth. + +"You won't. Your name won't be mentioned in it. All I need is the facts. +You will be doing me a great favor. If there is anything I can do for +you in return, let me know." Leslie had donned her cloak of +pseudo-sincerity. + +"Oh, no; there is nothing." Elizabeth slowly shook her head. "I--well, I +wouldn't want you to think I _cared_ for a return." Her manner plainly +indicated that there was something Leslie might do for her if she chose. + +"What is it you want?" Leslie exhibited marked impatience. "Favor for +favor you know," she added boldly. "I never mince matters." + +"I am crazy to play on the soph basket-ball team. Do you think you can +fix it for me?" + +"Surest thing ever. Leonard is peeved and has tossed up sports. Two of +the Sans are on committee. Is that all you need?" + +"Yes." The wide babyish eyes registered a flash of gratification. "You +are so _kind_, Leslie. Thank you a thousand times. I know you won't fail +me." + +"You're welcome. I'll fix it for you tomorrow. One bit of advice. Don't +play unless you are an expert." + +"I am. When I was at prep school----" + +"Never mind about that now. You go ahead and tell me what I asked you. +It is almost six and Nat will be here soon." + +"Oh, will she?" The sophomore cast an apprehensive glance toward the +door. "Is she a very good friend of Dulcie's?" + +"She's a better friend of mine," was the bored reply. Leslie was growing +tired of being kept from what she burned to know. "Please don't waste +any more time, Bess. We can't talk after Nat comes in. I don't believe +I'll be able to see you again before Saturday. I'm awfully busy. I'll +lunch you at the Lotus then. We'll use my roadster for the trip to town. +What?" + +Elated at having gleaned from Leslie a promise of benefit to herself and +an invitation to luncheon, Elizabeth once more stipulated that her name +should be left out of the revelation. Again reassured, she proceeded to +regale Leslie with the confidences Dulcie had imparted to her at various +times. She talked steadily for almost half an hour. Leslie gave her free +rein, interrupting her but little. + +"It's even worse than I had thought," Leslie declared grimly, when +Elizabeth could recall nothing more to tell. "Bess, if you know when you +are well off, you will never tell a soul what you have told me. Part of +it isn't true. Dulcie was romancing to you about that hazing affair. We +talked about it for fun, but that was all. Why, we were all at the +masquerade that night." + +"Dulcie wasn't," flatly contradicted the other. "She had a black eye. +She said she was hurt at that house when----" + +"Dulcie bumped into the door of her room that night with her mask on," +interrupted Leslie angrily. "So she told us. If she was where she claims +she was, certainly we were not with her. This isn't the first foolish +rumor of the kind she has started. It's a good thing the rest of the +girls don't know this. They'd never forgive Dulcie for starting such +yarns. As for that trouble she claims we had with Miss Remson. There was +nothing to that, either. We have never exchanged a word with Remson on +the subject. I don't mind what she told you about the summons. The rest +of her lies! Well, there is this much to it, Dulcie is due to hear from +me and in short order." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV--SANS' MERCY + + +Despite Leslie's denials, Elizabeth left her room only half convinced. +Being as lost to honor as Leslie, she was also as shrewd. She made a vow +to keep her own counsel thereafter. She knew herself to be as guilty as +Dulcie. She hoped Leslie would never discover that. Leslie had promised +that her name should not be mentioned in the matter. If brought to book +by Leslie, Dulcie could not accuse her of circulating the stories +intrusted to her without incriminating herself. Elizabeth felt quite +safe on that score. + +For two or three days after her call upon Leslie, she kept out of +Dulcie's way for fear the latter had been taken to task for her +treachery and might suspect her as being instrumental in having brought +it about. On Friday, however, she met Dulcie in the library. Dulcie +invited her to dinner at the Colonial and she went without a tremor of +conscience. The former was not in a gossiping humor that day. She was +doing badly in all her subjects and worried in consequence. + +Elizabeth went calmly to luncheon at the Lotus with Leslie on Saturday, +pluming herself in that she was on excellent terms with both factions. +She reported to Leslie her meeting with Dulcie on Friday, saying lamely +that Dulcie never gossiped a bit about the Sans. "She hadn't better," +Leslie had returned vengefully. "She has done mischief enough already." +When Elizabeth had ventured to inquire when Dulcie was to be "called +down," Leslie had said, "When I get ready to do it. I'm not ready yet." + +Natalie and Joan Myers had been informed by Leslie of Dulcie's +treachery. The trio had then set to work to discover how much damage she +had done; something not easy to determine. Natalie and Joan demanded +that she should be dropped from the club. They were sure the others +would be of the same mind. Even Eleanor Ray, her former chum, was on the +outs with Dulcie. There would be no objection to the penalty from +Eleanor. Leslie's plan was to gather the evidence against Dulcie, place +it before the Sans, minus the culprit, at a private meeting, and let +them decide her fate. In spite of Leslie Cairns' unscrupulous +disposition, she had a queer sense of justice which occasionally stirred +within her. Thus she was bent on being sure of her ground before +accusing Dulcie to her face. + +After a week had passed and the three had learned nothing new regarding +the circulation of their misdeeds about the campus, Leslie called a +meeting of the club in her room while Dulcie was absent from the Hall. +Indignation ran high at the revelation. The verdict was, "Drop her from +the club." Notwithstanding the possibility pointed out by Leslie that +she might turn on them and betray them to headquarters, her associates +were keen for dropping her. + +"What harm can she do us?" argued Margaret Wayne. "She can't give us +away to Doctor Matthews without cooking her own goose. That's our only +danger from her. It's our word against hers. Any stories she has told on +the campus will never go further than among the students. It is too bad! +Dulcie should have known better than to be so utterly treacherous. She +deserves to be dropped. We could never trust her again." + +"That's what I think," concurred Joan Myers. "Even if her tales _did_ +bring about a private inquiry, it is our word against hers. We have +really walked with a sword over our heads since last Saint Valentine's +night. It has never fallen. I say, _simply fire_ Dulcie from the Sans, +and be done with it. Let it be a lesson to the rest of us to be +discreet." + +"When is the deed to be done?" Adelaide Forman inquired. + +"I don't know yet. I want you girls to see what you can glean on the +campus. I must have every scrap of evidence against her that I can get," +Leslie announced. "We may not be able to spring it on her for a week or +two. When we do, the meeting will be in this room. I'll hang a heavy +curtain over the door so we won't be heard. If she gets very angry she +will raise her voice to a positive shriek." + +"Wouldn't it be better to hold that meeting outside the Hall? Dulcie +will raise an awful fuss. If she hadn't told something I made her swear +she wouldn't tell, I would not hear to having her treated that way. I am +down on her for that very reason. Otherwise I would feel very sorry for +her," explained Eleanor Ray. + +"I am not on good terms with her. She made trouble between Evangeline +and me last week. We only straightened it up today." Joan volunteered +this information. "Leslie's room is the best place for the meeting. It +is situated so that Dulcie won't be heard if she cries or flies into a +temper." + +While among the Sans there was not one girl who had not stooped to +dishonorable acts since her entrance into Hamilton College, the fact of +Dulcie's defection seemed monstrous indeed. + +"Be careful what you say to Bess Walbert," Natalie took the liberty of +saying. "How much does she know about what we shall do with Dulc? What +did you tell her about it?" + +"I said I had heard other things Dulcie had been saying; that she was +due to hear from me for gossiping. That such yarns must be stopped. I +warned her to keep to herself whatever Dulc had told her. She promised +silence. I don't know." Leslie shrugged dubiously. "Take a leaf from +Nat's book, girls, and keep mum to Bess. She may try to pump you. She's +crazy to know what I am going to say to Dulc and when the fuss is to +come off." + +Natalie flushed her gratification of Leslie's approbation. The others +received their leader's counsel with marked respect. The news of +Dulcie's perfidy had given them food for uneasy reflection. + +"We'll just have to depend on you, Les, to deal with Dulcie," Joan Myers +said emphatically. "You can do it scientifically. Of course, we expect +to stand by you. When the time comes you ought to do the talking." + +"The firing, you mean," corrected Leslie, smiling in her most unpleasant +fashion. "Leave it to me. It's our campus reputation against her +feelings; if she has any. We all have a certain pride in ourselves as +seniors. I'm not anxious to be looked down upon by the other classes. It +is only a few months until Commencement. We must hang on until then, and +at the same time keep up an appearance of senior dignity." + +An assenting murmur arose. Allowed to do as they pleased by doting or +careless parents, not one of the Sans would escape parental wrath were +she to fail in her college course. Even more serious consequences would +be attached to expellment. + +"How are we to behave toward Dulcie?" was Eleanor Ray's question as the +meeting broke up. + +"As though nothing had happened," Leslie directed. "I shall take her by +surprise. I wish her to be so completely broken up she won't have the +nerve to fight back, either on the night of the fuss or afterward." + + + + +CHAPTER XV--PLANNING FOR OTHERS + + +While the Sans were experiencing the discomfort of internal friction, +the Lookouts and their friends were traveling the pleasant ways of +harmony and peace. The sophomores had so thoroughly taken their freshman +sisters under their genial wing that the juniors had little welfare work +to do in that direction. + +In the matter of basket ball they lost all active interest after the +first game between the freshman and sophomore teams which took place on +the first Saturday afternoon in November. The Sans still had friends +enough among the seniors to make their influence felt in this respect. +With two Sans elected to the sports committee, Professor Leonard had +thrown up his hands in disgust after a vain attempt to get along +pleasantly with the arrogant committee. He refused to be present at the +try-out. Afterward he made it a point to be away from the gymnasium +during team practice. + +Leslie Cairns kept her word to Elizabeth Walbert to the letter. She was +chosen by the committee to play on the official sophomore team. Phyllis +Moore was also picked solely on account of her prowess. When she found +herself on the same team with Elizabeth, she promptly resigned. + +The freshman team was picked by the committee entirely according to Sans +tactics. Therefore, the democratic element of Hamilton foresaw a series +of uninteresting games ahead. Dutifully they attended the initial game +of the season which the sophs won. Most of the applause came from the +seniors present at the game. According to Muriel Harding, she had seen +better games played by the grammar school children of Sanford. + +Basket ball thus failing to arouse their marked enthusiasm, the former +faithful fans and expert players turned their moments of recreation into +channels which pleased them better. Incidental with the decline of +basket ball, Marjorie and Robin took to looking earnestly about them for +a motive for the entertainments they had discussed giving. + +Marjorie scouted about diligently in an effort to locate students off +the campus who needed financial help. She took Anna Towne into her +confidence at last and found out something of interest. + +"It isn't half so much that most of the girls living off the campus +can't pull themselves through college. They manage to do it by working +through the summer vacations. It is the way we have to live that is so +nerve-racking at times. The food isn't always good, and there's so +little variety if one boards. The girls who cook for themselves have to +market. That's a strain. One is out of bread or butter or another staple +and forgets all about it until supper time. Then the small stores nearby +are closed. Perhaps one wishes to spend an hour or two in the library +after recitations. There is the marketing to do, or else it has to be +done early in the morning when one is hurrying to get ready for a first +recitation. That's merely one of the difficulties attached to trying to +lead the student life and doing light housekeeping at the same time. + +"On the other hand," Anna had further explained, "if one boards one +isn't always allowed to do one's own laundering. That's quite an item of +expense. It costs more in money to board, and it is more of an expense +of spirit to keep house on a small scale. It is a great irritation +either way. That is the opinion of every girl off the campus I have +talked with. You girls in your beautiful campus house are lucky. Many of +these boarding and rooming houses are so cold in winter. For the amount +of board or rental we pay the proprietors claim they can't afford to +give adequate heat. + +"You see, Marjorie, when girls like myself decide on enrolling at a +certain college, they have only the prospectus to go by. They read in +the Bulletin of Students' Aids and Bureaus of Self-help but they do not +reckon on them. They go to college on their own resources. They wouldn't +dream of asking help as freshmen; perhaps not at all during their whole +course." + +"I see," Marjorie had assented very soberly. It hurt her to hear of the +struggles for an education going on so near her, while she had +everything and more than heart could desire. "There ought to be one or +two houses on the campus where students could live as cheaply as in +boarding and rooming houses and still have their time entirely for study +and recreation." + +"That won't be in my time at Hamilton," Anna had declared with a tired +little smile. "I hope it will happen some day." + +When Marjorie had left Anna, it was with a certain generous resolve. +That night she made it known to Jerry. + +"Do you know what I am going to do?" she asked, after recounting to her +room-mate her conversation of the afternoon. + +"I do not. I'll be pleased to hear your remarks, whatever they may be," +encouraged Jerry with one of her wide smiles. + +"You know what a lot of vacancies there will be here in June," Marjorie +began. "Those vacancies ought to be filled by off-the-campus girls. Take +Anna, for instance. She earns about one-third enough money summers to +keep her at Wayland Hall. I shall furnish the other two-thirds for her. +I shall begin now and save something from my allowance toward it. I +shall ask Captain not to buy me a lot of new clothes for next year, but +to give me the money instead. I am going to do a little sacrificing. I +shall cut out dinners and luncheons off the campus. I'll go only to +Baretti's and not so very often." + +"We are an extravagant set," Jerry confessed. "Our board is paid at the +Hall; the very best board, too. Yet away we go every two or three days +for a feed at our favorite tea-rooms. That's a good idea, Marvelous +Manager. I shall presently adopt an off-the-campusite myself. Ronny will +adopt a dozen." + +"Ronny would finance them all, but I sha'n't let her. General would give +me the money to see Anna through college, but I don't wish it to be that +way. I want it to be self-denial money. I'd like to find a way to help +the off-the-campus girls this year." + +"Give shows. Make money. Turn it over to 'em," suggested Jerry, with an +airy wave of the hand. "Nothing easier." + +"Nothing harder, you mean," corrected Marjorie. "They wouldn't like to +accept it as a private gift, I'm afraid. Besides, some of them board; +others do light housekeeping. Those who keep house could use the money +we offered to make things easier. Still they'd have the strain of +housework on their minds. Those who board wouldn't be benefited much +unless they changed boarding places. There is only that one collection +of boarding houses near the campus. One is about the same as another. +Hamilton has been a rich girls' college for a long time. The fine +equipment and super-excellent faculty have filled it up with well-to-do +and moneyed students." + +"I'd like to see every Hamilton student on the campus," declared Jerry +heartily. "It would take three campus houses to do it. There must be +close to seventy-five girls in that bunch of off-campus houses." + +"We could start our fund for that purpose," was the hopeful response. + +"Who'd take care of the plan after we were graduated? It would take a +lot of money to build campus houses. Besides, how would we get the site? +Maybe the Board wouldn't hear to the project" + +"Too true, too true, Jeremiah," Marjorie conceded gayly. "That plan is a +little far-fetched just yet. Later it may seem feasible. The fact +remains that Robin and I yearn to get up a show; object to give away the +proceeds." + +"You can do this. Arrange for the show. Advertise it as being given for +the purpose of founding a students' beneficiary association. Take a +third of the proceeds and start the society. Give the other two-thirds +to Anna and let her distribute it privately among the girls who need it. +She knows them. She can get away with it better than you can. If anyone +comes down on the treasury for our little lone third we can hand it out +and keep it up by private contributions until some more money is earned. +I suppose you two marvelous managers will continue in the show business +as long as it is profitable." + +"Your head is level, Jeremiah," laughed Marjorie, her eyes sparkling. +"That's a good plan. I'll see Robin tomorrow, and Anna too. Robin can +begin to gather up the performers. Anna can find out for me as to how +her flock are situated. I shall call the girls in tomorrow evening and +ask them if they each would like to finance a student next year. Leila, +Vera and Helen will like to, even if they have been graduated from +Hamilton. Kathie can't, but she will wish to help in some other way." + +"Anna Towne was my freshie catch. You may have her. I'll scout around +and find someone else," magnanimously accorded Jerry. + +Marjorie spent her leisure hours during the ensuing few days in +interviewing her friends and helping Robin plan the show. With +Thanksgiving only ten days off, the show would not take place until +after that holiday. The girls tackled the programme, however, and +completed it within three days. + +Ronny was to dance twice. Marjorie had written to Constance Stevens, who +had promised to sing at the revue. These two numbers were to be the +features. The Silverton Hall orchestra would contribute two numbers. +Leila and Vera had promised an ancient Irish contra dance in costume. +Phyllis would give a violin solo. Blanche Scott would offer a grand +opera selection in her best baritone voice. Ronny agreed to train eight +girls in a singing and dancing number. As a wind-up, four Acasia House +girls were to put on a one-act French play. + +Busy with her new project, Marjorie had not forgotten Miss Susanna. The +day after her visit to Hamilton Arms she had written the old lady one of +her sincere, friendly notes. She had not expected a reply. Nevertheless, +Miss Hamilton had returned a few lines of acknowledgment. Since then the +wires of communication between them had been idle. + +Marjorie regretted this. She would have liked, during the beautiful +autumn weather, to walk about the grounds of Hamilton Arms with its +owner. With the last leaves off the trees and the earth frost-bitten, +she began to feel that Miss Susanna had not desired her further +acquaintance. In passing Hamilton Arms she strained her eyes, +invariably, for a sight of the old lady. She saw her but once, and at a +distance. + +She wondered as Thanksgiving approached what kind of Thanksgiving Miss +Hamilton would have. She resolved, before leaving college for home, to +write the last of the Hamiltons as cheerful a note as she could compose. + +Three days before college closed for the holiday she found a letter in +the Hall bulletin board in Miss Susanna's handwriting. This letter bore +the address "Wayland Hall," and read: + + "Dear Child: + + "I have a curiosity to meet some of the young women you exalted to + me when you took tea at the Arms. Will you bring them with you to + five o'clock tea tomorrow afternoon? I had intended writing you + before this date, but have been ill and out of sorts. I believe you + mentioned eight young women as your particular friends. I can + entertain you and the beloved eight, but no more. Do not trouble to + answer this note. I shall expect to see you, even if the others + can't come to tea. + + "Yours sincerely, + "Susanna Craig Hamilton." + +Marjorie uttered a kind of exultant crow and performed a funny little +dance of jubilation about the room. Jerry had not yet come from +recitations, so she hurried out to find the other Lookouts. Ronny was +the only one in. She rejoiced with Marjorie, her interest in Hamilton +Arms and its owner being second only to that of her chum. + +"She loves flowers. We must take her a big box of roses," was Marjorie's +generous thought. "Pink, white and red ones; yellow roses, too, if we +can find them. It is hard to find a certain kind of fragrant, very +double yellow rose at the florist's now." + +"You mean 'Perle de Jaddin,'" Ronny said quickly. "We have acres of them +at 'Manana.' They are my favorite rose." + +"I love them, too," Marjorie nodded. "I remember that name now. I will +collect two dollars apiece from the girls. Two times nine are eighteen. +We ought to be able to buy an armful of roses for eighteen dollars. I'll +ask Leila to drive to Hamilton for them. She has no class the last hour. +I think we had better walk to Hamilton Arms. Miss Susanna seems to be +rather down on girls who drive cars. So there is no use in flaunting her +dislike in her face. I may be in error on that point. She made a remark +on the day I met her that led me to think so." + +"You go and find the other girls. I'll tell Lucy as soon as she comes +in," Ronny offered. "The sooner you see them, the better. If they have +engagements for tomorrow afternoon they will have to gracefully slide +out of them. We all must accept Miss Susanna's invitation. It is a case +of now or never." + +Marjorie left Ronny to go joyfully on her pleasant errand. Her second +quest was more successful. Leila and Vera had returned while she was in +Ronny's room. Both were elated over the unexpected honor. Leila was more +than willing to make the trip to the florist's shop. Marjorie met +Katherine in the hall just as she was leaving Leila's room. + +The trio of absentees, Helen, Muriel and Jerry, she decided must be out +somewhere together. She smiled to herself as she pictured Jerry's face +when she heard the news. "Just because I am in a hurry to tell Jerry she +will probably go to dinner off the campus and come marching in about +nine o'clock," was her half-vexed rumination. + +To her satisfaction Jerry walked into the room at ten minutes to six. +She and Helen had taken a ride in the latter's car. Jerry was full of +mirth over the fact that they had met Elizabeth Walbert's car at the +side of the road with a blown-out tire. A mechanician from a Hamilton +garage was on the scene adjusting a new one under the verbose direction +of the owner. + +"Helen drove her car past at a crawl. We wanted to hear what she was +saying to the man from the garage. Honestly, we could hear her voice +before we came very near her. She shrieks at the top of her lungs. She +was trying to tell him what to do. He wasn't paying any more attention +to her than if she hadn't been there. That blond freshie, who snubbed +Phil the day she tried to help her at the station, was with her. I heard +her say, 'My, but he is slow. Our chauffeur could have put on three +tires while he was thinking about putting on one.' So encouraging to the +workman!" Jerry's tones registered gleeful sarcasm. "I wish she had been +stuck there for about four hours." + +"You should not rejoice at the downfall of others," Marjorie reproved +with a giggle. "That is, if you can class a bursted tire as a downfall." + +"It did me a world of good to see those two little snips stuck at the +side of the road," returned Jerry. "That Walbert girl and her car are a +joke. I wish we had a college paper. I'd write her up. Funny there isn't +one at Hamilton. Almost every other college has one, sometimes two. I +think I shall start one next year, if I'm not too busy." + +"You might call it 'Jeremiah's Journal,'" suggested Marjorie. Both girls +laughed at this conceit. Marjorie then acquainted her room-mate with the +invitation, at the same time handing her Miss Hamilton's note. + +"Will wonders never cease!" Jerry laid down the note and beamed at +Marjorie. "All your fault, Marvelous Manager. You went ahead and paved +the way into Miss Susanna's good graces for the rest of us. You +certainly do get on the soft side of people without trying." + +"Not a bit of it," Marjorie stoutly contested. "Any one of you girls +would have done as I did and with the same results. I am so glad you are +all going to meet her. She can't help but have a better opinion of our +dear old Alma Mater after she has met some of her nicest children. I +guess that basket handle broke at the psychological moment." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI--OUT OF THE PAST + + +The invited guests were in scarcely more of an anticipatory flutter than +Miss Susanna herself. She had broken down her prejudice against girls +partly out of curiosity to see and know Marjorie's friends, partly +because of her growing fondness for Marjorie. The innocent beauty of the +young girl, and her utter lack of conceit and affectation, had made a +deep impression on the suspicious, embittered old lady. She had no +expectation of liking Marjorie's friends as she was learning to like the +courteous, gracious lieutenant. It was her skeptical opinion, uttered to +Jonas, that, if _one_ of the "new ones" turned out to be half as worthy +as "that pretty child," she would not regret the experiment. + +"You may take me for an old fool, Jonas," she declared to her faithful +servitor of many years. "Here I am entertaining college misses after +I've sworn enmity against them for so long. Well, everything once, +Jonas; everything once. If I don't like 'em, they won't be invited here +again." + +"The young lady's friends will be all right, Miss Susanna," Jonas had +earnestly assured. "She is a fine little lady." + +The "young lady's friends," however, were seized with a certain amount +of trepidation when, on the designated afternoon, they advanced on +Hamilton Arms, looking their prettiest. Each had worn the afternoon +frock she liked best in honor of her hostess. Marjorie, Leila and Jerry +headed the van, Leila bearing in her arms a huge box of roses. Marjorie +had insisted that Leila must present these to Miss Susanna. Leila had +sturdily demurred, then accepted the honor thrust upon her. All the way +to Hamilton Arms she had kept the party in a gale of laughter with the +humorous presentation speeches which she framed en route. + +Within a few steps of the house her fund of words deserted her. "Take +these yourself, Marjorie," she implored. "I am in too much of a glee at +my own foolishness. I shall laugh and disgrace us all if I undertake to +give her the roses." + +"You'll be all right, you goose. I refuse to help you out." Marjorie +waved aside the proffered box. "Rally your nerve and say the first thing +that occurs to you. It will be sure to be the best thing you could +possibly say." + +"I doubt it. Well, I can but take firm hold on the box and make the best +of a bad matter." Leila grasped the box with exaggerated force, cleared +her throat and burst out laughing. She continued to laugh as they +ascended the steps. She had hardly straightened her face when Jonas +answered the door and ushered the guests over the threshold they had +never expected to cross. + +"I have not seen so many girls at close range for a long time," +announced a brisk voice. Miss Susanna had come from the library into the +hall to greet her visitors. She was attired in a one-piece dress of dark +gray silk with a white fichu at the throat of frost-like lace. + +"How are you, my child?" She now took Marjorie's hand. "And these are +your friends." Her bright brown eyes were inspecting the group of young +women with a kind of reflective curiosity. "Introduce them to me and +tell me each name slowly. I wish to know each one by name from now on. I +used to have a good memory for names." + +Marjorie complied with the instruction, adding some friendly little +point descriptive of each chum. This evoked laughter and helped to ease +the slight strain attached to the presentation. Leila then proffered the +box of roses with a frank, "Here is our good will to you, Miss +Hamilton." + +"What's this?" Miss Susanna viewed the long box in amazement. A swift +tide of color rose to her cheeks. She reached for it mechanically as +though uncertain what to do next. She held it for an instant, then said: +"I thank you, girls. You could have done nothing that would please me +more. I love flowers; particularly roses. Come into the library now and +let us get acquainted." + +In the library Miss Susanna explored the florist's box with the pleasure +of a child. She exclaimed happily over the masses of gorgeous roses as +she lifted them from the box and inhaled their fragrance. She sent Jonas +for vases and arranged them to suit her fancy, talking animatedly to her +guests as her small hands busied themselves with the pleasant task. + +The girls gathered informally about her, looking on with gratified eyes. +The flower gift had established a bond of sympathy between them. Already +Miss Susanna was beginning to glimpse the reason for Marjorie's devotion +to her special friends. The girls also understood Marjorie's growing +interest in the last of the Hamiltons. Miss Hamilton had an oddly +fascinating personality which commanded liking. + +"There!" Miss Susanna exclaimed, as the last rose went into a vase to +her satisfaction. "I shall leave them in the library while you are here. +Afterward I shall take my posies to my room. They will be the last thing +I see tonight and the first in the morning. I have selfishly fussed with +my lovely roses instead of giving you hungry children your tea. We are +going to have it in the tea room today. I will ask you to come now." + +She led the way from the library to an apartment directly behind it. A +subdued chorus of admiration ascended from the guests as they stepped +into a room which was quite Chinese in character. The walls were hung +with rare Chinese embroideries and delicately-tinted prints. A pale +green matting rug with intricately-wrought lavender and buff characters +covered the floor. The tables and chairs were of polished teak, +beautifully inlaid with mother of pearl. In one corner was a tall +Chinese cabinet topped by two exquisite peachblow vases. Here and there +were other vases of value and beauty. It was an amazing room. With so +much to look at, it required time to appreciate fully its worth from an +artistic point of view. + +While there were several small tables, there was a large oblong one +which would seat the party. It was laid for tea and graced by the most +wonderful tea set the girls had ever seen. It was of faint, almost +translucent, green banded by an odd Chinese scroll border in silver. + +"What a perfectly wonderful room!" gasped Vera, her hands coming +together in an admiring clasp, so characteristic of her. + +Her approval was echoed by the others. The mistress of Hamilton Arms +piloted them to the large table, taking her place at the head of it. + +"Have your tea first, then you may explore Uncle Brooke's famous tea +room as much as you please." Miss Susanna glanced about at the circle of +eager young faces with a bright smile. She was enjoying this innovation +so much more than she had thought she might. "This will really be a meat +tea. I know you girls will need something more substantial than tea and +cakes, as you won't be home in time for dinner." + +The invaluable Jonas now appearing, an appetizing collation consisting +of creamed chicken, hot muffins, a salad and sweets was served, together +with much tea and more talk and laughter. The girls were hungry enough +to enjoy every mouthful of the delicious food provided by their hostess, +agreeing with Marjorie as to the super-excellence of the tea. + +"Please tell us about this tea room, Miss Susanna," coaxed Marjorie. The +repast finished, the party still sat at table. "I suppose it was planned +and arranged by Mr. Brooke Hamilton." + +"Yes; it is considered the finest private tea room in America," was the +reply. The odd part of this room is that every article in it was a gift +to my great uncle. Shortly after LaFayette's visit to America, when +Uncle Brooke was a young man in his early twenties, he embarked on a +business venture to China. He expected to be gone only a year. Instead, +he remained in China for twelve years. Unlike many persons, he did not +antagonize the Chinese. They learned to appreciate him for his nobility, +and became his firm friends. Every now and then, someone would make him +a present. A true Chinaman will give the best he has if he wishes to +give. + +"Uncle Brooke was so much pleased with his growing collection of things +Chinese, that he announced his intention of having a Chinese room in his +home when he returned to America," continued the old lady, a gleam of +pride in her eyes. "He told his Chinese friends of his idea and they +were delighted. Eventually a rich noble, who had been one of Uncle +Brooke's truest friends, died. He bequeathed a priceless collection of +Chinese antiquities to my ancestor. Among them was this tea set, those +two peachblow vases, and that print on the east wall. When he returned +to America it took him six months to arrange this room to his +satisfaction. He arranged it and pulled it to pieces dozens of times +before he produced the effect he desired." + +"Do you remember him, Miss Susanna?" asked Marjorie eagerly, then +blushed for fear her question might be considered too pointed by her +hostess. + +"Very well, indeed. I was a young woman when he died. He was +seventy-nine years old the week before his death. My father was the son +of his only brother who was several years older than Uncle Brooke. +Father was an invalid during the last years of his life. We came here to +live when I was twelve. As a child, Uncle Brooke would often take me for +walks about the estate. He taught me the names and habits of trees, +shrubs and flowers. He was a true nature man." + +"It seems odd to hear so much, all at once, of Mr. Brooke Hamilton," +observed Helen. "We have not heard anything of him before except what +little is known on the campus. He is almost a mystery at Hamilton +College." + +"The fault of the college," retorted Miss Susanna with bitterness. +"There was a time when the college board might have had the data for his +biography. That time has passed. They shall never have one scrap of +information concerning him from me. What I have told you of him today is +in strict confidence. I have spoken freely of him because Marjorie has +assured me that you are to be trusted. Were you to break this +confidence, I would refuse to verify whatever you might tell and forbid +any publication of the information." + +Miss Hamilton glanced defiantly about the circle. Her kindly expression +had entirely vanished. + +"We can but assure you of our discretion." It was Leila who made an +answer, a hint of wounded pride in her blue eyes. + +"You can trust us, Miss Susanna," added Marjorie, smiling bravely. She +was experiencing a queer little sinking of the heart at the displeased +old lady's intent to permanently withhold from the college the true +history of its founder. + +"I daresay I can, child. Let us change the subject. It is unpleasant to +me. You girls had better walk about the tea room and enjoy the curios +until I recover my good humor." + +Prompt to obey the mandate, the girls spent at least a half hour in the +Oriental room, examining and admiring the departed connoisseur's +individual arrangement of a marvelous collection. Miss Susanna sat and +watched them, almost moodily. Returned to the library, the sight of her +roses mollified her. She decided to do a certain thing which had risen +to her mind. The desire to give pleasure to these young girls who had +thought of her conquered her sudden gust of spleen against Hamilton +College. + +"Would you like to see my great uncle's study?" she asked, turning from +the flowers to her guests. + +"Oh!" Ronny drew a wondering audible breath. She could hardly believe +her ears. + +The others laughed at her, but the eager light in their eyes told its +own story. + +"May we see it, Miss Susanna?" Vera's tone was almost imploring. + +"You may. Another time, when all of you come to see me, I will show you +about the house. It is well worth seeing. My great uncle gathered beauty +from the four corners of the earth. He loved to travel and brought back +with him the treasure of other lands. I should like you to see the +study. It holds one thing, in particular, in which I am sure you will be +interested." + +"There is no corner of this house without interest," Leila said warmly. +"I am sure of that." + +"So it seems to me," nodded Miss Hamilton. "I have lived in it many +years. I am not over the wonder of it yet. At times I am sorry that +others cannot enjoy it with me. Again I am glad to be alone." + +Following the old lady, who mounted the broad staircase as nimbly as any +of them, they found on the second landing the same solid magnificence of +furnishing that marked the first floor. Down a long hallway, which +extended back from the main reception hall, they went. At the end of the +hall was a door of heavy walnut, its upper half of stained glass. This +their guide opened. They were now seeing the room where the founder of +Hamilton College had spent so many hours planning the institution which +bore his name. + +The murmur of voices died out among them as they stepped into the study. +Compared with other rooms in the house which the girls had seen, it was +rather small. The floor was bare save for one medium-sized rug in the +center of the room, on which stood a heavy-legged mahogany writing +table. A tall desk, a book-case, three high-backed chairs and a filing +cabinet, all of carved mahogany, completed the furnishings, plus one +broad-seated chair, leather cushioned, and with a rounding back. It was +drawn up before the library table; Brooke Hamilton's own chair. + +The most notable object in the study was a framed, illuminated oblong +about five feet long and perhaps two and a half feet wide. It was hung +at a point on the wall directly opposite the founder's chair. + +"This is what you wished us to see, isn't it?" Marjorie cried out, +stopping in front of the oblong. "I think I know what it is." + +"Tell us, then." Miss Susanna was smiling fondly at the animated face +Marjorie turned toward her. + +"The maxims of Mr. Brooke Hamilton," she guessed breathlessly. Her eyes +traveled slowly down the oblong. "There are fifteen of them," she +announced. "What a beautiful illumination!" + +"Yes; they were his favorite sayings. He originated them all except the +first one. More, he lived up to them." The old lady's intonation had +grown singularly gentle. + +A reverent silence visited the study as the knot of girls gathered about +the oblong to read the sayings of one long gone from earth. The colors +used in the illumination were principally blue and gold with mere +touches of green and black. Red had been left out entirely from the +color scheme. + +"Remember the stranger within thy gates." + +"To the wise nothing is forbidden." + +"Becoming earnestness is never out of place." + +"Let thy gratitude be lasting." + +"Ask Heaven for courtesy; the supply is greater than the demand." + +"Make thy deference to age not too marked." + +"Truth flies a winning pennant." + +"Beware, lest what seems unattainable falls too near thine hand." + +"Let thy learning be seasoned with merriment." + +"O, Justice, how fair art thine heights!" + +"Be motivated by the grace of God." + +"Be not secret; be discreet." + +"For the gift of life give thanks." + +"The ways of light reach upward to eternity." + +"To stumble honorably is to learn to walk." + +Such were the informal rules of conduct which Brooke Hamilton had carved +for himself with the blade of experience. + +"We have five of these at the college, Miss Susanna." Ronny finally +broke the spell which had fallen. "The first, third, fourth, seventh and +ninth. 'Remember the stranger within thy gates,' is over the doorway of +Hamilton Hall. The ninth one is in the library and the third, fourth and +seventh are in the chapel." + +"I knew some of them were there. The first he had placed over the door +of Hamilton Hall. The others were to be presented to the college as the +students earned them." + +"Earned them?" queried Muriel impulsively. "I don't understand----" She +broke off, coloring at her own temerity. Her companions were also +looking slightly mystified. + +"His idea was this. He wished to reward any particularly noteworthy act +on the part of a student, of which he chanced to hear, by an honor. The +recipient was to receive a citation in chapel and one of his favorite +maxims, decoratively framed, was to be hung in one of the campus +buildings. A record of the citation was to be established in an honor +book kept in a special niche in the chapel. This was one of his later +ideas. He did not live to carry it out. I don't know how they managed to +get hold of four of his sayings. They have no right to them." + +Acridity again dominated Miss Susanna's tones. She appeared to resent +deeply the fact that the college authorities held any information +whatsoever regarding her famous kinsman. + +"Maybe a person who knew your great uncle remembered these four maxims +of his and they were thus handed down," suggested Lucy, always +interested in a mystery. + +"I wish we had them all; everyone of them!" Marjorie gave an audible +sigh of regret. "I can't help saying it, Miss Susanna. It is the way I +feel about these true, wonderful sayings of Mr. Brooke Hamilton." + +"You may say it without offending me, my dear. I understand you and your +affection for Hamilton College. _He_ would have liked you to say it. +_He_ never held a grudge. I have held one many years. I shall continue +to hold it." Miss Susanna crested her stubborn head. "It is a supreme +pleasure to me to know that I have thwarted the college board in some +respects. I shall continue to thwart them." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII--LUCY'S NEWS + + +On the heels of their memorable visit to Hamilton Arms came the added +joy of going home for Thanksgiving. All the pleasure that the occasion +afforded was crowded into those four brief days. The Nine Travelers, as +they agreed to call themselves, returned to college more firmly +amalgamated than ever. + +The Lookouts had long since included their four close friends in the +formal association which they had dubbed the Five Travelers. At first +they had decided that the name should remain the same, though four +members were added. Later, Ronny suggested that Nine Travelers would be +more appropriate. At the end of their college course, they would choose +nine girls to replace them with a new chapter, as they had done in the +case of the Lookout Club. All nine were anxious to leave a sorority +behind them of which they could claim to have founded. + +Marjorie and Robin Page, who, according to Jerry, "had gone into the +show business," had their hands full the moment they returned to +Hamilton. They tackled the enterprise with a will, however, and within a +couple of days after resuming the difficult duties of managership they +had made considerable headway. + +"Have you those posters yet?" greeted Robin, as she joyfully pounced +upon Marjorie on the steps of the library. "I have been trying to see +you ever since yesterday morning. I was coming over last night, but I +simply had to stay at home and study. I struck a horrible snag in +calculus and struggled with it half the evening." + +"Ethel said she would have them done tomorrow," was the comforting news. +"She made four. I imagine they must be beauties, too." + +"Uh-h-h!" Robin pretended to crumple with relief. "That's one torture +off my mind. Naturally they will be great stuff. Ethel Laird draws +better than any other girl at Hamilton. It was mighty fine in her to +take such a job on herself. I asked her for only one you know." + +"Probably she saw a wistful gleam in your eye and was kind," laughed +Marjorie. + +"There will be an entirely different gleam in my eye if those printers +don't hurry up with the programmes. Last I heard from them they hadn't +even started the work. We really took a good deal upon ourselves when we +started this show. I'm glad I am not a manager for my living. It is too +strenuous a life for Robin." + +"We ought to call a rehearsal Saturday evening. There won't be anyone +caring to use the gym, and there won't be much time for it next week in +the evenings, with all the studying we have to do. Just recall, the show +is to be next Friday evening," was Marjorie's reminder. + +"Oh, I know it," groaned Robin. "I shall be enraged, infuriated and +foaming at the mouth if those aggravating printers don't have our +programmes done in time." + +"They will. Don't worry. When did they promise you the tickets?" + +"Tomorrow. They've done fairly well with the tickets," Robin grudgingly +conceded. "That is, provided they deliver them tomorrow, as promised. I +am just a little tired, I guess. I like the programme part of getting up +a show, but I don't like the tiresome details." + +"Come on over to Baretti's," invited Marjorie. "What you need is +sustenance. We can talk things over and have dinner at the same time. I +can stay out until eight. It's only five-fifteen now. We shall have +oceans of time." + +"All right. Don't you believe, though, that we'll have much chance to +talk. Some of our gang will be there, sure as fate," Robin +prognosticated. + +Surely enough, they were greeted by a hospitable quartette occupying a +table near the door. It was composed of Ronny, Jerry, Elaine Hunter and +Barbara Severn. + +"Aren't you going home to dinner?" quizzed Jerry accusingly. "And you +never said a word to me this noon of your secret intentions." + +"I hadn't any. May I ask why you are here without having obtained my +permission?" Marjorie drew down her face in an imitation of Miss Merton, +a Sanford teacher both girls had greatly disliked. + +"I have nothing to say," chuckled Jerry. "You and your friend may sit at +our table, if you like." + +"Thank you. My friend and I have weighty matters to discuss. We're in +the show business now, Jeremiah. We are bound for that last table in the +row." Marjorie pointed. "We'll join you later, and please don't disturb +us. Ahem!" + +"I don't even know either of you by sight. Beat it." Jerry waved both +girls away with a magnificent gesture of disdain which sent them, +giggling, toward their table. + +"This is my first off-the-campus treat since we talked about getting up +the show that day we went to Hamilton," Marjorie confided to Robin. "I +have thirty-eight dollars saved. Captain gave me twenty-five when I came +away from home. I told her I did not need it, but you see I had told her +about saving my money, too. That's the reason she gave it to me. I seem +not to be able to make any real sacrifices," Marjorie smiled ruefully. + +"I have saved close to thirty. I could have saved more, but I have had +three Silvertonites to remember on their birthdays. Not my pals, but +girls who appreciate remembrances and who don't receive many. I haven't +been here but twice since we had that talk. We mustn't desert Signor +Baretti, either. He would feel dreadfully if we stopped patronizing his +tea room." + +"We will have to try to please all our friends somehow, and ourselves, +too," Marjorie said gayly. + +Their dinner ordered, the two settled down to talk over the progress of +their "show" with the business energy of two real theatrical managers. +Later, however, Jerry and her trio sidled up to the forbidden table and +were graciously allowed to remain. In consequence, it was half-past +eight before the party left the tea room. + +"Lucy will wonder what has become of me," Ronny declared, as the three +Lookouts entered Wayland Hall. "I told her this noon I was not going +anywhere after recitations. Oh, dear! I am a nice person! I promised to +help Muriel with her French, before dinner. I forgot all about it until +this minute. She will be raving." + +"You seem to be in a bad case all around," sympathized Marjorie in most +unsympathetic tones. "I'm sorry for you." + +"I'm a great deal more sorry for myself," retorted Jerry. + +"I haven't broken any promise by staying out, but I won't do much +studying tonight. Let me see, what recitations do I have tomorrow that I +can slight the least tiny bit?" Marjorie puckered her brows over her +problem. + +Entering their room, the first sight that met hers and Jerry's eyes was +Lucy Warner, fast asleep in an arm chair. Jerry laid a warning finger +against her lips, then she stole softly up to Lucy. + +"Wake up and pay for your lodgings," she growled in a deep, hoarse +voice. + +"Oh-h! Ah-h!" Lucy sat up with a suddenness which narrowly missed +landing her on the floor. "I thought you would never come home," she +mumbled, not yet fully awake. Blinking sleepily at the two laughing +girls, she continued: "I had some news for you. I sat down to wait until +you came. Ronny was out; so was Muriel. I've been here since eight +o'clock. Were you out to dinner?" + +"That means _you_ were not here." Jerry pointed an arraigning finger at +Lucy. "Where have you been? Lately you have become a regular gad-about. +It must be stopped, Luciferous." + +"Gad-about nothing," disclaimed Lucy. "You, not I, belong to that +deplorable class, Jeremiah Macy. _I_ have been working. True, I dined +outside the Hall, and in distinguished company. I am President Matthews' +secretary pro tem. I had dinner at his house tonight. I told you I had +news for you." + +"Can you beat that?" Jerry sank into the nearest chair as though about +to collapse. "You are mounting the college scale by leaps and bounds, +aren't you? Chummy with the registrar, a friend of Professor +Wenderblatt's, and now established in Doctor Matthews' good graces. The +unprecedented rise of Luciferous Warniferous; or, Secretaries who have +become famous." + +"How did it happen? Where is Miss Sayres?" Marjorie exhibited lively +curiosity at the news. + +"Miss Sayres is at home with a cold. Nothing very serious, I imagine. +Miss Humphrey recommended me to the doctor. He was away behind in his +correspondence. Miss Sayres has been ill for two days. It was nearly six +when I finished his letters. He still had an address to dictate. He +asked me if I would stay until after dinner and take the dictation. I +had a beautiful time. He and his wife are such friendly persons. He is a +great biologist, too. His son was there. He is a New York lawyer and is +home for a few days' visit." Lucy added this last without enthusiasm. + +"Well, well, Luciferous!" patronized Jerry. "And were you afraid to talk +to the young man?" + +"Oh, stop teasing me! No, I was not. He talked to his mother most of the +time, anyway. I must go and find Ronny. Was she with you girls?" Lucy +rose, gathered her books from the table, and prepared to depart. + +"She was with us, Lucy. You'd better stay and talk to us," coaxed +Marjorie. "It's growing later and later and still I am not studying. I +might as well wind up a pleasant but unprofitable evening with gossiping +about Doctor Matthews. Come on back and resume your chair, Miss Warner." + +Lucy had now reached the door. "Wait until I go and see Ronny, and I +will come back." She exited, returning five minutes afterward with +Ronny. + +"You don't seem to have the study habit tonight, either," commented +Jerry genially to the new arrival. "Well, sit down and have a good time. +That's what college is for." + +"How do you like the doctor, Lucy?" There was a note of sharp interest +in the question. Marjorie was anxious to hear Lucy's opinion of the +president. "I know you said he was friendly; but, I mean, what do you +think of him in other ways?" + +"I understand you. You are thinking of Miss Remson. So was I, whenever I +had a chance to study the man. He is one of the kindest, finest men I +have ever come in contact with," Lucy declared impressively. "He is so +courteous; he goes to great pains in answering his letters. I know he +never wrote that letter to Miss Remson." + +"I felt that way about him, too, the day I played messenger for Miss +Humphrey." Marjorie nodded agreement of Lucy's emphatic praise. + +"I wish I could solve that letter mystery while I am there." Lucy's +green eyes gleamed. "My one chance would be to have a talk about it with +Doctor Matthews. That's not likely to happen. I could find out a good +deal about Miss Sayres by going through the letter files, but I would +die rather than touch one of them. I shall only be there for a day or +two, I suppose. If I could be his secretary for two or three weeks I +might be able to say a good word for Miss Remson. I am sure there has +been a great misrepresentation and I believe Miss Sayres is at the +bottom of it." + +"What would you do, Luciferous, if, while you were there, you found out +something that was plain proof against the Sans?" was Marjorie's +thoughtful query. + +"I would take it up with Doctor Matthews at once, wouldn't you, in the +same circumstances?" + +"Yes," came the unhesitating reply. "That is the one thing I have always +thought I would not mind telling against the Sans." Marjorie's features +grew sternly determined. "It was such a cruel thing to do; to estrange +two friends of such long standing. For all we know, Doctor Matthews may +wonder why Miss Remson has not visited him and his wife for over a +year." + +"It is not likely that I shall find any such proof. If I should, I would +use it very quickly. Miss Remson was dreadfully hurt over that miserable +letter. I would put the proof before Doctor Matthews if I had to fight +all the Sans single-handed afterward." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII--WHEN FRIENDS BECOME FOES + + +Lucy's secretaryship for Doctor Matthews lasted only three days. During +that short space of time she found out nothing special, bearing on the +wrong to Miss Remson which she longed to right. She learned to like the +president of Hamilton College better than ever, and wished she might +work for him longer. The only item of interest she came across was at +his residence. In the secretary's desk there she discovered the New York +address of Leslie Cairns in a small red leather address book. To her +analytical mind this was proof enough of an acquaintance between the +two. + +She had not expected to do anything of moment toward helping Miss Remson +during those three days. Still she could not help confessing to Marjorie +that she was a wee bit disappointed at not having learned a single +thing. + +"Never mind, Luciferous," Marjorie had consoled. "You had the will to +help Miss Remson if you did not have the opportunity. It may all come to +light when you least expect it. That's the way such things often +happen." + +While Lucy had deplored her inability to obtain the desired information +she legitimately sought, the Sans loudly deplored among themselves her +temporary appointment as secretary. Coupled with it a story had reached +the ears of Natalie Weyman and Joan Myers which caused them to flee to +Leslie Cairns in a hurry. It had to do with the hazing party the +previous February. Joan had been slyly taxed with it first. Pretending +innocence, she had made an excuse to leave the senior who had intimated +it to her without having betrayed herself in any particular. + +Several days afterward she and Natalie Weyman had gone through almost +the same experience with two juniors who had appeared to treat the +affair as a huge joke. The girl who had first hinted it to Joan had been +rather horrified over what she had evidently heard. + +"I think it is high time we called Dulcie Vale to account!" Natalie +exclaimed stormily, as she finished the recital of what she and Joan had +just heard. + +The two had burst in upon Leslie, regardless of the "Busy" sign which +now ornamented her door a good deal of the time when she was in her +room. + +"Calm down, Nat. You are so mad you are fairly shouting. Take seats and +have some candy, both of you." Leslie lazily pushed a huge box of nut +chocolates across the table within easy reach of her excited callers. + +"Um-m! Glaucaire's best!" Natalie forgot her wrath and helped herself to +sweets. + +"I had made up my mind before you two burst in with your tale of woe +that Dulcie had escaped long enough. I have heard things, too, and just +lately. Dulcie is not the only one. She talked to Bess. Bess Walbert is +as busy a little news circulator as you'd care to find." + +"What did I tell you?" Natalie cried out in triumph. + +"You were right, Nat. I give you credit for reading her correctly. I +haven't seen her since the first of the week. When I do----" Leslie nodded +her head, looking thoroughly disagreeable. Elizabeth Walbert was in for +a very stormy interview with her. + +"When will you call the meeting, Les?" anxiously inquired Joan. "Don't +put it off. No telling how much more mischief Dulcie may do if she isn't +curbed promptly." + +"Tomorrow night," Leslie named. "See as many of the Sans as you can +between now and the ten-thirty bell. Don't go near Loretta Kelly's and +Della Byron's room. Dulcie goes there a good deal lately. Della is +coming to see me this evening after dinner. I'll tell her then. Let me +know before the last bell tonight how many of the girls are on, Nat. +Will you?" + +"Surely, Leslie dear." Natalie had simmered down to affability. She was +very proud of Leslie's confidence in her. + +Left alone, Leslie settled back in her chair very much as her father +might have done on the eve of a pitched battle on the stock exchange. +Her eyes roved about her room as she planned where the culprit should +stand, where she wished the Sans to group themselves, and where her +place as conductor of the arraignment should be. + +A half smile flitted across her face as she remembered the last high +tribunal she had conducted. This time the culprit was a real one. It had +been hard to trump up charges against "Bean." There would be no masks +worn save the mask of deceit which she would ruthlessly strip from +Dulcie, showing her in her true colors. After she was "all through" with +Dulcie she would read the riot act to Bess Walbert. She wished to wait, +however, until the sophomore unsuspectingly came to her for a favor. +Then she would be shown a side of Leslie she had not dreamed existed. + +At twenty minutes after ten Natalie came to Leslie's room with the +welcome news that "every last Sans" except Loretta and Della had been +told and would be on hand promptly at eight o'clock the next evening. + +"I saw Loretta and Della," Leslie informed her chum. "They are wild. +They heard that Dulc told two juniors about my renting that house for +six months so we could use it when we hazed Bean. That's a nice report +to have in circulation on the campus, now isn't it? Does that sound like +Dulc, or doesn't it?" + +"Dulcie told that, undoubtedly. There were not more than six or seven of +us who knew the terms on which you rented that house. Dulc knew. You +always let her into extra private matters because she was one of the old +guard. You and she were not so edgeways toward each other until after +the night of the masquerade." + +"We never agreed on a single thing. Away back at prep school Dulc and I +were always squabbling. In her heart she has never really liked me. +Since the masquerade she has cordially hated me. That's about my feeling +toward her. I want her out of the Sans. She is a disgrace to them. I +expected Nell Ray would fight for her, but she gave in as nicely as you +please." + +"The girls are all down on her for telling tales," returned Natalie. "I +wonder if she thinks they don't know the way she has gossiped about +them?" + +"She will know it tomorrow night," asserted Leslie shortly. + +"There goes the bell. I had better beat it. I have an hour's studying to +do tonight yet, and I am so sleepy," Natalie yawned. "One thing more." +Half way across the threshold she turned and reentered the room. "How +are you going to get Dulc on the scene?" + +"Harriet is to tell her, late tomorrow afternoon, that the Sans are to +meet in my room tomorrow night at eight to discuss something very +important. She will come. She will be eaten up with curiosity to know +what is going on. She'll be just a little bit surprised when she learns +how much she has to do with that important discussion." Leslie threw +back her head and laughed in her silent fashion. + +"She deserves it." Natalie's whole face hardened perceptibly. "Look out +for her, Les. She is capable of making a lot of fuss. We don't care to +have Remson coming up here to see what the trouble is." + +"If she is noisy, half a dozen of us will simply take her by the arms +and bundle her off to her own room. It is only three doors from here," +Leslie answered with cool decision. "I can manage her, I think." + +The next day Dulcie received word of the meeting through the medium of +Harriet. The latter delivered the notice in a careless tone which +completely misled Dulcie. + +"Why can't it be some place besides Leslie Cairns' room?" Dulcie +pettishly demanded. "I hate to go near her!" + +"Suit yourself," shrugged Harriet. "You can't say I didn't tell you +about it. It won't be any place other than Leslie's room." + +Her simulated indifference merely aroused in Dulcie a contrary resolve +to attend that meeting at all costs. She had not been in Leslie's room +since the opening of college. She had a curiosity to see what changes +Leslie had made in it from the previous year. Strangely enough, her own +misdeeds never crossed her mind. She had no thought, when regaling +others with her chums' private affairs, that such treachery might +possibly bring her a day of reckoning. The recent quarrels she had had +with her former intimate, Eleanor Ray, and also Joan Myers, left no +impression on her save a sullen dislike for the two girls because they +had taken her to task for betraying their confidence. + +As it was, she accepted an invitation to dinner at the Colonial extended +her by Alida Burton. She lingered so long at the tea room that she +walked into Leslie's room at ten minutes past eight. + +Slow of comprehension, even she felt dimly the tension of the moment. +The Sans sat or stood in little groups about the room. With her +entrance, conversation suddenly languished and died out. Every pair of +eyes was leveled at her in a cool fashion which bordered on hostility. + +"It seems to me you are all very quiet tonight. What's the _matter?_ +Peevish because I'm late? _Yes? What?_ Don't cry. Ten minutes won't kill +any of you," she greeted flippantly. "Hope I haven't _missed_ anything +by being a tiny bit behind time." She had adopted Leslie's insolent +swagger. + +"No; you haven't missed anything," Leslie said dryly. "We were waiting +for you." She turned abruptly from Dulcie, addressing the others. + +"Girls," she raised her voice a trifle, "bring your chairs and arrange +them on each side of the davenport in a half circle. Six girls can sit +on the davenport. We are all here now, so we can proceed with the +business of the evening." + +Her order promptly obeyed, the Sans settled themselves in their chairs +with mingled emotions. None of them had a definite idea of how Leslie +intended to conduct the embarrassing session against Dulcie. Face to +face with the momentous occasion, a few of them felt slightly inclined +toward clemency. The older members of the Sans were too greatly incensed +by her treachery to do other than approve of the humiliation about to +descend on the traitor. + +It had been Leslie's first idea to seat Dulcie in a particular chair. +Second thought assured her that Dulcie would refuse the chair, merely to +be contrary. She would undoubtedly sit where she would be most +conspicuous if left to her own devices. Leslie decided the rest of the +Sans must sit in a compact group. Wherever Dulcie might choose to post +herself in the room she could not escape arraignment. + +While the girls were arranging their chairs, Leslie occupied herself +with hanging a heavy velvet curtain in front of the door leading to the +hall. That task completed, she turned to find Dulcie had seated herself +on the left hand side of the semi-circle, the last girl in the row. She +had pulled her chair forward a trifle so as to command a good view of +the company. + +Dulcie was well-pleased with herself. She was still admiring her brazen +entrance into the room. She felt that she had quite outdone Leslie in +matter of cool insolence. In fact she was much better able to direct the +club than Leslie. She wondered the girls had never realized it. She eyed +Leslie with ill-concealed contempt as the latter seated herself in the +chair of office which Natalie had placed in the fairly wide space +between the ends of the half circle. Les grew homelier every day, was +her uncharitable opinion. + +"We are here tonight to perform a duty, which, though not pleasant, +_must be done_." Leslie made this beginning with only a slight drawl to +her tones. "When we organized the Sans Soucians we all promised to be +loyal to one another. I regret to say that one of our number has so +completely violated this promise it becomes necessary to take drastic +measures. We cannot allow a Sans to betray deliberately either club or +personal secrets." + +Leslie placed great stress on "deliberately." She was careful not to +look toward Dulcie. "Do you agree with me in this?" She put the question +generally. + +_"Yes,"_ was the concerted, emphatic answer. Dulcie's voice helped to +swell the chorus. + +"The Sans have done certain things as a matter of reprisal and +self-defense, which, if generally known, would entail very serious +consequences. It is vital to our welfare at Hamilton that these matters +should be kept secret, yet a member of the Sans has gossiped them to +outsiders. For example, it is known to a number of seniors and juniors +outside the Sans that a hazing affair took place last St. Valentine's +night, conducted by the Sans. Seven of us have been approached on this +subject. We know, to a certainty, that a faction, antagonistic to us, +did not start this story. + +"Still more serious is a report brought to me concerning the methods +employed by Joan and I to keep a residence for the Sans at the Hall when +we were threatened with expulsion from here as sophomores. A person who +will betray such intimate matters, knowing that her treachery may ruin +the prospects of her chums for graduation from college, is not only a +fool for risking her own safety, but a menace to the club as well." + +For ten minutes Leslie talked on in this strain, her hearers observing a +strained silence. She was purposely piling up the enormity of Dulcie's +misdeed so as to impress the others. As for Dulcie, she had begun to +show signs of nervousness. Once or twice her eyes measured the distance +from her chair to the door as if she were meditating sudden flight. What +remnants of conscience she still had, stirred to the point of informing +her that the coat Leslie was airing fitted her too snugly for comfort. +She had not yet arrived at the moment of awakening, however. She +believed Leslie's remarks to be directed toward someone else. Margaret +Wayne, perhaps; or, Loretta Kelly. Leslie had once said to her that +Loretta was a gossip. Dulcie now tried to recall an instance of +Loretta's perfidy. It would be to her interest to cite an instance of it +should Leslie call for special evidence. It would pay Loretta back for +once having called her a stupid little owl. + +In the midst of racking her vindictive brain for evidence against a +fellow member, Dulcie lost briefly the thread of Leslie's discourse. +Mention of her own name re-furnished her with it. + +"Dulciana Vale," she heard Leslie saying in a tense note quite different +from her indolent drawl, "do you know of any reason why you should be +allowed a further membership in the Sans Soucians after having become an +utter traitor to their interests?" + +Dulcie struggled to her feet, her sulky features a study in slow-growing +rage. "What--what--do you--mean?" Her voice was rising to a gasping scream. +"How dare you call me a traitor. You are telling lies; just nothing but +lies." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX--IN THE INTEREST OF PRIVATE SAFETY + + +"Sit down," ordered Leslie sharply, "and keep your voice down! You have +made us all enough trouble. We don't propose that you shall add to it." + +"I have not," shrieked Dulcie. "I don't know what you are talking about. +You're crazy if you say I told all that stuff you mentioned. Why don't +you put the blame where it belongs? You told me yourself that Loretta +and Margaret were both gossips. You told Bess Walbert a lot of things +yourself. She told me so. You used to tell Lola Elster a lot, too. Nat +Weyman isn't above gossiping, either. She has said some _hateful_ things +about you, if you care to know it." + +Fully launched, Dulcie bade fair to stir up dissension in a breath. +Worse, her lung power seemed to increase with every word. + +"Pay no attention to her," Leslie advised her chums in a cold, level +voice. "She can tell more yarns to the second than anyone else I know." + +"You said you could manage her, Les. For goodness' sake do so. I am +afraid she'll be heard down stairs." Joan Myers sprang to her feet in +exasperation. + +"Leave that to me." Leslie's eyes snapped. She was fast losing the +admirable poise she had held so well. The real Leslie Cairns was coming +to the surface. + +Three or four lithe steps and she was facing Dulcie. The latter still +stood by her chair shrieking forth invective. + +"Listen to me, you _idiot_," she said with an intensity of wrath that +approached a snarl. "Cut out that screaming--_now_. We are done with you. +We know you for what you are. Not one of us will ever speak to you again +after you leave this room. Get that straight. If you ever repeat another +word on the campus of the Sans' business you will be a sorry girl. +_Don't you forget that._ You carried the idea that, if trouble came from +your talk, you could slide out of it and leave us to face it. You +couldn't have cleared yourself. What you are to do from now on is----" + +A sharp rapping at the door interrupted Leslie. Raising a warning finger +to her lips, she crossed the room to answer the knock. + +"Good evening, Miss Remson," she coldly greeted. "Will you come in? Our +club is holding a meeting in my room." She made an indifferent gesture +toward the assembled girls. + +"Good evening, Miss Cairns. No; I do not wish to enter your room. I must +insist, however, that you conduct your meeting quietly. The commotion +going on in here can be heard downstairs." + +The very impersonality of the manager's reproof brought a quick rush of +blood to Leslie's cheeks. It was as though Miss Remson considered Leslie +and her companions so far beneath her it took conscientious effort on +her part even to reprove them. It stung Leslie to a desire to clear +herself of the opprobrium. + +"I am sorry about the noise," she apologized in annoyed embarrassment. +"Miss Vale is responsible for it. I have been trying to quiet her. She +is very angry with us for calling her to account for disloyalty. She has +done so many despicable things we felt it necessary to call a meeting of +the club to----" + +"Pardon me. I am not interested in anything save the fact that there +must be no more screaming or loud altercation from this room tonight or +at any other time. As it is your room, Miss Cairns, I shall hold you +responsible for the good behavior of your guests." + +Again the aloofness of the rebuke cut Leslie through and through. She +had never believed that she could be so utterly snubbed by "Trotty" +Remson. + +"Very well." It was the only thing she could think of to say. + +Miss Remson turned from the door and went on down the long hall. Leslie +was seized with a savage inclination to bang the door. She refrained +from indulging it. There had been enough noise already. + +She returned to her companions to find Dulcie furious because she had +been reported to Miss Remson as the author of the commotion. + +"Talk about anyone being treacherous," she stormed, but in a more +subdued key. "_You're_ treacherous as a snake. _You'd_ tell tales on--on +your own father, if it would save you from disgrace." + +"That's enough." Leslie's last atom of self-control vanished. "I am +tired of your foolishness. Get out of my room, instantly. Don't you ever +dare even speak to me again. Let me hear one word you have said against +any of us and I will have you expelled within twenty-four hours +afterward. I can do it, too. If you go to headquarters with any tales +against us, remember you are one and we are seventeen who will act as +one in denying your fairy stories. You----" + +"Not fairy stories," sneered Dulcie. "I'd be satisfied to tell the truth +about you deceitful things. It would more than run you out of Hamilton." + +"You couldn't tell the truth to save your life," retorted Leslie with a +caustic contempt which hit Dulcie harder than anything else Leslie had +said to her. + +"I--I--think----" Dulcie struggled with her emotions, then suddenly burst +into hysterical sobs. Her arm against her face to shut her distorted +features from sight of her accusers, she stumbled to the door, groping +for the knob with her free hand. An instant and she had gone, too +thoroughly humiliated to slam the door after her. The sounds of her +weeping could be faintly heard by the others until her own door closed +behind her. + +"Gone!" Joan Myers sighed exaggerated relief. + +"Yes; and _broken_," announced Leslie Cairns with cruel satisfaction. + +"Oh, I don't know," differed Margaret Wayne. She had not forgotten +Dulcie's assertion as to what Leslie had said of her and Loretta. "Dulc +had spunk enough to answer you back to the very last. I don't see +that----" + +"No, you don't see. Well, I do. I say that Dulcie Vale left here just +now _utterly crushed_," argued Leslie with stress. "You are peeved, +Margaret, because of what she claimed I said of you and Retta. She +lied." + +"Certainly, Dulcie lied," supported Natalie. "Do you believe that _I_, +Leslie's best friend, would say hateful things about her? Yet Dulc said +I had. Didn't Les warn you not to pay any attention to what she said? We +knew she would try to make trouble among the Sans the minute we called +her down." + +"We did, indeed." Leslie made a movement of her head that betokened +Dulcie's utter hopelessness. + +"I didn't say I believed what Dulcie said," half-apologized Margaret. In +her heart she did not trust Leslie, however. It was like her to make +just such remarks about any of the Sans if in bad humor. + +"Never mind. It isn't worrying me," was the purposely careless response. +"To go back to what you said about Dulc not being broken. I have known +her longer than you, Margaret. She can keep up a row about so long, then +she crumples. After that there isn't a spark of fight left in her. She +always ends by a fit of crying, next door to hysterics. Isn't that true +of her, Nat?" + +Natalie nodded. "Yes; Dulcie will mind her own affairs now and keep her +mouth closed for a long time to come." + +"She's afraid of me," Leslie continued, her intonation harsh. "She +doesn't know just the extent of my influence here." + +"Could you truly have her expelled within twenty-four hours?" queried +Harriet Stephens somewhat incredulously. + +"You heard me say so. It would take a very slight effort to do that. I +could wire my father, then----" Leslie paused, looking mysterious. "Sorry, +girls, but I can't tell you any more than that. I'll simply say that my +wonderful father's influence can remove mountains, if necessary. That's +why I was so furious with that little sneak for daring even to mention +his name." + +"Could your father's influence save you from being expelled if different +things you have done here were brought up against you?" demanded +Adelaide Forman. + +Leslie's eyes narrowed at the question. It was a little too searching +for comfort. In reality her father's influence at Hamilton was a minus +quantity. She had been boasting with a view toward increasing her own +importance. + +"It would depend entirely on what I had done," she answered after a +moment's thought. "You must understand that my father would be wild if +he knew I had gone out hazing when it is strictly against rules. He +wouldn't do a thing to help me if I had trouble with Matthews over that. +If I wrote him that Dulcie, for instance, was trying, by lies, to have +me or my friends expelled from Hamilton, he would fight for me in a +minute." + +The Sans stayed for some time in Leslie's room planning how they would +meet further remarks leveled at them on the campus as a result of +Dulcie's defection. Leslie brought forth a fresh five-pound box of +chocolates and another of imported sweet crackers. The party feasted and +enjoyed themselves regardless of the fact that three doors from them a +former comrade writhed and wept in an agony of angry shame. While in a +measure their course might be justified, there was not one among them +who had not, to a certain extent, and at some time or other, betrayed +friendship. + +This was also Dulcie's most bitter grievance against those who had been +her chums. She knew now that she had talked too much. So had the others. +Still, she was sorry for herself. She had been deceived in Bess Walbert. +Bess was the one who had circulated most of the Sans' private affairs. +She could not recall just how much she had told Bess; very likely no +more than had Leslie. If they had given her time she would have been +able to defend herself. With such reflections she strove to palliate her +own offenses. + +"Do you imagine Dulc will try to get back at us?" was Natalie's first +remark to Leslie as the door closed on the departing Sans. "She carried +on about as I thought she might. We came off easily with Remson, didn't +we?" + +"Dulcie is done, I tell you," reasserted Leslie with an impatient scowl. +"Remson! Humph! My worst enemy couldn't have delivered a more telling +snub. She may suspect us of making trouble between her and Matthews. +I'll say, I wish this year was done and Commencement here. If we slide +through and capture those precious diplomas without the sword falling it +will be a miracle." + + + + +CHAPTER XX--A BITTER PILL + + +Dulcie's tumultuous resentment of accusation had been heard throughout +the Hall. More than one door opened along the second, third and fourth +story halls as the shrill-sounding voice continued. + +Among others, Jerry had gone to the door to ascertain what was happening +in the house of such an unusual nature. Two or three moments of intent +listening and she had returned to her chair before the center table. + +"Why waste my good time listening to the far-off scrapping of the Sans?" +she had lightly questioned. "There is some kind of row going on in Miss +Cairns' room. That's the way it sounds to me. I can't say who is giving +the vocal performance. I don't know the dear creatures well enough to +tag that sweet voice. I could hear other doors besides ours open. We are +not alone in our curiosity." + +"Your curiosity," Marjorie had corrected. "I wasn't enough interested to +go to the door." Marjorie had laughed teasingly. + +"Stand corrected. My curiosity," Jerry had obligingly answered. With +that the subject had dropped as abruptly as the noise had begun. + +The Sans were fortunate, in that the students residing at Wayland Hall, +with the exception of themselves, were too fruitfully engaged in the +minding of their own affairs to give more than a passing attention to +the disturbance created by Dulcie Vale. Within the next two or three +days they were agreeably surprised to find that no word of it had +uttered on the campus. + +"Has anyone said anything to you of Dulcie's roars, howls and shrieks?" +Leslie asked Natalie, half humorously. It was the fourth evening after +the meeting in her room and the two were lounging in Natalie's room +doing a little studying and a good deal of talking. + +"No. You can see for yourself what the girls in this house are; a +mind-your-own-business crowd." Natalie's reply contained a certain +amount of admiration. "If the story of it spreads over the campus, it +will not be their fault. Sometimes I am sorry, Les, we didn't go in for +democracy from the first. We are cut out of a lot of good times by being +so exclusive. Take this show that Miss Page and Miss Dean are going to +give in the gym tomorrow night. Not one of the Sans was asked to be in +it." + +"Hardly!" Leslie laughed and raised her eyebrows. "I can't imagine Bean +doing anything like that." + +"You needn't make fun of me. We couldn't expect to be asked to take +part. I simply mentioned it as an example of the way things are. There +is a great deal of sociability going on this year at Hamilton among the +whole four classes, yet the Sans are as utterly out of it as can be," +Natalie complained with evident bitterness. + +"Glad of it," was the unperturbed retort. "Why yearn to be in a show, +Nat, at this late stage of the game? Next winter, when you are in New +York society, you'll have plenty of opportunity for amateur +theatricals." + +"Oh, I daresay I shall." This did not console Natalie. Of all the Sans, +she was the only one not satisfied with her lot. She would not have +exchanged places with any student outside her own particular coterie. +Still, she had dreamed from her freshman year of shining as a star in +college theatricals. To her lasting disappointment, she had never been +invited to take part in an entertainment. The Sans had neither the +inclination nor the ability to engineer a play or revue. The democratic +element at Hamilton did not require the Sans' services. + +"Are you going to that show?" Leslie cast a peculiar glance at her +friend. + +"I--well, yes; I bought a ticket." Natalie appeared rather ashamed of the +admission. "Did you buy one?" she hastily countered. + +"Yes; two. Laura Sayres bought them for me. Humphrey has them for sale +in her office. I asked Laura if everything were just the same with +Matthews since that Miss Warner substituted for her. She said all was +O. K. She has her files, letters and papers arranged so that no one +could ever make trouble for her." + +"Too bad, Leslie, that Miss Warner was the one to substitute for Laura. +It gave her a chance to meet Doctor Matthews. One never can tell what +might develop from even so small an incident as that." Natalie was not +disposed to be reassuring that evening. + +"Will you cut out croaking, Nat?" Leslie sprang from her chair and began +a nervous pacing of the floor. "You might as well pour ice-water down +the back of my neck. Enough annoying things have happened lately to +worry me without having to reckon on what 'might' happen. I told Sayres +to take good care of herself and try not to be away from her position +again. I advised her, if ever she had to be away, even for a day, to +supply her own sub. She should have had sense enough to do so the last +time." + +"I am surprised that Miss Warner does secretarial work when that Miss +Lynne she rooms with is wealthy in her own right," commented Natalie. + +"I suppose that green-eyed ice-berg wants to earn her own money. I made +a mistake about Lynne. Her father is the richest man in the far west. My +father told me so last summer. I always meant to tell you that and kept +on forgetting it. He said then I ought to be friends with her, but I +told him 'nay, nay.' She and I would be _so pleased_ with each other." +Leslie smiled ironically. + +"'The richest man in the far west,'" repeated Natalie, her mind on that +one enlightening sentence. "Too bad she isn't our sort. We could ask her +into the Sans in Dulcie's place." + +"She wouldn't leave Bean and Green-eyes and those two savages, Harding +and Macy. I sometimes admire those two. They have so much nerve. +Dulcie's place will stay vacant. I wouldn't ask Lola to join us after +the way she has dropped me for Alida. As for Bess; she has yet to hear +from me. I have an idea she and Dulc will get together. Dulc will tell +her the news. Then Bess will sidle around me thinking she can get into +the Sans. What? Watch my speed!" The corners of Leslie's mouth went down +contemptuously. She was a match for the self-seeking sophomore. + +The next evening being that of the revue, Leslie and Natalie attended it +together. The rest of the Sans had elected also to go to it. Leslie had +advised against going in a body. "If we do, they'll think we were +anxious to see their old show," she had argued. "We'd better scatter by +twos and threes about the gym." + +By a quarter to eight the gymnasium was packed with students, faculty, +and a goodly sprinkle of persons from the town of Hamilton who had +friends among the students. Robin and Marjorie had worried for fear the +programme might be too long. There would be sure to be encores. Their +choice of talent, however, was so happy that the audience could not get +enough of the various performers. + +Marjorie was keyed up to the highest pitch of joy by the presence of +Constance Stevens and Harriet Delaney. They had arrived from New York +late that afternoon on purpose to take part in the show. While the +wonder of Constance's matchless high soprano notes in two grand opera +selections awarded her a fury of applause, Harriet came in for her share +of glory. It may be said that Constance and Veronica divided honors that +evening. + +Urged by Marjorie, Ronny had sent to Sanford for the black robe she used +in the "Dance of the Night." It had been in her room in Miss Archer's +house since the evening of the campfire three years before. Besides the +"Dance of the Night" she gave a fine exhibition of Russian folk dancing +in appropriate costume. + +Marjorie had felt impelled to write Miss Susanna a special note of +invitation inclosing several tickets. "Jonas or the maids might like our +show, even if Miss Susanna won't come. Of course she won't, but I wanted +her to have the tickets," she had said to Jerry, who had agreed that her +head was level and her heart in the right place as usual. + +For the first time since the beginning of her hatred for Hamilton +College, Miss Susanna had been sorely tempted to break her vow and +attend the show. Realizing the sensation her presence on the campus +would create, she quickly abandoned the impulse. She was half vexed with +Marjorie for sending her tickets and made note to warn her never to send +any more. + +Of all the audience, those most impressed by performance and performers +were the Sans. While they enjoyed the revue, girl-fashion, as a +spectacle, the knowledge of the enemy's triumph was hard to swallow. +Ronny's dancing was a revelation to them, astonishing and bitter. As +each number appeared, perfect in its way, the realization of the +cleverness of the girls they had affected to despise came home as a +sharp thrust. + +Leslie Cairns was particularly disgruntled as she hurried Natalie from +the gymnasium and into the cold clear December night. + +"Don't talk to me, Nat," she warned. "I am so upset I feel like howling +my head off. The way Beanie has come to the front is a positive crime. +Did you see her marching around the gym tonight as though she owned it?" + +"It was a good show," Natalie ventured. + +"Entirely too good," grumbled Leslie. "I don't like to talk of it. Did I +mention that Bess wrote me a note. She wants to see me about something +very important." Leslie placed satirical stress on the last three words. +"She may see me but she won't be pleased. I'm in a very bad humor +tonight. I shall be in a worse one tomorrow." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI--"DISPOSING" OF BESS + + +Leslie's ominous prediction regarding herself was not idle. She awoke +the next morning signally out of sorts. Though she had declared to +Natalie she did not care to discuss the revue, when she arrived at the +Hall she had changed her mind. She had invited Natalie into her room for +a "feed." The two had gorged themselves on French crullers, assorted +chocolates and strong tea. Nor did they retire until almost midnight. + +Leslie greeted the light of day with a sour taste in her mouth and a +desire to snap at her best friend, were that unlucky person to appear on +her immediate horizon. She had thought herself fairly well prepared in +psychology for the morning recitation. Instead she could not remember +definitely enough of what she had studied the afternoon before to make a +lucid recitation. This did not tend to render her more amiable. She +prided herself particularly on her progress in the study of psychology +and was inwardly furious at her failure. + +Exiting from Science Hall that afternoon, the first person her eyes came +to rest upon was Elizabeth Walbert. She stood at one side of the broad +stone flight of steps eagerly watching the main entrance to the +building. + +"Oh, there you are!" she hailed. "I have been waiting quite a while for +you." + +"That's too bad." It was impossible to gauge Leslie's exact humor from +the reply. Her answers to impersonal remarks so often verged on +insolence. + +"So I thought," pertly retorted the other girl. At the same time she +furtively inspected Leslie. + +"What is it now? You make me think of that old story of the 'Flounder' +in 'Grimms' Fairy Tales.' You are like the fisherman's wife who was +always asking favors of the flounder. We will assume that I am the +flounder." + +"How do you know that I wish to ask a favor?" Elizabeth colored hotly at +the insinuation. She put on an injured expression, her lips slightly +pouted. + +"I'm a mind reader," was the laconic reply. + +"Hm! Suppose I were to ask you to do something for me? Haven't you +_said_ lots of times that I could rely on you?" persisted Elizabeth. "I +don't understand you, Leslie. You are so sweet to me at times and so +horrid at others." + +"You'll understand me better after today," came the significant +assurance. "Come on. We will walk across the campus to your house." + +"Why not yours?" Elizabeth demanded in patent disappointment. "I see +enough of Alston Terrace. I'd rather go with you to Wayland Hall. Your +nice room is a fine place for a confidential chat." + +"You won't see the inside of it this P.M. I am not going into the house +when we come to Alston Terrace. I have a severe headache and choose to +stay out in the open air. It's a fair day, and not cold enough to bar a +walk on the campus." + +"Very well." Elizabeth sighed and looked patient. "I hope we don't meet +any of the girls. I have a private matter to discuss with you." + +"Go ahead and discuss it," imperturbably ordered Leslie. + +"Why--you--perhaps, if you have a headache, I had better wait until +another time," deprecated the sophomore. It occurred to her that she +ought to pretend solicitude. "I am so sorry," she hastily condoled. + +"Thank you. There is no 'if' about my headache. Get that straight. What? +It won't hinder me from listening to you. Let's hear your remarks now +and have them over with." + +"I have seen Dulcie," began Elizabeth impressively, "and she has told me +what happened the other night. Really, Leslie, I was _shocked, simply +shocked_. Yet I couldn't blame you in the least. The way Dulcie has +talked about you on the campus is disgraceful. But I went over all that +with you the day I first told you of how treacherous she had been." + +"Quite true. You did, indeed," Leslie conceded with pleasant irony. "Now +proceed. What next?" + +"You are so _funny_, _Leslie_. You are so _deliciously_ matter-of-fact." +Elizabeth was hoping the compliment would restore the difficult senior +to a more equitable frame of mind. + +"You may not always appreciate my matter-of-fact manner." The ghost of a +smile, cruel in its vagueness, touched Leslie's lips. + +"Oh, I am _sure_ I shall. To go back to Dulcie, I hope you didn't +mention my name the other night. You promised you wouldn't." + +"Is that what you have been so anxious to tell me?" Leslie asked the +question with exaggerated weariness, eyes turned indifferently away from +her companion. + +"No; it is not." Elizabeth shot an exasperated glance at her. "I merely +mentioned it. Dulcie tried to make me take the blame for it the first +time I met her after the meeting. I simply told her I had nothing to do +with it whatever." + +Leslie sniffed audible contempt at this information. "Let me say this: +Dulcie herself mentioned your name, or rather she screamed it out at the +top of her voice the other night. The rest of us said nothing. I made +the charges against Dulcie and mentioned no names." + +"I wish I had been there." A wolfish light flashed into the wide, +babyish blue eyes. "It must have been quite a party. Leslie," Elizabeth +decided that the time had come to speak for herself, "you said once that +I couldn't be a member of the Sans because there was no vacancy; that +the club must be kept to the number of eighteen. There is a vacancy +_now_. The club has only seventeen members. Why can't I fill that +vacancy and become the eighteenth member? I don't mind because it will +be only for the rest of this year. I shall count it an honor to have +been a Sans even that long. I will certainly make a more loyal Sans than +Dulcie was." + +Leslie drew a long breath. The wished-for moment had come. She was in +fine fettle to deliver to the ambitious climber the "turn-down" she had +earned. + +"Why can't you become a member of the Sans?" she asked, then drew back +her head and indulged in soundless laughter. "Do you think it would make +you very happy to join us?" + +"You may better believe it," Elizabeth made flippant reply. More +seriously, she added: "You know how my heart has been set upon it from +the very first." + +"Yes, I know. The fact of the matter is," Leslie measured each word, +"there is one great drawback to your joining." + +"If it is about money, I am sure my father has as much as the fathers of +the other members," cut in Elizabeth. "Our social position in New York +is----" + +"All that has nothing to do with the drawback I mentioned." Leslie waved +away Elizabeth's attempt at defending her position. They were not more +than half way across the campus, but Leslie was tired of keeping up the +suspense of the moment. Her head ached violently. She was so utterly +disgusted with the other girl she could have cheerfully pummeled her. + +"Then I don't quite understand----" began Elizabeth. + +"You're going to--at once. We dropped one girl from the Sans for being a +liar and a gossip. What would be the use in filling her place with +another liar and gossip. That's the drawback. It applies strictly to +you." + +Leslie stopped short in her walk and faced her companion, her heavy +features a study in malignant contempt. Elizabeth's eyes widened +involuntarily this time. She could not believe the evidence of her own +ears. Her moment of stupefaction gave Leslie the very opportunity to +continue and finish her remarks before the other had time for angry +defense. + +"You would have been nothing socially on the campus if I hadn't taken +you up," she said forcefully. "The other girls in my club, it is my +club, didn't like you. I had a good many quarrels with a number of them +for trying to stand up for you, you worthless little schemer. If you had +had one shred of principle or gratitude in your deceitful composition, +you would have come to me at once with the first story against the club +which Dulc told you. But you did not. You simply gossiped all she said +to you to other students on the campus. Dulcie told you things about us +that were ridiculous. You not only listened to them. You repeated them, +making them worse. + +"I had heard of your tactics before I sent for you to ask you about +Dulc. I wanted to pump you and hear what you had to offer. I made it my +business afterward to look up your record as a tale-bearer. Some little +record! I know exactly to whom you have talked and what you have +circulated concerning the Sans. You ought to be _ashamed_ of yourself. +Such ingrates as you have no sense of shame. Now, I believe, you +understand why the Sans don't care to put you in Dulcie's place. It +would merely be a case of out of the frying pan into the fire. Of the +two, you are worse than Dulc. She is a liar, but stupid. You are a liar +and tricky." + +"Don't you _dare_ call me a story-teller again," burst forth Elizabeth +in a fury. + +"I didn't say story-teller. I said liar. I never mince matters. I've +said that to you before." Leslie stood smiling at the culprit, the soul +of mockery. + +"You won't be at Hamilton long enough to insult me ever again, Leslie +Cairns," threatened Elizabeth, a world of vindictiveness in every word. +"I don't believe you, when you say that Dulcie hasn't told the truth. I +guess Dulcie knows enough that is true to make it very uncomfortable for +you. I'll help her do it, too. No one can speak to me as you have and +expect I won't get even." + +"Try it," challenged Leslie. "Unless you have Dulcie to back you you +can't prove one single thing against our record at Hamilton. Dulcie +doesn't care to make trouble for herself. You couldn't get her to go +with you to headquarters. She has either to be graduated from college +with a fair rating or fall into a bushel of trouble with her father. Let +me give you and Dulc both a last piece of advice. You'll tell her all +about this, of course, only you will be careful not to mention wanting +her place in the club. Keep a brake on those mill-clapper tongues of +yours for the rest of the year." + +Without giving Elizabeth time for another outburst of wrath, Leslie +wheeled and started away at double quick. The other girl forgot dignity +entirely and pursued the senior, talking shrilly as she ran. She might +as well have pursued a fleeing shadow. Leslie set her jaw and increased +her pace. The enraged sophomore kept up the chase for a matter of yards, +then stopped. Placing her hands to her mouth, trumpet fashion, she +hurled after Leslie one pithy threat: "You'll be sorry." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII--PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE + + +The approach of the Christmas holidays called a halt in the internal war +which raged between the Sans and their two betrayers. Having delivered +her ultimatum to Elizabeth Walbert, Leslie promptly proceeded to forget +her, so far as she could. As a result of the tactics she had pursued +with both Dulcie and Elizabeth, she was more at ease than for a long +time. She was confident she had bullied both to a point where they would +hesitate before doing any more idle talking about the Sans' +misdemeanors. Every day which passed over her head without mishap to +herself was one day nearer Commencement and freedom. She had no regret +for her misdeeds. She was merely in fear lest they might be brought to +light. + +She had lost all interest in leadership at Hamilton. Her one idea now +was to end her college course creditably and thus earn her father's +approval. Natalie Weyman was on better terms with her than were the +other Sans. They found her moody indifference harder to combat than her +bullying. She was interested in nothing the club did or wished to do. +"Go as far as you like, but let me alone," became her pet answer to her +chums' appeals for advice or an expression of opinion. + +"The Sans have become so exclusive they've nearly effaced themselves +from the college map," Jerry remarked to Marjorie several days after +their return from the Christmas vacation at home. + +"They have had to settle down and do some studying, I presume," was +Marjorie's opinion. "They used to be out evenings a good deal oftener +than ever we were. I've wondered how they kept up at all." + +"Leila said that Miss Vale had been conditioned two or three times, and +had to hire a tutor to help pull her through. I notice she doesn't go +around with any of the Sans. You remember I spoke of her having changed +her seat at table the next day after that fuss up in Miss Cairns' room." + +"I have seen her with Miss Walbert a good deal lately. It seems odd, +Jeremiah, that, after all the trouble we had with those girls as +freshies and sophs, we should be almost free of them this year. It has +been such a beautiful, peaceful year, thus far. We've had the gayest, +happiest kind of times. If only we could keep Leila, Vera, Kathie and +Helen with us next year everything would be perfect." + +"Would it? Well, I rather guess so. Gives me the blues every time I stop +to think about losing them. Just when we are traveling along so +pleasantly, too. Here we are, victorious democrats. We know Miss +Susanna, even if we don't dare boast of it. We've been entertained at +Hamilton Arms; something President Matthews can't say. You and Robin are +successful theatrical managers. Oh, I can tell you, everything is upward +striving. + + "'Tis as easy now for hearts to be true, + As for grass to be green and skies to be blue. + 'Tis the natural way of living" + +gayly quoted Marjorie, patting Jerry's plump shoulder in her walk across +the room to find a pencil she had mislaid. + +"I wish we would hear from Miss Susanna," she continued, a little +wistful note in the utterance. "Perhaps she did not like our Christmas +remembrance. She doesn't like birthday observances. She loves flowers, +though. So she couldn't really regard those we sent her as a present. +And that letter was delightful, I thought. We may have made a mistake in +sending the wreath." + +The letter to which Marjorie referred was a composite. Each of the nine +girls had contributed a paragraph. They had tucked it into a box of +long-stemmed red roses which they had selected as a Yule-tide offering +to the last of the Hamiltons. With it had gone a laurel wreath, to which +was attached a large bunch of double, purple violets. They had asked +that the wreath be hung in Brooke Hamilton's study above the oblong +which contained the founder's sayings. + +"I don't believe Miss Susanna is on her ear at us," observed Jerry +inelegantly. "She will write when she feels like it. Maybe she thought +it better to postpone writing until she was sure we were all back at +college after Christmas. When did you last hear from her?" + +"Not since she sent me the money for the tickets for the show. I bought +those tickets for her myself. She didn't understand, I guess. I +re-mailed the money to her, explaining that they were from me. Since +then I have heard not a word from her. I should have taken the tickets +back to her instead of mailing them, but I was so busy just then. +Besides, I don't like to go to the Arms without a special invitation." + +Almost incident with Marjorie's worry over Miss Susanna's silence came a +note from her new friend, appointing an evening for her to dine at +Hamilton Arms. + +"I am not asking your friends this time," the old lady wrote, "as I +prefer to devote my attention to you, dear child. I could not answer the +Christmas letter for I had no medium of expression. I loved it, and the +flowers. Best of all, was the honor you did Uncle Brooke. You may show +this letter to your friends, extending to them a crabbed old person's +sincere thanks and good wishes." + +Marjorie kept her dinner appointment with Miss Susanna and spent a happy +evening with the old lady. Miss Hamilton showed active interest in the +subject of the recent revue. The obliging lieutenant had brought with +her a programme which the old lady insisted in going over, number by +number, inquiring about each performer. She expressed a wish to hear +Constance Stevens sing and asked Marjorie to bring Constance to Hamilton +Arms if she should again come to Hamilton College. + +"I was truly sorry to have missed that show," the last of the Hamiltons +frankly confessed. "It would never do for me to set foot on that campus. +I should be on bad terms with myself forever after; on as bad terms as I +am with the college." + +"I'll tell you what we might do, Miss Hamilton," Marjorie ventured. "We +could give a stunt party here, just for you, at some time when it +pleased you to have us here. Perhaps Constance would come from New York +for a day or two. She isn't so far away. Then Ronny and Vera would dance +and Leila sings the most charming ancient Celtic songs." + +Her lovely face had grown radiant as she described her chums' talents, +and again, for her sake, Miss Susanna had softened toward all girlhood. +She had assented with only half-concealed eagerness to Marjorie's plan. + +Two days after Marjorie's visit to her, she sent her a check for five +hundred dollars, asking that it be placed with the money earned from the +revue. The youthful managers had charged a dollar apiece for tickets +with no reservations. To their intense joy and amusement, the gross +receipts amounted to six hundred and seventy-two dollars. Their only +expenses being for printing and lighting the gymnasium, they had, +counting Miss Susanna's gift, a little over one thousand dollars with +which to start the beneficiary fund. + +Anna Towne had done good work among the girls off the campus. Due to her +efforts they had been brought to look upon the new avenue of escape from +signal discomfort, now open to them, as an opportunity to be embraced. +Marjorie had said conclusively that the funds at their disposal were to +be given, not lent. She argued on the basis that money thus easily +gained should be distributed where it would benefit most, then be +forgotten. The girls who were struggling along to put themselves through +college would have enough to do to earn their living afterward without +stepping over the threshold of their chosen work saddled with an +obligation. + +It took tact, delicacy and more than one friendly argument to establish +this theory among the sensitive, proud-spirited girls for whose benefit +the project had been carried out. Gradually it gained ground and a new +era of things began to spring up for those who had sacrificed so much +for the sake of the higher education. The money so easily earned by +Ronny's nimble feet, Constance's sweet singing and the talent of the +other performers revolutionized matters in the row of cheerless houses, +in one of which Anne Towne resided. Ability to pay a higher rate for +board brought better food and heat. The drudgery of laundering was +lifted, the work being intrusted to several capable laundresses in the +vicinity. Those who had kept house abandoned cooking and took their +meals at one or another of the boarding houses. According to Anna Towne, +the restfulness of the changed way of living was unbelievable. + +As successful theatrical managers, Robin and Marjorie had rosy visions +of a dormitory built where several of the dingy boarding houses now +stood. Perhaps by next year they would have the means to buy the +properties. They purposed agitating the subject so strongly, during +their senior year, that, at least, a few of the students among the other +three classes would be willing to go on with the work. + +Both had agreed that they had set themselves a hard row to hoe, yet +neither would have relinquished the self-imposed task. In the first +flush of their ambition they had asked Miss Humphrey to ascertain, if +she could, whether the regulations of the college forbade the erection +of more houses on the campus. She had returned the answer, that, owing +to a peculiar will left by Mr. Brooke Hamilton, the consent to build on +the campus would have to come from Miss Hamilton, who had been +prejudiced against Hamilton College for many years. + +This was a disturbing revelation to Marjorie. She was fairly certain +that Miss Susanna would never give any such consent. She therefore +promptly abandoned the idea and laid her plans for the outside +territory. + +As the winter winged away Marjorie made more than one visit to Hamilton +Arms. Occasionally her chums accompanied her. The Nine Travelers gave +their stunt party at the Arms on Saint Valentine's eve. To please their +lonely hostess they dressed in the costumes they intended wearing at the +masquerade the next evening. Constance and Harriet managed to get away +from the conservatory for three days, and a merry party ate a six +o'clock dinner with Miss Susanna so as to have plenty of time for the +stunts afterward. + +Discreet to the letter, their visits to Hamilton Arms were known to no +one outside their own group. Over and over again, when alone with the +old lady, she would say to Marjorie: "I had no idea girls could be +honorable. I had always considered boys far more honest and loyal." + +"You and Miss Susanna Hamilton are getting very chummy, aren't you?" +greeted Jerry, as Marjorie sauntered into their room one clear frosty +evening in March, after having had tea at Hamilton Arms. + +"I don't know whether we are or not." A tiny pucker decorated Marjorie's +forehead. "I always feel a little uncertain of how to take her. She is +kindness itself, then, all of a sudden, she turns crotchety and says she +hates everything and everybody. Then she generally adds, 'Don't take +that to yourself, child.'" + +"She thinks a lot of you or she wouldn't be so friendly with you. She +looks at you in the most affectionate way. I've noticed it every time we +have been to the Arms with you." + +"I am glad of it. I was fond of her before I met her. Captain would like +her. So would your mother, Jeremiah. Next year when our mothers come to +Hamilton to see us graduate, I hope Miss Susanna will like to meet them. +Only one more year after this. Oh, dear! I do love college, don't you?" +Marjorie began removing her hat and coat, an absent look in her brown +eyes. + +"I have seen worse ranches," Jerry conceded with a grin. "Speaking of +ranches reminds me of the West. The West reminds me of Ronny. Ronny +promised to help me with my French tonight. Mind if I leave you? Such +partings wring the heart; mine I mean. You go galavanting off to tea +with no regard for my feelings." Jerry gave a bad imitation of a sob, +giggled, and began gathering up her books. + +"I'll try to have more consideration for your feelings hereafter," +Marjorie assured, a merry twinkle in her eyes. + +"I'll believe that when I see signs of reform," Jerry threw back over +her shoulder as she exited. + +Left alone, Marjorie tried to shut out the memory of Hamilton Arms and +settle down to her studying. The fascination the old house held for her +remained with her long after she had left it behind her on her now +fairly frequent visits there. Nicely launched on the tide of psychology, +an uncertain rapping at the door startled her from her absorption of the +subject in hand. It flashed across her as she rose to answer the +knocking that it had been done by an unfamiliar hand. None of the girls +she knew rapped on the door in that weak, hesitating fashion. + +As she swung open the door she made no effort to force back the +expression of complete astonishment which she knew had appeared on her +face. Her caller was Dulcie Vale. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII--AN AMAZING PROPOSAL + + +"I--are you alone, Miss Dean? I would like to talk with you, but not +unless you are alone." Dulcie spoke just above a whisper, peering past +Marjorie into the room so far as she could see from where she was +standing. + +"Yes, I am alone. Miss Macy will not be back for an hour, perhaps. Will +you come in, Miss Vale?" Marjorie endeavored to make the invitation +courteous. She could not feign cordiality. + +"I am glad you are alone." This idea seemed uppermost in Dulcie's mind. +"I know you don't like me, Miss Dean. You haven't any reason to after +the way you were treated by the Sans last Saint Valentine's night. Of +course, I know you know who we were that night." She paused, as though +considering what to say next. + +"I saw no faces, but I knew Miss Cairns' and Miss Weyman's voices," +Marjorie said with a suspicion of stiffness. She was not pleased to hear +Dulcie preface her remarks with implied aspersions against the Sans. She +knew that the latter had quarreled with her. She guessed that pique +might have actuated the call. + +"You never told anyone a single thing about it, did you?" The question +was close to wistful. It seemed remarkable to Dulcie that Marjorie could +have kept the matter secret. + +"No." Marjorie shook her head slightly. + +"Did your friends ever say a word about it? Those were your friends who +burst in on us and made such a noise, weren't they? Who was the one who +looked so horrible and blew out the candles?" Dulcie seemed suddenly to +give over to curiosity. + +"I can't answer your questions, Miss Vale." Marjorie could not repress +the tiny smile that would not stay in seclusion. "I wish you would sit +down and tell me frankly why you came to see me. You have not been in my +room since the night of my arrival at Wayland Hall as a freshman." + +"I know." Dulcie's gaze shifted uneasily from Marjorie's face. "I +thought I would come again," she excused, "but----" + +The steadiness of Marjorie's eyes forbade further untruth. She became +suddenly silent. Very humbly she accepted the chair her puzzled hostess +shoved forward. Marjorie sat down in one at the other side of the center +table. + +"I suppose you've heard all about my trouble with the Sans," the visitor +commenced afresh and awkwardly. "I don't belong to the Sans Soucians +now. I wouldn't stay in a club with such dishonorable girls. I simply +made Leslie Cairns accept my resignation. She was wild about it." + +Now safely launched upon her story, Dulcie began to gather up her +self-confidence. "You see, my father, who is president of the L. T. and +M. Railroad, has done a great deal for the Sans. You know we have always +come to Hamilton in the fall in his private car. I have lent the Sans +money and done them endless favors, yet they couldn't be even moderately +square with me." She fixed her eyes on Marjorie after this outburst as +though waiting for sympathy. + +"I have heard nothing in regard to your having left the Sans Soucians. I +have noticed that you were no longer at the table where you formerly sat +at meals." Marjorie could not honestly concede less than this. + +"Didn't you hear us fussing one night in Leslie's room? It was before +Christmas. That was the night I called them all down. I was so angry! I +went into a perfect frenzy! I'm so temperamental! When I am _really_ in +a rage it simply shakes me from head to foot." There was a faint impetus +toward complacency in the statement. + +"Yes; I heard a commotion going on up there one evening, but only +faintly. My door was closed. I didn't pay any attention to the noise, +for it did not concern me." Marjorie was struggling against an +irresistible desire to laugh. To her mind Dulcie was the last person she +would have classed as temperamental. + +"The rest of that crowd were just as noisy as I, but Leslie Cairns +blamed me for it all. She told Miss Remson it was I alone who made the +disturbance. I'll never forgive her; _never_. What I thought was this, +Miss Dean. The Sans deserve to be punished for hazing you. I was a +victim, too, that night. They made me go along with them, and I didn't +wish to go. I came home with my eye blackened. I won't say how it +happened, only that Leslie Cairns was to blame. I know about the whole +plan for the hazing. Leslie rented that house for six months and paid +the rent in advance so as to have a good place to take you. She would +have left you there all night but Nell Ray and I said we would not stand +for that. We were the only ones who stood up for you. Leslie Cairns was +the Red Mask. + +"You know that Doctor Matthews is awfully down on hazing," Dulcie +continued, taking a fresh supply of breath. "I thought if you would go +with me to his office we could put the case before him. So long as I +have all the facts of that affair and you and I were the ones hazed, he +would certainly expel those Sans from Hamilton. You could say, just to +clear me, that you knew I was hazed, too. That is, I was forced to go +with them against my will. You see I had said I wouldn't have a thing to +do with it. I put on a domino that night over my costume and started +across the campus by myself. Half a dozen of the Sans headed me off and +simply dragged me along with them. I couldn't get away from them, +either. If that wasn't hazing, then what was it?" + +Marjorie was sorely tempted to reply, "Nothing but a yarn." She did not +credit Dulcie's story and was growing momentarily more disgusted with +the author of it. + +"I can get away with it nicely if you will help me." Dulcie evidently +took Marjorie's silence as favorable to her plan. "I've resigned from +the Sans of my own accord. That will be in my favor. Matthews doesn't +like Leslie. You know she received a summons after Miss Langly was hurt. +Maybe the doctor didn't call her down! With you on my side. Oh, _fine_! +I can see the Sans packing to leave Hamilton in a hurry!" Dulcie +brightened visibly at the dire picture her mind had painted of her +enemies' disaster. "I can tell you a lot more things against them, too. +Leslie is afraid all the time that Miss Remson will find out how she +worked that stunt to keep us our rooms here. She----" + +Marjorie interrupted with a quick, stern: "Stop, Miss Vale! I don't wish +to hear such things. I listened to what you said about the hazing as +that concerned myself only. I have no desire to know the Sans' private +affairs. Whatever they may have done that is against the rules and +traditions of Hamilton they will have to answer for. In the long run +they will not be happy. I would not inform against them to President +Matthews or anyone else." + +"Would you let them go on and be graduated after what they have done +against both of us?" demanded Dulcie, her voice rising. + +"It has not hurt me; being hazed, I mean," was the calm reply. "I do not +approve of hazing. I would not take part in any such disgraceful thing. +Still, I do not believe in tale-bearing. You will gain more, Miss Vale, +by going on as though all that has annoyed and hurt you had never been. +Whoever has wronged you will be punished, eventually. The higher law, +the law of compensation, provides for that." + +"I don't know a thing about law. I wouldn't care to take the matter into +court." Marjorie's little preachment had gone entirely over the stupid +senior's head. Leslie had often remarked, and with truth, that Dulc was +"thick." + +"I mean by the higher law, 'As ye mete it out to others, so shall it be +measured back to you again,'" Marjorie quoted with reverence. + +"Oh, I see. You mean what the Bible says. Uh-huh! That's true, I guess." +Dulcie looked vague. "I'm sorry you won't help me, Miss Dean. I feel +that Doctor Matthews ought to _know_ what's going on, when it is as +serious as hazing." + +Marjorie felt her patience winging away. She wished Jerry would suddenly +return and thus end the interview. It was evident Dulcie intended to +report the hazing, despite her refusal to become a party to the report. +That meant she would be dragged into the affair. + +"I wish you would not go to Doctor Matthews about the hazing, Miss +Vale," she said abruptly. "If I, who was put to more inconvenience than +you by it, have never reported it, I see no reason why you should. If +you should succeed in having your former chums expelled you would feel +miserably afterward for having betrayed them, no matter how much they +might have deserved it." + +"I surely should not." Dulcie's short upper lip lifted in scorn. "I +would love to see them disgraced. They tried to down me. I have a +splendid case against them because you are so well-liked on the campus. +The use of your name will be of great help. Sorry you won't stand by me. +You'll have to admit the truth if you are sent for at the office," she +ended as a triumphant afterthought. + +Marjorie contemplated her visitor in some wonder. The small, mean soul +of the vengeful girl stood forth in the smile that accompanied her +threatening utterance. It seemed strange to the upright lieutenant that +a young woman with every material advantage in life could be so devoid +of principle. + +"Do not count on me." Marjorie's reply rang out with deliberate +contempt. "If I were to be summoned to Doctor Matthews' office +concerning the hazing, I would answer no questions and give no +information." + +This time it was Dulcie who lost patience. She rose with an angry +flounce. Sulkiness at being thus thwarted replaced her earlier attempt +at amenability. + +"I might have known better than ask you," she sputtered, giving free +rein to her displeasure. "I shall do just as I please about going to +Matthews. I hope he sends for you. He will make you admit you were hazed +by the Sans. Goodnight." She switched to the door. Her hand on the knob, +she called over one shoulder: "I don't blame Les for having named you +'Bean.' You are just about as stupid as one." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV--"THERE'S MANY A SLIP" + + +Dulcie's parting fling drove away Marjorie's righteous indignation. It +was so utterly childish. She smiled as she arranged her books and papers +to her mind and sat down to study. Two or three times in the course of +study the remark re-occurred to her and she giggled softly. The name +'Bean,' as applied to her by Leslie Cairns, had invariably made her +laugh whenever she had heard it. + +When Jerry finally put in an appearance, Lucy and Ronny at her heels, +Marjorie related to them the incident of Dulcie's call. + +"Oh, oh, oh!" groaned Jerry. "Why wasn't I here? I always miss the most +exciting moments of life." + +"I wished with all my heart that you would walk in and end the +interview. She had so little honor about her I felt once as though I +couldn't endure having her here another minute. Then she took herself +off so suddenly I was amazed." + +"Do you think she will go to Doctor Matthews?" Ronny asked rather +skeptically. "Possibly what you said will take hold on her after all." + +"No. She will go," Marjorie predicted with conviction. "She is +determined on that. Maybe not right away. Goodness knows how much +trouble it will stir up." + +"You're right," nodded Jerry. "Bring the Sans to carpet and they will +probably name us as the crowd who broke in on their ridiculous tribunal. +What then?" + +"If we are accused of any such thing we can only tell the truth," smiled +Lucy. "We were in our masquerade costumes. We weren't wearing dominos, +but our own coats and scarfs. We went to rescue Marjorie. We were not +out on a hazing expedition." + +"The only thing we should not have done, perhaps, was to blow out the +candles," declared Ronny with a reminiscent chuckle. "That was my doing. +Some of the Sans might have been quite seriously hurt in the dark. They +deserved the few bumps they garnered. I'm not sorry for that part of our +rescue dash on them." + +"What a wonderful time we'll have if we are brought up to face the Sans +in Doctor Matthews' office. Lead me to it; away from it, I had better +say." Jerry made a wry face. + +"Don't worry. I shall be on outpost duty," laughed Lucy. "I am going to +begin substituting for the Doctor tomorrow morning. Miss Humphrey sent +for me after biology this P.M. to ask me if I would. Miss Sayres has +bronchitis. I am so far ahead in my subjects I can spare two weeks to +the doctor's work. I was at Lillian's house for dinner tonight, so I +didn't have a chance to tell you girls the news. If this affair comes up +while I am working for the doctor, I shall no doubt hear of it. So long +as we are all concerned in it, I shall feel I have the right to tell you +if Miss Vale starts trouble." + +The Lookouts were not in the least worried over their own position in +the matter. While they might not escape reprimand, they had done nothing +underhanded nor disgraceful. According to Jerry they had "sprung a +beautiful scare where it was needed." + +During the first week of her secretaryship for the doctor, Lucy heard +nothing that would indicate the promised exposé on Dulcie's part. They +saw her several times on the campus or driving with Elizabeth Walbert, +apparently well pleased with herself. It was Jerry's opinion that she +had built upon Marjorie's aid. Being denied this, she had abandoned the +project as too risky to undertake alone. + +One thing lynx-eyed Lucy discovered concerning the secretary was her +extreme carelessness in filing. More than once the doctor's patience and +her own were taxed by protracted hunts on her part for correspondence on +file. + +"I exonerate you from blame for this, Miss Warner," the kindly doctor +declared more than once. "I have spoken to Miss Sayres of this fault. I +shall take it up with her again when she returns." + +As the first week merged into the second and the second into the third, +and still Lucy remained as the doctor's secretary, the two began to be +on the best of terms. Quick to appreciate Lucy's remarkable brilliancy +as a student, not to mention her perfect work as secretary, the doctor +and she had several long talks on biology, mathematics, and the affairs +of Hamilton College as well. + +During one of these talks a gleam of light shone for a moment on the +mystery Lucy never gave up hoping to solve. In mentioning Wayland Hall, +the president referred to Miss Remson as one of his oldest friends on +the campus. "I have not seen Miss Remson for a very long time," he said +with a slight frown. "Let me see. It will be----can it be possible?----two +years in June. And she living so near me! She used to be a fairly +frequent visitor at our house. I must ask Mrs. Matthews to write her to +dine with us soon. Kindly remind me of that, Miss Warner; say this +afternoon before you leave. I will make a note of it." + +Lucy reminded him of the matter that afternoon with a glad heart. She +confided it to her Lookout chums and they rejoiced with her. She would +have liked to tell Miss Remson the good news but courtesy forbade the +doing. The Lookouts agreed among themselves that it showed very plainly +who was responsible for the misunderstanding. + +At the beginning of the fourth week Miss Sayres returned. Lucy could +only hope that Doctor Matthews had not forgotten to remind his wife of +the dinner invitation. She was sure, had Miss Remson received it, that +she would have mentioned it to them. She would have wished the Nine +Travelers to know it. Whether Miss Remson would have accepted it was a +question. She had her own proper pride in the matter. The girls had +agreed that should she mention it, Lucy was then to tell her of the +conversation with Doctor Matthews. + +"Queer, but Miss Remson hasn't said a word about receiving that +invitation," Ronny said to Lucy one evening shortly before the closing +of college for the Easter holidays. "The doctor must have forgotten all +about it. That shows his conscience is clear. It would appear that he +doesn't even suspect Miss Remson has a grievance against him." + +"I am sure he forgot it." Lucy looked rather gloomy over the doctor's +omission. "It was such a fine opportunity, and now it's lost. If I +should work for him again I might remind him of it. If I did, I'd do +more than mere reminding. I'd ask him to try to see Miss Remson and tell +him I thought there had been a misunderstanding. I would have said so +this time, but when he spoke of inviting her to their house for dinner, +I supposed the tangle would be straightened post haste." + +"He may happen to recall it months from now," Ronny consoled. "That's +the way my father does. Men of affairs hardly ever forget things for +good. Sooner or later a memory of that kind crops up again." + +While Lucy worried because the doctor had forgotten his kindly intention +toward their faithful elderly friend, Leslie Cairns was plunged in the +depths of apprehension because of Lucy's substitution for Laura Sayres. +Each day she wondered if the sword would fall. She visited Laura and +made her worse by her irritating questions regarding the secretary's +methods of filing. Was there any danger of old Matthews going through +the files himself? Was Laura sure that she had eliminated every bit of +evidence against them? Was she positive she had destroyed the letter +Miss Remson had written him, supposedly? Nor had Leslie any mercy on the +secretary's weakened condition. Laura bore her unfeeling selfishness +without much protest. Leslie had given her one hundred dollars in her +first visit. This palliated the senior's faults. + +When at the end of the third week nothing had occurred of a dismaying +nature, Leslie began to believe that her college career was safe. With +Easter just ahead, a very late Easter, too, only two months stretched +between her and Commencement, that dear day of honor and freedom for +her. She had worried but little over Dulcie's threats. Elizabeth +Walbert's parting shot, "You'll be sorry," crossed her mind +occasionally. She attached not much importance to it at first and less +as winter drew on toward spring. + +Dulcie Vale, however, was only biding her time. She never relinquished +for an hour her resolve to bring disgrace upon the Sans. Leslie having +ordered her chums to steer clear of Bess Walbert, the latter also burned +for revenge. She and Dulcie, after one glorious quarrel over what each +had said about the other to Leslie, had made up and joined forces. They +had a common object. Thus they clung together. They made elaborate plans +for retaliation, only to abandon them for the one great plan, the +betrayal of the Sans to Doctor Matthews. + +Dulcie had at first decided to go to the president of Hamilton College +within a few days after her unsuccessful talk with Marjorie. Then she +thought of something else which pleased her better. She would wait until +after Easter. If the Sans were expelled from college just before Easter, +they would endeavor to slip away quietly, making it appear that they had +left of their own accord. If she waited until they had returned, the +blow would be far more crushing. + +Regarding herself, Dulcie had her own plans. Her family, including her +father, were in Europe. Her mother would not return until the next July. +Her father, luckily for her, was to be in Paris until the following +January. Her mother allowed her to do as she pleased. What Dulcie +intended to do to please herself was to leave Hamilton on the Easter +vacation not to return. She was not too stupid to realize that the Sans, +accused of many faults by her, would turn on her _en masse_ and +implicate her. She could not hold out against them if arraigned in the +presence of Doctor Matthews. She was also too heavily conditioned to +graduate, and she hated college since her ostracization by the Sans. She +was more than ready to leave. She would walk out and let her former +chums bear the consequences. They had not spared her. She would not +spare them. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV--WHEN THE SWORD FELL + + +The longer Dulcie pondered the matter, the more she became convinced she +could do more damage by letter than to go to the doctor in person. +Elizabeth Walbert had several times advised this course. The latter knew +nothing of Dulcie's resolve to leave college. Dulcie did not purpose she +should until she wrote the sophomore from her New York apartment after +leaving Hamilton. She had planned to take an apartment in an exclusive +hotel on Central Park West. From there she would write her mother that +she was too ill to return to college. She left it to her mother's tact +to break the news to her father. He was not to know she had failed +miserably in all respects at Hamilton. + +Over and over again she wrote the damaging letter to Doctor Matthews. +She wrote at first at length, putting in everything she could think of +against the Sans. She made effort to stick to facts. There were enough +of them to create havoc. Then she rewrote the letter, eliminating and +revising until the finished product of her spite was worded to suit her. +It was necessarily a long letter and could not fail in its object. + +When college closed for Easter, Dulcie shook the dust of Hamilton from +her feet and took her letter to New York with her. She did not inform +the registrar that she would not return. She would write that from New +York. The day after college reopened, following the ten days' vacation, +Dulcie mailed four letters. One to Elizabeth Walbert, one to Miss +Humphrey, one to Leslie Cairns, and _the_ letter. + +Those four letters created amazement, displeasure, consternation, +according to the recipient. Miss Humphrey was annoyed as only a +registrar can be annoyed by such a procedure. Elizabeth Walbert was +surprised and miffed because Dulcie had not confided in her. Doctor +Matthews' indignation soared to still heights. Leslie Cairns opened her +letter at the breakfast table. She read the first page and hurriedly +rose, tipping over her coffee in her haste. Paying no attention to the +stream of coffee which flowed to the floor, she rushed from the dining +room to her own. Locking the door, she sat down with trembling knees to +read the letter. She read it twice, uttered a half sob of agony and +threw herself face downward on her bed. The sword had fallen, the end +had come. + +Of the four letters, the one Dulcie had written her was the shortest and +read: + + "Leslie: + + "When you read this you will not feel so secure as you did the night + you humiliated me so. You thought I would not dare say a word about + a number of things because I was afraid of being expelled from + college. You will see now that you made a serious mistake; so + serious you won't be at Hamilton long after President Matthews + receives the letter I have written him. I have told him + _everything_. The Sans are in for trouble with him. It doesn't make + a particle of difference to me what happens to you and your pals, + for I am not coming back to Hamilton. My letter to Doctor Matthews + is convincing. You will surely receive a summons. What? Oh, yes! I + think I have proved myself almost as clever as you. + + "Dulciana Maud Vale." + +Not far behind Leslie came Natalie Weyman to her friend's room. Startled +by Leslie's peculiar behavior she had followed her upstairs, her own +breakfast untouched. + +"Leslie," she called softly, "May I come in? It's Nat." + +"Go away." Leslie's voice was harsh and broken. "Come back after +recitations this afternoon." + +"Very well." Natalie retreated, puzzled but not angry. She was +understanding that something very unusual had happened to Leslie. Her +mind took it up, however, as presumably bad news from home. She hoped +nothing serious had happened to Leslie's father. Her shallow serenity +soon returned and she went about her affairs smugly unconscious of what +was in store for her. + +Meanwhile, President Matthews was holding a long and unpleasant session +with Laura Sayres. Dulcie had not failed to describe Laura's part in the +plot against Miss Remson. Now the incensed doctor was endeavoring to pin +his shifty secretary down to lamentable facts. + +Laura had always assured Leslie she would never divulge the Sans' +secrets under pressure. For a short period only she lied, evaded and +pretended ignorance. Little by little the ground was cut from under her +treacherous feet. Before the morning was over President Matthews had the +complete story of the trickery which had brought misunderstanding +between him and Miss Remson. Of the hazing Laura knew little; enough, +however, to establish the truth of Dulcie's confession. + +"I have yet to find a more flagrant case of dishonorable dealing," were +the doctor's cutting words at the close of that painful morning. "I +trusted you. Knowing that, you should have been above trading upon my +confidence. I cannot comprehend your object in allying yourself with +these lawless young women. You say you are not a member of their club. +Why, then, were their dishonest interests so dear to you?" + +To this Laura made no reply save by sobs. She had crumpled entirely. One +thing only she had rigorously kept back. She would not admit that she +had been paid by Leslie Cairns for her ignoble services. If the doctor +suspected this he made no sign of it. He dismissed her with stern +brevity and was glad to see her go. Aside from her worthless character, +she had not been a satisfactory secretary. + +Immediately she was gone, he put on his hat and overcoat and set out for +Wayland Hall. To right matters with his old friend was to be his second +move. + +Arriving at the Hall at the hour the students were returning for +luncheon, his appearance caused no end of private flutter. Having, as +yet, held no communication with Leslie, the older members of the Sans +were thrown into panic, nevertheless. What they had least desired had +come to pass. The Lookouts, on the contrary, were overjoyed. Helen Trent +had spied the president and promptly passed the word of it to her chums. + +To Miss Remson the surprise of her caller amounted to a shock. It did +not take long for the manager to produce the letter she had received, +purporting to be from Doctor Matthews. + +"I never dictated any such letter," was his blunt denial. "Yes, the +signature is mine. I can only explain it by saying that it may have been +traced and copied from another letter, or else it has been handed me to +sign when I was in a hurry. Miss Sayres had an annoying habit of +bringing me my letters for signature at the very last minute before I +was due to leave my office. I dropped the matter of the way these girls +at your house had behaved because I received a letter from you which +stated that you had come to a better understanding with them and would +like to have the matter closed. I deferred to your judgment, as always. +I know no one better qualified as manager of a campus house than you." + +"I never wrote you any such letter," avowed the manager. "Several of my +devoted friends in the house among the students were confident that +there had been trickery used. I was obliged to acquaint them with the +fact that you had refused to act in the matter of transferring these +girls to another campus house. My friends had suffered many annoyances +at their hands. I had promised them of my own accord that these girls +should be transferred. It has all been a sad misunderstanding. I am glad +to have it cleared up." Miss Remson avoided all mention of her own +personal humiliation. + +Returned to his office at Hamilton Hall after a late luncheon, Doctor +Matthews requested Miss Humphrey to lend him her stenographer for the +rest of the afternoon. His business correspondence attended to, he +brought forth Dulcie Vale's letter from an inside coat pocket and +composed a stiff, brief summons. This summons the stenographer had the +pleasure of typing seventeen times. A list of names which Dulcie had +thoughtfully included in her letter furnished seventeen addresses. The +Sans were curtly informed that Doctor Matthews required their presence +in his office at Hamilton Hall at four o'clock on Wednesday afternoon. + +Almost incidental with the time at which these notes were being typed, a +bevy of white-faced girls had gathered in Leslie Cairns' room to discuss +the dire situation. Leslie had recovered from her first spasm of grief +and fear and had let Natalie into her room immediately the latter had +come from recitations. Natalie brought more bad news in the shape of an +apprehensive report of the doctor's call on Miss Remson. + +During the afternoon Leslie had received a telephone call from Laura +Sayres. Laura had refused to go into much detail over the telephone. She +announced herself as having been discharged from the doctor's employ and +asserted that he knew "all about everything" without her having said a +word of betrayal. Leslie had not stopped to consider whether she +believed the secretary's story or not. She had said: "You can't tell me +anything. I know too much already. Goodbye." With that she had hung up +the receiver. Her eyes blinded by tears of defeat and real fear, she had +stumbled her way to her room. There she had spent the most unhappy +afternoon of her life. + +"It's no use, girls. We are done. You may as well be thinking what +excuse you can make to your families, for you will be expelled as sure +as fate. Matthews' call on Remson shows that Dulcie betrayed us. Sayres +was fired by the doctor; all on account of that Remson mix-up. She +didn't see Dulcie's letter, but I know he received it. Sayres called me +on the 'phone." + +"But, Leslie, some of us don't know a thing about how you worked that +Remson affair! You never told us. I don't see why we should be expelled +for something we know nothing of." Eleanor made this half tearful +defense. + +"Oh, that isn't _all_." Leslie's loose-lipped mouth curled in a bitter +smile. "There is the hazing business, too. Dulc told that, of course. +Perhaps she told the 'soft talk' stunt Ramsey taught the soph team last +year. I don't know. All is over for us. I do know that. I expected to go +into business with my father after I was graduated from Hamilton. Now!" +She walked away from her companions and stood with her back toward them +at the window. + +"Perhaps it will blow over," ventured Margaret Wayne. "I shall make a +hard fight to stay on at Hamilton. I won't be cheated out of my diploma, +if I can help it. It's our word against Dulcie's." + +"That's of no use to us now." Leslie turned suddenly from the window +with this gloomy utterance. "Remember Laura Sayres has been discharged +from Matthews' employ. Remson and Matthews have had an understanding. +What chance have we? Sayres told me the doctor quizzed her for over two +hours. She claims she told nothing against us. I know better. If Dulcie, +the little wretch, had sprung this before Easter we might have saved our +faces. She waited purposely. She and Walbert deliberately planned this +exposé. Look for a summons soon. We won't escape. I shall begin to pack +tonight. So far as this rattletrap old college is concerned, I don't +care a rap about leaving it. All that is worrying me is: What shall I +say to my father?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI--MAY DAY EVENING + + +For two days, in a second floor class room at Hamilton Hall, a real +tribunal, consisting of Doctor Matthews and the college Board, convened. +Very patiently the body of dignified men listened to what the offenders +against Hamilton College had to say by way of confession and appeal for +clemency. To her great disgust, Marjorie was summoned before the Board +on the morning of the second day. Questioned, she admitted to having +been hazed. More than that she refused to state. + +"I claim the right to keep my own counsel," she had returned, when +pressed to relate the details of the incident. "I was not injured. I did +not even contract a slight cold. I did not see the faces of those who +hazed me. I know only two of the Sans Soucians personally, and these two +slightly. My evidence would, therefore, be too purely circumstantial. I +do not wish to give it. I beg to be excused." + +Not satisfied, two members of the Board had requested that she state the +time and manner of her return to her house. Her quick assurance, "My +friends found out where I was and came for me. We were all in the +gymnasium at half-past nine, in time for the unmasking," was accepted, +not without smiles, by her inquisitors. She was allowed to go. She took +with her a memory of two rows of white, despairing girl faces. It hurt +her not a little. She could not rejoice in the Sans' downfall, though +she knew it to be merited. + +At the end of the inquiry the verdict was unanimous for expellment, to +go into effect at once. The culprits were given one week to pack and +arrange with their families for their return home. + +Leslie Cairns had received the major share of blame. Throughout the +inquiry she had worn an exasperating air of indifference, which she had +doggedly fought to maintain. Not a muscle of her rugged face had moved +during the reading of the long letter written by Dulcie Vale to the +president. She had laconically admitted the truth of it, coolly +correcting one or two erroneous statements Dulcie had made. Afterward, +in her room, she had broken down and sobbed bitterly. This no one but +herself knew. + +The disgraced seventeen left Hamilton for New York on the seventh +morning after sentence had been pronounced upon them. They departed +early in the morning before the majority of the Wayland Hall girls were +up and stirring. Marjorie was glad not to witness their departure. She +had not approved of them. Still they were young girls like herself. She +experienced a certain pity for their weakness of character. Jerry, +however, was openly delighted to be rid of her pet abomination. + +With the approach of May Day the Nine Travelers had something pleasant +to look forward to. Miss Susanna had sent them invitations to dinner on +May Day evening. Very gleefully they planned to deluge the mistress of +Hamilton Arms with May baskets. These they intended to leave in one of +the two automobiles which they would use. After dinner, Ronny had +volunteered to slip away from the party, secure the baskets and place +them before the front door. She would lift the knocker, then scurry +inside, leaving Jonas, who was to be in the secret, to call Miss Susanna +to the door. + +When, as Miss Hamilton's guests on May Day evening, they were ushered +into the beautiful, mahogany-panelled dining room at Hamilton Arms, a +surprise awaited them. The long room, an apartment of state in Brooke +Hamilton's day, was a veritable bower of violets. Bouquets of them, +surrounded by their own decorative green leaves were in evidence +everywhere in the room. They were the double English variety, and their +fragrance was as a sweet breath of spring. A scented purple mound of +them occupied the center of the dining table. It was topped by a +familiar object; a willow, ribbon-trimmed basket. As on the previous May +Day evening it was full of violets. Narrow violet satin ribbon depended +from the center of the basket to each place, at which set a small +replica of the basket Marjorie had left before Miss Susanna's door, just +one year ago that evening. + +"I knew Miss Susanna would guess who went Maying a year ago this +evening!" Jerry exclaimed. "After you had known Marvelous Marjorie a +little while the guessing came easy, didn't it?" She turned impulsively +to Miss Hamilton. + +"Yes; you are quite correct, Jerry," the old lady made quick answer. +"One year ago tonight was a very happy occasion for me. Violets were +Uncle Brooke's favorite flower. I cannot tell you how strangely I felt +at sight of that basket. Jonas came into the library and asked me to go +to the front door. He said in his solemn way: 'There's something at the +door I would like you to see, Miss Susanna.' He looked so mysterious, I +rose at once from my chair and went to the door. I must explain, too, +that the first of May was Uncle Brooke's birthday. When I looked out and +saw that basket of violets, it was like a silent message from him. Jonas +had no more idea than I from whom the lovely May offering had come. He +had heard the clang of the knocker, but when he opened the door there +was not a soul in sight. The good fairy had vanished, leaving me a +fragrant May Day remembrance." + +Marjorie had laughed at first sight of the familiar basket. She was +still smiling, rather tremulously, however. The beauty of the +decorations, the fragrance of the violets and the amazing knowledge that +she had brought Brooke Hamilton's favorite flower to the doorstep on the +anniversary of his birth, made strong appeal to the fund of sentiment +which lay deep within her, rarely coming to the surface. + +"How came you to remember a crotchety person like me, child?" Miss +Susanna's bright brown eyes were soft with tenderness. She reached +forward and took both Marjorie's hands in hers. + +Thus they stood for an instant, youth and age, beside the violet-crowned +table. The other girls, lovely in their pale-hued evening frocks, +surrounded the pair with smiling faces. + +"I--I don't know," stammered Marjorie. "I--I thought perhaps you would +like it. I couldn't resist putting it on your doorstep. We were all +making May baskets to hang on one another's doors. I thought of you. I +knew you loved flowers, because I had seen you working among them. +That's all." + +"No, that was only the beginning." Miss Susanna released Marjorie's +hands. "It gave me much to think of for many months; in fact until a +little girl put aside her own plans to help a poor old lady pick up a +basket of spilled chrysanthemums." + +Appearing a trifle embarrassed at her own rush of sentiment, Miss +Hamilton turned to the others and proceeded briskly to seat her guests +at table. While she occupied the place at the head, she gave Marjorie +that at the foot. Lifting the little basket at her place to inhale the +perfume of the flowers, something dropped therefrom. It struck against +the thin water glass at her place with a little clang. Next instant she +was exclaiming over a dainty lace pin of purple enameled violets with +tiny diamond centers. + +"I would advise all of you to do a little exploring." Miss Susanna's +voice held a note of suppressed excitement. + +Obeying with the zest of girlhood, the others found pretty lace pins of +gold and silver, chosen with a view toward suiting the personality of +each. + +As Marjorie fastened her new possession on the bodice of the +violet-tinted crêpe gown, which had been Mah Waeo's gift to her father +for her, she had a feeling of living in a fairy tale. Hamilton Arms had +always seemed as an enchanted castle to her. She had never expected to +penetrate its fastnesses and become an honored guest within its walls. + +"Miss Susanna, when did you first guess that it was I who left you a May +basket?" she asked, rather curiously. "Lucy and Jerry said you would +find me out. I didn't think so." + +"It was after Christmas, Marjorie," the old lady replied. "Perhaps it +was the bunch of violets on the wreath you girls sent for Uncle Brooke's +study that established the connection. I really can't say. It dawned +upon me all of a sudden one evening. I spoke of it to Jonas. The old +rascal simply said: 'Oh, yes. I have thought so for a long time.' Not a +word to me of it had he peeped. It furnished me with pleasant thoughts +for so long, I decided that one good turn deserves another. I succeeded +in surprising you children tonight, but no one could have been more +astonished than I when I gathered in that blessed violet basket last May +Day night." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII--CONCLUSION + + +"And tomorrow is another day; the great day!" Leila Harper sat with +clasped hands behind her head, fondly viewing her chums. + +The Nine Travelers had gathered in her room for a last intimate talk. +Tomorrow would be Commencement. Directly after the exercises were over +the nine had agreed to meet for a last celebration at Baretti's. Evening +of that day would see them all going their appointed ways. + +"I can't make it seem true that you girls won't be back here next year," +Marjorie said dolefully, setting down her lemonade glass with a +despondent thump, a half-eaten macaroon poised in mid-air. + +"Eat your sweet cake child and don't weep," consoled Leila. While she +was trying hard to look sad, there was a peculiar gleam in her blue +eyes. As yet Marjorie had failed to catch it. + +"Nothing will seem the same," grumbled Jerry. "With you four good scouts +lifted out of college garden there will be an awful vacancy." Jerry +fixed almost mournful eyes on Helen. "Why couldn't you girls have +entered a year later or else we a year earlier?" she asked +retrospectively. + +"Cheer up, Jeremiah. The worst is yet to come." Vera patted Jerry on the +back. Standing behind Jerry's chair she cast an odd glance at Leila. +Leila passed it on to Helen, who in turn telegraphed some mute message +to Katherine Langly. + +"I can't see it," Jerry said, her round face unusually sober. "It is +hard enough now to have to lose four good pals at one swoop. I sha'n't +feel any worse at the last minute tomorrow than I do tonight. I have an +actual case of the blues this evening which even lemonade and cakes +won't dispel." + +"Let us not talk about it," advised Veronica. "Every time the subject +comes up we all grow solemn." + +"I'm worse off than the rest of you," complained Muriel. "I am torn +between two partings. I can't bear to think of losing good old +Moretense." + +"While we are on the subject of partings," began Leila, ostentatiously +clearing her throat, "I regret that I shall have to say something which +can but add to your sorrow. I--that is----" She looked at Vera and burst +into laughter which carried a distinctly happy note. + +"What ails you, Leila Greatheart?" Marjorie focused her attention on the +Irish girl's mirthful face. "I am just beginning to see that something +unusual is on foot. The idea of parading mysteries before us at the very +last minute of your journey through the country of college!" + +"'Tis a beautiful country, that." Leila spoke purposely, with a faint +brogue. "And did you say it was my last minute there? Suppose it was +not? What? As our departed bogie, Miss Cairns, used to say." + +"Do you know what you are talking about?" inquired Jerry. "I hope you +do. I haven't caught the drift of your remarks--yet." + +"Do you tell her then, Midget." Leila fell suddenly silent, her Cheshire +cat grin ornamenting her features. + +"Oh, let Helen tell it. She knows." Vera beamed on Helen, who passed the +task, whatever it might be, on to Katherine. She declined, throwing it +back to Leila. + +"What is this bad news that none of you will take upon yourselves to +tell us?" Lucy's green eyes sought Katherine's in mock reproach. + +"I have it." Leila held up a hand. "Now; altogether! We are going to----" +she nodded encouragement to Kathie, Vera and Helen. + +"We are going to stay!" shouted four voices in concert. + +"Stay where? What do----" Jerry stopped abruptly. Her face relaxed of a +sudden into one of her wide smiles. She rose and began hugging Helen, +shouting: "You don't mean it? Honestly?" + +The rest of the Lookouts were going through similar demonstrations of +joy. For a moment or two everyone talked and laughed at once. Gradually +the first noisy reception of the news subsided and Leila could be heard: + +"It's like this, children," she said. "Vera wants to specialize in +Greek. I am still keen on physics and psychology. Helen wants to make a +new and more comprehensive study of literature, and Kathie is going to +teach English. Miss Fernald is leaving and Kathie is to have her place. +We've had all we could do to keep it from you. Vera and I might better +be here next year than at home. We'd have not much to do there. We are +anxious to help make the dream of the dormitory come true." + +"It is too beautiful for anything!" was Marjorie's childish but +heartfelt rejoicing. "With you four to help us next year we shall +accomplish wonders. Oh, I shall love being a senior!" + +What Marjorie's senior year at Hamilton brought her will be told in +"Marjorie Dean, College Senior." + + THE END + + + + +The Camp Fire Girls Series + +By HILDEGARD G. FREY + +A Series of Outdoor Stories for Girls 12 to 16 Years. + +All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles + +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH + + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN THE MAINE WOODS; + or, The Winnebagos go Camping. + + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT SCHOOL; or, The + Wohelo Weavers. + + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT ONOWAY HOUSE; or, + The Magic Garden. + + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS GO MOTORING; or, Along + the Road That Leads the Way. + + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS' LARKS AND PRANKS; or, + The House of the Open Door. + + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS ON ELLEN'S ISLE; or, The + Trail of the Seven Cedars. + + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS ON THE OPEN ROAD; + or, Glorify Work. + + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS DO THEIR BIT; or, Over + the Top with the Winnebagos. + + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS SOLVE A MYSTERY; or, + The Christmas Adventure at Carver House. + + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT CAMP KEEWAYDIN; + or, Down Paddles. + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +Publishers + +A. L. BURT COMPANY + +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET, NEW YORK + + + + +Marjorie Dean College Series + +BY PAULINE LESTER. + +Author of the Famous Marjorie Dean High School Series. + +Those who have read the Marjorie Dean High School Series will be eager +to read this new series, as Marjorie Dean continues to be the heroine in +these stories. + +All Clothbound. Copyright Titles. + +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH. + + MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE FRESHMAN + MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE SOPHOMORE + MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE JUNIOR + MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE SENIOR + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +Publishers. + +A. L. 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BURT COMPANY + +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET, NEW YORK + + + + +Marjorie Dean High School Series + +BY PAULINE LESTER + +Author of the Famous Marjorie Dean College Series + +These are clean, wholesome stories that will be of great interest to all +girls of high school age. + +All Cloth Bound, Copyright Titles + +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH + + MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN + MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE + MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR + MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +Publishers + +A. L. BURT COMPANY + +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET, NEW YORK + + + + +The Golden Boys Series + +BY L. P. 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LA BELLE + +A new series of copyright titles telling of the adventures of three boys +with the Forest Rangers in the state of Maine. + +Handsome Cloth Binding. + +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH. + + THE RANGER BOYS TO THE RESCUE + THE RANGER BOYS FIND THE HERMIT + THE RANGER BOYS AND THE BORDER SMUGGLERS + THE RANGER BOYS OUTWIT THE TIMBER THIEVES + THE RANGER BOYS AND THEIR REWARD + + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +Publishers. + +A. L. BURT COMPANY + +114-120 East 23rd Street, New York + + + + +The Boy Troopers Series + +BY CLAIR W. 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DRAKE + +For Boys 12 to 16 Years. + +All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles + +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH + +Frank Chadwick and Jack Templeton, young American lads, meet each other +in an unusual way soon after the declaration of war. Circumstances place +them on board the British cruiser, "The Sylph," and from there on, they +share adventures with the sailors of the Allies. Ensign Robert L. Drake, +the author, is an experienced naval officer, and he describes admirably +the many exciting adventures of the two boys. + + + THE BOY ALLIES ON THE NORTH SEA PATROL; or, Striking + the First Blow at the German Fleet. + + THE BOY ALLIES UNDER TWO FLAGS; or, Sweeping the + Enemy from the Sea. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE FLYING SQUADRON; or, The + Naval Raiders of the Great War. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE TERROR OF THE SEA; or, + The Last Shot of Submarine D-16. + + THE BOY ALLIES UNDER THE SEA; or, The Vanishing + Submarine. + + THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALTIC; or, Through Fields of + Ice to Aid the Czar. + + THE BOY ALLIES AT JUTALND; or, The Greatest Naval Battle + of History. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH UNCLE SAM'S CRUISERS; or, Convoying + the American Army Across the Atlantic. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE SUBMARINE D-32; or, The + Fall of the Russian Empire. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE VICTORIOUS FLEETS; or, + The Fall of the German Navy. + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +Publishers + +A. L. BURT COMPANY + +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET, NEW YORK + + + + +The Boy Allies with the Army + +(Registered in the United States Patent Office) + +BY CLAIR W. HAYES + +For Boys 12 to 16 Years. + +All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles + +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH + +In this series we follow the fortunes of two American lads unable to +leave Europe after war is declared. They meet the soldiers of the +Allies, and decide to cast their lot with them. Their experiences and +escapes are many, and furnish plenty of good, healthy action that every +boy loves. + + THE BOY ALLIES AT LIEGE; or, Through Lines of Steel. + + THE BOY ALLIES ON THE FIRING LINE; or, Twelve Days + Battle Along the Marne. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE COSSACKS; or, A Wild Dash + Over the Carpathians. + + THE BOY ALLIES IN THE TRENCHES; or, Midst Shot and + Shell Along the Aisne. + + THE BOY ALLIES IN GREAT PERIL; or, With the Italian + Army in the Alps. + + THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALKAN CAMPAIGN; or, The + Struggle to Save a Nation. + + THE BOY ALLIES ON THE SOMME; or, Courage and Bravery + Rewarded. + + THE BOY ALLIES AT VERDUN; or, Saving France from the + Enemy. + + THE BOY ALLIES UNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES; or, + Leading the American Troops to the Firing Line. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH HAIG IN FLANDERS; or, The Fighting + Canadians of Vimy Ridge. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH PERSHING IN FRANCE; or, Over + the Top at Chateau Thierry. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE GREAT ADVANCE; or, Driving + the Enemy Through France and Belgium. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH MARSHAL FOCH; or, The Closing + Days of the Great World War. + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +Publishers + +A. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Marjorie Dean College Junior + +Author: Pauline Lester + +Release Date: August 23, 2011 [EBook #37176] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARJORIE DEAN COLLEGE JUNIOR *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div class='figcenter' style='padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='i001' id='i001'></a> +<img src="images/illus-fpc.jpg" alt="Under the tree was a grassy mound. On this Elaine was invited to sit. Page 66" title=""/><br /> +<span class='caption'>Under the tree was a grassy mound. On this Elaine<br/>was invited to sit. <em>Page 66</em></span> +</div> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:1.6em;font-weight:bold;'>MARJORIE DEAN</span></p> +<p><span style='font-size:1.6em;font-weight:bold;'>COLLEGE JUNIOR</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;'><span class='sc'>By</span> PAULINE LESTER</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p><span class='sc'>Author of</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p><span style='font-size:smaller;'>“Marjorie Dean, College Freshman,” “Marjorie Dean,</span></p> +<p><span style='font-size:smaller;'>College Sophomore,” “Marjorie Dean, College Senior,”</span></p> +<p><span style='font-size:smaller;'>and</span></p> +<p><span style='font-size:smaller;'>The Marjorie Dean High School Series</span></p> +</div> +<div class='figcenter' style='padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='i002' id='i002'></a> +<img src='images/illus-emb.jpg' alt='' title=''/><br /> +</div> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;'>A. L. BURT COMPANY</span></p> +<p>Publishers—New York</p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:smaller;'>THE</span></p> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;'>Marjorie Dean College Series</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p>A Series of Stories for Girls 12 to 18 Years of Age</p> +<p> </p> +<p>By PAULINE LESTER</p> +<p> </p> +<p>Marjorie Dean, College Freshman</p> +<p>Marjorie Dean, College Sophomore</p> +<p>Marjorie Dean, College Junior</p> +<p>Marjorie Dean, College Senior</p> +<p> </p> +<p>Copyright, 1922</p> +<p>By A. L. BURT COMPANY</p> +<p> </p> +<p>MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE JUNIOR</p> +<p> </p> +<p>Made in “U. S. A.”</p> +</div> +<h1>MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE JUNIOR.</h1> +<h2><a name='chI' id='chI'></a>CHAPTER I—A MUSICAL WELCOME</h2> +<p> +“Remember; we are to begin with the ‘Serenata.’ +Follow that with ‘How Fair Art Thou’ and +‘Hymn to Hamilton.’ Just as we are leaving, sing +‘How Can I Leave Thee, Dear?’ We will fade +away on the last of that. Want to make any +changes in the programme?” +</p> +<p> +Phyllis Moore turned inquiringly to her choristers. +There were seven of them including herself, +and they were preparing to serenade Marjorie Dean +and her four chums. The Lookouts had returned +to Hamilton College that afternoon from the long +summer vacation. This year, their Silverton Hall +friends had arrived before them. Hence Phyllis’s +plan to serenade them. +</p> +<p> +Robina Page, Portia Graham, Blanche Scott, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_1'></a>1</span> +Elaine Hunter, Marie Peyton and Marie’s freshman +cousin, Hope Morris, comprised Phyllis’s serenading +party. The latter had been invited to participate +because she was still company. Incidentally +she knew the songs chosen, with the exception +of the “Hymn to Hamilton,” and could sing alto. +She was, therefore, a valuable asset. +</p> +<p> +“I hope Leila has managed to cage the girls in +Marjorie’s room,” remarked Blanche Scott. “We +want all five Sanfordites in on the serenade.” +</p> +<p> +“Leave it to Irish Leila to cage anything she +starts out to cage,” was Robin’s confident assurance. +“If she says she will do a thing, she will +accomplish it, somehow. Leila is a diplomat, and +so clever she is amazing.” +</p> +<p> +“Vera Mason isn’t far behind her. Those two +have chummed together so long their methods are +similar. They were the first girls I knew at Hamilton. +They met the train I came in on. Nella Sherman +and Selma Sanbourne were with them. Two +more fine girls. Portia looked pleasantly reminiscent +of her reception by the quartette to which she +now referred. +</p> +<p> +“I heard Selma Sanbourne wasn’t coming back. +I must ask Leila about that.” Robin made mental +note of the question. +</p> +<p> +“That will be hard on Nella,” observed Elaine +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_2'></a>2</span> +Hunter, with her usual ready sympathy. “They +have always been such great chums.” +</p> +<p> +“Sorry to interrupt, but we must be hiking, +girls.” In command of the tuneful expedition, +Phyllis tucked her violin case under her arm in +business-like fashion and cast a critical eye over +her flock. +</p> +<p> +“Be sure you have your instruments of torture +with you,” she laughed. “One time, at home, three +girls and myself started out to serenade a friend of +ours. Before we started we had all been sitting on +our veranda, eating ice cream. One of the girls +was to accompany us on the mandolin. She walked +away and left it on the veranda. She never noticed +the omission until we were ready to lift up our +voices. So we had to sing without it, for it was +over a mile to our house and she couldn’t very well +go back after it.” +</p> +<p> +“Let this be a warning to you mandolin players +not to do likewise.” Marie turned a severe eye on +Elaine and Portia, who made pretext of clutching +their mandolins in a firmer grip. +</p> +<p> +“My good old guitar is hung to me by a ribbon. +I am not likely to go away from here without it.” +Blanche patted the smooth, shining back of the +guitar. +</p> +<p> +“We couldn’t have chosen a better time for a +serenade,” exulted Robin. “It is a fine night; just +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_3'></a>3</span> +dark enough. Besides, there are not many girls +back at Wayland Hall yet. We won’t be so conspicuous +with our caroling.” +</p> +<p> +Meanwhile, in a certain room at Wayland Hall, +wily Lelia Harper was exerting herself to be agreeable +to her Lookout chums. Three of them she +had marshaled to Marjorie’s room on plea of showing +them souvenirs of a trip she had made through +Ireland that summer. +</p> +<p> +The souvenirs had been heartily admired, but +even they could not stem Muriel’s and Jerry’s +determined desire to entertain. First Jerry innocently +proposed that they all walk over to Baretti’s +for ices. Leila and Vera exhibited no enthusiasm +at the invitation. Next, Muriel re-proposed the +jaunt at her expense. Vera cast an appealing look +toward Leila. The latter was equal to the occasion. +</p> +<p> +“And are you so tired of me and my pictures of +my Emerald Isle that you want to hurry me off to +Baretti’s to be rid of me?” she questioned, in an +offended tone. +</p> +<p> +“Certainly not, and you needn’t pretend you +think so, for you don’t,” retorted Muriel, unabashed. +“Your Irish views are wonderful. So is Baretti’s +fresh peach ice cream. Helen was there and had +some this afternoon. She said it was better than +ever. I was only trying to be hospitable and so was +Jerry. Sorry you had to take me too personally.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_4'></a>4</span> +Muriel now strove to simulate offense. She turned +up her nose, tossed her head and burst out laughing. +“It’s no use,” she said, “I couldn’t really fuss with +you if I tried, Leila Greatheart.” +</p> +<p> +“I am relieved to hear it,” Leila returned with +inimitable dryness. +</p> +<p> +“Lots of time for Baretti’s and ice cream yet tonight. +It’s only half-past eight.” Marjorie indicated +the wall clock with a slight move of her head. +“We can leave here about nine. We’ll be there by +ten after.” +</p> +<p> +“Certainly; we have oceans of time,” Leila +agreed with alacrity. “The ten-thirty rule is still +on a vacation and won’t be back for a week or so.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I haven’t told you about my new car,” Vera +began with sudden inspiration. “Father bought it +for me in August. It is a beauty. He is going to +send James, his chauffeur, here with it. It may +arrive tomorrow. I hope it does.” Vera launched +into a description of her car with intent to kill time. +Phyllis had set the hour for the serenade to the +Lookouts at a quarter to nine. +</p> +<p> +“It will be good and dark then,” she had told +Leila and Vera. “We will have to come as early +as that, for we are going to Acasia House to serenade +Barbara Severn, and to Alston Terrace to sing +to Isabel Keller. Last, we are going to serenade +Miss Humphrey. We’ll have to hustle, in order to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_5'></a>5</span> +go the rounds and get back to Silverton Hall before +eleven o’clock. I depend on you, Leila, to keep that +lively bunch of Sanfordites in until we get there.” +</p> +<p> +Leila, aided by Vera, was now endeavoring to +carry out Phyllis’s request. She was privately hoping +that the serenaders would be on time. Should +they delay until nine or after, they were quite likely +to gather in under the window of a deserted room. +</p> +<p> +Readers of the “<span class='sc'>Marjorie Dean High School +Series</span>” have long been in touch with Marjorie +Dean and the friends of her high school days. +“<span class='sc'>Marjorie Dean</span>, <span class='sc'>High School Freshman</span>,” recounted +her advent into Sanford High School and +what happened to her during her first year there. +“<span class='sc'>Marjorie Dean</span>, <span class='sc'>High School Sophomore</span>,” +“<span class='sc'>Marjorie Dean</span>, <span class='sc'>High School Junior</span>,” and +“<span class='sc'>Marjorie Dean</span>, <span class='sc'>High School Senior</span>,” completed +a series of stories which dealt entirely with +Marjorie’s four years’ course at Sanford High +School. Admirers of the loyal-hearted, high-principled +young girl, who became a power at high +school because of her many fine qualities, will recall +her ardent wish to enroll as a student at Hamilton +College when she should have finished her high +school days. +</p> +<p> +In “<span class='sc'>Marjorie Dean</span>, <span class='sc'>College Freshman</span>,” +will be found the account of Marjorie’s doings as a +freshman at Hamilton College. Entering college +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_6'></a>6</span> +full of noble resolves and high ideals, she was not +disappointed in her Alma Mater, although she was +not long in discovering that an element of snobbery +was abroad at Hamilton which was totally against +Hamilton traditions. Aided by four of her Sanford +chums, who had entered Hamilton College +with her, and a number of freshmen and upper class +girls, of democratic mind, the energetic band had +endeavored to combat the pernicious influence, exercised +by a clique of moneyed girls, which was fast +taking hold upon other students. The end of the +college year had found their efforts successful, in a +measure, and the way paved for better things. +</p> +<p> +In “<span class='sc'>Marjorie Dean, College Sophomore</span>,” +the further account of Marjorie’s eventful college +days was set forth. Opposed, from her return to +Hamilton College by certain girls residing in the +same house with herself, who disliked her independence +and fair-mindedness, Marjorie was later given +signal proof of their enmity. How she and her +chums fought them on their own ground and won +a notable victory over them formed a narrative of +pleasing interest and lively action. +</p> +<p> +Now that the Five Travelers, as the quintette of +Sanford girls loved to call themselves, were once +more settled in the country of college, their devoted +friends had already planned to honor them. Leila +and Vera, who invariably returned early to college, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_7'></a>7</span> +had encountered Phyllis on the campus on the day +previous. Informing her of the Lookouts’ expected +arrival on the next afternoon, Phyllis had planned +the serenade and demanded Leila’s help. Leila had +rashly promised to keep the arrivals at home that +evening. She was now of the opinion that a promise +was sometimes easier made than fulfilled. +</p> +<p> +“Since Vera has told you everything she can +remember about her new roadster, I shall now do a +little talking myself.” Leila was having the utmost +difficulty in controlling her risibles. She dared not +look at Vera; nor dared Vera look at her. “Ahem! +When I was in Ireland,” she pompously announced, +“I saw——” +</p> +<p> +Came the welcome interruption for which she +had been waiting. Clear and sweet under the windows +of the room rose the strains of Tosti’s “Serenata.” +A brief prelude and voices took it up, filling +the evening air with harmony. +</p> +<p> +“Thank my stars! A-h-h!” Leila relaxed exaggeratedly +in her chair, her Cheshire-cat smile predominating +her features. +</p> +<p> +“You bad old rascal!” Marjorie paused long +enough to shake Leila playfully by the shoulders. +Then she hurried to one of the windows. Jerry, +Muriel and Lucy had reached one. Ronny and +Vera were at the other. Marjorie joined them. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_8'></a>8</span> +Leila made no move to rise. She preferred sitting +where she was. +</p> +<p> +“Keep quiet,” Jerry had admonished at the first +sounds. “If we start to talk to them, they’ll stop +singing. Whoever they are, they certainly can sing.” +Her companions of her mind, it was a silent and +appreciative little audience that gathered at the open +windows to listen to the serenaders. +</p> +<p> +There was no moon that night. It was impossible +to see the faces of the carolers, nor, in the +general harmony of melodious sound, was it possible +to identify any one voice. An energetic clapping +of hands, from other windows as well as those +of Marjorie’s room, greeted the close of the “Serenata.” +Then a high soprano voice, which the girls +recognized as Robin Page’s, began that most beautiful +of old songs, “How Fair Art Thou.” A violin +throbbed a soft obligato. +</p> +<p> +The marked hush that hung over the Hall during +the rendering of the song was most complimentary +to the soloist. The serenaders were not out for +glory, however. Hardly had the applause accorded +Robin died out, when mandolins, guitar and violin +took up the stately “Hymn to Hamilton.” +</p> +<p> + “First in wisdom, first in precept; teach us to revere<br /> + thy way:<br /> +</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_9'></a>9</span></div> +<p> + Grant us mind to know thy purpose, keep us in<br /> + thy brightest ray.<br /> + Let our acts be shaped in honor; let our steps be<br /> + just and free:<br /> + Make us worthy of thy threshold, as we pledge our<br /> + faith to thee.”<br /> +</p> +<p> +Thus ran the first stanza, set to a sonorous air +which the combined harmony of voices and musical +instruments rendered doubly beautiful. It seemed +to those honored by the serenaders that they had +never before heard the fine old hymn so inspiringly +sung. The whole three stanzas were given. The +instant the hymn was ended the familiar melody +“How Can I Leave Thee Dear?” followed. +</p> +<p> +“That means they are going to beat it,” called +Jerry in low tones. “Let us head them off before +they can get away and take them with us to +Baretti’s. We’ll have to start now, if we expect to +catch them. They’re beginning the second stanza. +We’ll just give <em>them</em> a little surprise.” +</p> +<p> +With one accord the appreciative and mischievous +audience left the windows and made a rush for +the stairs. Headed by Jerry they exited quietly +from the house and stole around its right-hand +corner. +</p> +<p> +Absorbed in their own lyric efforts, the singers +had reached the third sentimentally pathetic stanza: +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_10'></a>10</span> +</p> +<p> + “If but a bird were I, homeward to thee I’d fly;<br /> + Falcon nor hawk I’d fear, if thou wert near.<br /> + Shot by a hunter’s ball; would at thy feet I fall,<br /> + If but one ling’ring tear would dim thine eye.”<br /> +</p> +<p> +Ready to leave almost on the last line, they were +not prepared for the merry crowd of girls who +pounced suddenly upon them. +</p> +<p> +“How can you leave us, dears?” caroled Muriel +Harding, as she caught firm hold of Robin Page. +“You are not going to leave us. Don’t imagine it +for a minute.” +</p> +<h2><a name='chII' id='chII'></a>CHAPTER II—UNDER THE SEPTEMBER STARS</h2> +<p> +“Captured by Sanfordites!” exclaimed Robin +dramatically. “What fate is left to us now?” Despite +her tragic utterance, she proceeded to a vigorous +hand-shaking with Muriel. +</p> +<p> +“Now why couldn’t you have stayed upstairs like +nice children and praised our modest efforts in your +behalf instead of prancing down stairs to head us +off?” inquired Phyllis in pretended disgust. “Not +one of you has the proper idea of the romance which +should attend a serenade. Of course, you didn’t +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_11'></a>11</span> +<em>know</em> who was singing to you, and, of course, you +just simply <em>had</em> to find out.” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t delude yourself with any such wild idea,” +Jerry made haste to retort. “We knew Robin’s +voice the minute she opened her mouth to sing +‘How Fair Art Thou.’ Now which one of us were +you particularly referring to in that number? I +took it straight to myself. Of course I <em>may</em> be a +trifle presumptuous, Ahem!” +</p> +<p> +“Yes; ‘Ahem!’” mimicked Phyllis. “You are +just the same good old, funny old scout, Jeremiah. +Somebody please hold my violin while I embrace +Jeremiah.” +</p> +<p> +“Hold it yourself,” laughed Portia. “We have +fond welcomes of our own to hand around and +need the use of our arms.” +</p> +<p> +Full of the happiness of the meeting the running +treble of girlhood, mingled with ripples of gay, +light laughter, was music in itself. +</p> +<p> +“The Moore Symphony Orchestra and Concert +Company will have to be moving on,” Elaine reminded +after fifteen minutes had winged away. +“This is Phil’s organization but she seems to have +forgotten all about it. We are supposed to serenade +Barbara Severn, Isabel Keller and Miss +Humphrey while the night is yet young. I can see +where someone of the trio will have to be unserenaded +this evening.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_12'></a>12</span> +</p> +<p> +“Couldn’t you serenade them tomorrow night?” +coaxed Marjorie. “We had it all planned to go to +Baretti’s before we hustled down to head you off. +The instant I recognized Robin’s heavenly soprano +I knew that the Silvertonites were under our windows. +I guess the rest knew, too. We didn’t want +to talk while you were singing.” +</p> +<p> +“Very polite in you, I am sure.” In the darkness +Elaine essayed a profound bow. Result, her head +came into smart contact with Blanche’s guitar. +</p> +<p> +“Steady there! I need my guitar for the next +orchestral spasm.” Blanche swung the instrument +under her arm out of harm’s way. +</p> +<p> +“I need my head, too,” giggled Elaine, ruefully +rubbing that slightly injured member. +</p> +<p> +“Do serenade the others tomorrow night.” Ronny +now added her plea. “How would you like to take +us along with you, then? Not to sing, but just for +company, you know. I never went out serenading, +and I fully feel the need of excitement.” +</p> +<p> +“What you folks need is fresh peach ice cream +and lots of it,” Jerry advised with crafty enthusiasm. +“It’s to be had at Giuseppe Baretti’s.” +</p> +<p> +“I know of nothing more refreshing to tired +soloists than fresh peach ice cream,” seconded Vera. +“I leave it to my esteemed friend, Irish Leila, if I +am not entirely correct in this.” +</p> +<p> +“You are. Now what is it that you are quite +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13'></a>13</span> +right about?” Leila had caught the last sentence +and risen to the occasion. +</p> +<p> +“Such support,” murmured Vera, as a laugh +arose. +</p> +<p> +“Is it not now?” Leila blandly commented. +“Never worry. There is little I would not agree +with you in, Midget. Be consoled with that handsome +amend. As for you singers and wandering +musicians, you had better come with us. +</p> +<p> + “We’ll feed you on fine white bread of the wheat<br /> + And the drip of honey gold:<br /> + We’ll give you pale clouds for a mantle sweet,<br /> + And a handful of stars to hold.”<br /> +</p> +<p> +Leila sang lightly the quaint words of an old +Irish ditty. +</p> +<p> +“Can we resist such a prospect?” laughed Phyllis. +“How about it, girls? Is it on with the serenade +or on to Baretti’s?” +</p> +<p> +“Baretti’s it had better be, since we are invited +there by such distinguished persons,” was Robin’s +decision. “Leila, you are to teach me that song +you were just humming. It is sweet!” +</p> +<p> +Her companions were nothing loath to abandon +their project for the evening in order to hob-nob +with their Wayland Hall friends. They came to +this decision very summarily. Now fourteen strong, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14'></a>14</span> +the company turned their steps toward their favorite +restaurant. +</p> +<p> +They were nearing the cluster lights stationed +at each side of the wide walk leading up to the +entrance of the tea room, when Lucy Warner +stopped short with: “Oh, girls; I know something +that I think would be nice to do.” +</p> +<p> +“Speak up, respected Luciferous,” encouraged +Vera. “You say so little it is a pleasure to listen +to you. I wish I could say that of everyone I +know,” she added significantly. +</p> +<p> +“Have you an idea of whom she may be talking +about?” quizzed Leila, rolling her eyes at her companions. +</p> +<p> +“She certainly doesn’t mean us, even if she didn’t +say ‘present company excepted.’” Muriel beamed at +Leila with trustful innocence. “Go ahead, Luciferous +Warniferous, noble Sanfordite, and tell us +what’s on your mind.” +</p> +<p> +“I had no idea I was so greatly respected in this +crowd. I never before saw signs of it. Much +obliged. This is what I thought of.” Lucy came to +the point with her usual celerity. “Why not serenade +Signor Baretti? He is an Italian. The Italians +all love music. I know he would like it. You +girls sing and play so beautifully.” +</p> +<p> +“Of course he would.” Marjorie was the first to +endorse Lucy’s proposal “This is really a fine time +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15'></a>15</span> +for it, too. It’s late enough in the evening so that +there won’t be many persons in the restaurant.” +</p> +<p> +“It would delight his little, old Giuseppeship,” +approved Blanche. +</p> +<p> +“No doubt about it,” Robin heartily concurred. +“We ought to sing something from an Italian opera. +That would please him most. The Latins don’t +quite understand the beauty of our English and +American songs.” +</p> +<p> +“We can sing the sextette from ‘Lucia,’” proposed +Elaine. “It doesn’t matter about the words. +We know the music. We have sung that together +so many times we wouldn’t make a fizzle of it.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, and there is the ‘Italian Song at Nightfall’ +that Robin sings so wonderfully. We can help +out on the last part of it.” Tucking her violin +under her chin, Phyllis played a few bars of the +selection she had named. “I can play it,” she +nodded. “I never tried it on the fiddle before.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s two,” counted Robin. “For a third and +last let’s give that pretty ‘Gondelier’s Love Song,’ +by Nevin. It doesn’t matter about words to that, +either. There aren’t any. People ought to learn +to appreciate songs without words. Giuseppe won’t +care a hang about anything but the music. If any +of you Wayland Hallites decide to sing with us, +sing nicely. Don’t you dare make the tiniest discord.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16'></a>16</span> +</p> +<p> +“She has some opinion of herself as a singer,” +Leila told the others, with comically raised brows. +“Be easy. We have no wish to lilt wid yez.” +</p> +<p> +Having decided to serenade the unsuspecting +proprietor of the tea room, the next point to be settled +was where they should stand to sing. +</p> +<p> +“Wait a minute. I’ll go and look in one of the +windows,” volunteered Ronny. “Perhaps I shall +be able to see just where he is.” +</p> +<p> +“He is usually at his desk about this time in the +evening. We’ll gather around the window nearest +where he is sitting,” planned Phyllis. +</p> +<p> +Ronny flitted lightly ahead of her companions, +stopping at a window on the right-hand side, well +to the rear. The others followed her more slowly +in order to give her time to make the observation. +Before they reached her she turned from her post +and came quickly to them. +</p> +<p> +“He is back at the last table on the left reading +a newspaper. There isn’t a soul in the room but +himself,” she said in an undertone. “The time +couldn’t be more opportune.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, fine,” whispered Robin. “We can go +around behind the inn and be right at the window +nearest him.” +</p> +<p> +“The non-singers, I suppose we might call ourselves +the trailers, will politely station our magnificent +selves at the next window above the singers +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17'></a>17</span> +to see how the victim takes it,” decided Jerry. +“Contrary, ‘no.’ I don’t hear any opposing voices.” +</p> +<p> +“There mustn’t be <em>any</em> voices heard for the next +two minutes,” warned Portia Graham. “Slide +around the inn and take your places as quietly as +mice.” +</p> +<p> +In gleeful silence the girls divided into two +groups, each group taking up its separate station. +</p> +<p> +“I hope the night air hasn’t played havoc with +my strings,” breathed Phyllis. “I don’t dare try +them. Are we ready?” She rapped softly on the +face of her violin with the bow. +</p> +<p> +Followed the tense instant that always precedes +the performance of an orchestra, then Phyllis and +Robin began the world-known sextette from “Lucia.” +Robin had sung it so many times in private +to the accompaniment of her cousin’s violin that +the attack was perfect. The others took it up immediately, +filling the night with echoing sweetness. +</p> +<p> +From their position at the next window the +watchers saw the dark, solemn face of the Italian +raised in bewildered amazement from his paper. +Not quite comprehending at first the unbidden flood +of music which met his ears, he listened for a +moment in patent stupefaction. Soon a smile began +to play about his tight little mouth. It widened +into a grin of positive pleasure. Giuseppe +understood that a great honor was being done him. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_18'></a>18</span> +He was not only being serenaded, but he was listening +to the music of his native country as well. +</p> +<p> +His varying facial expressions, as the sextette +rose and fell, showed his love of the selection. As +it ended, he did an odd thing. He rose from his +chair, bowed his profound thanks toward the window +from whence came the singing, and sat down +again, looking expectant. +</p> +<p> +“He knows very well he’s being watched,” whispered +Marjorie. “Doesn’t he look pleased? I’m +so glad you thought of him, Lucy.” +</p> +<p> +Lucy was also showing shy satisfaction at the +success of her proposal. She was secretly more +proud of some small triumph of the kind on her +part than of her brilliancy as a student. +</p> +<p> +Had Signor Baretti been attending a performance +of grand opera, he could not have shown a +more evident pleasure in the programme. He listened +to the entertainment so unexpectedly provided +him with the rapt air of a true music-lover. +</p> +<p> +“There!” softly exclaimed Phyllis, as she lowered +her violin. “That’s the end of the programme, +Signor Baretti. Now for that fresh peach ice +cream. I shall have coffee and mountain cake with +it. I am as hungry as the average wandering minstrel.” +</p> +<p> +“Let’s walk in as calmly as though we had never +thought of serenading Giuseppe,” said Robin. “Oh, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19'></a>19</span> +we can’t. I forgot. The orchestra part of this +aggregation is a dead give-away.” +</p> +<p> +“We don’t care. He will know it was we who +were out there. There is no one else about but us. +I hope he won’t think we are a set of little Tommy +Tuckers singing for our suppers. That’s a horrible +afterthought on my part,” Elaine laughed. +</p> +<p> +“Come on.” Jerry and her group had now +joined the singers. “He saw us but not until you +were singing that Nevin selection. He kept staring +at the window where the sound came from. We +had our faces right close to our window and all of +a sudden he looked straight at us. You should have +seen him laugh. His whole face broke into funny +little smiles.” +</p> +<p> +“He may have thought we were the warblers,” +suggested Muriel hopefully. “We can parade into +the inn on your glory. If I put on airs he may take +me for the high soprano.” She glanced teasingly +at Robin. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, go as far as you like. It won’t be the first +instance in the world’s history where some have +done all the work and others have taken all the +credit,” Robin reminded. +</p> +<p> +In this jesting frame of mind the entire party +strolled around to the inn’s main entrance. At the +door they found Giuseppe waiting for them, his +dark features wreathed in smiles. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20'></a>20</span> +</p> +<p> +“I wait for you here,” he announced, with an +eloquent gesture of the hand. “So I know som’ +my friendly young ladies from the college sing just +for me. You come in. You are my com’ny. You +say what you like. I give the best. Not since I +come this country I hear the singing I like so much. +The Lucia! Ah, that is the one I lov’! +</p> +<p> +“I tell you the little story while you stan’ here. +Then you come in. When I come this country, I +am the very poor boy. Come in the steerage. No +much to eat. I fin’ work. Then the times hard, I +lose work. All over New York I walk, but don’t +fin’. I have <em>no one cent</em>. I am put from the bed I +rent. I can no pay. For four days I have the nothing +eat. I say, ‘It is over.’ I am this, that I will +walk to the river in the night an’ be no more. +</p> +<p> +“It is the very warm night and I am tired. I +walk an’ walk.” His face took on a shade of his +by-gone hopelessness as he continued. “Soon I +come the river, I think. Then I hear the music. +It is in the next street jus’ I go turn into. It is +the harp an’ violin. Two my countrymen play the +Lucia. I am so sad. I sit on a step an’ cry. Pretty +soon one these ask the money gif’ for the music. +He touch me on shoulder, say very kind in Italian, +‘<em>Che c’è mai?</em>’ That mean, ‘What the matter?’ He +see I am the Italiano. We look each other. Both +cry, then embrac’. He is my oldes’ brother. He +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21'></a>21</span> +come here long before me. My mother an’ I, we +don’t hear five years. Then my mother die. Two +my brothers work in the <em>vigna</em> for the rich vignaiuolo +in my country. My father is dead long +time. So I come here. +</p> +<p> +“My brother give me the eat, the clothes, the +place sleep. He have good room. He work in the +day for rich Italian importer. Sometimes he go +out play at night for help his friend who play the +harp. He is the old man an’ don’t work all the +time. So it is I lov’ the Lucia. They don’t play +that, mebbe I don’t sit on that step. Then never +fin’ my brother. An’ you have please me more than +for many years you play the Lucia for me this +night.” +</p> +<h2><a name='chIII' id='chIII'></a>CHAPTER III—A VERANDA ENCOUNTER</h2> +<p> +It lacked but a few minutes of eleven o’clock +when the serenading party said goodnight to Signor +Baretti and trooped off toward the campus. +The usually taciturn Italian had surprised and +touched them by the impulsive story of his most +tragic hour. He had afterward played host to his +light-hearted guests with the true grace of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22'></a>22</span> +Latin. No one came to the inn for cheer after they +entered in that evening, so they had the place quite +to themselves. After a feast of the coveted peach +ice cream and cakes, the obliging orchestra tuned +up again at Giuseppe’s earnest request. Robin sang +Shubert’s “Serenade” and “Appear Love at Thy +Window.” Phyllis played Raff’s “Cavatina” and +one of Brahm’s “Hungarian Dances.” Blanche +Scott sang “Asleep in the Deep,” simply to prove +she had a masculine voice when she chose to use it. +</p> +<p> +“We’ll come and make music for you again +sometime,” promised kind-hearted Phyllis as they +left their beaming host. +</p> +<p> +“I thank you. An’ you forget you say you come +an’ play, I tell you ’bout it sometime you come here +to eat,” he warned the party as they were leaving. +</p> +<p> +“Talk about truth being stranger than fiction, +what do you think of Giuseppe’s story?” Jerry exclaimed +as soon as they were well away from the +inn. “Imagine how one would feel to meet one’s +long-lost brother just as one was getting ready to +commit suicide!” +</p> +<p> +“One half of the world doesn’t know how the +other half lives,” Ronny said with a shake of her +fair head. +</p> +<p> +“To see Giuseppe today, successful and well-to-do, +one finds it hard to visualize him as the poor, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23'></a>23</span> +starved, despondent Italian boy who cried his heart +out on the doorstep.” Vera’s tones vibrated with +sympathy. The Italian’s story had impressed her +deeply. +</p> +<p> +The girls discussed it soberly as they wended a +leisurely way across the campus. Even care-free +Muriel, who seldom liked to take life seriously, remarked +with becoming earnestness that it was such +stories which made one realize one’s own benefits. +</p> +<p> +“Be on hand tomorrow night at eight-thirty +sharp,” was Phyllis’s parting injunction to the +Wayland Hall girls as the Silvertonites left them +to go on to their own house. “We have three fair +ladies to sing to and we don’t want to slight any +of them.” +</p> +<p> +“I think we ought to get up some entertainments +of our own this year. I never stopped to realize +before how few clubs and college societies Hamilton +has. There’s only the ‘Silver Pen’,—one has +to have high literary ability to make that,—the +‘Twelfth Night Club’ and the ‘Fortnightly Debating +Society.’ We haven’t a single sorority,” Vera declared +with regret. +</p> +<p> +“Miss Remson told me once of a sorority that +Hamilton used to have called the ‘Round Table.’ +It flourished for many years. Then all of a sudden +she heard no more of it. She said Hamilton was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24'></a>24</span> +very different even ten years ago from now. There +was little automobiling and more sociability among +the campus houses. There were house plays going +on every week and different kinds of entertainments +in which almost everyone joined.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s the way college ought to be,” commended +Vera. “Even if Hamilton hasn’t yet won back to +those palmy days, we had more fellowship here last +year than the year before. Why, during Leila’s +and my freshman year here we were seldom invited +anywhere. We hardly knew Helen Trent until late +in the year. Nella and Selma, Martha Merrick and +Rosalind Black were our only friends.” +</p> +<p> +“And now we are to lose Selma.” Leila heaved +an audible sigh. She had already informed the +girls of Selma’s approaching marriage to a young +naval officer. +</p> +<p> +“Did Selma know last year she was not going to +finish college?” asked Muriel. “If I had gone +through three years of my college course I wouldn’t +give up the last and most important year just to be +married.” +</p> +<p> +“That is because you know nothing about love,” +teased Ronny. +</p> +<p> +“Do you?” challenged Muriel. +</p> +<p> +“I do not. I have a good deal more sentiment +than you have though,” retorted Ronny. “I can +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25'></a>25</span> +appreciate Selma’s sacrifice at the shrine of love.” +</p> +<p> +“So could I if I knew more about it,” Muriel +flung back. +</p> +<p> +“Precisely what I said to you. So glad you +agree with me,” chuckled Ronny. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t agree with you at all. I meant if I knew +more about what you were pleased to call ‘Selma’s +sacrifice,’ not <em>love</em>.” Muriel’s emphasis of the last +word proclaimed her disdain of the tender passion. +</p> +<p> +“Hear the geese converse,” commented Leila. +“Let me tell you both that Selma had to lose either +college or her fiancé for two years. He was +ordered to the Philippines to take charge of a naval +station on one of the islands. They were to have +been married anyway as soon as she was graduated +from Hamilton. As it was she chose to go with +him. So Selma gained a husband and lost her +seniorship and we lost Selma. I shall miss her, for +a finer girl never lived.” +</p> +<p> +“Nella will miss her most of all,” Vera said +quickly. “We must try to make it up to Nella by +taking her around with us a lot.” +</p> +<p> +They had by this time reached the Hall. Girl-like +they lingered on the steps, enjoying the light +night breeze that had sprung up in the last hour. +Marjorie’s old friend, the chimes, had rung out the +stroke of eleven before they reached the Hall. College +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26'></a>26</span> +having not yet opened officially, they claimed +the privilege of keeping a little later hours. +</p> +<p> +As they loitered outside, conversing in low tones, +the front door opened and a girl stepped out on the +veranda. She uttered a faint sound of surprise at +sight of the group of girls. She made a half movement +as though to retreat into the house. Then, her +face turned away from them, she hurried across the +veranda and down the steps. +</p> +<p> +Though the veranda light was not switched on, +the girls had seen her face plainly. To four of +them she was known. +</p> +<p> +“Who was <em>she</em> and what ailed her?” was Muriel’s +light question. “She acted as though she were +afraid we might eat her up.” +</p> +<p> +“That was Miss Sayres, President Matthews’ +private secretary,” answered Leila in a peculiar +tone. “As to what ailed her, she did not expect to +see us and she was not pleased. We have an old +Irish proverb: ‘When a man runs from you be sure +his feet are at odds with his conscience.’” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27'></a>27</span><a name='chIV' id='chIV'></a>CHAPTER IV—A CONGENIAL PAIR</h2> +<p> +“Well, here we are at the same old stand +again.” Leslie Cairns yawned, stretched upward +her kimono-clad arms and clasped them behind her +head. Lounging opposite her, in a deep, Sleepy-Hollow +chair, Natalie Weyman, also in a negligee, +scanned her friend’s face with some anxiety. +</p> +<p> +“Les, do you or do you not intend to try to make +a new stand this year for our rights? I think the +way we were treated last year after that basket-ball +affair was simply outrageous. I don’t mean +by Miss Dean and her crowd, I mean by girls we +had lunched and done plenty of favors for.” +</p> +<p> +“If you are talking about the freshies they never +were to be depended upon from the first. Bess Walbert +stood by us, of course. So did a lot of Alston +Terrace kids. She did good work for us there.” +</p> +<p> +“Every reason why she should have,” Natalie +tartly pointed out. She was still jealous of Leslie’s +friendship with Elizabeth Walbert. “You did +enough for <em>her</em>. She certainly will not win the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28'></a>28</span> +soph presidency, no matter how much you may root +for her. She was awfully unpopular with her class +before college closed. I know that to be a fact.” +</p> +<p> +“Why is it that you have to go up in the air like +a sky rocket every time I mention Bess Walbert’s +name?” Leslie scowled her impatience. “You +wouldn’t give that poor kid credit for anything +clever she had done, no matter how wonderful it +was.” +</p> +<p> +“Humph! I have yet to learn of anything wonderful +she ever did or ever will do,” sneered Natalie. +“I am not going to quarrel with you, Leslie, +about her.” Natalie modified her tone. “She isn’t +worth it. You think I am awfully jealous of her. +I am not. I don’t like her because she is so untruthful.” +</p> +<p> +“Why don’t you say she is a liar and be done with +it?” ‘So untruthful!’ Leslie mimicked. “That +sounds like Bean and her crowd.” Displeased with +Natalie for decrying Elizabeth Walbert, Leslie took +revenge by mimicking her chum. She knew nothing +cut Natalie more than to be mimicked. +</p> +<p> +“All right. I will say it. Bess Walbert <em>is</em> a liar +and you will find it out, too, before you are done +with her. Besides, she is treacherous. If you were +to turn her down for any reason, she wouldn’t care +what she said about you on the campus. I have +watched her a good deal, Les. She’s like this. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29'></a>29</span> +She will take a little bit of truth for a foundation +and then build up something from it that’s entirely +a lie. If she would stick to facts; but she doesn’t.” +</p> +<p> +“She has always been square enough with me,” +Leslie insisted. +</p> +<p> +“Because you have made a fuss over her,” was +the instant explanation. “She knows you are at +the head of the Sans and she has taken precious +good care to keep in with you. She cares for no +one but herself.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, nonsense! That’s what you always said +about Lola Elster. I’ve never had any rows with +Lola. We’re as good friends today as ever.” +</p> +<p> +“Still Lola dropped you the minute she grew +chummy with Alida Burton,” Natalie reminded. +“Lola was just ungrateful, though. She has more +honor in a minute than Bess will ever have. She +isn’t a talker or a mischief-maker. She never thinks +of much but having a good time. She hardly ever +says anything gossipy about anyone.” +</p> +<p> +“I thought you didn’t like Lola?” Leslie smiled +in her slow fashion. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t,” came frankly. “Of the two evils, I +prefer her to Bess. My advice to you is not to be +too pleasant with Bess until you see what her position +here at Hamilton is going to be. I tell you she +isn’t well liked. You can keep her at arm’s length, +if you begin that way, without making her sore. If +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30'></a>30</span> +you baby her and then drop her, look out!” Natalie +shook a prophetic finger at Leslie. +</p> +<p> +“We can’t afford to take any chances this year, +Les. With all the things we have done that would +put us in line for being expelled, we have managed +by sheer good luck to slide from under. If we +hadn’t worked like sixty last spring term to make +up for the time we lost fooling with basket-ball we +wouldn’t be seniors now. I don’t want any conditions +to work off this year.” +</p> +<p> +“Neither do I. Don’t intend to have ’em. I +begin to believe you may be right about keeping +Bess in her place.” Natalie’s evident earnestness +had made some impression on her companion. +</p> +<p> +“I <em>know</em> I am,” Natalie emphasized with lofty dignity. +“Are you sure she doesn’t know anything +about that hazing business? She made a remark +to Harriet Stephens last spring that sounded as +though she knew all about it.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, she does not, unless someone of the Sans +besides you or I has told her of it.” Leslie sat up +straight in her chair, looking rather worried. “I +must pump her and find out what she knows. If +she does know of it, then we have a traitor in the +camp. Mark me, I’ll throw any girl out of the club +who has babbled that affair. Didn’t we doubly +swear, afterward, never to tell it to a soul while we +were at Hamilton?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31'></a>31</span> +</p> +<p> +“Hard to say who told Bess,” shrugged Natalie. +“Certainly it was not I.” +</p> +<p> +“No; you’re excepted. I said that.” Leslie’s +assurance was bored. She was tired of hearing +Natalie extol her own loyalty. It was an everyday +citation. “That hazing stunt of ours doesn’t worry +me half so much as that trick we put over on Trotty +Remson. I am always afraid that Laura will flivver +someday and the whole thing will come to light. +If it happens after I leave Hamilton, I don’t care. +All I care about is getting through. If I keep on +the soft side of my father he is going to let me +help run his business. That’s my dream. But I +have to be graduated with honors, if there are any +I can pull down. At least I must stick it out here +for my diploma.” +</p> +<p> +“What would your father do if you flunked this +year in any way?” +</p> +<p> +“He would disown me. I mean that. I have +money of my own; lots of it. That part of it +wouldn’t feaze me. But my father is the only person +on earth I really have any respect for. I’d +never get over it; <em>never</em>.” +</p> +<p> +Leslie’s loose features showed a tightened intensity +utterly foreign to them. Her hands took hold +on the chair arms with a grip which revealed something +of the nervous emotion the fell contingency +inspired in her. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32'></a>32</span> +</p> +<p> +The two girls had arrived on the seven o’clock +train from the north that evening. They had +stopped at the Lotus for dinner and had reached +the hall shortly before the beginning of the serenade. +Leslie had been Natalie’s guest at the Weymans’ +camp in the Adirondacks. Thus the two had +come on to college together instead of accepting +Dulcie Vale’s invitation to journey from New York +City to Hamilton in the Vales’ private car, as they +had done the three previous years. Since the hazing +party on St. Valentine’s night, Leslie and +Dulcie had not been on specially good terms. Leslie +was still peeved with Dulcie for not having +locked the back door of the untenanted house as +she had been ordered to do. Had she obeyed orders +the Sans would not have been put to panic-stricken +flight by unknown invaders. While those who had +come to Marjorie’s rescue might have hung about +the outside of the house, they could not have found +entrance easy with both back and front doors properly +locked. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know what is the matter with me tonight.” +Leslie rose and commenced a restless walk +up and down the room, hands clasped behind her +back. “That music upset me, I guess. I wonder +who the singers were. Serenading Bean and her +gang. Humph! Nobody ever serenaded us that +I can recall. I suppose Beanie arrived in all her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33'></a>33</span> +glory this afternoon, hence those yowlers under her +window tonight.” +</p> +<p> +“They really sang beautifully. Whoever played +the violin was a fine musician. I never heard a +better rendition of ‘How Fair Art Thou.’” Fond +of music, Natalie was forced to admit the high +quality of the performance, even though the serenade +had been in honor of the girl of whom she +had always been so jealous. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t care much for music unless it is rag-time +or musical comedy stuff. Sentimental songs +get on my nerves. I hate that priggish old ‘Hymn +to Hamilton.’ I hope Laura got out of here without +being seen.” Leslie went back to the subject +still uppermost in her mind. “It was risking something +to send for her to come over here, but I was +anxious to see her and find out if anything had +happened this summer detrimental to us. I didn’t +feel like meeting her along the road tonight.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I don’t believe anyone saw her,” reassured +Natalie. “It was after eleven when she left here. +The house was quiet as could be. I noticed it when +I went out in the hall before she left to see if the +coast was clear. Not more than half the girls who +belong here are back yet. Bean and her crowd had +gone to bed, I presume. You wouldn’t catch such +angels as they even making a dent in the ten-thirty +rule.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34'></a>34</span> +</p> +<p> +“That’s so.” Leslie made one more trip up and +down the room, then resumed the chair in which +she had been sitting. “Well, I’ll take it for granted +that Sayres made a clean get-away. One thing +about her, she will stand by us as long as she is paid +for it. Besides, she would get into more trouble +than we if the truth were known. That’s where we +have the advantage of her. She has to protect herself +as well as us. What I have always been afraid +of is this: If Remson and old Doctor Know-it-all +ever came to an understanding he would go to quizzing +Sayres. If she lost her nerve, for he is a terror +when he’s angry, she might flivver.” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t cross bridges until you come to them,” +counseled Natalie. She was beginning to see the +value of assuming the role of comforter to Leslie. +One thing Natalie had determined. She would +strain a point to be first with Leslie during their +senior year. She had importuned Leslie to visit +her for the purpose of regaining her old footing. +She and Leslie had spent a fairly congenial month +together in the Adirondacks. Now Natalie intended +to hold the ground she had gained against +all comers. +</p> +<p> +“I’m not going to. I shall forget last year, so far +as I can. I certainly spent enough money and +didn’t gain a thing. Our best plan is to go on as +we did last spring. If I see a good opportunity to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35'></a>35</span> +bother Bean and her devoted beanstalks, I shall not +let it pass me by. I am not going to take any more +risks, though. If I manage to live down those I’ve +taken, I’ll do well.” +</p> +<p> +“I know I wouldn’t <em>raise a hand</em> to help a freshie +this year,” Natalie declared with a positive pucker +of her small mouth. “Think of the way we rushed +the greedy ingrates! Then they wouldn’t stand up +for us during that basket-ball trouble.” +</p> +<p> +“Put all that down to profit and loss.” Leslie +had emerged from the brief spasm of dread which +invariably visited her after seeing Laura Sayres. +“We had the wrong kind of girls to deal with. +There were more digs and prigs in that class than +eligibles. That’s why we lost. I am all done with +that sort of thing. If I can’t be as popular as +Bean,” Leslie’s intonation was bitterly sarcastic, +“I can be a good deal more exclusive. As it is, I +expect to have all I can do to keep the Sans in line. +Dulcie Vale has an idea that she ought to run the +club. Give her a chance and she’d run it into the +ground. She has as much sense as a peacock. She +can fan her feathers and squawk.” +</p> +<p> +Natalie laughed outright at this. It was so exactly +descriptive of Dulcie. +</p> +<p> +Leslie looked well pleased with herself. She +thoroughly enjoyed saying smart things which +made people laugh. It was a sore cross to her that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36'></a>36</span> +after three years of the hardest striving she had +not attained the kind of popularity at Hamilton +which she craved. Yet she could not see wherein +she was to blame. +</p> +<p> +Gifted with a keen sense of humor, she had tricks +of expression so original in themselves that she +might have easily gained a reputation as the funniest +girl in college. Had good humor radiated her +peculiarly rugged features she would have been that +rarity, an ugly beauty. Due to her proficiency at +golf and tennis, she was of most symmetrical figure. +She was particularly fastidious as to dress, and +made a smart appearance. Having so much that +was in her favor, she was hopelessly hampered by +self. +</p> +<h2><a name='chV' id='chV'></a>CHAPTER V—A LUCKY MISHAP</h2> +<p> +The serenading expedition of the next night was +the beginning of a succession of similar gaieties for +the Lookouts. As Hamilton continued to gather in +her own for the college year, the Sanford quintette +found themselves in flattering demand. +</p> +<p> +“If I don’t stay at home once in a while I shall +never be able to find a thing that belongs to me,” +Muriel Harding cried out in despair as Jerry reminded +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37'></a>37</span> +her at luncheon that they were invited to +Silverton Hall that evening to celebrate Elaine +Hunter’s birthday. “You girls may laugh, but +honestly I haven’t finished unpacking my trunk. +Every time I plan to wind up that delightful job, +along comes some friendly, but misguided person +and invites me out.” +</p> +<p> +“Stay at home then,” advised Jerry. “If that +last remark of yours was meant for me, I am <em>not</em> +misguided and I shall <em>not</em> be friendly if you hurl +such adjectives at me.” +</p> +<p> +“Neither was meant for you. You are only the +bearer of the invitation. Why stir up a breeze over +nothing?” +</p> +<p> +“If you don’t go to Elaine’s birthday party she +will think you stayed away because you were too +stingy to buy her a present. We are all going to +drive to Hamilton this afternoon after classes to +buy gifts for her. Don’t you wish you were going, +too?” Ronny regarded Muriel with tantalizing +eyes. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I’m going along,” Muriel glibly assured. +“You can’t lose me. What I like to do and what +I ought to do are two very different things. After +this week I shall settle down to the student life in +earnest. My subjects are terrific this term. I am +sorry I started calculus. I had enough to do without +that.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38'></a>38</span> +</p> +<p> +“This will have to be my last party for a week +or two,” Marjorie declared. “I haven’t done any +real studying this week, and I owe all my correspondents +letters. I feel guilty for not having done +more toward helping this year’s freshies. I’ve only +been down to the station twice.” +</p> +<p> +“They’re in good hands. Phil and Barbara have +done glorious work. They have had at least +twenty sophs helping them. It’s a cinch this year. +Very different from last.” Jerry gave a short +laugh. “Phil says,” Jerry discreetly lowered her +voice, “that not a Sans has come near the station +since she has been on committee duty there to welcome +the freshies. I told her it didn’t surprise me.” +</p> +<p> +“I didn’t know Miss Cairns and Miss Weyman +had come back until I happened to pass them in the +upstairs hall,” Muriel said. +</p> +<p> +“They were here for a couple of days before +Leila knew it, and she generally knows who is back +and who isn’t. Miss Remson told Leila she didn’t +know it herself until the next day after they arrived. +The two of them came back together on the +night we were serenaded. They simply walked into +the house and went to their rooms. She didn’t see +them until noon the next day.” It was Veronica +who delivered this information. +</p> +<p> +“Did Miss Remson say anything to them on +account of it?” questioned Muriel. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39'></a>39</span> +</p> +<p> +“No; she wasn’t pleased, but she said she +thought it best to ignore it. It was just one more +discourtesy on their part.” +</p> +<p> +“That accounts for our meeting Miss Sayres on +the veranda.” Lucy’s greenish eyes had grown +speculative. “She had been calling on those two. +We spoke of it after she passed, you will remember. +Leila said ‘No,’ they had not come back yet. +We wondered on whom she had been calling at the +Hall. While we can’t prove that it was Miss Cairns +and Miss Weyman she had come to see, that would +be the natural conclusion,” Lucy summed up with +the gravity of a lawyer. +</p> +<p> +“I object, your honor. The evidence is too fragmentary +to be considered,” put in Muriel in mannish +tones. She bowed directly to Marjorie. +</p> +<p> +“Court’s adjourned. I have nothing to say.” +Marjorie laughed and pushed back her chair from +the table. “I’m not making light of what you said, +Lucy.” She turned to the latter. “I was only funning +with Muriel. I think as you do. Still none of +us can prove it.” +</p> +<p> +“I wish the whole thing would be cleared up before +those girls are graduated and gone from Hamilton,” +Katherine Langly said almost vindictively. +“I wouldn’t care if it made a lot of trouble for them +all. Miss Remson has stood so much from them +and she still feels so hurt at Doctor Matthews’ unjust +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40'></a>40</span> +treatment of her. I can’t believe he wrote that +letter. She believes it.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t see how she can in face of all the contemptible +things the Sans have done,” asserted +Jerry. +</p> +<p> +“She believes it because she says he signed the +letter, so he must have written it. I told her the +signature might be a forgery. She said ‘No, it +could hardly be that.’ I saw she was set on that +point, so I didn’t argue it further.” +</p> +<p> +“Excuse me for abruptly changing the subject, +but where are we to meet after classes this P.M.?” +inquired Muriel. +</p> +<p> +The chums had left the table and proceeded as +far as the hall, where their ways separated. +</p> +<p> +“Go straight over to the garage. Our two Old +Reliables will be there with their buzz wagons. Be +on time, too,” called Jerry, as with an “All right, +much obliged, Jeremiah,” Muriel started up the +stairs. Half way up she turned and asked, “What +time?” +</p> +<p> +“Quarter past four. If you aren’t there on the +dot we shall go without you. None of us know +what we are going to buy, so we want all the time +we can have to look around. Remember, we have +to hustle back to the Hall, have dinner and dress.” +</p> +<p> +“I’ll remember.” With a wag of her head Muriel +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41'></a>41</span> +resumed her ascent of the stairs and quickly disappeared. +</p> +<p> +The others stopped briefly in the hall to talk. +Marjorie was next to leave the group. She remembered +she had intended to change her white linen +frock, which did not look quite fresh enough for a +trip to town. Her last recitation of the afternoon +being chemistry, she knew she would have no time +to return to the Hall before meeting her chums at +the garage. +</p> +<p> +Alas for the pretty gown of delft blue pongee +which she had donned with girlish satisfaction at +luncheon time. An accident at the chemical desk +sent a veritable deluge of discoloring liquid showering +over her. Despite her apron, her frock was +plentifully spotted by it. +</p> +<p> +Ordinarily she would have made light of the misfortune. +As it was she felt ready to cry with vexation. +She would have to change gowns again in +order to be presentable for the trip to Hamilton. +The girls had set four-fifteen as the starting time. +She could not possibly make it before four-thirty. +</p> +<p> +Her first resolve was to hurry over to the garage +immediately after the chemistry period and tell the +the girls not to wait for her. +</p> +<p> +In spite of Jerry’s assertion to Muriel that they +would not wait a moment after four-fifteen, Marjorie +knew that they would strain a point and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42'></a>42</span> +linger a little longer if she did not put in an appearance +at the time appointed. Recalling the fact that +Lucy was in the Biological Laboratory, situated +across the hall from the Chemical Laboratory, Marjorie +decided to try to catch Lucy before she left +the building and send word to the others to go on +without her. She could then hurry straight to the +Hall, slip into another gown and hail a taxicab +going to the town of Hamilton. There were usually +two or three to be found in the immediate vicinity +of the campus. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, there you are!” Marjorie hailed softly, +when, at precisely four o’clock Lucy emerged from +the laboratory across the hall. “I thought you would +be out on the minute on account of going to town. +I left chemistry five minutes earlier for fear of missing +you. Just see what happened to me.” She displayed +the results of the accident. “I am a sight. +Tell the girls not to wait. I must go on to the Hall +and make myself presentable. I’ll take a taxi and +meet them at the Curio Shop. If they’re ready to +go on before I reach there, tell them to leave word +with the proprietor where they are going next.” +</p> +<p> +“All right. What a shame about your dress. Do +you think those stains will come out?” Lucy +scanned the unsightly spots and streaks with a dubious +eye. +</p> +<p> +“I know they won’t.” Marjorie voiced rueful +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43'></a>43</span> +positiveness. “This is the first time I ever wore +this frock. I gave it a nice baptism, didn’t I? +Well, it can’t be helped now. I mustn’t stop.” The +two had come to the outer entrance to Science Hall. +“See you at the Curio Shop.” With a parting +wave of the hand Marjorie ran lightly down the +steps and trotted across the campus. +</p> +<p> +Always quick of action, it did not take her long, +once she had gained her room, to discard the unlucky +blue pongee gown for one of pink linen. +</p> +<p> +“Just half-past four. I didn’t do so badly,” she +congratulated, consulting her wrist watch as she +hastened down the driveway toward the west gate. +“Now for a taxi.” +</p> +<p> +No taxicab was in sight, however. Three of +these useful vehicles had recently reaped a harvest +of students bound for town and started off with +them. Five minutes passed and Marjorie grew +more impatient. To undertake to walk to Hamilton +would add greatly to the delay in joining the +gift seekers. True she might meet a taxicab on the +way. Whether the driver would turn back for a +single fare she was not sure. She determined to +walk on rather than stand still. If she were lucky +enough to meet a taxicab on the highway she would +offer its driver double fare to turn around and take +her into town. +</p> +<p> +The brisk pace at which she walked soon brought +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44'></a>44</span> +her to the western end of the campus wall. Presently +she had reached the beginning of Hamilton +Estates. And still no sign of a taxicab! +</p> +<p> +“It looks as though I’d have to walk after all,” +she remarked, half aloud. “How provoking!” She +would reach the Curio Shop about the time the +others were starting for the campus was her vexed +calculation. Besides, there was Lucy, who would +patiently wait for her when she might be going on +with the others. They had planned to visit two +or three shops. +</p> +<p> +In the midst of her annoyance, the sound of a +motor behind caused her to turn. To her surprise +she recognized the driver and machine as being of +the regular jitney service between the campus and +the town. His only fare was a young man, evidently +a salesman who had had business at the college. +He was occupying the front seat beside the +driver. +</p> +<p> +The latter stopped at Marjorie’s sign and opened +the door of the tonneau for her. Very thankfully +she stepped in. Engaged in conversation with the +salesman, the man at the wheel drove along at a +leisurely rate of speed. Marjorie could only wish +that he would hurry a little faster. +</p> +<p> +Coming opposite to Hamilton Arms, Marjorie +forgot her impatience as her eyes eagerly took in +the estate she so greatly admired. The chrysanthemums +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45'></a>45</span> +had begun to throw out luxuriant bloom in +border and bed, while the bronze and scarlet of +fallen leaves lay lightly on the short-cropped grass. +</p> +<p> +Almost opposite the point where Hamilton Arms +adjoined the next estate, Marjorie spied a small, +familiar figure trotting along at the left of the highway. +It was Miss Susanna Hamilton. In one hand +she carried a good-sized splint basket from which +nodded a colorful wealth of chrysanthemums in +little individual flower pots. She was bare-headed, +though over her black silk dress she wore the knitted +scarlet shawl which gave her the odd likeness +to a lively old robin. +</p> +<p> +Marjorie leaned forward a trifle as the machine +came opposite Miss Susanna. She viewed the last +of the Hamiltons with kindly, non-curious eyes. +The taxicab had almost slid past the sturdy pedestrian +when something happened. The handle of +the splint basket treacherously gave way, landing +the basket on the ground with force. It tipped +side-ways. Two or three of the flower pots rolled +out of it. +</p> +<p> +Forgetting everything but the mishap to Brooke +Hamilton’s eccentric descendant, Marjorie called +out on impulse: “Driver; please stop the taxi! I +wish to get out here!” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46'></a>46</span><a name='chVI' id='chVI'></a>CHAPTER VI—THE LAST OF THE HAMILTONS</h2> +<p> +The man promptly brought the machine to a +slow stop. He was too well acquainted with the +whims of “them girls from the college” to exhibit +surprise. Having paid her fare on entering the +taxicab, Marjorie now quitted it with alacrity and +ran back to the scene of the mishap. +</p> +<p> +“Please let me help you,” she offered in a gracious +fashion which came straight from her heart. +“I saw the handle of that basket break and I made +the driver stop and let me out of the taxi.” +</p> +<p> +Without waiting for Miss Susanna’s permission, +Marjorie stooped and lay hold on one of the scattered +flower pots. Thus far the old lady had made +no effort to gather them in. She had stood eyeing +the unstable basket with marked disgust. +</p> +<p> +“And who are you, may I ask?” The brisk manner +of question reminded Marjorie of Miss Remson. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I am Marjorie Dean from Hamilton College,” +Marjorie said, straightening up with a smile. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47'></a>47</span> +</p> +<p> +For an instant the two pairs of dark eyes met. +In the old lady’s appeared a gleam half resentful, +half admiring. In the young girl’s shone a pleasant +light, hard to resist. +</p> +<p> +“Yes; I supposed you were one of them,” nodded +Miss Susanna. “Let me tell you, young woman, +you are the first I have met in all these years from +the college who had any claim on gentle breeding.” +</p> +<p> +Marjorie smiled. “There are a good many fine +girls at Hamilton,” she defended without intent to +be discourteous. “Any one of a number I know +would have been glad to help you.” +</p> +<p> +“Then that doll shop has changed a good deal +recently,” retorted the old lady with rapidity. +“Nowadays it is nothing but drive flamboyant cars +and spend money for frivolities over there. I hate +the place.” +</p> +<p> +Marjorie was silent. She did not like to contradict +further by saying pointedly that she loved +Hamilton, neither could she bear the thought of not +defending her Alma Mater. +</p> +<p> +“I can’t say that I hate Hamilton College, because +I don’t,” she finally returned, before the pause +between the two had grown embarrassing. “I am +sure you must have good reason to dislike Hamilton +and its students or you would not say so.” +</p> +<p> +The pink in her cheeks deepened. Marjorie bent +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48'></a>48</span> +and completed the task of returning the last spilled +posy to the basket. +</p> +<p> +“There!” she exclaimed good-naturedly. “I have +them all in the basket again, and not a single one +of those little jars are broken. I wish you would +let me carry the basket for you, Miss Hamilton. It +is really a cumbersome affair without the handle.” +</p> +<p> +“You are quite a nice child, I must say.” Miss +Susanna continued to regard Marjorie with her +bright, bird-like gaze. “Where on earth were you +brought up?” +</p> +<p> +Signally amused, Marjorie laughed outright. +She had raised the basket from the ground. As +she stood there, her lovely face full of light and +laughter, arms full of flowers, Miss Susanna’s stubborn +old heart softened a trifle toward girlhood. +</p> +<p> +“I come from Sanford, New York,” she answered. +“This is my junior year at Hamilton. +Four other girls from Sanford entered when I +did.” +</p> +<p> +“Sanford,” repeated her questioner. “I never +heard of the place. If these girls are friends of +yours I suppose they escape being barbarians.” +</p> +<p> +“They are the finest girls I ever knew,” Marjorie +praised with sincerity. +</p> +<p> +“Well, well; I am pleased to hear it.” The old +lady spoke with a brusquerie which seemed to indicate +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49'></a>49</span> +her wish to be done with the subject. “You +insist on helping me, do you?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes; if it pleases you to allow me.” +</p> +<p> +“It’s to my advantage, so it ought to,” was the +dry retort. “I am not particular about lugging that +basket in my arms. I loaded it too heavily. Brian, +the gardener, would have carried it for me, but I +didn’t care to be bothered with him. I am carrying +these down to an old man who used to work about +the lawns. His days are numbered and he loves +flowers better than anything else. He lives in a +little house just outside the estate. It is still quite +a walk. If you have anything else to do you had +better consider it and not me.” +</p> +<p> +“I was on my way to town. It is too late to go +now.” Marjorie explained the nature of her errand +as they walked on. “The girls will probably come +to the conclusion that I found it too late to go to +Hamilton after I had changed my gown. One or +another of them will buy me something pretty to +give to Elaine,” she ended. +</p> +<p> +“It is a good many years since I bought a birthday +gift for anyone. I always give my servants +money on their birthdays. I have not received a +birthday gift for over fifty years and I don’t want +one. I do not allow my household to make me +presents on any occasion.” Miss Susanna announced +this with a touch of defiance. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50'></a>50</span> +</p> +<p> +“It seems as though my life has been full of +presents. My father and mother have given me +hundreds, I guess. My father is away from home +a good deal. When he comes back from his long +business trips he always brings Captain and I whole +stacks of treasures.” +</p> +<p> +Marjorie was not sure that this was what she +should have said. She found conversing with the +last of the Hamiltons a trifle hazardous. She had +no desire to contradict, yet she and her new +acquaintance had thus far not agreed on a single +point. +</p> +<p> +“Who is ‘Captain,’” was the inquiry, made with +the curiosity of a child. +</p> +<p> +Marjorie turned rosy red. The pet appellation +had slipped out before she thought. +</p> +<p> +“I call my mother ‘Captain,’” she informed, then +went on to explain further of their fond home play. +She fully expected Miss Susanna would criticize it +as “silly.” She was already understanding a little +of the lonely old gentlewoman’s bitterness of heart. +Her earnest desire to know the last of the Hamiltons +had arisen purely out of her great sympathy +for Miss Susanna. +</p> +<p> +“You seem to have had a childhood,” was the +surprising reception her explanation called forth. +“I can’t endure the children of today. They are +grown up in their minds at seven. I must say your +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51'></a>51</span> +father and mother are exceptional. No wonder you +have good manners. That is, if they are genuine. +I have seen some good imitations. Young girls are +more deceitful than young men. I don’t like either. +There is nothing I despise so much as the calloused +selfishness of youth. It is far worse than crabbed +age.” +</p> +<p> +“I know young girls are often selfish of their own +pleasure,” Marjorie returned with sudden humility. +“I try not to be. I know I am at times. Many of +my girl friends are not. I wish I could begin to +tell you of the beautiful, unselfish things some of +my chums have done for others.” +</p> +<p> +Miss Susanna vouchsafed no reply to this little +speech. She trotted along beside Marjorie for several +rods without saying another word. When she +spoke again it was to say briefly: “Here is where +we turn off the road. Is that basket growing very +heavy?” +</p> +<p> +“It is quite heavy. I believe I will set it down +for a minute.” Marjorie carefully deposited her +burden on the grass at the roadside and straightened +up, stretching her aching arms. The basket +had begun to be considerable of a burden on account +of the manner in which it had to be carried. +</p> +<p> +“I couldn’t have lugged that myself,” Miss Susanna +confessed. “I found it almost too much for +me with the handle on. Ridiculous, the flimsy way +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52'></a>52</span> +in which things are put together today! Splint baskets +of years ago would have stood any amount of +strain. If you had not kindly come to my assistance, +I intended to pick out as many of those jars +as I could carry in my arms and go on with them. +The others I would have set up against my own +property fence and hoped no one would walk off +with them before my return. I dislike anyone to +have the flowers I own and have tended unless I +give them away myself.” +</p> +<p> +“I have often seen you working among your +flowers when I have passed Hamilton Arms. I +knew you must love them dearly or you would not +spend so much time with them.” +</p> +<p> +“Hm-m!” The interjection might have been an +assent to Marjorie’s polite observation. It was not, +however. Miss Susanna was understanding that +this young girl who had shown her such unaffected +courtesy had thought of her kindly as a stranger. +She experienced a sudden desire to see Marjorie +again. Her long and concentrated hatred against +Hamilton College and its students forbade her to +make any friendly advances. She had already +shown more affability according to her ideas than +she had intended. She wondered why she had not +curtly refused Marjorie’s offer. +</p> +<p> +“I am rested now.” Marjorie lifted the basket. +The two skirted the northern boundary of Hamilton +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53'></a>53</span> +Arms, taking a narrow private road which lay +between it and the neighboring estate. The road +continued straight to a field where it ended. At the +edge of the field stood a small cottage painted +white. Miss Susanna pointed it out as their destination. +</p> +<p> +“I will carry this to the door and then leave you.” +Marjorie had no desire to intrude upon Miss +Susanna’s call at the cottage. +</p> +<p> +“Very well. I am obliged to you, Marjorie +Dean.” Miss Susanna’s thanks were expressed in +tones which sounded close to unfriendly. She was +divided between appreciation of Marjorie’s courtesy +and her dislike for girls. +</p> +<p> +“You are welcome.” They were now within a +few yards of the cottage. Arriving at the low doorstep, +Marjorie set the basket carefully upon it. +“Goodbye, Miss Hamilton.” She held out her +hand. “I am so glad to have met you.” +</p> +<p> +“What’s that? Oh, yes.” The old lady took +Marjorie’s proffered hand. The evident sincerity +of the words touched a hidden spring within, long +sealed. “Goodbye, child. I am glad to have met +at least one young girl with genuine manners.” +</p> +<p> +Marjorie smiled as she turned away. She had +never before met an old person who so heartily +detested youth. She knew her timely assistance +had been appreciated. On that very account Miss +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54'></a>54</span> +Susanna had tried to smother, temporarily, her +standing grudge against the younger generation. +</p> +<p> +Well, it had happened. She had achieved her +heart’s desire. She had actually met and talked +with the last of the Hamiltons. +</p> +<h2><a name='chVII' id='chVII'></a>CHAPTER VII—TWO KINDS OF GIRLS</h2> +<p> +“You are a dandy,” was Jerry’s greeting as Marjorie +walked into their room at ten minutes past +six. “Where were you? Lucy said you ruined +your blue pongee with some horrid old chemical. +It didn’t take you two hours to change it, did it? +I see we have on our pink linen.” +</p> +<p> +“You know perfectly well it did not take me two +hours to change it. A plain insinuation that I’m a +slowpoke. Take it back.” In high good humor, +Marjorie made a playful rush at her room-mate. +</p> +<p> +“Hold on. I am not made of wood, as Hal says +when I occasionally hammer him in fun.” Jerry +put up her hands in comic self-defense. “You certainly +are in a fine humor after keeping your poor +pals waiting for you for an hour and a half and +then not even condescending to appear.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55'></a>55</span> +</p> +<p> +“I’ve had an adventure, Jeremiah. That’s why +I didn’t meet you girls in Hamilton. I started for +there in a taxicab. Then I met a lady in distress, +and, emulating the example of a gallant knight, I +hopped out of the taxi to help her.” +</p> +<p> +“Wonderful! I suppose you met Phil Moore or +some other Silvertonite with her arms full of bundles. +About the time she saw you she dropped +’em. ‘With a sympathetic yell, Helpful Marjorie +leaped from the taxicab to aid her overburdened +but foolish friend.’ Quotation from the last best +seller.” Jerry regarded Marjorie with a teasing +smile. +</p> +<p> +“Your suppositions are about a mile off the track. +I haven’t seen a Silvertonite this afternoon. The +lady in distress I met was——” Marjorie paused +by way of making her revelation more effective, +“Miss Susanna Hamilton.” +</p> +<p> +“<em>What?</em> You don’t say so.” Jerry exhibited the +utmost astonishment. “Good thing you didn’t ask +me to guess. She is the last person I would have +thought of. Now how did it happen? I am glad +of it for your sake. You’ve been so anxious to +know her.” +</p> +<p> +Rapidly Marjorie recounted the afternoon’s adventure. +As she talked she busied herself with the +redressing of her hair. After dinner she would +have no more than time to put on the white lingerie +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56'></a>56</span> +frock she intended to wear to Elaine’s birthday +party. +</p> +<p> +Jerry listened without comment. While she had +never taken the amount of interest in the owner of +Hamilton Arms which Marjorie had evinced since +entering Hamilton College, she had a certain curiosity +regarding Miss Susanna. +</p> +<p> +“I knew you girls would wait and wonder what +had delayed me. I am awfully sorry. You know +that, Jeremiah,” Marjorie apologized. “But I +couldn’t have gone on in the taxi after I saw what +had happened to Miss Susanna. She couldn’t have +carried the basket as I did clear over to that cottage. +She said she would have picked up as many +plant jars as she could carry in her arms and gone +on with them.” +</p> +<p> +“One of the never-say-die sort, isn’t she? Very +likely in the years she has lived near the college +she has met with some rude girls. On the order +of the Sans, you know. If, in the past twenty +years, Hamilton was half as badly overrun with +snobs as when we entered, one can imagine why she +doesn’t adore students.” +</p> +<p> +“It doesn’t hurt my feelings to hear her say she +disliked girls. I only felt sorry for her. It must be +dreadful to be old and lonely. She is lonely, even +if she doesn’t know it. She has deliberately shut +the door between herself and happiness. I am so +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_57'></a>57</span> +glad we’re young, Jeremiah.” Marjorie sighed her +gratitude for the gift of youth. “I hope always to +be young at heart.” +</p> +<p> +“I sha’n’t wear a cap and spectacles and walk +with a cane until I have to, believe me,” was Jerry’s +emphatic rejoinder. “Are you ready to go down to +dinner? My hair is done, too. I shall dress after +I’ve been fed. Oh, I forgot to tell you. I bought +you a present to give Elaine. We bought every last +thing we are going to give her at the Curio Shop.” +</p> +<p> +“You are a dear. I knew some of the girls would +help me out. I supposed it would be you, though. +Do let me see my present.” +</p> +<p> +“There it is on my chiffonier. You’d better examine +it after dinner. It is a hand-painted chocolate +pot; a beauty, too. Looks like a bit of spring +time.” +</p> +<p> +“I’ll look at it the minute I come back. I’m +oceans obliged to you.” Marjorie cast a longing +glance at the tall package on the chiffonier, as the +two girls left the room. +</p> +<p> +At dinner that night Marjorie’s adventure of the +afternoon excited the interest of her chums. She +was obliged to repeat, as nearly as she could what +she said to Miss Susanna and what Miss Susanna +had said to her. +</p> +<p> +“Did she mention the May basket?” quizzed +Muriel with a giggle. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58'></a>58</span> +</p> +<p> +“Now why should she?” counter-questioned Marjorie. +</p> +<p> +“Well; she was talking about not receiving a +birthday present for over fifty years. She might +have said, ‘But some kind-hearted person hung a +beautiful violet basket on my door on May day +evening!’” +</p> +<p> +“Only she didn’t. That flight of fancy was +wasted,” Jerry informed Muriel. +</p> +<p> +“Wasted on you. You haven’t proper sentiment,” +flung back Muriel. +</p> +<p> +“I’ll never acquire it in your company,” Jerry +assured. The subdued laughter the tilt evoked +reached the table occupied by Leslie Cairns, Natalie +Weyman, Dulcie Vale and three others of the +Sans. +</p> +<p> +“Those girls seem to find enough to laugh at,” +commented Dulcie Vale half enviously. +</p> +<p> +“Simpletons!” muttered Leslie Cairns. She was +out of sorts with the world in general that evening. +“They sit there and ‘ha-ha-ha’ at their meals until +I can hardly stand it sometimes. I hate eating dinner +here. I’d dine at the Colonial every evening, +but it takes too much time. I really must study +hard this year to get through. I certainly will be +happy to see the last of this treadmill. I’m going to +take a year after I’m graduated just to sail around +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59'></a>59</span> +and have a good time. After that I shall help my +father in business.” +</p> +<p> +“There’s one thing you ought to know, Leslie, +and that is you had better be careful what you do +this year. I have heard two or three rumors that +sound as though those girls over there had told +about what happened the night of the masquerade. +I wouldn’t take part in another affair of that kind +for millions of dollars.” +</p> +<p> +Dulcie Vale assumed an air of virtuous resolve +as she delivered herself of this warning to Leslie. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t worry. There won’t be any occasion. I +don’t believe those muffs ever told a thing outside +of their own crowd. They’re a close corporation. +I wish I could say the same of us.” Leslie laughed +this arrow with cool deliberation. +</p> +<p> +“What do you mean?” Harriet Stephens said +sharply. “Who of us would be silly enough to tell +our private affairs?” +</p> +<p> +“I hope you wouldn’t.” Leslie’s eyes narrowed +threateningly. “I have heard one or two things +myself which may or may not be true. I am not +ready to say anything further just now. My advice +to all of you is to keep your affairs to yourselves. +If you are foolish enough to babble your own about +the campus, on your head be it. Be sure you will +hear from me if you tell tales. Besides, you are apt +to lose your diplomas by it. A word to the wise, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60'></a>60</span> +you know. I have a recitation in psychology in +the morning. I must put in a quiet evening. +Kindly let me alone, all of you.” She rose and +sauntered from the room, leaving her satellites to +discuss her open insinuation and wonder what she +had heard to put her in such an “outrageous” +humor. +</p> +<h2><a name='chVIII' id='chVIII'></a>CHAPTER VIII—A FROLIC AT SILVERTON HALL</h2> +<p> +The “simpletons” finished their dinner amid +much merriment, quite unconscious of their lack +of sense, and hustled up to their rooms to dress for +the party. Leila, Vera, Helen, Hortense Barlow, +Eva Ingram, Nella Sherman and Mary Cornell had +also been invited. Shortly after seven the elect +started for Silverton Hall, primed for a jubilant +evening. Besides their gifts, each girl carried a +small nosegay of mixed flowers. The flowers had +been purchased in bulk by Helen, Eva and Mary. +The trio had made them up into dainty, round bouquets. +These were to be showered upon Elaine, +immediately she appeared among them. Helen had +also composed a Nonsense Ode which she said had +cost her more mental effort than forty themes. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61'></a>61</span> +</p> +<p> +Every girl at Silverton Hall was invited to the +party. It was not in gentle Elaine to slight anyone. +With twenty girls from other campus houses, the +long living room at the Hall was filled. Across one +of its lower corners had been hung a heavy green +curtain. What it concealed only those who had +arranged the surprise knew. Elaine had been seized +by Portia Graham and Blanche Scott and made to +swear on her sacred honor that she would absolutely +shun the living room until granted permission +to enter it. +</p> +<p> +“I hope you have all put cards with your presents,” +were Portia’s first words after greeting them +at the door. “You can’t give them to Elaine yourselves. +We’ve arranged a general presentation. So +don’t be snippy because I rob you of your offerings.” +</p> +<p> +“Glad of it.” Jerry promptly tendered her gift +to Portia. “I always feel silly giving a present.” +</p> +<p> +The others from Wayland Hall very willingly +surrendered their good-will offerings. Their bouquets +they kept. Entering the reception hall, Elaine +stepped forward to welcome them and received a +sudden flower pelting, to the accompaniment of a +lively chorus of congratulations. +</p> +<p> +“How lovely! Umm! The dear things!” she +exclaimed, as the rain of blossoms came fast and +furious. Her sweet, fair face aglow with the love +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62'></a>62</span> +of flowers, she gathered them up in the overskirt of +her white chiffon frock and sat down on the lower +step of the stairs to enjoy their fragrance. “I am +not allowed in the living room, girls. Everyone +can go in there but poor me. I thank you for these +perfectly darling bouquets. I’ll have a different one +to wear every day this week. If you want to fix +your hair or do any further beautifying go up to +Robin’s room. If not, go into the living room.” +</p> +<p> +Lingering for a little further chat with Elaine, +whom they all adored, they entered the living room +to be met by a vociferous welcome from the assembled +Silvertonites. When the last guest had arrived +and been ushered into the reception room, from +somewhere in the house a bell suddenly tinkled. In +order to give more space the chairs had been removed +and the guests lined the sides of the apartment +and filled one end of it halfway to the wide +doorway opening into the main hall. +</p> +<p> +At sound of the bell a hush fell upon the merry-makers. +Again it tinkled and down the stairs came +a procession that might have stepped from a tapestry +depicting the life of the greenwood men. +Four merry men, their green cambric costumes carefully +modeled after the attire of Robin Hood and +his followers, had come to the party. The first, +instead of being Robin Hood, was Robin Page. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63'></a>63</span> +She bowed low to Elaine, who was still languishing +in exile in the hall, and offered her arm. +</p> +<p> +“Delighted; I am so tired of hanging about that +old hall!” Elaine seized Robin’s arm with alacrity +and the two passed into the adjoining room. The +other three faithful servitors followed their leader. +The last one carried a violin and drew from it an +old-time greenwood melody as Elaine and Robin +joined forces and paraded into the living room. +</p> +<p> +Straight toward the green curtain Robin piloted +Elaine to the fiddler’s plaintive tune. Stationed +before the curtain, Blanche Scott drew it aside. +</p> +<p> +A surprised and admiring chorus of exclamations +arose. There stood a real greenwood tree. Portia +and Blanche could have amply testified to this fact +as the two of them, armed with a hatchet, had +laboriously chopped down a small maple and +brought it to the house from the woods on the +afternoon previous. Its branches were as well +loaded with packages of various sizes as those of a +Christmas tree. Under the tree was a grassy +mound built up of hard cushions, the whole covered +with real sod dug up by the patient wood +cutters. +</p> +<p> +On this Elaine was invited to sit. She formed a +pretty picture in her fluffy white gown in conjunction +with the greenery. The four merry men gathered +round her and bowed low, then sang her an +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64'></a>64</span> +ancient ballad to the accompaniment of the violin. +Followed a short speech by the tallest of the four +congratulating her, in stately language on the anniversary +of her birth. Three of the four then busied +themselves with stripping the tree of its spoils and +laying them at her feet. During this procedure the +fiddler evoked further sweet thin melodies from his +violin. +</p> +<p> +Last, Elaine’s gallant escort, who had left her +briefly, returned to the scene with a large green and +white straw basket, piled high with gifts. These +duly presented, the quaint bit of forest play was +over and the enjoying spectators crowded about the +lucky recipient of friendly riches. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know what I shall ever do with them +all,” she declared in an amazed, quavering voice. +“I’m not half over the shock of so much wealth +yet. I simply can’t open them now. I’ll weep tears +of gratitude over every separate one of them.” +</p> +<p> +“You aren’t expected to look at them now,” was +Robin’s reassurance. “Your merry men are going +to carry Elaine’s nice new playthings up to her +room. So there! Tomorrow’s Saturday. You can +spend the afternoon exploring. We are going to +have a stunt party now. Anyone who is called upon +to do a stunt has to conform or be ostracized.” +</p> +<p> +“If we are going to do stunts there is no use in +bringing back the chairs. After Elaine’s presents +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65'></a>65</span> +have all been carted upstairs everybody can stand in +that half of the room. We can roll the rug up +from the other end exactly half way. That will +give room and a smooth floor for dancing stunts. +We shall surely have some,” planned Blanche. “I +had better inform the company of what’s going to +happen next. It will give them a chance to think +up a stunt.” +</p> +<p> +While the faithful greenwood men busied themselves +in Elaine’s behalf, Blanche proceeded to +make a humorous address to the guests. Her announcement +sent them into a flutter. At least half +of the crowd protested to her and to one another +that they did not know any stunts to perform. +</p> +<p> +When the deck was finally clear for action and +the show began, it was amazing the number of +funny little stunts that came to light. The first girl +called upon was Hortense Barlow. She marched +solemnly to the center of the improvised stage and +announced “‘Home Sweet Home,’ by our domestic +animals.” A rooster lustily crowed the first few +bars of the old song, then two hens took it up. +They relinquished it in favor of a bleating lamb. +It was succeeded by a pair of grunting pigs. The +opening bars of the chorus were mournfully +“mooed” by a lonely cow, and the rest of it was +ably sung by a donkey, a dog and a guinea hen. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66'></a>66</span> +She then repeated the chorus as a concerted effort +on the part of the barnyard denizens. +</p> +<p> +The manner in which she managed to imitate +each creature, still keeping fairly in tune, was clever +in the extreme. Her final concert chorus convulsed +her audience and she was obliged to repeat it. +</p> +<p> +Hers was the only encore allowed. Portia announced +that, owing to the lack of time, encores +would have to be dispensed with. The guests had +received permission to be out of their house until +half-past eleven and no later. +</p> +<p> +Leila was the next on the list and responded with +an old-time Irish jig. Vera Ingram and Mary Cornell +gave a brief singing and dancing sketch. Jerry +responded with the one stunt she could do to perfection. +She had half closed her eyes, opened her +mouth to its widest extent, and wailed a popular +song just enough off the key to be funny. Heartily +detesting this class of melody, she never failed to +make her chums laugh with her mocking imitation. +</p> +<p> +Portia being in charge of the stunt programme, +she called upon Blanche who gave the “Prologue +from Pagliacci” in a baritone voice and with expression +which would have done credit to an opera +singer. Lucy Warner surprised her chums by a +fine recital of “The Chambered Nautilus,” giving +the quiet dramatic emphasis needed to bring out +Holmes’ poem. Marie Peyton danced a fisher’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67'></a>67</span> +hornpipe. Vera Mason borrowed one of Robin’s +kimonos and a fan and performed a Japanese fan +dance. Several of the Silvertonites sang, danced, +recited, or told a humorous story. +</p> +<p> +“As we shall have time for only one more stunt, +I will call on Ronny Lynne,” Portia announced, +smiling invitingly at Ronny. “Wait a minute until +I call the orchestra together. We will play for +you,” she added. +</p> +<p> +“Play for me for what?” Ronny innocently inquired. +Nevertheless she laughed. Though she +had yet to dance for the first time at Hamilton, she +knew that her ability as a dancer was an open secret. +</p> +<p> +“For your dance, of course. What kind of dance +are you going to do? Mustn’t refuse. Everyone +else has been so obliging.” Portia beamed triumph +of having thus neatly caught Ronny. +</p> +<p> +“I suppose I must fall in line. I don’t know what +to dance. Most of my dances require special costumes.” +Ronny glanced dubiously at the white and +gold evening frock she was wearing. “I know one +I can do,” she said, after a moment’s thought. +</p> +<p> +Raising her voice so as to be heard by all, she +continued in her clear tones: “Girls, I am going to +do a Russian interpretative dance for you. The +idea is this: A dancer at the court of a king, who +is honored because of her art, loses her sweetheart. +She becomes so despondent that no amount of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68'></a>68</span> +praise can lift her from her gloom. She tries to +decide whether she had best kill her rival or herself. +Finally she decides to kill her rival. I shall endeavor +to make this plain in a dance containing two intervals +and three episodes. The first depicts the dancer +in her glory. The second, in her dejection. The +third, her decision to kill.” +</p> +<p> +A brief consultation with the orchestra as to +what they could play, suitable to the interpretation, +and Ronny was ready. Phyllis, the reliable, who +had been proficient on the violin from childhood, +and possessed a wide musical repertoire, both vocal +and instrumental, played over a few measures of a +valse lente. Her musicians were familiar enough +with it to follow her lead. Moskowski’s “Serenade” +was chosen for the second episode, and +Scharwenki’s “Polish Dance” for the third. +</p> +<p> +Every pair of eyes was centered on Ronny’s +slight, graceful figure as she stood at ease for an +instant waiting for the music to begin. Many of +the girls present had never seen an interpretative +dance. With the first slow, seductive strains of the +waltz, Ronny became the court dancer. In perfect +time to the music she made the low sweeping +salutes to an imaginary court, then executed a +swaying, beautiful dance of intricate steps in which +her whole body seemed to take part in the expression +of her art. The grace of that symphonic, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69'></a>69</span> +white and gold figure was such the watchers held +their breath. At the end of the episode there was a +dead silence. Applause, when it came, was deafening. +</p> +<p> +Ronny claimed the tiny interval for rest, merely +raising her hands in a despairing gesture at the +hub-bub her dance had created. By the time she +was ready to continue it had subsided. All were +now anxious to see her interpretation of the jilted +woman. +</p> +<p> +The second, though much harder to execute, +Ronny liked far better than the first. Particularly +fond of the Russian idea of the dance, she threw +her whole heart into the story she was endeavoring +to convey by motion. When she had finished she +was tired enough to gladly claim a rest while Portia +went upstairs for a paper knife which would serve +as a dagger for the third episode. +</p> +<p> +The wild strains of the “Polish Dance” were +well suited to the character of the episode. The +flitting, white and gold figure of indolent grace had +now become one of tense purpose. Every line of +her figure had now become charged with the desire +for revenge. Every step of the dance and movement +of the arms were in accordance with the mood +she was portraying. She enacted the dancer’s plan +to steal upon her rival unawares and deliver the +fatal knife thrust. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70'></a>70</span> +</p> +<p> +Had Ronny not explained the dance beforehand, +so vivid was her interpretation, her audience could +have gained the meaning of it without difficulty. +A united sighing breath of appreciation went up as +she concluded the Terpsichorean tragedy by a triumphant +flinging of her arms above her head, one +hand tightly grasping the murder knife. +</p> +<p> +Carried out of life ordinary by the glimpse of +another world of emotion, it took the admiring +girls a minute or so to realize that Ronny was herself +and a fellow student. She had cast over them +the perfect illusion of the tragic dancer; the sure +measure of her art. When they came out of it they +crowded about her asking all sorts of eager questions. +</p> +<p> +“Ronny has brought down the house, as usual. +Look at those girls fairly idolizing her.” Jerry’s +round face was wreathed with smiles over Ronny’s +triumph. “I shall go in for interpretative dancing +myself, hereafter. It’s about time I did something +to make myself popular around here.” +</p> +<p> +“What are you going to interpret?” Muriel demanded +to know. +</p> +<p> +“I haven’t yet decided,” Jerry vaguely replied. +“Anyway, I wouldn’t tell you if I had. I should +expect to practice my dance awhile before I sprang +it on anyone. It might give my victim a horrible +scare.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71'></a>71</span> +</p> +<p> +“You wouldn’t scare me,” was the valorous assurance. +“You had better try it on me first when +you are ready to burst upon the world as a dancer. +I will give you valuable criticism.” +</p> +<p> +“Laugh at me, you mean. Come on. Let’s interview +the orchestra. Phil is certainly some little +fiddler.” +</p> +<p> +Taking Muriel by the arm, Jerry marched her up +to Phyllis, who, with the other members of the +orchestra, were also coming in for adulation. The +addition of Jerry and Muriel to the group was soon +noticeable by the burst of laughter which ascended +therefrom. Good-natured Jerry had not the remotest +idea of how very popular she really was. +</p> +<p> +Promptly on the heels of the stunt party followed +a collation served in the dining room. An extra +table had been added to the two long ones used by +the residents. When the company trooped into the +prettily-decorated room with its flower-trimmed +tables, the Wayland Hall girls were pleasantly surprised +to see Signor Baretti in charge there. While +he had repeatedly refused at various times to cater +for private parties given at the campus houses, +Elaine had secured his valued services without much +coaxing. He had long regarded her as “one the +nicest, maybe the best, all my young ladies from +the college.” +</p> +<p> +It was one minute past eleven when the guests +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72'></a>72</span> +rose from the table after a vigorous response to +Portia’s toast to Elaine, and joined in singing one +stanza of “Auld Lang Syne.” With the last note +of the song hasty goodnights were said. “Not one +minute later than half-past eleven” had been the +stipulation laid down with the permission for the +extra hour. +</p> +<p> +“We’ll have to walk as though we all wore +seven league boots,” declared Jerry, as the Wayland +Hall girls hurried down the steps of Silverton +Hall. “But, oh, my goodness me, haven’t we had +a fine time? Tonight was like our good old Sanford +crowd parties at home, wasn’t it? It looks to +me as though the right kind of times had actually +struck Hamilton!” +</p> +<h2><a name='chIX' id='chIX'></a>CHAPTER IX—HER “DEAREST” WISH</h2> +<p> +It did not need Elaine’s party to cement more +securely the friendship which existed between the +Silvertonites and the group of Wayland Hallites +who had co-operated with them so loyally from the +first. They had fought side by side for principle. +Now they were beginning to glimpse the lighter, +happier side of affairs and experience the pleasure +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73'></a>73</span> +of discovering how much each group had to admire +in the other. +</p> +<p> +“What we ought to do is organize a bureau of +entertainment and give musicales, plays, revues and +one thing or another,” Robin proposed to Marjorie +as the two were returning from a trip to the town +of Hamilton one afternoon in early October. “We +would charge an admission fee, of course, and put +the money to some good purpose. I don’t know +what we would do with it. There are so few really +needy students here. We’d find some worthy way +of spending it. I know we would make a lot. The +students simply mob the gym when there’s a basket-ball +game. They’d be willing to part with their +shekels for the kind of show we could give.” +</p> +<p> +“I think the same,” Marjorie made hearty response. +“At home we gave a Campfire once, at +Thanksgiving. We held it in the armory. We +had booths and sold different things. We had a +show, too. That was the time Ronny danced those +two interpretative dances I told you of the other +night. We made over a thousand dollars. Half of +it went to the Sanford guards and the Lookouts +got the other half.” +</p> +<p> +“We could make a couple of hundred dollars at +one revue, I believe. We could give about three +entertainments this year and three or four next,” +planned Robin. “It would have to be a fund devoted +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74'></a>74</span> +to helping the students, I guess. Come to +think of it, I would not care to get up a show unless +our purpose was clearly stated in the beginning. A +few unjust persons might start the story that we +wanted the money for ourselves. By the way, the +Sans are not interesting themselves in our affairs +this year, are they? Do you ever clash with them +at the Hall?” +</p> +<p> +“No; they never notice us and we never notice +them. It isn’t much different in that respect than +it was in the beginning. I’d feel rather queer about +it sometimes if they hadn’t been so utterly heartless +in so many ways. This is their last year. It will +seem queer when we come back next fall as seniors +to have almost an entirely new set of girls in the +house. I can’t bear to think of losing Leila and +Vera and Helen. Then there are Rosalind, Nella, +Martha and Hortense; splendid girls, all of them. +I wish they had been freshies with us. That’s the +beauty of the Silvertonites. They will all be graduated +together.” +</p> +<p> +“We are fortunate. Think of poor Phil! She +is going to be lonesome when we all leave the good +old port of Hamilton. To go back to the show +idea. I’m going to talk it over with my old stand-bys +at our house. You do the same at yours. Maybe +some one of them will have a brilliant inspiration. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75'></a>75</span> +I mean, about what we ought to do with the +money, once we’ve made it.” +</p> +<p> +A sudden jolt of the taxicab in which they were +riding, as it swung to the right, combined with an +indignant yell of protest from its driver, startled +them both. A blue and buff car had shot past them, +barely missing the side of the taxicab. +</p> +<p> +“Look where you’re goin’ or get off the road!” +bawled the man after it. His face was scarlet with +anger, he turned in his seat, addressing his fares. +“That blue car near smashed us,” he growled. +“The young lady that drives it had better quit and +give somebody else the wheel. This is the third +time she near put my cab on the blink. She can’t +drive for sour apples. I wisht, if you knew her, +you’d tell her she’s gotta quit it. I don’t own this +cab. I don’t wanta get mixed up in no smash-up. +If she does it again I’ll go up to the college boss +and report that car.” +</p> +<p> +“Neither of us know her well enough to give her +your message,” Marjorie smiled faintly, as she pictured +herself giving the irate driver’s warning to +Elizabeth Walbert. She had recognized the girl at +the wheel as the blue and buff car had passed her. +</p> +<p> +“I’ll stop her myself and tell her where she gets +off at,” threatened the man. “I ain’t afraida her.” +</p> +<p> +“I think that would be a very good idea,” calmly +agreed Marjorie. “There is no reason why you +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76'></a>76</span> +should not rebuke her for her recklessness. She +was at fault; not you.” +</p> +<p> +“Do you imagine he really would report Miss +Walbert to Doctor Matthews,” inquired Robin in +discreetly lowered tones, as the driver resumed +attention at the wheel. +</p> +<p> +“He might. He would be more likely to do his +talking to her,” was Marjorie’s opinion. “I tried +to encourage him in that idea. A report of that +kind to Dr. Matthews might result in the banning +of cars at Hamilton.” +</p> +<p> +“Did you hear last year, at the time Katherine +was hurt, that Miss Cairns received a summons +from Doctor Matthews? I was told that he gave +her a severe lecture on reckless driving. She told +some of the Sans and it came to Portia and I in a +round-about way.” +</p> +<p> +“I believe it to be true.” Marjorie hesitated, +then continued frankly. “Katherine did not report +her.” +</p> +<p> +Unbound by any promise of secrecy to any person, +Marjorie acquainted Robin with the way the +report of the accident had been put before the president. +She and her chums had heard the story from +Lillian Wenderblatt, who had so ardently urged her +father to take up the cudgels for Katherine directly +after the accident. +</p> +<p> +“Lillian explained to her father that Katherine +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77'></a>77</span> +utterly refused to take the matter up. He reported +it to the doctor of his own accord, saying that Katherine +wished the affair closed. So Doctor Matthews +didn’t send for her at all. While he never +referred to the subject afterward to Professor Wenderblatt, +he said at the time of their talk that he +would send Miss Cairns a summons to his office. +Lillian’s father said the doctor’s word was equivalent +to the summons. So I believe she received one. +None of us who are Kathie’s close friends ever mentioned +it to others. Lillian told no one but us. She +did not ask us to keep it a secret. We simply <em>did +not talk</em> about it. That’s why I felt free to tell you, +since you asked me a direct question.” +</p> +<p> +“Strange, isn’t it, that the Sans can’t even be +loyal to one another,” Robin commented. “Very +likely Leslie Cairns told them in confidence, not +expecting it would be betrayed. She may not know +to this day that a girl of her own crowd told tales.” +</p> +<p> +“She is not honorable herself. Her intimates +know that.” Marjorie’s rejoinder held sternness. +“There is nothing truer than the Bible verse: ‘As +ye sow, so must ye also reap.’ She tries to gain +whatever she happens to want by dishonorable +methods. In turn, her chums behave dishonorably +toward her. +</p> +<p> +“An unhappy state of affairs.” Robin shrugged +her disfavor. “Phil says Miss Walbert is a talker; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78'></a>78</span> +that she is becoming unpopular with the sophs who +voted for her last year because she gossips.” +</p> +<p> +Marjorie smiled whimsically. “Wouldn’t it be +poetic justice if she were to turn the half of her +class who were for her last year against her by her +own unworthiness? After Miss Cairns worked so +hard to establish her too! There’s surely a greater +inclination toward democracy than last year, or +Phil wouldn’t have won the sophomore presidency.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes; and she won it by eighteen votes this year +over Miss Keene, and she is one of Miss Walbert’s +pals. Last year she lost it by nine. Some difference!” +Robin looked her pride of her lovable +cousin. “I think there is a great change for the +better in Hamilton since we were freshies, don’t +you?” +</p> +<p> +Marjorie made quick assent. “You Silverites +have done the most for Hamilton,” she commended. +“We Lookouts have tried our hardest, but we +couldn’t have done much if you hadn’t been behind +us like a solid wall.” +</p> +<p> +“You Lookouts deserve as much credit as we. +You girls are social successes in the nicest way, +because you have all been so friendly and sweet to +everyone. Then you have fought shoulder to shoulder +with us. Now that we have begun to make our +influence felt, we should follow it up by giving entertainments +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79'></a>79</span> +in which the whole college can have a +part.” +</p> +<p> +“Let’s do this,” Marjorie proposed. “Bring the +orchestra and Hope Morris, she’s so nice, over to +Wayland Hall on Saturday evening. I’ll have a +spread. Then we can plan something to give in +the near future. Here’s my getting-off place. +Goodbye.” +</p> +<p> +The taxicab having reached a point on the main +campus drive where two other drives branched off +right and left, the machine slowed down. She +rarely troubled the driver to take her to the door +of the Hall, it being but a few rods distant from +this point. +</p> +<p> +Swinging up the drive and into the Hall in her +usual energetic fashion, Marjorie’s first move was +toward the bulletin board. Three letters was the +delightful harvest she reaped from it. One in Constance’s +small fine hand, one from General. The +third she eyed rather suspiciously. It was in an unfamiliar +hand and bore the address, “Marjorie +Dean, Hamilton College.” +</p> +<p> +“An advertisement, I guess,” was her frowning +reflection as she went on upstairs. “Anyone I know, +well enough to receive a letter from, would know +my house address.” +</p> +<p> +Anxious to relieve her arms of several bundles +containing purchases made at Hamilton before +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80'></a>80</span> +opening her letters, Marjorie did not stop to examine +her mail on the landing. Entering her room, +she found it deserted of Jerry’s always congenial +company. Immediately she dropped her packages +on the center table and plumped down to enjoy her +letters. +</p> +<p> +Second glance at the letter informed her that the +envelope was of fine expensive paper. This fact +dismissed the advertisement idea. Marjorie toyed +with it rather nervously. In the past she had received +enough annoying letters to make her dread +the sight of her address in unfamiliar handwriting. +On the verge of reveling in the other two whose +contents she was sure to love, she hated the idea of +a disagreeable shock. She knew of no reason why +she should be the recipient of any such letter. That, +however, would not prevent an unworthy person +from writing one. +</p> +<p> +Determined to read it first and have it over with, +Marjorie tore open an end of the envelope and extracted +the missive from it. A hasty glance at the +end and she vented a relieved “A-h-h!” Turning +back to the beginning, she read with rising color: +</p> +<p style='text-align:left; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em;;'>“<span class='sc'>Marjorie Dean</span>,</p> +<p style='text-align:left; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em;;'>Hamilton College.</p> +<p style='text-align:left; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em;;'> </p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +“<span class='sc'>Dear Child</span>: +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +“Will you come to Hamilton Arms to tea next +Thursday afternoon at five o’clock? I find I have +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81'></a>81</span> +the wish to see and talk with you again. I prefer +you to keep the matter of your visit from your girl +friends. I am not on good terms with Hamilton +College and its students, and the information that +I had invited you to tea would form a choice bit of +campus gossip. +</p> +<p style='text-align:right; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-right:2em;;'>“Yours sincerely,</p> +<p style='text-align:right; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-right:2em;;'>“<span class='sc'>Susanna Craig Hamilton</span>.”</p> +<h2><a name='chX' id='chX'></a>CHAPTER X—HAMILTON ARMS AND ITS OWNER</h2> +<p> +“Well, of all things!” Marjorie could not get +over her undiluted amazement. For a second it +struck her that she might again be the victim of a +hoax. Perhaps an unkindly-minded person wished +her to essay a call on Miss Susanna, thinking she +might receive a sound snubbing. She shook her +head at this canny suspicion. The phrasing was +unmistakably Miss Susanna’s. She doubted also +whether anyone had seen her that day with the old +lady. Only a few cars had passed them before they +had turned into the private road. These had contained +persons not from the college. Outside the +Lookouts, only Katherine, Leila and Vera knew of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82'></a>82</span> +her encounter with Miss Susanna. She had not +thought of keeping it a secret. She now made mental +note to tell the girls not to mention it to anyone. +</p> +<p> +This resolve brought with it the annoying cogitation +that the girls would wonder why she suddenly +wished the matter kept secret. Nor could she +explain to them without violating Miss Hamilton’s +request. She could readily understand the latter’s +point of view. Miss Susanna could not be blamed +for taking it. Marjorie could only wish the old +lady knew how honorable and discreet her chums +were. She decided she would endeavor to make +her hostess acquainted with that truth during her +call. +</p> +<p> +She came to the conclusion that she could not +pledge her close friends to secrecy regarding her +recent adventure until after she had been to Hamilton +Arms and talked with its eccentric owner. Miss +Susanna would no doubt be displeased to learn that +she had already mentioned their meeting to others. +She would have to be told of it, nevertheless. +</p> +<p> +Marjorie’s next problem was to slip quietly away +on Thursday afternoon without saying where she +was going. That would not be difficult, provided +none of the Lookouts happened to desire her company +on some particular jaunt or merry-making. +An indefinite refusal on her part would bring down +on her a volley of mischievous questions. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83'></a>83</span> +</p> +<p> +“I’ll have to keep clear of the girls on Thursday,” +she ruminated, with a half vexed smile. “I’ll have +to put on the gown I’m going to wear to tea in the +morning and wear it all day so as not to arouse +their curiosity. That’s a nuisance. I’d like to wear +one of my best frocks and I can’t on account of +chemistry. I’ll wear that organdie frock Jerry likes +so much; the one with the yellow rosebud in it. It +is not fussy. If it is cold or rainy I can wear a +long coat over it. I hope it’s a nice day. I can +wear my picture hat. It goes so well with that +gown. I can slip it out of the Hall without them +noticing if I swing it on my arm. I hope to goodness +I don’t ruin my organdie during chemistry. I +feel like a conspirator.” +</p> +<p> +Marjorie chuckled faintly as she rose from her +chair, letter in hand. She tucked the letter away in +the top drawer of her chiffonier with the optimistic +opinion that it would not be very long before she +could frankly tell her chums of its contents. +</p> +<p> +Fortune favored her on Thursday. She awoke +with a stream of brilliant sunshine in her face. She +rejoiced that the day was fair and hoped Miss +Susanna would suggest a walk about the grounds. +Then she remembered the request the latter had +made, and smiled at her own stupidity. A walk +about the grounds would probably be the last thing +Miss Susanna would suggest. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84'></a>84</span> +</p> +<p> +As it happened, Jerry had made an engagement +to go to Hamilton with Helen. Ronny had a theme +in French to write, which she said would take her +spare time both in the afternoon and evening. +Lucy and Katherine would be in the Biological Laboratory +until dinner time, and Leila and Vera were +invited to a tea given by a senior to ten of her class-mates. +These were the only ones to be directly +interested in her movements. To Jerry’s invitation, +“Want to go to town with Helen and I this afternoon?” +she had replied, “No, Jeremiah,” in as +casual a tone as she could command, and that had +ended the matter. +</p> +<p> +Marjorie was doubly careful in the Chemical +Laboratory that afternoon and walked from it this +time with no disfiguring stains on her dainty organdie +frock. The letter had named the hour for her +visit as five o’clock. This gave her ample time to +return to the Hall, re-coif her curly hair and add a +pretty satin sash of wide pale yellow ribbon to her +costume. The absence of Jerry was, for once, welcome. +She had a free hand to put the finishing +touches to her toilet. It appealed to a certain sense +of dignity, latent within her, to be able to quietly +adjust her hat before the mirror and walk openly +out of Wayland Hall. Marjorie inwardly hated +anything connected with secrecy, yet it seemed to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85'></a>85</span> +her she was always becoming involved in something +which demanded it. +</p> +<p> +When finally she emerged from the Hall, she did +not follow the main drive but cut across the campus, +making for the western entrance. Reaching the +highway, she kept a sharp lookout for passing automobiles. +She laughed to herself as she thought of +how disconcerting it would be after all her pains +to run squarely into Jerry and Helen. The latter +had just been the lucky recipient of a limousine, +long promised her by her father, and she and Jerry +were trying it out that afternoon. +</p> +<p> +It was ten minutes to five when, without having +met anyone save two or three campus acquaintances, +Marjorie walked sedately between the high, +ornamental gate posts of Hamilton Arms, and on +up the drive to the house. She compared her present +approach to that of last May Day evening, when +she had stolen like a shadow to the veranda to hang +the May basket. It did not seem quite real to her +that now she was actually coming to Hamilton +Arms as an invited guest. +</p> +<p> +The knocker was no easier to pull than it had +been on that night. She waited, feeling as though +she were about to leave the college world behind +and enter one rich in the romance of Colonial days. +Then the door opened slowly and a dignified old +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86'></a>86</span> +man with thick, snow-white hair and a smooth-shaven +face stood regarding her solemnly. +</p> +<p> +“You are Marjorie Dean?” he interrogated in +deep, but very gentle tones. This before she had +time to ask for Miss Susanna. +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” she affirmed, smiling in her unaffected, +charming fashion. “I—Miss Hamilton expects me +to tea.” +</p> +<p> +“I know.” He bowed with grave politeness. +“Come in. Miss Susanna is in the library. I will +show you the way.” +</p> +<p> +Marjorie drew a long breath of admiration as she +was ushered into a wide almost square reception +hall paneled in walnut. Her feet sank deep into the +heavy brown velvet rug which completely covered +the floor. Walking quickly behind her guide, she +had no more than time for a passing glance at the +massive elegance of the carved walnut furniture. +She caught a fleeting glimpse of herself in the great +square mirror of the hall rack and thought how +very small and insignificant she appeared. +</p> +<p> +“How are you, Marjorie Dean?” Ushered into +the library by the stately old man, the last of the +Hamiltons now came forward to greet her. +</p> +<p> +“I am very well, thank you. I hope you are feeling +well, too, Miss Susanna.” +</p> +<p> +Marjorie took the small, sturdy hand Miss +Susanna extended in both her own. The mistress +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87'></a>87</span> +of Hamilton Arms looked so very tiny in the great +room. Marjorie experienced a wave of sudden +tenderness for her. +</p> +<p> +“Yes; I am well, by the grace of God and my +own good sense,” returned her hostess in her brisk, +almost hard tones. “You are prompt to the hour, +child. I like that. I hate to be kept waiting. I +have my tea at precisely five o’clock. It is years +since I had a guest to tea. Sit down there.” She +indicated a straight chair with an ornamental leather +back and seat. “Jonas will bring the tea table in +directly, and serve the tea. Take off your hat and +lay it on the library table. I wish to see you without +it.” +</p> +<p> +She had not more than finished speaking, when +the snowy-haired servitor wheeled in a good-sized +rosewood tea-table. He drew it up to where Marjorie +sat, and brought another chair for the mistress +of Hamilton Arms similar to the one on which the +guest was sitting. Withdrawing from the room, he +left youth and age to take tea together. +</p> +<p> +“Who would have thought that I should ever +pour tea for one of my particular aversions,” Miss +Susanna commented with grim humor. “Do you +take sugar and cream, child?” +</p> +<p> +“Two lumps of sugar and no cream.” Marjorie +held out her hand for the delicate Sevres cup. +</p> +<p> +“Help yourself to the muffins and jam. It is red +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88'></a>88</span> +raspberry. I put it up myself. Now eat as though +you were hungry. I am always ravenous for my +tea. I do not have dinner until eight and I am outdoors +so much I grow very hungry as five o’clock +approaches.” +</p> +<p> +“I am awfully hungry,” Marjorie confessed. “I +love five o’clock tea. We have it at home in summer +but not in winter. We girls at Hamilton +hardly ever have it, because we have dinner shortly +after six.” +</p> +<p> +“At what campus house are you?” was the abrupt +question. +</p> +<p> +“Wayland Hall. I like it best of all, though Silverton +Hall is a fine house.” +</p> +<p> +“Wayland Hall,” the old lady repeated. “It was +his favorite house.” +</p> +<p> +“You are speaking of Mr. Brooke Hamilton?” +Marjorie inquired with breathless interest. “Miss +Remson said it was his favorite house. He was so +wonderful. ‘We shall ne’er see his like again,’” +she quoted, her brown eyes eloquent. +</p> +<p> +Miss Susanna stared at her in silence, as though +trying to determine the worth of Marjorie’s unexpected +remarks. +</p> +<p> +“He <em>was</em> wonderful,” she said at last. “I am +amazed at your appreciation of him. You <em>are</em> an +amazing young person, I must say. How much do +you know concerning my great uncle that you +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89'></a>89</span> +should have arrived at your truly high opinion of +him?” +</p> +<p> +“I know very little about him except that he +loved Hamilton and planned it nobly.” Marjorie’s +clear eyes looked straight into her vis-a-vis’s sharp +dark ones. “I have asked questions. I have treasured +every scrap of information about him that I +have heard since I came to Hamilton College. No +one seems to know much of him except in a general +way.” +</p> +<p> +“That is true. Well, the fault lies with the college.” +The reply hinted of hostility. “Perhaps I +will tell you more of him some day. Not now; I +am not in the humor. I must get used to having +you here first. I try to forget that you are from +the college. I told you I did not like girls. I may +call you an exception, child. I realized that after +you had left me, the day you helped me to the cottage +with the chrysanthemums. I was cheered by +your company. I am pleased with your admiration +for him. He was worthy of it.” +</p> +<p> +As on the day of her initial meeting with Brooke +Hamilton’s great niece, Marjorie was again at a +loss as to what to say next. She wished to say how +greatly she revered the memory of the founder of +Hamilton College. In the face of Miss Susanna’s +declaration that she did not wish to talk of him, she +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_90'></a>90</span> +could not frame a reply that conveyed her reverence. +</p> +<p> +“Try these cakes. They are from an old recipé +the Hamiltons have used for four generations. +Ellen, my cook, made these. I seldom do any baking +now. I used to when younger. I spend most +of my time out of doors in good weather. Let me +have your cup.” +</p> +<p> +Her hostess tendered a plate of delicate little +cakes not unlike macaroons. Marjorie helped herself +to the cakes and forebore asking questions about +Brooke Hamilton. Miss Susanna had partially +promised to tell her of him some day. She could +do no more than possess her soul in patience. +</p> +<p> +“What do you do in winter, Miss Hamilton, +when you can’t be out?” she questioned interestedly. +“Do you live at Hamilton Arms the year +round?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes; I have not been away from here for a +number of years. In winter I read and embroider. +I do plain sewing for the poor of Hamilton. Jonas +takes baskets of clothing and necessities to needy +families in the town of Hamilton. ‘The poor ye +have always with ye,’ you know.” +</p> +<p> +“I know,” Marjorie affirmed, her lovely face +growing momently sad. “Captain, I mean, my +mother, does a good deal of such work in Sanford. +I have helped her a little. During our last year at +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91'></a>91</span> +high school a number of us organized a club. We +called ourselves the Lookouts and we rented a house +and started a day nursery for the mill children. +The house was in their district.” +</p> +<p> +“And how long did you keep it up?” was the +somewhat skeptical inquiry. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, it is running along beautifully yet.” Marjorie +laughed as she made answer. +</p> +<p> +“I am more amazed than before. A club of girls +usually hangs together about six weeks. Each girl +feels that she ought to be at the head of it and in the +end a grand falling-out occurs.” Miss Susanna’s +eyes were twinkling. This time her remarks were +not pointedly ill-natured. “You are to tell me about +this club,” she commanded. +</p> +<p> +Marjorie complied, giving her a brief history of +the day nursery. +</p> +<p> +“Are any of your Lookouts here at Hamilton +with you?” she was interrogated. +</p> +<p> +“Four of them. One, Lucy Warner, won a +scholarship to Hamilton.” Now on the subject, +Marjorie determined to make a valiant stand for +her chums. She therefore told of the offering of +the scholarship by Ronny and of Lucy’s brilliancy +as a student. She told of Lucy’s ability as a secretary +and of how much she had done to help herself +through college. She did not forget to speak of +Katherine Langly, and her exceptional winning of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92'></a>92</span> +a scholarship especially offered by Brooke Hamilton. +</p> +<p> +“I had no idea there were any such girls over +there.” The old lady spoke half to herself. “I +might have known there would be some apostles.” +</p> +<p> +“Miss Susanna,”—Marjorie decided that this +would be the best time to acquaint her hostess with +what she had purposed to tell her,—“I told my +intimate friends of meeting you the day the basket +handle broke. I thought you ought to know that. +You had asked me in your letter not to mention +to anyone that I was coming here. I did not say a +word to anyone of the letter. I would ask my +chums not to mention what I told them about meeting +you in the first place, but, if I do, they will +wish to know why.” +</p> +<p> +“Humph!” The listener used Jerry’s pet interjection. +“Where did you tell them you were going +today? Some of them must have seen you as you +came away.” +</p> +<p> +“No; they were all out except one girl. She +was busy writing a theme.” +</p> +<p> +“What would you have told them if they had +seen you?” Miss Hamilton eyed the young girl +searchingly. +</p> +<p> +“I would have said I was going out and hoped +they wouldn’t feel hurt if I didn’t tell them my destination. +What else could I have said?” It was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93'></a>93</span> +Marjorie’s turn to fix her gaze upon her hostess. +</p> +<p> +“Nothing else, by rights. If I allowed you to +tell your chums, as you call them, that you were +here today, would they keep your counsel? How +many of them would have to know it?” The older +woman’s face had softened wonderfully. +</p> +<p> +Marjorie thought for an instant. “Eight,” she +answered. “They are honorable. I would like to +tell them.” +</p> +<p> +“Very well, you may.” The permission came +concisely. “I will take your word for their discretion. +I have my own proper reasons for not wishing +to be gossiped about on the campus. I wish +you to come again. I do not wish your visits to +be a secret. I abhor that kind of secrecy. Perhaps +in time I shall not care if the whole college knows. +At present what they do not know will not hurt +them. In the words of my distinguished uncle, +‘Be not secret; be discreet.’” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94'></a>94</span><a name='chXI' id='chXI'></a>CHAPTER XI—COMPARING NOTES</h2> +<p> +Tea over, Jonas removed the tea-table and Miss +Susanna waved her guest toward a leather-covered +arm chair. Changing her own chair for one corresponding +to Marjorie’s, Miss Hamilton proceeded +to ply Marjorie with interested questions concerning +her college course. She exhibited a kind of +repressed eagerness to hear of the college and her +guest’s doings there. +</p> +<p> +The tall rosewood floor clock had chimed six, +then again the musical stroke of half hour, before +Marjorie found graceful opportunity to take her +leave. She was willing to stay longer, but was not +certain that her erratic hostess would wish her to +do so. The shadows had begun to fall across the +sombre elegance of the library and the October twilight +would soon be upon them. +</p> +<p> +Miss Susanna made no effort to detain her beyond +saying: “So you think you must go. Well, +you will be coming again soon to see me. You +have given me much to think of.” She accompanied Marjorie +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95'></a>95</span> +to the front door, giving her a +warm handshake in parting. Marjorie noticed, +however, that her small face wore a pensive expression +quite at variance with her accustomed alert +demeanor. It gave her the appearance of great age, +though her brown hair was only partially streaked +with gray. Marjorie thought she could not be +much more than sixty years old. +</p> +<p> +A happy little smile touched the pleased lieutenant’s +lips as she hurried toward the campus +through the gathering twilight. Far from being +dissatisfied at not hearing more of Brooke Hamilton, +she was blissfully content with her visit. Miss +Susanna had promised to tell her of him. She had +given her consent to allowing Marjorie to inform +her chums of her visit to Hamilton Arms. She had +actually set foot in the house of her dreams. The +two rooms she had seen had more than justified her +expectations of what it would be like inside. +</p> +<p> +Dinner was on when she reached Wayland Hall. +Marjorie had fared too well on hot muffins, jam, +cakes, and the most delicious tea she had ever +drunk, to care for anything more to eat. +</p> +<p> +“Where, may I ask, have you been keeping yourself?” +saluted Jerry about twenty minutes after +Marjorie’s return. Coming into their room she +beheld her missing room-mate calmly preparing her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96'></a>96</span> +French lesson for the next day. “Why don’t you +go and have your dinner? Or have you had it?” +</p> +<p> +“I have had tea instead of dinner. I couldn’t eat +another mouthful to save me. ‘An’ ye hae been +where I hae been,’” hummed Marjorie mischievously. +</p> +<p> +“Something like that,” satirized Jerry. “Where +did you say you were? Never mind. I am sure +you will tell me some day.” She simpered at Marjorie. +“You should have been with Helen and I today. +Something awfully funny happened. Not to +us. The girls are coming up to hear about it soon. +Helen and I didn’t care to tell it at the table on +account of the Sans.” +</p> +<p> +“Then farewell to my peaceful study hour.” +Marjorie laid away the translation she had been +making. +</p> +<p> +“You can chase the girls away at eight-thirty, +that will give you time enough. If you don’t, I +will. I have studying of my own to do.” +</p> +<p> +“As long as the gang will be here I may as well +save <em>my</em> remarks until then.” +</p> +<p> +A buzz of voices outside the door announced the +“gang.” Beside the three Lookouts and Katherine +were the beloved trio, Helen, Leila and Vera. The +entire crowd pounced upon Marjorie, demanding to +know where she had been. It was unusual for her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97'></a>97</span> +to be away without having left word with some +one of them. +</p> +<p> +“Will I tell you where I was? Certainly! It’s +no secret; at least not now,” she added tantalizingly. +“Don’t you want to hear Jerry’s tale first? +I do.” +</p> +<p> +“Nothing doing. You go ahead and relieve our +anxious minds. We didn’t know but maybe you +had been spirited away by a bogus note again.” +</p> +<p> +A peculiar expression appeared in Marjorie’s eyes +as she went to her chiffonier and drew from it Miss +Hamilton’s letter. +</p> +<p> +“It’s queer, but when I received this letter the +other day, I was almost afraid it was another fake. +Notice the address, then read it,” she commanded, +handing it to Vera who was nearest her. +</p> +<p> +It brought forth exclamatory comment from all, +once each had acquainted herself with its contents. +</p> +<p> +“No wonder you didn’t leave word where you +were going. Did you have a nice time?” Jerry’s +chubby features registered her pleasure of the honor +accorded her room-mate. +</p> +<p> +“Yes; I had a beautiful time. I was worried +because I couldn’t speak of going to any of you. +Miss Susanna gave me permission to tell you eight, +but no others.” Marjorie recounted her visit in +detail. “I wish she would invite the rest of you to +Hamilton Arms. It is a beautiful house inside. I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98'></a>98</span> +only saw the hall and library, but they were magnificent.” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t weep, Marvelous Manager.” Ronny had +noted Marjorie’s wistful expression. “Through +your miraculous machinations we shall all be parading +about Hamilton Arms in the near future.” +</p> +<p> +“I certainly hope so,” was the fervent response. +</p> +<p> +For a little the bevy of girls discussed Marjorie’s +news. All were elated over the pleasure which had +come to her. Her generous thought of the peculiar +old lady on May Day of the previous year had +touched them. +</p> +<p> +“She hasn’t asked you yet if you hung that basket, +has she?” queried Lucy. +</p> +<p> +“How could she possibly suspect me of hanging +it?” laughed Marjorie. +</p> +<p> +“Because it was like you. It carried your atmosphere. +Some day she will suddenly notice that and +ask you about the basket,” Lucy sagely prophesied. +“She seems to be a shrewd old person.” +</p> +<p> +“She is.” Marjorie smiled at the candid criticism. +She wondered if Miss Susanna had not been +in her youth a trifle like Lucy. +</p> +<p> +“Now for what Helen and I saw and heard this +afternoon,” declared Jerry gleefully. The first interest +in Marjorie’s visit to Hamilton Arms had +abated. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99'></a>99</span> +</p> +<p> + “Oh, a horrible tale I have to tell,<br /> + Of the terrible fate that once befell<br /> + A couple of students who resided<br /> + In the very same neighborhood that I did,”<br /> +</p> +<p> +chanted Helen. “You tell it, Jeremiah. You can +make it funnier than I can.” +</p> +<p> +“Helen and I started out with the new car as +proudly as you please this afternoon,” began Jerry +with a reminiscent chuckle. “We hadn’t gone much +further than Hamilton Arms when whiz, bing, +buzz! Along came that Miss Walbert in her blue +and buff car and nearly bumped into us. She came +up from behind and her car just missed scraping +against Helen’s. Leslie Cairns was with her. We +never said a word, but I heard Miss Cairns raise +her voice. I think she gave Miss Walbert a call +down.” +</p> +<p> +“There was no excuse for her, except that she +never seems to pay any particular attention to anyone’s +car but her own,” put in Helen. “I have +heard complaint of her from I don’t remember how +many girls who own cars. Occasionally you will +find a girl who can’t learn to drive a car. She +belongs in that class. Excuse me for butting in. +Proceed, Jeremiah.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s all of the prologue,” Jerry continued. +“Now comes the first act. We went on to town, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100'></a>100</span> +drove around a little, did our errands, had ice +cream at the Lotus and started back highly pleased +with ourselves. You know that place just before +you leave the town where the turn into Hamilton +Highway is made? There is a grocery store and a +garage on one side of the road and a hotel on the +other. Just before we came to that point Miss +Walbert and her car whizzed by us again. She +took that corner with a lurch. When we struck the +place a minute later we saw something had happened. +She had actually scraped the side of one +of those taxis that run between town and the college. +It was coming from the college, I suppose. +Anyway, Miss Cairns and she were both out of +their car and so was the taxi driver. Maybe he +wasn’t giving those two a call down!” +</p> +<p> +Jerry and Helen exchanged joyful smiles at the +recollection of the reckless couple’s discomfiture. +</p> +<p> +“Helen drove very slowly past them. We wanted +to hear what the man was saying,” Jerry continued. +“He was laying down the law to them to beat the +band. We heard Leslie Cairns say, ‘Do you know +to whom you are talking?’ He shouted out, ‘Yes; +to a simpleton of a girl who don’t know no more +about drivin’ than a goose. I seen you drive your +own car, lady, an’ I never had no trouble with you. +Your friend, there, is the limit. You’re runnin’ +chances of landin’ in the hospital or worse when +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_101'></a>101</span> +you go ridin’ with her.’ Leslie Cairns was furious. +I could tell that by her expression. Miss Walbert +fairly shrieked something at him. She was mad as +hops, too. We had passed them by that time so we +couldn’t catch what she was saying. There was +quite a crowd around them, mostly men and youngsters.” +</p> +<p> +“That must be the man Robin and I rode with +the other day,” Marjorie said. “Is he short, with +a red face and quite gray hair?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes; that’s the man. How did you know which +one it was?” Jerry showed surprise. +</p> +<p> +“He had a near collision with Miss Walbert that +day.” Marjorie related the incident. +</p> +<p> +“It is a shame!” Leila’s face had darkened as +she listened to both girls. “I hope Leslie Cairns +takes her in hand. She’s the very one to cause a +bad accident and then home go our cars. She is +such a poor driver. She bowls along the road without +regard for man or beast. She has a good car +which will presently be in the ditch.” +</p> +<p> +“Do you think President Matthews would ban +cars if a Hamilton girl were to ditch her car or met +with serious accident to herself?” Vera asked reflectively. +</p> +<p> +“Hard to say, Midget. It would depend upon +the seriousness of the accident. Suppose a girl +were to ditch her car and be killed. It would be +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102'></a>102</span> +horrifying. I doubt whether we would be allowed +our cars after any such accident.” +</p> +<p> +“Grant nothing like that ever happens.” Lucy +Warner gave a slight shudder. “I shall never forget +the day Kathie was hurt.” +</p> +<p> +“None of us who were with her that day are +likely ever to forget it. Miss Cairns escaped easily +considering the way she was driving. She ought to +be the very one to tell that Miss Walbert a few +things not in the automobile guide,” declared Jerry. +“She certainly did not appear at advantage this +afternoon.” +</p> +<h2><a name='chXII' id='chXII'></a>CHAPTER XII—A TRAITOR IN CAMP</h2> +<p> +Leslie Cairns’ opinion of the matter coincided +with Jerry’s, though the latter could not know it. +To become involved in a roadside argument with an +irate taxicab driver did not appeal to her in the +least. She was not half so angry with him, however, +as with Elizabeth Walbert. She blamed the +latter for the whole thing. For several minutes +after Helen and Jerry had driven by them, Elizabeth +and the driver continued to quarrel. +</p> +<p> +“How much do you want for the damage you +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103'></a>103</span> +say we have done your cab?” Leslie had impatiently +inquired of the man. “Cut it out, Bess, and get +back to your car,” she had ordered in the next +breath. “Let me settle this business.” +</p> +<p> +A momentary hesitation and Elizabeth had +obeyed. She could not afford to antagonize Leslie, +at present. She had an axe of her own yet to be +ground. +</p> +<p> +“I oughtta have twenty-five dollars. It ain’t my +car. Repairin’ comes high.” +</p> +<p> +“Very good. Here is your money. Wait a minute.” +Leslie had extracted the sum from her handbag. +With it came a small pad of blank paper and +a fountain pen. Then and there she obtained not +only a receipt for the money but a statement of +release as well. She was well aware that it would +not cost twenty-five dollars to repaint the side of +the cab scraped by their car, but she preferred the +matter summarily closed. +</p> +<p> +Returning to the car she had said shortly: “I’ll +take the wheel.” Elizabeth had resumed the driver’s +seat. Nor had she made any move toward relinquishing +it. +</p> +<p> +“You heard what I said, Bess,” she had sharply +rebuked. “Either that, or you and I are on the outs +for good. You let me drive that car and show you +a few things you need badly to know about driving.” +Leslie’s lowering face and tense utterance +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104'></a>104</span> +had had its effect. Elizabeth had allowed her to +drive back to Hamilton but had sulked all the way +to the campus. +</p> +<p> +At the garage she had unbent a little and inquired +how much Leslie had paid the driver. “I’ll return it +to you next week,” she had promised. +</p> +<p> +“Suit yourself about that. I’m in no hurry. I +took it upon myself to settle with the idiot. It +wouldn’t worry me if you never paid it. I thought +it best to pacify him. I don’t care to have him +reporting us to Matthews as he threatened to do.” +This had been Leslie’s mind on the subject. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t believe he would ever go near Doctor +Matthews. Still <em>you</em> couldn’t afford to risk being +reported,” Elizabeth had retorted with special emphasis +on the “you.” +</p> +<p> +To this Leslie had vouchsafed no reply. She had +merely stared at her companion in a most disconcerting +fashion and walked off and left her. She +was thoroughly nettled with Elizabeth for her lack +of gratitude. Natalie was right about her it seemed. +She was also wondering where the ungrateful sophomore +had obtained certain information which she +apparently possessed. No one beyond her seven +intimates among the Sans knew that she had been +reprimanded by President Matthews for the accident +to Katherine Langly. To the other members +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105'></a>105</span> +of the club she had intimated that she had adjusted +the matter quietly with Katherine. +</p> +<p> +That evening, while Jerry was recounting to her +chums what she and Helen had heard of the altercation +between the cab driver and the two girls, +Leslie was having a confidential talk with Natalie +Weyman. She had gone straight from the garage +to her room, eaten dinner at the Hall and asked +Natalie to come to her room after dinner. +</p> +<p> +“Nat, you are right about Bess. She is no +good,” Leslie began, dropping into a chair opposite +that of her friend. Briefly narrating the happening +of the afternoon, she repeated the remark Elizabeth +had made to her at the garage. “What would you +draw from that?” she asked. +</p> +<p> +“Someone has been talking.” Natalie compressed +her lips in a tight line. “You are sure you never +told her yourself?” +</p> +<p> +“<em>Positively, no.</em> I have never babbled my private +affairs to Bess, or Lola either. Only the old crowd +were told the facts of that trouble. We have a +traitor in the camp and <em>I know who it is</em>.” Leslie’s +eyes narrowed with sinister significance. “It’s Dulcie. +I am going to find out quietly what all she +has been saying about me and to whom she has been +saying it. I’m sure she told Bess about the summons. +That isn’t so serious. I could overlook that, +although I don’t like it. It is the other things she +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106'></a>106</span> +may have told. That’s what worries me. She and +I have been on the outs since that Valentine masquerade +last year. She hardly ever comes to my +room. I am not sorry. I never got along well with +Dulcie. I never trusted her.” +</p> +<p> +“Dulcie ought to know better than tell all she +knows to that Walbert creature,” Natalie made indignant +return. “Why, Les, suppose she were foolish +enough to tell her about that high tribunal +stunt?” Natalie drew a sharp breath of consternation. +“Dulcie knows the rights of the Remson mix-up, +too.” +</p> +<p> +“Dulcie knows too much. So do some of the +other girls. If I had it to do over again, I would +not tell anyone but you how I put over a stunt. +Why did we haze Bean? Simply because she reported +me to Matthews after Langly had agreed to +drop it. The girls were all in on the hazing, so not +one of them would be safe if they told it.” +</p> +<p> +“The Remson affair would do you the most harm +if it got out,” Natalie said decidedly. “It is contemptible +in Dulcie to gossip about you after all the +favors you have done her. You’ve lent her money +over and over again. You know she never pays it +back if she can slide out of it.” +</p> +<p> +Leslie made an indifferent gesture of assent. +“She owes me over two hundred dollars now. I +lent it to her during her freshie year. She paid up +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107'></a>107</span> +what she borrowed of me last year, but she never +said a word about the other. Dulcie has <em>nerve</em>, +Nat; pure, unadulterated <em>nerve</em>. She can’t bear +me lately because I run the Sans to suit myself. I +always ran the club and she knows that. Last year +she decided that she would like to run it herself. +I sat down on her every time she tried it. She +deliberately left the back door of that house unlocked +the night we hazed Bean. I told her to see +to it. She was edgeways at me. She never went +near the door. You know what happened.” +</p> +<p> +“Dulcie will have to be told a few plain truths.” +Natalie frowned displeased anxiety. The news of +Dulcie’s defection was rather alarming. +</p> +<p> +“She is going to hear them from me, but not yet. +I shall catch her dead to rights before I have things +out with her. I’ve made up my mind just how I +am going to do it, provided the rest of the Sans +stand by me. It will be to their interest to do so. +I mean, with their support, I can give her precisely +what she deserves.” +</p> +<p> +“I’ll stand by you. Joan will, too. She is down +on Dulcie for some reason or other. They haven’t +been on speaking terms for a week. I asked Joan +what the trouble was between them. She said +Dulcie made her weary and she didn’t care whether +she ever spoke to her again or not. That was all I +could get out of her.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108'></a>108</span> +</p> +<p> +“Hm-m!” Leslie looked interested. “I shall +find out tomorrow what Joan has against her. If +Dulcie hasn’t gabbed anything worse to Bess, and +I presume a few others, than the news that I received +a summons from his high and cranky mightiness, +I will let her off with my candid opinion of +her. If she has been a busy little news distributor +of secret matters, she will rue it. I’ll have no +traitors among the Sans.” +</p> +<h2><a name='chXIII' id='chXIII'></a>CHAPTER XIII—WELL MATCHED</h2> +<p> +Leslie’s first crafty move toward determining +Dulcie Vale’s treachery was in the direction of Elizabeth +Walbert. The latter had promised to return +the next week the twenty-five dollars Leslie had +expended in her behalf. Leslie planned to wait +until she did so before making an attempt to discover +how many of the Sans’ secrets Elizabeth +knew. She was certain that Elizabeth would return +the loan promptly, as she received a large allowance +from home and as much more as she chose to +demand. +</p> +<p> +To seek the self-satisfied sophomore’s society was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109'></a>109</span> +not what Leslie proposed to do. She intended matters +should be the other way around. She could +then take Elizabeth completely off her guard and +find out more easily what Dulcie had imparted to +her. +</p> +<p> +Elizabeth also had views of her own regarding +Leslie. The latter had not been nearly so friendly +with her since college had opened as she had been +during the previous year. Leslie had renewed her +old comradeship with Natalie Weyman, whom +Elizabeth detested and stood a little in fear of. +Natalie had never been friendly with her. She had +always held herself aloof. Whenever they chanced +to meet she treated Elizabeth as a mere acquaintance. +It was galling to the ambitious, self-seeking +sophomore, but she loftily ignored Natalie’s frigidity. +She had complained of it once to Leslie and +been soundly snubbed for her pains. “You needn’t +expect much of Nat. She doesn’t like you. That’s +why she freezes you out. It won’t do you any good +to tell me about it, for Nat is my particular pal.” +This had been Leslie’s unsympathetic reception of +the complaint. +</p> +<p> +In her heart Elizabeth did not like Leslie. She +resented Leslie’s domineering ways. This did not +deter her from fawning upon the despotic senior. +She was depending on Leslie to help her regain a +certain popularity which had been hers as a freshman. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_110'></a>110</span> +She had cherished a vain hope that she might +be elected to the sophomore presidency. To her +chagrin she had not even been nominated. Determined +to shine on the campus, her thoughts were +now turning toward basket ball. She was now +anxious to enlist Leslie’s services in helping her +devise a means of making the sophomore team. As +a senior Leslie could easily influence the sports +committee to favor her. Mae Lowry and Sarah +Pierce, both Sans, were on the committee. +</p> +<p> +It had been rumored that Professor Leonard and +the sports committee had disagreed; that the instructor +had coolly advised the committee to do as +it pleased and dropped all interest in sports for that +year. With him out of the reckoning, nothing +stood in her way provided Leslie chose to favor +her. +</p> +<p> +Her greatest ambition, however, was to belong to +the Sans. She was always privately wishing that +one member of the club would drop out. Leslie had +once more told her that the club limit was eighteen +members. If anyone left the club an outside eligible +would be chosen to replace the retiring member so +as to keep the number of girls at eighteen. She +had also tried on the previous June to arrange for +a room at Wayland Hall for the ensuing college +year. She had been unsuccessful in the attempt. +</p> +<p> +After leaving Leslie on the occasion of her mishap +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_111'></a>111</span> +on Hamilton Highway, she had realized her +folly in showing spleen against her companion. +She resolved to offset it as speedily as possible. +She wrote Leslie a note which remained unanswered. +She then telephoned the Hall, but Leslie +was out. Her allowance check having arrived, she +had an excuse to go to see Leslie. Her afternoon +classes over, she set out for Wayland Hall one +rainy afternoon, hoping the inclement weather had +kept Leslie indoors. +</p> +<p> +Her baby-blue eyes gleamed triumph at the cheering +news that Miss Cairns was in. As she ascended +the stairs to Leslie’s room, which was the largest +and most expensive in the house, her curious glances +roved everywhere. She wished she could see into +the room of every student. Her lips fell into an +envious pout as she thought of her own failure to +get into the Hall. She would try again in June, on +that she was determined. +</p> +<p> +Coming to the door of Leslie’s room, she uttered +a muffled exclamation of impatience. A large +“Busy” sign stared her in the face. She did not +turn and go away. Instead her surveying eyes took +in the long hall from end to end. Next, she drew +close to the door and listened. She could hear no +voices from within. Leslie was evidently alone and +studying. +</p> +<p> +With a defiant lifting of her chin Elizabeth +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112'></a>112</span> +rapped on the panel twice and loudly. She listened +again and was repaid by the sound of a chair being +hastily moved, then approaching footsteps. The +door opened with a jerk. Leslie stared at her visitor +with no pleasantness. +</p> +<p> +“I came to return that twenty-five dollars.” Elizabeth +did not give Leslie a chance to speak first. +“I saw the sign on your door. I thought I would +knock, anyway. I’ve been trying to see you for a +week to give it to you. Why didn’t you answer +my note, or didn’t you receive it?” +</p> +<p> +Leslie continued to stare. She was taken aback +for an instant by the cool impudence of the other +girl. This was in reality the only thing about Elizabeth +that Leslie liked. She found the sophomore’s +bold assurance amusing. +</p> +<p> +“Come in,” she drawled, assuming her most indifferent +pose. “I intended asking you if you could +read. I’ll forgive you. I told you there was no +hurry about that money.” +</p> +<p> +“What’s money to me? Not that much!” Elizabeth +snapped her fingers. “I can have all the +money I want to spend here. I simply happened +to be without it the other day. I won’t stay. I see +you are really busy writing letters. It goes to show +you can write. I thought perhaps you had forgotten +how.” +</p> +<p> +Having delivered this thrust she busied herself +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113'></a>113</span> +with her handbag. “Here you are; much obliged.” +She tendered the money to Leslie. “I must go.” +She turned as though to depart. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, sit down!” Leslie tossed the little wad of +bills on the table. “I can finish this letter later. I +have to keep that sign on the door when I want to +be alone. I’d be mobbed if I did not.” +</p> +<p> +At heart Leslie was distinctly glad to see her +caller. She had her part to play on the stage of +deceit, however. +</p> +<p> +“I suppose the Sans are running in and out of +your room a good deal,” Elizabeth returned enviously. +“I wish I could live here. It makes me so +cross when I think of that Miss Dean and those +girls living here and I can’t get in. There will be +a lot of girls graduated from here in June. I think +I can make it next fall. What’s the use, though. +You’ll be gone. It is on your account I’d like to be +here. I think more of you, Leslie, than of all the +rest of the girls put together.” Elizabeth simulated +wistful regret. She had tried out that particular +expression before the mirror until she had perfected +it. It was useful on so many occasions. +</p> +<p> +“Do you truly think as much of me as you say, +Bess, or are you simply talking to hear yourself +talk?” Leslie carried out admirably a pretense of +sudden earnestness. +</p> +<p> +“Why, <em>of course</em>, I care a lot about you, Leslie.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114'></a>114</span> +Elizabeth adopted a slightly grieved tone. “Think +of how <em>much</em> you have done for me.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, that’s all right.” Leslie dismissed the reminder +with a wave of the hand. “I have a reason +for asking you that question. I have one or two +other questions to ask you, too. If you are my +friend, <em>and wish to continue to be my friend</em>, you +will answer them.” +</p> +<p> +“I certainly will, if I can,” was the glib promise. +</p> +<p> +“You can,” Leslie curtly assured. “First, who +told you about my having received a summons to +Matthews’ office on account of that accident to +Langly last fall?” +</p> +<p> +“How do you know——” began the sophomore, +then bit her lip. +</p> +<p> +“I <em>know</em>. There isn’t much goes on on the +campus that I don’t know.” This with intent to +intimidate. “I know who told you, for that matter.” +</p> +<p> +“I promised I wouldn’t tell. Still, if you say you +know who it was, I believe you do.” Elizabeth +hastily conceded, remembering her own interests. +“You won’t let on that I told you?” +</p> +<p> +Leslie shook her head. “Trust me to be discreet,” +she said. +</p> +<p> +“It was Dulcie Vale,” came the treacherous +answer. +</p> +<p> +“I knew it.” Leslie brought one hand sharply +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115'></a>115</span> +down against the other. “What else has Dulcie +told you?” +</p> +<p> +“About what?” counter-questioned the sophomore. +</p> +<p> +“That’s what I am asking you.” Leslie leaned +forward in her chair, steady eyes on her vis-a-vis. +</p> +<p> +Elizabeth experienced inward trepidation. Dulcie +had told her a great many things which she had +promptly repeated to friends of hers under promise +of secrecy. Suppose Leslie had traced some bit +of gossip to her. She had heard that Leslie could +pretend affability when she was the angriest. She +might be only using Dulcie as a blind in order to +extract a confession from her. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t quite understand you, Leslie,” she asserted, +knitting her light brows. “Dulcie has talked +to me a little about the Sans. I never mentioned a +word she said to anyone else.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s not the point. I am not accusing you of +talking too much. You made a remark the other +day which I took as an assumption that you had +been told about the summons. I knew Dulcie had +told you. Dulcie has said things to others, too.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I know that.” Confidence returning, Elizabeth +was quick to place the blame on the absent +Dulcie. +</p> +<p> +“Yes; and so do I. It is very necessary that I +should get to the bottom of her talk. Some say one +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116'></a>116</span> +thing about her, some another. I thought I could +rely on you for the facts.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t care to have any trouble with Dulcie +over this,” deprecated Elizabeth. +</p> +<p> +“You won’t. Your name won’t be mentioned in +it. All I need is the facts. You will be doing me a +great favor. If there is anything I can do for you +in return, let me know.” Leslie had donned her +cloak of pseudo-sincerity. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, no; there is nothing.” Elizabeth slowly +shook her head. “I—well, I wouldn’t want you to +think I <em>cared</em> for a return.” Her manner plainly +indicated that there was something Leslie might do +for her if she chose. +</p> +<p> +“What is it you want?” Leslie exhibited marked +impatience. “Favor for favor you know,” she +added boldly. “I never mince matters.” +</p> +<p> +“I am crazy to play on the soph basket-ball team. +Do you think you can fix it for me?” +</p> +<p> +“Surest thing ever. Leonard is peeved and has +tossed up sports. Two of the Sans are on committee. +Is that all you need?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes.” The wide babyish eyes registered a flash +of gratification. “You are so <em>kind</em>, Leslie. Thank +you a thousand times. I know you won’t fail me.” +</p> +<p> +“You’re welcome. I’ll fix it for you tomorrow. +One bit of advice. Don’t play unless you are an +expert.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117'></a>117</span> +</p> +<p> +“I am. When I was at prep school——” +</p> +<p> +“Never mind about that now. You go ahead and +tell me what I asked you. It is almost six and Nat +will be here soon.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, will she?” The sophomore cast an apprehensive +glance toward the door. “Is she a very +good friend of Dulcie’s?” +</p> +<p> +“She’s a better friend of mine,” was the bored +reply. Leslie was growing tired of being kept from +what she burned to know. “Please don’t waste any +more time, Bess. We can’t talk after Nat comes in. +I don’t believe I’ll be able to see you again before +Saturday. I’m awfully busy. I’ll lunch you at +the Lotus then. We’ll use my roadster for the trip +to town. What?” +</p> +<p> +Elated at having gleaned from Leslie a promise +of benefit to herself and an invitation to luncheon, +Elizabeth once more stipulated that her name +should be left out of the revelation. Again reassured, +she proceeded to regale Leslie with the confidences +Dulcie had imparted to her at various +times. She talked steadily for almost half an hour. +Leslie gave her free rein, interrupting her but little. +</p> +<p> +“It’s even worse than I had thought,” Leslie +declared grimly, when Elizabeth could recall nothing +more to tell. “Bess, if you know when you are +well off, you will never tell a soul what you have +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_118'></a>118</span> +told me. Part of it isn’t true. Dulcie was romancing +to you about that hazing affair. We talked +about it for fun, but that was all. Why, we were +all at the masquerade that night.” +</p> +<p> +“Dulcie wasn’t,” flatly contradicted the other. +“She had a black eye. She said she was hurt at +that house when——” +</p> +<p> +“Dulcie bumped into the door of her room that +night with her mask on,” interrupted Leslie angrily. +“So she told us. If she was where she claims she +was, certainly we were not with her. This isn’t the +first foolish rumor of the kind she has started. It’s +a good thing the rest of the girls don’t know this. +They’d never forgive Dulcie for starting such +yarns. As for that trouble she claims we had with +Miss Remson. There was nothing to that, either. +We have never exchanged a word with Remson on +the subject. I don’t mind what she told you about +the summons. The rest of her lies! Well, there is +this much to it, Dulcie is due to hear from me and +in short order.” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_119'></a>119</span><a name='chXIV' id='chXIV'></a>CHAPTER XIV—SANS’ MERCY</h2> +<p> +Despite Leslie’s denials, Elizabeth left her room +only half convinced. Being as lost to honor as +Leslie, she was also as shrewd. She made a vow +to keep her own counsel thereafter. She knew herself +to be as guilty as Dulcie. She hoped Leslie +would never discover that. Leslie had promised +that her name should not be mentioned in the matter. +If brought to book by Leslie, Dulcie could not +accuse her of circulating the stories intrusted to her +without incriminating herself. Elizabeth felt quite +safe on that score. +</p> +<p> +For two or three days after her call upon Leslie, +she kept out of Dulcie’s way for fear the latter had +been taken to task for her treachery and might suspect +her as being instrumental in having brought it +about. On Friday, however, she met Dulcie in the +library. Dulcie invited her to dinner at the Colonial +and she went without a tremor of conscience. The +former was not in a gossiping humor that day. She +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120'></a>120</span> +was doing badly in all her subjects and worried in +consequence. +</p> +<p> +Elizabeth went calmly to luncheon at the Lotus +with Leslie on Saturday, pluming herself in that she +was on excellent terms with both factions. She +reported to Leslie her meeting with Dulcie on Friday, +saying lamely that Dulcie never gossiped a bit +about the Sans. “She hadn’t better,” Leslie had +returned vengefully. “She has done mischief +enough already.” When Elizabeth had ventured to +inquire when Dulcie was to be “called down,” Leslie +had said, “When I get ready to do it. I’m not +ready yet.” +</p> +<p> +Natalie and Joan Myers had been informed by +Leslie of Dulcie’s treachery. The trio had then set +to work to discover how much damage she had +done; something not easy to determine. Natalie +and Joan demanded that she should be dropped +from the club. They were sure the others would +be of the same mind. Even Eleanor Ray, her +former chum, was on the outs with Dulcie. There +would be no objection to the penalty from Eleanor. +Leslie’s plan was to gather the evidence against +Dulcie, place it before the Sans, minus the culprit, +at a private meeting, and let them decide her fate. +In spite of Leslie Cairns’ unscrupulous disposition, +she had a queer sense of justice which occasionally +stirred within her. Thus she was bent on being +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121'></a>121</span> +sure of her ground before accusing Dulcie to her +face. +</p> +<p> +After a week had passed and the three had +learned nothing new regarding the circulation of +their misdeeds about the campus, Leslie called a +meeting of the club in her room while Dulcie was +absent from the Hall. Indignation ran high at the +revelation. The verdict was, “Drop her from the +club.” Notwithstanding the possibility pointed out +by Leslie that she might turn on them and betray +them to headquarters, her associates were keen for +dropping her. +</p> +<p> +“What harm can she do us?” argued Margaret +Wayne. “She can’t give us away to Doctor Matthews +without cooking her own goose. That’s our +only danger from her. It’s our word against hers. +Any stories she has told on the campus will never +go further than among the students. It is too bad! +Dulcie should have known better than to be so +utterly treacherous. She deserves to be dropped. +We could never trust her again.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s what I think,” concurred Joan Myers. +“Even if her tales <em>did</em> bring about a private inquiry, +it is our word against hers. We have really walked +with a sword over our heads since last Saint Valentine’s +night. It has never fallen. I say, <em>simply +fire</em> Dulcie from the Sans, and be done with it. Let +it be a lesson to the rest of us to be discreet.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122'></a>122</span> +</p> +<p> +“When is the deed to be done?” Adelaide +Forman inquired. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know yet. I want you girls to see what +you can glean on the campus. I must have every +scrap of evidence against her that I can get,” Leslie +announced. “We may not be able to spring it on +her for a week or two. When we do, the meeting +will be in this room. I’ll hang a heavy curtain over +the door so we won’t be heard. If she gets very +angry she will raise her voice to a positive shriek.” +</p> +<p> +“Wouldn’t it be better to hold that meeting outside +the Hall? Dulcie will raise an awful fuss. If +she hadn’t told something I made her swear she +wouldn’t tell, I would not hear to having her treated +that way. I am down on her for that very reason. +Otherwise I would feel very sorry for her,” explained +Eleanor Ray. +</p> +<p> +“I am not on good terms with her. She made +trouble between Evangeline and me last week. We +only straightened it up today.” Joan volunteered +this information. “Leslie’s room is the best place +for the meeting. It is situated so that Dulcie won’t +be heard if she cries or flies into a temper.” +</p> +<p> +While among the Sans there was not one girl +who had not stooped to dishonorable acts since her +entrance into Hamilton College, the fact of Dulcie’s +defection seemed monstrous indeed. +</p> +<p> +“Be careful what you say to Bess Walbert,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123'></a>123</span> +Natalie took the liberty of saying. “How much +does she know about what we shall do with Dulc? +What did you tell her about it?” +</p> +<p> +“I said I had heard other things Dulcie had been +saying; that she was due to hear from me for gossiping. +That such yarns must be stopped. I +warned her to keep to herself whatever Dulc had +told her. She promised silence. I don’t know.” +Leslie shrugged dubiously. “Take a leaf from +Nat’s book, girls, and keep mum to Bess. She may +try to pump you. She’s crazy to know what I am +going to say to Dulc and when the fuss is to come +off.” +</p> +<p> +Natalie flushed her gratification of Leslie’s approbation. +The others received their leader’s counsel +with marked respect. The news of Dulcie’s +perfidy had given them food for uneasy reflection. +</p> +<p> +“We’ll just have to depend on you, Les, to deal +with Dulcie,” Joan Myers said emphatically. “You +can do it scientifically. Of course, we expect to +stand by you. When the time comes you ought to +do the talking.” +</p> +<p> +“The firing, you mean,” corrected Leslie, smiling +in her most unpleasant fashion. “Leave it to me. +It’s our campus reputation against her feelings; if +she has any. We all have a certain pride in ourselves +as seniors. I’m not anxious to be looked +down upon by the other classes. It is only a few +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124'></a>124</span> +months until Commencement. We must hang on +until then, and at the same time keep up an appearance +of senior dignity.” +</p> +<p> +An assenting murmur arose. Allowed to do as +they pleased by doting or careless parents, not one +of the Sans would escape parental wrath were she +to fail in her college course. Even more serious +consequences would be attached to expellment. +</p> +<p> +“How are we to behave toward Dulcie?” was +Eleanor Ray’s question as the meeting broke up. +</p> +<p> +“As though nothing had happened,” Leslie directed. +“I shall take her by surprise. I wish her +to be so completely broken up she won’t have the +nerve to fight back, either on the night of the fuss +or afterward.” +</p> +<h2><a name='chXV' id='chXV'></a>CHAPTER XV—PLANNING FOR OTHERS</h2> +<p> +While the Sans were experiencing the discomfort +of internal friction, the Lookouts and their +friends were traveling the pleasant ways of harmony +and peace. The sophomores had so thoroughly +taken their freshman sisters under their +genial wing that the juniors had little welfare work +to do in that direction. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125'></a>125</span> +</p> +<p> +In the matter of basket ball they lost all active +interest after the first game between the freshman +and sophomore teams which took place on the first +Saturday afternoon in November. The Sans still +had friends enough among the seniors to make their +influence felt in this respect. With two Sans elected +to the sports committee, Professor Leonard had +thrown up his hands in disgust after a vain attempt +to get along pleasantly with the arrogant committee. +He refused to be present at the try-out. Afterward +he made it a point to be away from the gymnasium +during team practice. +</p> +<p> +Leslie Cairns kept her word to Elizabeth Walbert +to the letter. She was chosen by the committee to +play on the official sophomore team. Phyllis Moore +was also picked solely on account of her prowess. +When she found herself on the same team with +Elizabeth, she promptly resigned. +</p> +<p> +The freshman team was picked by the committee +entirely according to Sans tactics. Therefore, the +democratic element of Hamilton foresaw a series of +uninteresting games ahead. Dutifully they attended +the initial game of the season which the sophs won. +Most of the applause came from the seniors present +at the game. According to Muriel Harding, she had +seen better games played by the grammar school +children of Sanford. +</p> +<p> +Basket ball thus failing to arouse their marked +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126'></a>126</span> +enthusiasm, the former faithful fans and expert +players turned their moments of recreation into +channels which pleased them better. Incidental with +the decline of basket ball, Marjorie and Robin took +to looking earnestly about them for a motive for +the entertainments they had discussed giving. +</p> +<p> +Marjorie scouted about diligently in an effort to +locate students off the campus who needed financial +help. She took Anna Towne into her confidence at +last and found out something of interest. +</p> +<p> +“It isn’t half so much that most of the girls living +off the campus can’t pull themselves through +college. They manage to do it by working through +the summer vacations. It is the way we have to +live that is so nerve-racking at times. The food +isn’t always good, and there’s so little variety if one +boards. The girls who cook for themselves have +to market. That’s a strain. One is out of bread +or butter or another staple and forgets all about it +until supper time. Then the small stores nearby are +closed. Perhaps one wishes to spend an hour or +two in the library after recitations. There is the +marketing to do, or else it has to be done early in +the morning when one is hurrying to get ready for +a first recitation. That’s merely one of the difficulties +attached to trying to lead the student life and +doing light housekeeping at the same time. +</p> +<p> +“On the other hand,” Anna had further explained, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127'></a>127</span> +“if one boards one isn’t always allowed to do one’s +own laundering. That’s quite an item of expense. +It costs more in money to board, and it is more of +an expense of spirit to keep house on a small scale. +It is a great irritation either way. That is the opinion +of every girl off the campus I have talked with. +You girls in your beautiful campus house are lucky. +Many of these boarding and rooming houses are so +cold in winter. For the amount of board or rental +we pay the proprietors claim they can’t afford to +give adequate heat. +</p> +<p> +“You see, Marjorie, when girls like myself decide +on enrolling at a certain college, they have only +the prospectus to go by. They read in the Bulletin +of Students’ Aids and Bureaus of Self-help but +they do not reckon on them. They go to college on +their own resources. They wouldn’t dream of asking +help as freshmen; perhaps not at all during +their whole course.” +</p> +<p> +“I see,” Marjorie had assented very soberly. It +hurt her to hear of the struggles for an education +going on so near her, while she had everything and +more than heart could desire. “There ought to be +one or two houses on the campus where students +could live as cheaply as in boarding and rooming +houses and still have their time entirely for study +and recreation.” +</p> +<p> +“That won’t be in my time at Hamilton,” Anna +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128'></a>128</span> +had declared with a tired little smile. “I hope it +will happen some day.” +</p> +<p> +When Marjorie had left Anna, it was with a certain +generous resolve. That night she made it +known to Jerry. +</p> +<p> +“Do you know what I am going to do?” she +asked, after recounting to her room-mate her conversation +of the afternoon. +</p> +<p> +“I do not. I’ll be pleased to hear your remarks, +whatever they may be,” encouraged Jerry with one +of her wide smiles. +</p> +<p> +“You know what a lot of vacancies there will be +here in June,” Marjorie began. “Those vacancies +ought to be filled by off-the-campus girls. Take +Anna, for instance. She earns about one-third +enough money summers to keep her at Wayland +Hall. I shall furnish the other two-thirds for her. +I shall begin now and save something from my +allowance toward it. I shall ask Captain not to +buy me a lot of new clothes for next year, but to +give me the money instead. I am going to do a +little sacrificing. I shall cut out dinners and luncheons +off the campus. I’ll go only to Baretti’s and +not so very often.” +</p> +<p> +“We are an extravagant set,” Jerry confessed. +“Our board is paid at the Hall; the very best board, +too. Yet away we go every two or three days for a +feed at our favorite tea-rooms. That’s a good idea, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129'></a>129</span> +Marvelous Manager. I shall presently adopt an off-the-campusite +myself. Ronny will adopt a dozen.” +</p> +<p> +“Ronny would finance them all, but I sha’n’t let +her. General would give me the money to see Anna +through college, but I don’t wish it to be that way. +I want it to be self-denial money. I’d like to find a +way to help the off-the-campus girls this year.” +</p> +<p> +“Give shows. Make money. Turn it over to +’em,” suggested Jerry, with an airy wave of the +hand. “Nothing easier.” +</p> +<p> +“Nothing harder, you mean,” corrected Marjorie. +“They wouldn’t like to accept it as a private gift, +I’m afraid. Besides, some of them board; others +do light housekeeping. Those who keep house could +use the money we offered to make things easier. +Still they’d have the strain of housework on their +minds. Those who board wouldn’t be benefited +much unless they changed boarding places. There +is only that one collection of boarding houses near +the campus. One is about the same as another. +Hamilton has been a rich girls’ college for a long +time. The fine equipment and super-excellent faculty +have filled it up with well-to-do and moneyed +students.” +</p> +<p> +“I’d like to see every Hamilton student on the +campus,” declared Jerry heartily. “It would take +three campus houses to do it. There must be close +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130'></a>130</span> +to seventy-five girls in that bunch of off-campus +houses.” +</p> +<p> +“We could start our fund for that purpose,” was +the hopeful response. +</p> +<p> +“Who’d take care of the plan after we were graduated? +It would take a lot of money to build +campus houses. Besides, how would we get the +site? Maybe the Board wouldn’t hear to the +project” +</p> +<p> +“Too true, too true, Jeremiah,” Marjorie conceded +gayly. “That plan is a little far-fetched just +yet. Later it may seem feasible. The fact remains +that Robin and I yearn to get up a show; object to +give away the proceeds.” +</p> +<p> +“You can do this. Arrange for the show. Advertise +it as being given for the purpose of founding +a students’ beneficiary association. Take a third +of the proceeds and start the society. Give the +other two-thirds to Anna and let her distribute it +privately among the girls who need it. She knows +them. She can get away with it better than you can. +If anyone comes down on the treasury for our little +lone third we can hand it out and keep it up by private +contributions until some more money is earned. +I suppose you two marvelous managers will continue +in the show business as long as it is profitable.” +</p> +<p> +“Your head is level, Jeremiah,” laughed Marjorie, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_131'></a>131</span> +her eyes sparkling. “That’s a good plan. +I’ll see Robin tomorrow, and Anna too. Robin can +begin to gather up the performers. Anna can find +out for me as to how her flock are situated. I shall +call the girls in tomorrow evening and ask them if +they each would like to finance a student next year. +Leila, Vera and Helen will like to, even if they +have been graduated from Hamilton. Kathie can’t, +but she will wish to help in some other way.” +</p> +<p> +“Anna Towne was my freshie catch. You may +have her. I’ll scout around and find someone else,” +magnanimously accorded Jerry. +</p> +<p> +Marjorie spent her leisure hours during the ensuing +few days in interviewing her friends and helping +Robin plan the show. With Thanksgiving only +ten days off, the show would not take place until +after that holiday. The girls tackled the programme, +however, and completed it within three +days. +</p> +<p> +Ronny was to dance twice. Marjorie had written +to Constance Stevens, who had promised to sing +at the revue. These two numbers were to be the +features. The Silverton Hall orchestra would contribute +two numbers. Leila and Vera had promised +an ancient Irish contra dance in costume. +Phyllis would give a violin solo. Blanche Scott +would offer a grand opera selection in her best baritone +voice. Ronny agreed to train eight girls in a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132'></a>132</span> +singing and dancing number. As a wind-up, four +Acasia House girls were to put on a one-act French +play. +</p> +<p> +Busy with her new project, Marjorie had not +forgotten Miss Susanna. The day after her visit +to Hamilton Arms she had written the old lady one +of her sincere, friendly notes. She had not expected +a reply. Nevertheless, Miss Hamilton had +returned a few lines of acknowledgment. Since +then the wires of communication between them had +been idle. +</p> +<p> +Marjorie regretted this. She would have liked, +during the beautiful autumn weather, to walk about +the grounds of Hamilton Arms with its owner. +With the last leaves off the trees and the earth +frost-bitten, she began to feel that Miss Susanna +had not desired her further acquaintance. In passing +Hamilton Arms she strained her eyes, invariably, +for a sight of the old lady. She saw her but +once, and at a distance. +</p> +<p> +She wondered as Thanksgiving approached what +kind of Thanksgiving Miss Hamilton would have. +She resolved, before leaving college for home, to +write the last of the Hamiltons as cheerful a note +as she could compose. +</p> +<p> +Three days before college closed for the holiday +she found a letter in the Hall bulletin board in Miss +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133'></a>133</span> +Susanna’s handwriting. This letter bore the address +“Wayland Hall,” and read: +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +“<span class='sc'>Dear Child</span>: +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +“I have a curiosity to meet some of the young +women you exalted to me when you took tea at the +Arms. Will you bring them with you to five o’clock +tea tomorrow afternoon? I had intended writing +you before this date, but have been ill and out of +sorts. I believe you mentioned eight young women +as your particular friends. I can entertain you and +the beloved eight, but no more. Do not trouble to +answer this note. I shall expect to see you, even if +the others can’t come to tea. +</p> +<p style='text-align:right; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-right:2em;;'>“Yours sincerely,</p> +<p style='text-align:right; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-right:2em;;'>“<span class='sc'>Susanna Craig Hamilton</span>.”</p> +<p> +Marjorie uttered a kind of exultant crow and +performed a funny little dance of jubilation about +the room. Jerry had not yet come from recitations, +so she hurried out to find the other Lookouts. +Ronny was the only one in. She rejoiced with +Marjorie, her interest in Hamilton Arms and its +owner being second only to that of her chum. +</p> +<p> +“She loves flowers. We must take her a big box +of roses,” was Marjorie’s generous thought. “Pink, +white and red ones; yellow roses, too, if we can +find them. It is hard to find a certain kind of fragrant, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134'></a>134</span> +very double yellow rose at the florist’s now.” +</p> +<p> +“You mean ‘Perle de Jaddin,’” Ronny said +quickly. “We have acres of them at ‘Manana.’ +They are my favorite rose.” +</p> +<p> +“I love them, too,” Marjorie nodded. “I remember +that name now. I will collect two dollars apiece +from the girls. Two times nine are eighteen. We +ought to be able to buy an armful of roses for eighteen +dollars. I’ll ask Leila to drive to Hamilton for +them. She has no class the last hour. I think we +had better walk to Hamilton Arms. Miss Susanna +seems to be rather down on girls who drive cars. +So there is no use in flaunting her dislike in her +face. I may be in error on that point. She made +a remark on the day I met her that led me to think +so.” +</p> +<p> +“You go and find the other girls. I’ll tell Lucy +as soon as she comes in,” Ronny offered. “The +sooner you see them, the better. If they have engagements +for tomorrow afternoon they will have +to gracefully slide out of them. We all must accept +Miss Susanna’s invitation. It is a case of now or +never.” +</p> +<p> +Marjorie left Ronny to go joyfully on her pleasant +errand. Her second quest was more successful. +Leila and Vera had returned while she was in +Ronny’s room. Both were elated over the unexpected +honor. Leila was more than willing to make +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135'></a>135</span> +the trip to the florist’s shop. Marjorie met Katherine +in the hall just as she was leaving Leila’s +room. +</p> +<p> +The trio of absentees, Helen, Muriel and Jerry, +she decided must be out somewhere together. She +smiled to herself as she pictured Jerry’s face when +she heard the news. “Just because I am in a hurry +to tell Jerry she will probably go to dinner off the +campus and come marching in about nine o’clock,” +was her half-vexed rumination. +</p> +<p> +To her satisfaction Jerry walked into the room at +ten minutes to six. She and Helen had taken a +ride in the latter’s car. Jerry was full of mirth over +the fact that they had met Elizabeth Walbert’s car +at the side of the road with a blown-out tire. A +mechanician from a Hamilton garage was on the +scene adjusting a new one under the verbose direction +of the owner. +</p> +<p> +“Helen drove her car past at a crawl. We +wanted to hear what she was saying to the man +from the garage. Honestly, we could hear her +voice before we came very near her. She shrieks +at the top of her lungs. She was trying to tell him +what to do. He wasn’t paying any more attention +to her than if she hadn’t been there. That blond +freshie, who snubbed Phil the day she tried to help +her at the station, was with her. I heard her say, +‘My, but he is slow. Our chauffeur could have put +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136'></a>136</span> +on three tires while he was thinking about putting +on one.’ So encouraging to the workman!” Jerry’s +tones registered gleeful sarcasm. “I wish she had +been stuck there for about four hours.” +</p> +<p> +“You should not rejoice at the downfall of +others,” Marjorie reproved with a giggle. “That +is, if you can class a bursted tire as a downfall.” +</p> +<p> +“It did me a world of good to see those two little +snips stuck at the side of the road,” returned Jerry. +“That Walbert girl and her car are a joke. I wish +we had a college paper. I’d write her up. Funny +there isn’t one at Hamilton. Almost every other +college has one, sometimes two. I think I shall start +one next year, if I’m not too busy.” +</p> +<p> +“You might call it ‘Jeremiah’s Journal,’” suggested +Marjorie. Both girls laughed at this conceit. +Marjorie then acquainted her room-mate with the +invitation, at the same time handing her Miss Hamilton’s +note. +</p> +<p> +“Will wonders never cease!” Jerry laid down +the note and beamed at Marjorie. “All your fault, +Marvelous Manager. You went ahead and paved +the way into Miss Susanna’s good graces for the +rest of us. You certainly do get on the soft side of +people without trying.” +</p> +<p> +“Not a bit of it,” Marjorie stoutly contested. +“Any one of you girls would have done as I did +and with the same results. I am so glad you are +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137'></a>137</span> +all going to meet her. She can’t help but have a +better opinion of our dear old Alma Mater after +she has met some of her nicest children. I guess +that basket handle broke at the psychological +moment.” +</p> +<h2><a name='chXVI' id='chXVI'></a>CHAPTER XVI—OUT OF THE PAST</h2> +<p> +The invited guests were in scarcely more of an +anticipatory flutter than Miss Susanna herself. She +had broken down her prejudice against girls partly +out of curiosity to see and know Marjorie’s friends, +partly because of her growing fondness for Marjorie. +The innocent beauty of the young girl, and +her utter lack of conceit and affectation, had made +a deep impression on the suspicious, embittered old +lady. She had no expectation of liking Marjorie’s +friends as she was learning to like the courteous, +gracious lieutenant. It was her skeptical opinion, +uttered to Jonas, that, if <em>one</em> of the “new ones” +turned out to be half as worthy as “that pretty +child,” she would not regret the experiment. +</p> +<p> +“You may take me for an old fool, Jonas,” she +declared to her faithful servitor of many years. +“Here I am entertaining college misses after I’ve +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_138'></a>138</span> +sworn enmity against them for so long. Well, +everything once, Jonas; everything once. If I +don’t like ’em, they won’t be invited here again.” +</p> +<p> +“The young lady’s friends will be all right, Miss +Susanna,” Jonas had earnestly assured. “She is +a fine little lady.” +</p> +<p> +The “young lady’s friends,” however, were seized +with a certain amount of trepidation when, on the +designated afternoon, they advanced on Hamilton +Arms, looking their prettiest. Each had worn the +afternoon frock she liked best in honor of her +hostess. Marjorie, Leila and Jerry headed the van, +Leila bearing in her arms a huge box of roses. +Marjorie had insisted that Leila must present these +to Miss Susanna. Leila had sturdily demurred, +then accepted the honor thrust upon her. All the +way to Hamilton Arms she had kept the party in a +gale of laughter with the humorous presentation +speeches which she framed en route. +</p> +<p> +Within a few steps of the house her fund of +words deserted her. “Take these yourself, Marjorie,” +she implored. “I am in too much of a glee +at my own foolishness. I shall laugh and disgrace +us all if I undertake to give her the roses.” +</p> +<p> +“You’ll be all right, you goose. I refuse to help +you out.” Marjorie waved aside the proffered box. +“Rally your nerve and say the first thing that occurs +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_139'></a>139</span> +to you. It will be sure to be the best thing you +could possibly say.” +</p> +<p> +“I doubt it. Well, I can but take firm hold on +the box and make the best of a bad matter.” Leila +grasped the box with exaggerated force, cleared her +throat and burst out laughing. She continued to +laugh as they ascended the steps. She had hardly +straightened her face when Jonas answered the +door and ushered the guests over the threshold they +had never expected to cross. +</p> +<p> +“I have not seen so many girls at close range for +a long time,” announced a brisk voice. Miss Susanna +had come from the library into the hall to +greet her visitors. She was attired in a one-piece +dress of dark gray silk with a white fichu at the +throat of frost-like lace. +</p> +<p> +“How are you, my child?” She now took Marjorie’s +hand. “And these are your friends.” Her +bright brown eyes were inspecting the group of +young women with a kind of reflective curiosity. +“Introduce them to me and tell me each name +slowly. I wish to know each one by name from +now on. I used to have a good memory for +names.” +</p> +<p> +Marjorie complied with the instruction, adding +some friendly little point descriptive of each chum. +This evoked laughter and helped to ease the slight +strain attached to the presentation. Leila then proffered +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_140'></a>140</span> +the box of roses with a frank, “Here is our +good will to you, Miss Hamilton.” +</p> +<p> +“What’s this?” Miss Susanna viewed the long +box in amazement. A swift tide of color rose to +her cheeks. She reached for it mechanically as +though uncertain what to do next. She held it for +an instant, then said: “I thank you, girls. You +could have done nothing that would please me +more. I love flowers; particularly roses. Come +into the library now and let us get acquainted.” +</p> +<p> +In the library Miss Susanna explored the florist’s +box with the pleasure of a child. She exclaimed +happily over the masses of gorgeous roses as she +lifted them from the box and inhaled their fragrance. +She sent Jonas for vases and arranged +them to suit her fancy, talking animatedly to her +guests as her small hands busied themselves with +the pleasant task. +</p> +<p> +The girls gathered informally about her, looking +on with gratified eyes. The flower gift had established +a bond of sympathy between them. Already +Miss Susanna was beginning to glimpse the reason +for Marjorie’s devotion to her special friends. The +girls also understood Marjorie’s growing interest +in the last of the Hamiltons. Miss Hamilton had +an oddly fascinating personality which commanded +liking. +</p> +<p> +“There!” Miss Susanna exclaimed, as the last +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141'></a>141</span> +rose went into a vase to her satisfaction. “I shall +leave them in the library while you are here. Afterward +I shall take my posies to my room. They will +be the last thing I see tonight and the first in the +morning. I have selfishly fussed with my lovely +roses instead of giving you hungry children your +tea. We are going to have it in the tea room today. +I will ask you to come now.” +</p> +<p> +She led the way from the library to an apartment +directly behind it. A subdued chorus of admiration +ascended from the guests as they stepped into a +room which was quite Chinese in character. The +walls were hung with rare Chinese embroideries +and delicately-tinted prints. A pale green matting +rug with intricately-wrought lavender and buff +characters covered the floor. The tables and chairs +were of polished teak, beautifully inlaid with mother +of pearl. In one corner was a tall Chinese cabinet +topped by two exquisite peachblow vases. Here and +there were other vases of value and beauty. It was +an amazing room. With so much to look at, it +required time to appreciate fully its worth from an +artistic point of view. +</p> +<p> +While there were several small tables, there was +a large oblong one which would seat the party. It +was laid for tea and graced by the most wonderful +tea set the girls had ever seen. It was of faint, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142'></a>142</span> +almost translucent, green banded by an odd Chinese +scroll border in silver. +</p> +<p> +“What a perfectly wonderful room!” gasped +Vera, her hands coming together in an admiring +clasp, so characteristic of her. +</p> +<p> +Her approval was echoed by the others. The +mistress of Hamilton Arms piloted them to the +large table, taking her place at the head of it. +</p> +<p> +“Have your tea first, then you may explore Uncle +Brooke’s famous tea room as much as you please.” +Miss Susanna glanced about at the circle of eager +young faces with a bright smile. She was enjoying +this innovation so much more than she had thought +she might. “This will really be a meat tea. I know +you girls will need something more substantial than +tea and cakes, as you won’t be home in time for +dinner.” +</p> +<p> +The invaluable Jonas now appearing, an appetizing +collation consisting of creamed chicken, hot +muffins, a salad and sweets was served, together +with much tea and more talk and laughter. The +girls were hungry enough to enjoy every mouthful +of the delicious food provided by their hostess, +agreeing with Marjorie as to the super-excellence +of the tea. +</p> +<p> +“Please tell us about this tea room, Miss Susanna,” +coaxed Marjorie. The repast finished, the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_143'></a>143</span> +party still sat at table. “I suppose it was planned +and arranged by Mr. Brooke Hamilton.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes; it is considered the finest private tea room +in America,” was the reply. The odd part of this +room is that every article in it was a gift to my +great uncle. Shortly after LaFayette’s visit to +America, when Uncle Brooke was a young man in +his early twenties, he embarked on a business venture +to China. He expected to be gone only a year. +Instead, he remained in China for twelve years. +Unlike many persons, he did not antagonize the +Chinese. They learned to appreciate him for his +nobility, and became his firm friends. Every now +and then, someone would make him a present. A +true Chinaman will give the best he has if he wishes +to give. +</p> +<p> +“Uncle Brooke was so much pleased with his growing +collection of things Chinese, that he announced +his intention of having a Chinese room in his home +when he returned to America,” continued the old +lady, a gleam of pride in her eyes. “He told his +Chinese friends of his idea and they were delighted. +Eventually a rich noble, who had been one of Uncle +Brooke’s truest friends, died. He bequeathed a +priceless collection of Chinese antiquities to my ancestor. +Among them was this tea set, those two +peachblow vases, and that print on the east wall. +When he returned to America it took him six +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_144'></a>144</span> +months to arrange this room to his satisfaction. +He arranged it and pulled it to pieces dozens of +times before he produced the effect he desired.” +</p> +<p> +“Do you remember him, Miss Susanna?” asked +Marjorie eagerly, then blushed for fear her question +might be considered too pointed by her hostess. +</p> +<p> +“Very well, indeed. I was a young woman when +he died. He was seventy-nine years old the week +before his death. My father was the son of his +only brother who was several years older than +Uncle Brooke. Father was an invalid during the +last years of his life. We came here to live when +I was twelve. As a child, Uncle Brooke would +often take me for walks about the estate. He +taught me the names and habits of trees, shrubs and +flowers. He was a true nature man.” +</p> +<p> +“It seems odd to hear so much, all at once, of +Mr. Brooke Hamilton,” observed Helen. “We have +not heard anything of him before except what little +is known on the campus. He is almost a mystery at +Hamilton College.” +</p> +<p> +“The fault of the college,” retorted Miss Susanna +with bitterness. “There was a time when the college +board might have had the data for his biography. +That time has passed. They shall never have +one scrap of information concerning him from me. +What I have told you of him today is in strict confidence. +I have spoken freely of him because Marjorie has +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_145'></a>145</span> +assured me that you are to be trusted. +Were you to break this confidence, I would refuse +to verify whatever you might tell and forbid any +publication of the information.” +</p> +<p> +Miss Hamilton glanced defiantly about the circle. +Her kindly expression had entirely vanished. +</p> +<p> +“We can but assure you of our discretion.” It +was Leila who made an answer, a hint of wounded +pride in her blue eyes. +</p> +<p> +“You can trust us, Miss Susanna,” added Marjorie, +smiling bravely. She was experiencing a +queer little sinking of the heart at the displeased old +lady’s intent to permanently withhold from the college +the true history of its founder. +</p> +<p> +“I daresay I can, child. Let us change the subject. +It is unpleasant to me. You girls had better +walk about the tea room and enjoy the curios until +I recover my good humor.” +</p> +<p> +Prompt to obey the mandate, the girls spent at +least a half hour in the Oriental room, examining +and admiring the departed connoisseur’s individual +arrangement of a marvelous collection. Miss Susanna +sat and watched them, almost moodily. Returned +to the library, the sight of her roses mollified +her. She decided to do a certain thing which had +risen to her mind. The desire to give pleasure to +these young girls who had thought of her conquered +her sudden gust of spleen against Hamilton College. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146'></a>146</span> +</p> +<p> +“Would you like to see my great uncle’s study?” +she asked, turning from the flowers to her guests. +</p> +<p> +“Oh!” Ronny drew a wondering audible breath. +She could hardly believe her ears. +</p> +<p> +The others laughed at her, but the eager light in +their eyes told its own story. +</p> +<p> +“May we see it, Miss Susanna?” Vera’s tone +was almost imploring. +</p> +<p> +“You may. Another time, when all of you come +to see me, I will show you about the house. It is +well worth seeing. My great uncle gathered beauty +from the four corners of the earth. He loved to +travel and brought back with him the treasure of +other lands. I should like you to see the study. It +holds one thing, in particular, in which I am sure +you will be interested.” +</p> +<p> +“There is no corner of this house without interest,” +Leila said warmly. “I am sure of that.” +</p> +<p> +“So it seems to me,” nodded Miss Hamilton. “I +have lived in it many years. I am not over the wonder +of it yet. At times I am sorry that others cannot +enjoy it with me. Again I am glad to be alone.” +</p> +<p> +Following the old lady, who mounted the broad +staircase as nimbly as any of them, they found on +the second landing the same solid magnificence of +furnishing that marked the first floor. Down a long +hallway, which extended back from the main reception +hall, they went. At the end of the hall was a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_147'></a>147</span> +door of heavy walnut, its upper half of stained glass. +This their guide opened. They were now seeing +the room where the founder of Hamilton College +had spent so many hours planning the institution +which bore his name. +</p> +<p> +The murmur of voices died out among them as +they stepped into the study. Compared with other +rooms in the house which the girls had seen, it was +rather small. The floor was bare save for one medium-sized +rug in the center of the room, on which +stood a heavy-legged mahogany writing table. A +tall desk, a book-case, three high-backed chairs and +a filing cabinet, all of carved mahogany, completed +the furnishings, plus one broad-seated chair, leather +cushioned, and with a rounding back. It was +drawn up before the library table; Brooke Hamilton’s +own chair. +</p> +<p> +The most notable object in the study was a +framed, illuminated oblong about five feet long and +perhaps two and a half feet wide. It was hung at +a point on the wall directly opposite the founder’s +chair. +</p> +<p> +“This is what you wished us to see, isn’t it?” +Marjorie cried out, stopping in front of the oblong. +“I think I know what it is.” +</p> +<p> +“Tell us, then.” Miss Susanna was smiling +fondly at the animated face Marjorie turned toward +her. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148'></a>148</span> +</p> +<p> +“The maxims of Mr. Brooke Hamilton,” she +guessed breathlessly. Her eyes traveled slowly +down the oblong. “There are fifteen of them,” she +announced. “What a beautiful illumination!” +</p> +<p> +“Yes; they were his favorite sayings. He originated +them all except the first one. More, he lived +up to them.” The old lady’s intonation had grown +singularly gentle. +</p> +<p> +A reverent silence visited the study as the knot +of girls gathered about the oblong to read the sayings +of one long gone from earth. The colors used +in the illumination were principally blue and gold +with mere touches of green and black. Red had +been left out entirely from the color scheme. +</p> +<p> +“Remember the stranger within thy gates.” +</p> +<p> +“To the wise nothing is forbidden.” +</p> +<p> +“Becoming earnestness is never out of place.” +</p> +<p> +“Let thy gratitude be lasting.” +</p> +<p> +“Ask Heaven for courtesy; the supply is greater +than the demand.” +</p> +<p> +“Make thy deference to age not too marked.” +</p> +<p> +“Truth flies a winning pennant.” +</p> +<p> +“Beware, lest what seems unattainable falls too +near thine hand.” +</p> +<p> +“Let thy learning be seasoned with merriment.” +</p> +<p> +“O, Justice, how fair art thine heights!” +</p> +<p> +“Be motivated by the grace of God.” +</p> +<p> +“Be not secret; be discreet.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149'></a>149</span> +</p> +<p> +“For the gift of life give thanks.” +</p> +<p> +“The ways of light reach upward to eternity.” +</p> +<p> +“To stumble honorably is to learn to walk.” +</p> +<p> +Such were the informal rules of conduct which +Brooke Hamilton had carved for himself with the +blade of experience. +</p> +<p> +“We have five of these at the college, Miss Susanna.” +Ronny finally broke the spell which had +fallen. “The first, third, fourth, seventh and ninth. +‘Remember the stranger within thy gates,’ is over +the doorway of Hamilton Hall. The ninth one is +in the library and the third, fourth and seventh are +in the chapel.” +</p> +<p> +“I knew some of them were there. The first he +had placed over the door of Hamilton Hall. The +others were to be presented to the college as the +students earned them.” +</p> +<p> +“Earned them?” queried Muriel impulsively. “I +don’t understand——” She broke off, coloring at +her own temerity. Her companions were also looking +slightly mystified. +</p> +<p> +“His idea was this. He wished to reward any +particularly noteworthy act on the part of a student, +of which he chanced to hear, by an honor. The +recipient was to receive a citation in chapel and one +of his favorite maxims, decoratively framed, was to +be hung in one of the campus buildings. A record +of the citation was to be established in an honor +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150'></a>150</span> +book kept in a special niche in the chapel. This was +one of his later ideas. He did not live to carry it +out. I don’t know how they managed to get hold +of four of his sayings. They have no right to +them.” +</p> +<p> +Acridity again dominated Miss Susanna’s tones. +She appeared to resent deeply the fact that the college +authorities held any information whatsoever +regarding her famous kinsman. +</p> +<p> +“Maybe a person who knew your great uncle +remembered these four maxims of his and they were +thus handed down,” suggested Lucy, always interested +in a mystery. +</p> +<p> +“I wish we had them all; everyone of them!” +Marjorie gave an audible sigh of regret. “I can’t +help saying it, Miss Susanna. It is the way I feel +about these true, wonderful sayings of Mr. Brooke +Hamilton.” +</p> +<p> +“You may say it without offending me, my dear. +I understand you and your affection for Hamilton +College. <em>He</em> would have liked you to say it. <em>He</em> +never held a grudge. I have held one many years. +I shall continue to hold it.” Miss Susanna crested +her stubborn head. “It is a supreme pleasure to +me to know that I have thwarted the college board +in some respects. I shall continue to thwart them.” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151'></a>151</span><a name='chXVII' id='chXVII'></a>CHAPTER XVII—LUCY’S NEWS</h2> +<p> +On the heels of their memorable visit to Hamilton +Arms came the added joy of going home for +Thanksgiving. All the pleasure that the occasion +afforded was crowded into those four brief days. +The Nine Travelers, as they agreed to call themselves, +returned to college more firmly amalgamated +than ever. +</p> +<p> +The Lookouts had long since included their four +close friends in the formal association which they +had dubbed the Five Travelers. At first they had +decided that the name should remain the same, +though four members were added. Later, Ronny +suggested that Nine Travelers would be more appropriate. +At the end of their college course, they +would choose nine girls to replace them with a new +chapter, as they had done in the case of the Lookout +Club. All nine were anxious to leave a sorority +behind them of which they could claim to have +founded. +</p> +<p> +Marjorie and Robin Page, who, according to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_152'></a>152</span> +Jerry, “had gone into the show business,” had their +hands full the moment they returned to Hamilton. +They tackled the enterprise with a will, however, +and within a couple of days after resuming the difficult +duties of managership they had made considerable +headway. +</p> +<p> +“Have you those posters yet?” greeted Robin, as +she joyfully pounced upon Marjorie on the steps +of the library. “I have been trying to see you ever +since yesterday morning. I was coming over last +night, but I simply had to stay at home and study. +I struck a horrible snag in calculus and struggled +with it half the evening.” +</p> +<p> +“Ethel said she would have them done tomorrow,” +was the comforting news. “She made four. +I imagine they must be beauties, too.” +</p> +<p> +“Uh-h-h!” Robin pretended to crumple with +relief. “That’s one torture off my mind. Naturally +they will be great stuff. Ethel Laird draws +better than any other girl at Hamilton. It was +mighty fine in her to take such a job on herself. I +asked her for only one you know.” +</p> +<p> +“Probably she saw a wistful gleam in your eye +and was kind,” laughed Marjorie. +</p> +<p> +“There will be an entirely different gleam in my +eye if those printers don’t hurry up with the programmes. +Last I heard from them they hadn’t even +started the work. We really took a good deal upon +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_153'></a>153</span> +ourselves when we started this show. I’m glad I +am not a manager for my living. It is too strenuous +a life for Robin.” +</p> +<p> +“We ought to call a rehearsal Saturday evening. +There won’t be anyone caring to use the gym, and +there won’t be much time for it next week in the +evenings, with all the studying we have to do. Just +recall, the show is to be next Friday evening,” was +Marjorie’s reminder. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I know it,” groaned Robin. “I shall be enraged, +infuriated and foaming at the mouth if those +aggravating printers don’t have our programmes +done in time.” +</p> +<p> +“They will. Don’t worry. When did they promise +you the tickets?” +</p> +<p> +“Tomorrow. They’ve done fairly well with the +tickets,” Robin grudgingly conceded. “That is, provided +they deliver them tomorrow, as promised. I +am just a little tired, I guess. I like the programme +part of getting up a show, but I don’t like the tiresome +details.” +</p> +<p> +“Come on over to Baretti’s,” invited Marjorie. +“What you need is sustenance. We can talk things +over and have dinner at the same time. I can stay +out until eight. It’s only five-fifteen now. We +shall have oceans of time.” +</p> +<p> +“All right. Don’t you believe, though, that we’ll +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154'></a>154</span> +have much chance to talk. Some of our gang will +be there, sure as fate,” Robin prognosticated. +</p> +<p> +Surely enough, they were greeted by a hospitable +quartette occupying a table near the door. It was +composed of Ronny, Jerry, Elaine Hunter and Barbara +Severn. +</p> +<p> +“Aren’t you going home to dinner?” quizzed +Jerry accusingly. “And you never said a word to +me this noon of your secret intentions.” +</p> +<p> +“I hadn’t any. May I ask why you are here without +having obtained my permission?” Marjorie +drew down her face in an imitation of Miss Merton, +a Sanford teacher both girls had greatly disliked. +</p> +<p> +“I have nothing to say,” chuckled Jerry. “You +and your friend may sit at our table, if you like.” +</p> +<p> +“Thank you. My friend and I have weighty +matters to discuss. We’re in the show business +now, Jeremiah. We are bound for that last table in +the row.” Marjorie pointed. “We’ll join you +later, and please don’t disturb us. Ahem!” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t even know either of you by sight. Beat +it.” Jerry waved both girls away with a magnificent +gesture of disdain which sent them, giggling, +toward their table. +</p> +<p> +“This is my first off-the-campus treat since we +talked about getting up the show that day we went +to Hamilton,” Marjorie confided to Robin. “I have +thirty-eight dollars saved. Captain gave me twenty-five +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155'></a>155</span> +when I came away from home. I told her I +did not need it, but you see I had told her about +saving my money, too. That’s the reason she gave +it to me. I seem not to be able to make any real +sacrifices,” Marjorie smiled ruefully. +</p> +<p> +“I have saved close to thirty. I could have saved +more, but I have had three Silvertonites to remember +on their birthdays. Not my pals, but girls who +appreciate remembrances and who don’t receive +many. I haven’t been here but twice since we had +that talk. We mustn’t desert Signor Baretti, either. +He would feel dreadfully if we stopped patronizing +his tea room.” +</p> +<p> +“We will have to try to please all our friends +somehow, and ourselves, too,” Marjorie said gayly. +</p> +<p> +Their dinner ordered, the two settled down to +talk over the progress of their “show” with the +business energy of two real theatrical managers. +Later, however, Jerry and her trio sidled up to the +forbidden table and were graciously allowed to +remain. In consequence, it was half-past eight +before the party left the tea room. +</p> +<p> +“Lucy will wonder what has become of me,” +Ronny declared, as the three Lookouts entered +Wayland Hall. “I told her this noon I was not going +anywhere after recitations. Oh, dear! I am a +nice person! I promised to help Muriel with her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156'></a>156</span> +French, before dinner. I forgot all about it until +this minute. She will be raving.” +</p> +<p> +“You seem to be in a bad case all around,” sympathized +Marjorie in most unsympathetic tones. “I’m +sorry for you.” +</p> +<p> +“I’m a great deal more sorry for myself,” retorted +Jerry. +</p> +<p> +“I haven’t broken any promise by staying out, +but I won’t do much studying tonight. Let me see, +what recitations do I have tomorrow that I can +slight the least tiny bit?” Marjorie puckered her +brows over her problem. +</p> +<p> +Entering their room, the first sight that met hers +and Jerry’s eyes was Lucy Warner, fast asleep in +an arm chair. Jerry laid a warning finger against +her lips, then she stole softly up to Lucy. +</p> +<p> +“Wake up and pay for your lodgings,” she +growled in a deep, hoarse voice. +</p> +<p> +“Oh-h! Ah-h!” Lucy sat up with a suddenness +which narrowly missed landing her on the floor. “I +thought you would never come home,” she mumbled, +not yet fully awake. Blinking sleepily at the +two laughing girls, she continued: “I had some +news for you. I sat down to wait until you came. +Ronny was out; so was Muriel. I’ve been here +since eight o’clock. Were you out to dinner?” +</p> +<p> +“That means <em>you</em> were not here.” Jerry pointed +an arraigning finger at Lucy. “Where have you +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157'></a>157</span> +been? Lately you have become a regular gad-about. +It must be stopped, Luciferous.” +</p> +<p> +“Gad-about nothing,” disclaimed Lucy. “You, +not I, belong to that deplorable class, Jeremiah +Macy. <em>I</em> have been working. True, I dined outside +the Hall, and in distinguished company. I am +President Matthews’ secretary pro tem. I had dinner +at his house tonight. I told you I had news for +you.” +</p> +<p> +“Can you beat that?” Jerry sank into the nearest +chair as though about to collapse. “You are +mounting the college scale by leaps and bounds, +aren’t you? Chummy with the registrar, a friend +of Professor Wenderblatt’s, and now established in +Doctor Matthews’ good graces. The unprecedented +rise of Luciferous Warniferous; or, Secretaries +who have become famous.” +</p> +<p> +“How did it happen? Where is Miss Sayres?” +Marjorie exhibited lively curiosity at the news. +</p> +<p> +“Miss Sayres is at home with a cold. Nothing +very serious, I imagine. Miss Humphrey recommended +me to the doctor. He was away behind in +his correspondence. Miss Sayres has been ill for +two days. It was nearly six when I finished his +letters. He still had an address to dictate. He +asked me if I would stay until after dinner and +take the dictation. I had a beautiful time. He and +his wife are such friendly persons. He is a great +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158'></a>158</span> +biologist, too. His son was there. He is a New +York lawyer and is home for a few days’ visit.” +Lucy added this last without enthusiasm. +</p> +<p> +“Well, well, Luciferous!” patronized Jerry. “And +were you afraid to talk to the young man?” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, stop teasing me! No, I was not. He +talked to his mother most of the time, anyway. I +must go and find Ronny. Was she with you girls?” +Lucy rose, gathered her books from the table, and +prepared to depart. +</p> +<p> +“She was with us, Lucy. You’d better stay and +talk to us,” coaxed Marjorie. “It’s growing later +and later and still I am not studying. I might as +well wind up a pleasant but unprofitable evening +with gossiping about Doctor Matthews. Come on +back and resume your chair, Miss Warner.” +</p> +<p> +Lucy had now reached the door. “Wait until I +go and see Ronny, and I will come back.” She +exited, returning five minutes afterward with +Ronny. +</p> +<p> +“You don’t seem to have the study habit tonight, +either,” commented Jerry genially to the new arrival. +“Well, sit down and have a good time. That’s +what college is for.” +</p> +<p> +“How do you like the doctor, Lucy?” There was +a note of sharp interest in the question. Marjorie +was anxious to hear Lucy’s opinion of the president. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159'></a>159</span> +“I know you said he was friendly; but, I +mean, what do you think of him in other ways?” +</p> +<p> +“I understand you. You are thinking of Miss +Remson. So was I, whenever I had a chance to +study the man. He is one of the kindest, finest men +I have ever come in contact with,” Lucy declared +impressively. “He is so courteous; he goes to great +pains in answering his letters. I know he never +wrote that letter to Miss Remson.” +</p> +<p> +“I felt that way about him, too, the day I played +messenger for Miss Humphrey.” Marjorie nodded +agreement of Lucy’s emphatic praise. +</p> +<p> +“I wish I could solve that letter mystery while I +am there.” Lucy’s green eyes gleamed. “My one +chance would be to have a talk about it with Doctor +Matthews. That’s not likely to happen. I could +find out a good deal about Miss Sayres by going +through the letter files, but I would die rather than +touch one of them. I shall only be there for a day +or two, I suppose. If I could be his secretary for +two or three weeks I might be able to say a good +word for Miss Remson. I am sure there has been +a great misrepresentation and I believe Miss Sayres +is at the bottom of it.” +</p> +<p> +“What would you do, Luciferous, if, while you +were there, you found out something that was plain +proof against the Sans?” was Marjorie’s thoughtful +query. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160'></a>160</span> +</p> +<p> +“I would take it up with Doctor Matthews at once, +wouldn’t you, in the same circumstances?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” came the unhesitating reply. “That is the +one thing I have always thought I would not mind +telling against the Sans.” Marjorie’s features grew +sternly determined. “It was such a cruel thing to +do; to estrange two friends of such long standing. +For all we know, Doctor Matthews may wonder +why Miss Remson has not visited him and his wife +for over a year.” +</p> +<p> +“It is not likely that I shall find any such proof. +If I should, I would use it very quickly. Miss Remson +was dreadfully hurt over that miserable letter. +I would put the proof before Doctor Matthews if I +had to fight all the Sans single-handed afterward.” +</p> +<h2><a name='chXVIII' id='chXVIII'></a>CHAPTER XVIII—WHEN FRIENDS BECOME FOES</h2> +<p> +Lucy’s secretaryship for Doctor Matthews lasted +only three days. During that short space of time +she found out nothing special, bearing on the wrong +to Miss Remson which she longed to right. She +learned to like the president of Hamilton College +better than ever, and wished she might work for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161'></a>161</span> +him longer. The only item of interest she came +across was at his residence. In the secretary’s desk +there she discovered the New York address of Leslie +Cairns in a small red leather address book. To +her analytical mind this was proof enough of an +acquaintance between the two. +</p> +<p> +She had not expected to do anything of moment +toward helping Miss Remson during those three +days. Still she could not help confessing to Marjorie +that she was a wee bit disappointed at not +having learned a single thing. +</p> +<p> +“Never mind, Luciferous,” Marjorie had consoled. +“You had the will to help Miss Remson if +you did not have the opportunity. It may all come to +light when you least expect it. That’s the way such +things often happen.” +</p> +<p> +While Lucy had deplored her inability to obtain +the desired information she legitimately sought, the +Sans loudly deplored among themselves her temporary +appointment as secretary. Coupled with it +a story had reached the ears of Natalie Weyman +and Joan Myers which caused them to flee to Leslie +Cairns in a hurry. It had to do with the hazing +party the previous February. Joan had been slyly +taxed with it first. Pretending innocence, she had +made an excuse to leave the senior who had intimated +it to her without having betrayed herself in +any particular. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162'></a>162</span> +</p> +<p> +Several days afterward she and Natalie Weyman +had gone through almost the same experience with +two juniors who had appeared to treat the affair +as a huge joke. The girl who had first hinted it to +Joan had been rather horrified over what she had +evidently heard. +</p> +<p> +“I think it is high time we called Dulcie Vale to +account!” Natalie exclaimed stormily, as she finished +the recital of what she and Joan had just heard. +</p> +<p> +The two had burst in upon Leslie, regardless of +the “Busy” sign which now ornamented her door +a good deal of the time when she was in her room. +</p> +<p> +“Calm down, Nat. You are so mad you are +fairly shouting. Take seats and have some candy, +both of you.” Leslie lazily pushed a huge box of +nut chocolates across the table within easy reach of +her excited callers. +</p> +<p> +“Um-m! Glaucaire’s best!” Natalie forgot her +wrath and helped herself to sweets. +</p> +<p> +“I had made up my mind before you two burst in +with your tale of woe that Dulcie had escaped long +enough. I have heard things, too, and just lately. +Dulcie is not the only one. She talked to Bess. +Bess Walbert is as busy a little news circulator as +you’d care to find.” +</p> +<p> +“What did I tell you?” Natalie cried out in triumph. +</p> +<p> +“You were right, Nat. I give you credit for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163'></a>163</span> +reading her correctly. I haven’t seen her since the +first of the week. When I do——” Leslie nodded +her head, looking thoroughly disagreeable. Elizabeth +Walbert was in for a very stormy interview +with her. +</p> +<p> +“When will you call the meeting, Les?” anxiously +inquired Joan. “Don’t put it off. No telling how +much more mischief Dulcie may do if she isn’t +curbed promptly.” +</p> +<p> +“Tomorrow night,” Leslie named. “See as many +of the Sans as you can between now and the ten-thirty +bell. Don’t go near Loretta Kelly’s and +Della Byron’s room. Dulcie goes there a good deal +lately. Della is coming to see me this evening after +dinner. I’ll tell her then. Let me know before the +last bell tonight how many of the girls are on, Nat. +Will you?” +</p> +<p> +“Surely, Leslie dear.” Natalie had simmered +down to affability. She was very proud of Leslie’s +confidence in her. +</p> +<p> +Left alone, Leslie settled back in her chair very +much as her father might have done on the eve of +a pitched battle on the stock exchange. Her eyes +roved about her room as she planned where the culprit +should stand, where she wished the Sans to +group themselves, and where her place as conductor +of the arraignment should be. +</p> +<p> +A half smile flitted across her face as she remembered +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164'></a>164</span> +the last high tribunal she had conducted. +This time the culprit was a real one. It had been +hard to trump up charges against “Bean.” There +would be no masks worn save the mask of deceit +which she would ruthlessly strip from Dulcie, showing +her in her true colors. After she was “all +through” with Dulcie she would read the riot act to +Bess Walbert. She wished to wait, however, until +the sophomore unsuspectingly came to her for a +favor. Then she would be shown a side of Leslie +she had not dreamed existed. +</p> +<p> +At twenty minutes after ten Natalie came to Leslie’s +room with the welcome news that “every last +Sans” except Loretta and Della had been told and +would be on hand promptly at eight o’clock the +next evening. +</p> +<p> +“I saw Loretta and Della,” Leslie informed her +chum. “They are wild. They heard that Dulc told +two juniors about my renting that house for six +months so we could use it when we hazed Bean. +That’s a nice report to have in circulation on the +campus, now isn’t it? Does that sound like Dulc, +or doesn’t it?” +</p> +<p> +“Dulcie told that, undoubtedly. There were not +more than six or seven of us who knew the terms +on which you rented that house. Dulc knew. You +always let her into extra private matters because +she was one of the old guard. You and she were +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_165'></a>165</span> +not so edgeways toward each other until after the +night of the masquerade.” +</p> +<p> +“We never agreed on a single thing. Away back +at prep school Dulc and I were always squabbling. +In her heart she has never really liked me. Since +the masquerade she has cordially hated me. That’s +about my feeling toward her. I want her out of the +Sans. She is a disgrace to them. I expected Nell +Ray would fight for her, but she gave in as nicely +as you please.” +</p> +<p> +“The girls are all down on her for telling tales,” +returned Natalie. “I wonder if she thinks they +don’t know the way she has gossiped about them?” +</p> +<p> +“She will know it tomorrow night,” asserted Leslie +shortly. +</p> +<p> +“There goes the bell. I had better beat it. I +have an hour’s studying to do tonight yet, and I +am so sleepy,” Natalie yawned. “One thing more.” +Half way across the threshold she turned and reentered +the room. “How are you going to get Dulc +on the scene?” +</p> +<p> +“Harriet is to tell her, late tomorrow afternoon, +that the Sans are to meet in my room tomorrow +night at eight to discuss something very important. +She will come. She will be eaten up with curiosity +to know what is going on. She’ll be just a little bit +surprised when she learns how much she has to do +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_166'></a>166</span> +with that important discussion.” Leslie threw back +her head and laughed in her silent fashion. +</p> +<p> +“She deserves it.” Natalie’s whole face hardened +perceptibly. “Look out for her, Les. She is capable +of making a lot of fuss. We don’t care to +have Remson coming up here to see what the +trouble is.” +</p> +<p> +“If she is noisy, half a dozen of us will simply +take her by the arms and bundle her off to her own +room. It is only three doors from here,” Leslie +answered with cool decision. “I can manage her, I +think.” +</p> +<p> +The next day Dulcie received word of the meeting +through the medium of Harriet. The latter +delivered the notice in a careless tone which completely +misled Dulcie. +</p> +<p> +“Why can’t it be some place besides Leslie Cairns’ +room?” Dulcie pettishly demanded. “I hate to go +near her!” +</p> +<p> +“Suit yourself,” shrugged Harriet. “You can’t +say I didn’t tell you about it. It won’t be any place +other than Leslie’s room.” +</p> +<p> +Her simulated indifference merely aroused in +Dulcie a contrary resolve to attend that meeting at +all costs. She had not been in Leslie’s room since +the opening of college. She had a curiosity to see +what changes Leslie had made in it from the previous +year. Strangely enough, her own misdeeds +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167'></a>167</span> +never crossed her mind. She had no thought, when +regaling others with her chums’ private affairs, that +such treachery might possibly bring her a day of +reckoning. The recent quarrels she had had with +her former intimate, Eleanor Ray, and also Joan +Myers, left no impression on her save a sullen dislike +for the two girls because they had taken her to +task for betraying their confidence. +</p> +<p> +As it was, she accepted an invitation to dinner at +the Colonial extended her by Alida Burton. She +lingered so long at the tea room that she walked +into Leslie’s room at ten minutes past eight. +</p> +<p> +Slow of comprehension, even she felt dimly the +tension of the moment. The Sans sat or stood in +little groups about the room. With her entrance, +conversation suddenly languished and died out. +Every pair of eyes was leveled at her in a cool +fashion which bordered on hostility. +</p> +<p> +“It seems to me you are all very quiet tonight. +What’s the <em>matter?</em> Peevish because I’m late? +<em>Yes? What?</em> Don’t cry. Ten minutes won’t kill +any of you,” she greeted flippantly. “Hope I +haven’t <em>missed</em> anything by being a tiny bit behind +time.” She had adopted Leslie’s insolent swagger. +</p> +<p> +“No; you haven’t missed anything,” Leslie said +dryly. “We were waiting for you.” She turned +abruptly from Dulcie, addressing the others. +</p> +<p> +“Girls,” she raised her voice a trifle, “bring your +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_168'></a>168</span> +chairs and arrange them on each side of the davenport +in a half circle. Six girls can sit on the davenport. +We are all here now, so we can proceed with +the business of the evening.” +</p> +<p> +Her order promptly obeyed, the Sans settled +themselves in their chairs with mingled emotions. +None of them had a definite idea of how Leslie intended +to conduct the embarrassing session against +Dulcie. Face to face with the momentous occasion, +a few of them felt slightly inclined toward clemency. +The older members of the Sans were too +greatly incensed by her treachery to do other than +approve of the humiliation about to descend on the +traitor. +</p> +<p> +It had been Leslie’s first idea to seat Dulcie in a +particular chair. Second thought assured her that +Dulcie would refuse the chair, merely to be contrary. +She would undoubtedly sit where she would +be most conspicuous if left to her own devices. Leslie +decided the rest of the Sans must sit in a compact +group. Wherever Dulcie might choose to post +herself in the room she could not escape arraignment. +</p> +<p> +While the girls were arranging their chairs, Leslie +occupied herself with hanging a heavy velvet +curtain in front of the door leading to the hall. +That task completed, she turned to find Dulcie had +seated herself on the left hand side of the semi-circle, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_169'></a>169</span> +the last girl in the row. She had pulled her +chair forward a trifle so as to command a good +view of the company. +</p> +<p> +Dulcie was well-pleased with herself. She was +still admiring her brazen entrance into the room. +She felt that she had quite outdone Leslie in matter +of cool insolence. In fact she was much better able +to direct the club than Leslie. She wondered the +girls had never realized it. She eyed Leslie with +ill-concealed contempt as the latter seated herself in +the chair of office which Natalie had placed in the +fairly wide space between the ends of the half circle. +Les grew homelier every day, was her uncharitable +opinion. +</p> +<p> +“We are here tonight to perform a duty, which, +though not pleasant, <em>must be done</em>.” Leslie made +this beginning with only a slight drawl to her tones. +“When we organized the Sans Soucians we all +promised to be loyal to one another. I regret to say +that one of our number has so completely violated +this promise it becomes necessary to take drastic +measures. We cannot allow a Sans to betray deliberately +either club or personal secrets.” +</p> +<p> +Leslie placed great stress on “deliberately.” She +was careful not to look toward Dulcie. “Do you +agree with me in this?” She put the question generally. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_170'></a>170</span> +</p> +<p> +<em>“Yes,”</em> was the concerted, emphatic answer. Dulcie’s +voice helped to swell the chorus. +</p> +<p> +“The Sans have done certain things as a matter of +reprisal and self-defense, which, if generally known, +would entail very serious consequences. It is vital +to our welfare at Hamilton that these matters should +be kept secret, yet a member of the Sans has gossiped +them to outsiders. For example, it is known +to a number of seniors and juniors outside the Sans +that a hazing affair took place last St. Valentine’s +night, conducted by the Sans. Seven of us have +been approached on this subject. We know, to a +certainty, that a faction, antagonistic to us, did not +start this story. +</p> +<p> +“Still more serious is a report brought to me concerning +the methods employed by Joan and I to +keep a residence for the Sans at the Hall when we +were threatened with expulsion from here as sophomores. +A person who will betray such intimate +matters, knowing that her treachery may ruin the +prospects of her chums for graduation from college, +is not only a fool for risking her own safety, but a +menace to the club as well.” +</p> +<p> +For ten minutes Leslie talked on in this strain, +her hearers observing a strained silence. She was +purposely piling up the enormity of Dulcie’s misdeed +so as to impress the others. As for Dulcie, +she had begun to show signs of nervousness. Once +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_171'></a>171</span> +or twice her eyes measured the distance from her +chair to the door as if she were meditating sudden +flight. What remnants of conscience she still had, +stirred to the point of informing her that the coat +Leslie was airing fitted her too snugly for comfort. +She had not yet arrived at the moment of awakening, +however. She believed Leslie’s remarks to be +directed toward someone else. Margaret Wayne, +perhaps; or, Loretta Kelly. Leslie had once said +to her that Loretta was a gossip. Dulcie now tried +to recall an instance of Loretta’s perfidy. It would +be to her interest to cite an instance of it should +Leslie call for special evidence. It would pay Loretta +back for once having called her a stupid little +owl. +</p> +<p> +In the midst of racking her vindictive brain for +evidence against a fellow member, Dulcie lost briefly +the thread of Leslie’s discourse. Mention of her +own name re-furnished her with it. +</p> +<p> +“Dulciana Vale,” she heard Leslie saying in a +tense note quite different from her indolent drawl, +“do you know of any reason why you should be +allowed a further membership in the Sans Soucians +after having become an utter traitor to their interests?” +</p> +<p> +Dulcie struggled to her feet, her sulky features +a study in slow-growing rage. “What—what—do +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172'></a>172</span> +you—mean?” Her voice was rising to a gasping +scream. “How dare you call me a traitor. You are +telling lies; just nothing but lies.” +</p> +<h2><a name='chXIX' id='chXIX'></a>CHAPTER XIX—IN THE INTEREST OF PRIVATE SAFETY</h2> +<p> +“Sit down,” ordered Leslie sharply, “and keep +your voice down! You have made us all enough +trouble. We don’t propose that you shall add +to it.” +</p> +<p> +“I have not,” shrieked Dulcie. “I don’t know +what you are talking about. You’re crazy if you +say I told all that stuff you mentioned. Why don’t +you put the blame where it belongs? You told me +yourself that Loretta and Margaret were both gossips. +You told Bess Walbert a lot of things yourself. +She told me so. You used to tell Lola Elster +a lot, too. Nat Weyman isn’t above gossiping, +either. She has said some <em>hateful</em> things about you, +if you care to know it.” +</p> +<p> +Fully launched, Dulcie bade fair to stir up dissension +in a breath. Worse, her lung power seemed +to increase with every word. +</p> +<p> +“Pay no attention to her,” Leslie advised her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_173'></a>173</span> +chums in a cold, level voice. “She can tell more +yarns to the second than anyone else I know.” +</p> +<p> +“You said you could manage her, Les. For goodness’ +sake do so. I am afraid she’ll be heard down +stairs.” Joan Myers sprang to her feet in exasperation. +</p> +<p> +“Leave that to me.” Leslie’s eyes snapped. She +was fast losing the admirable poise she had held so +well. The real Leslie Cairns was coming to the +surface. +</p> +<p> +Three or four lithe steps and she was facing +Dulcie. The latter still stood by her chair shrieking +forth invective. +</p> +<p> +“Listen to me, you <em>idiot</em>,” she said with an intensity +of wrath that approached a snarl. “Cut out +that screaming—<em>now</em>. We are done with you. We +know you for what you are. Not one of us will +ever speak to you again after you leave this room. +Get that straight. If you ever repeat another word +on the campus of the Sans’ business you will be a +sorry girl. <em>Don’t you forget that.</em> You carried the +idea that, if trouble came from your talk, you could +slide out of it and leave us to face it. You couldn’t +have cleared yourself. What you are to do from +now on is——” +</p> +<p> +A sharp rapping at the door interrupted Leslie. +Raising a warning finger to her lips, she crossed the +room to answer the knock. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_174'></a>174</span> +</p> +<p> +“Good evening, Miss Remson,” she coldly greeted. +“Will you come in? Our club is holding a meeting +in my room.” She made an indifferent gesture +toward the assembled girls. +</p> +<p> +“Good evening, Miss Cairns. No; I do not wish +to enter your room. I must insist, however, that +you conduct your meeting quietly. The commotion +going on in here can be heard downstairs.” +</p> +<p> +The very impersonality of the manager’s reproof +brought a quick rush of blood to Leslie’s cheeks. It +was as though Miss Remson considered Leslie and +her companions so far beneath her it took conscientious +effort on her part even to reprove them. It +stung Leslie to a desire to clear herself of the +opprobrium. +</p> +<p> +“I am sorry about the noise,” she apologized in +annoyed embarrassment. “Miss Vale is responsible +for it. I have been trying to quiet her. She is very +angry with us for calling her to account for disloyalty. +She has done so many despicable things we +felt it necessary to call a meeting of the club to——” +</p> +<p> +“Pardon me. I am not interested in anything +save the fact that there must be no more screaming +or loud altercation from this room tonight or at +any other time. As it is your room, Miss Cairns, I +shall hold you responsible for the good behavior of +your guests.” +</p> +<p> +Again the aloofness of the rebuke cut Leslie +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175'></a>175</span> +through and through. She had never believed that +she could be so utterly snubbed by “Trotty” Remson. +</p> +<p> +“Very well.” It was the only thing she could +think of to say. +</p> +<p> +Miss Remson turned from the door and went on +down the long hall. Leslie was seized with a savage +inclination to bang the door. She refrained +from indulging it. There had been enough noise +already. +</p> +<p> +She returned to her companions to find Dulcie +furious because she had been reported to Miss Remson +as the author of the commotion. +</p> +<p> +“Talk about anyone being treacherous,” she +stormed, but in a more subdued key. “<em>You’re</em> +treacherous as a snake. <em>You’d</em> tell tales on—on +your own father, if it would save you from disgrace.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s enough.” Leslie’s last atom of self-control +vanished. “I am tired of your foolishness. Get +out of my room, instantly. Don’t you ever dare +even speak to me again. Let me hear one word you +have said against any of us and I will have you +expelled within twenty-four hours afterward. I +can do it, too. If you go to headquarters with any +tales against us, remember you are one and we are +seventeen who will act as one in denying your fairy +stories. You——” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_176'></a>176</span> +</p> +<p> +“Not fairy stories,” sneered Dulcie. “I’d be satisfied +to tell the truth about you deceitful things. +It would more than run you out of Hamilton.” +</p> +<p> +“You couldn’t tell the truth to save your life,” +retorted Leslie with a caustic contempt which hit +Dulcie harder than anything else Leslie had said +to her. +</p> +<p> +“I—I—think——” Dulcie struggled with her +emotions, then suddenly burst into hysterical sobs. +Her arm against her face to shut her distorted +features from sight of her accusers, she stumbled +to the door, groping for the knob with her free +hand. An instant and she had gone, too thoroughly +humiliated to slam the door after her. The sounds +of her weeping could be faintly heard by the others +until her own door closed behind her. +</p> +<p> +“Gone!” Joan Myers sighed exaggerated relief. +</p> +<p> +“Yes; and <em>broken</em>,” announced Leslie Cairns +with cruel satisfaction. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I don’t know,” differed Margaret Wayne. +She had not forgotten Dulcie’s assertion as to what +Leslie had said of her and Loretta. “Dulc had +spunk enough to answer you back to the very last. +I don’t see that——” +</p> +<p> +“No, you don’t see. Well, I do. I say that +Dulcie Vale left here just now <em>utterly crushed</em>,” +argued Leslie with stress. “You are peeved, Margaret, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_177'></a>177</span> +because of what she claimed I said of you +and Retta. She lied.” +</p> +<p> +“Certainly, Dulcie lied,” supported Natalie. “Do +you believe that <em>I</em>, Leslie’s best friend, would say +hateful things about her? Yet Dulc said I had. +Didn’t Les warn you not to pay any attention to +what she said? We knew she would try to make +trouble among the Sans the minute we called her +down.” +</p> +<p> +“We did, indeed.” Leslie made a movement of +her head that betokened Dulcie’s utter hopelessness. +</p> +<p> +“I didn’t say I believed what Dulcie said,” half-apologized +Margaret. In her heart she did not +trust Leslie, however. It was like her to make just +such remarks about any of the Sans if in bad humor. +</p> +<p> +“Never mind. It isn’t worrying me,” was the +purposely careless response. “To go back to what +you said about Dulc not being broken. I have +known her longer than you, Margaret. She can +keep up a row about so long, then she crumples. +After that there isn’t a spark of fight left in her. +She always ends by a fit of crying, next door to +hysterics. Isn’t that true of her, Nat?” +</p> +<p> +Natalie nodded. “Yes; Dulcie will mind her own +affairs now and keep her mouth closed for a long +time to come.” +</p> +<p> +“She’s afraid of me,” Leslie continued, her intonation +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_178'></a>178</span> +harsh. “She doesn’t know just the extent +of my influence here.” +</p> +<p> +“Could you truly have her expelled within twenty-four +hours?” queried Harriet Stephens somewhat +incredulously. +</p> +<p> +“You heard me say so. It would take a very +slight effort to do that. I could wire my father, +then——” Leslie paused, looking mysterious. +“Sorry, girls, but I can’t tell you any more than +that. I’ll simply say that my wonderful father’s +influence can remove mountains, if necessary. +That’s why I was so furious with that little sneak +for daring even to mention his name.” +</p> +<p> +“Could your father’s influence save you from +being expelled if different things you have done +here were brought up against you?” demanded Adelaide +Forman. +</p> +<p> +Leslie’s eyes narrowed at the question. It was a +little too searching for comfort. In reality her +father’s influence at Hamilton was a minus quantity. +She had been boasting with a view toward +increasing her own importance. +</p> +<p> +“It would depend entirely on what I had done,” +she answered after a moment’s thought. “You +must understand that my father would be wild if +he knew I had gone out hazing when it is strictly +against rules. He wouldn’t do a thing to help me +if I had trouble with Matthews over that. If I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_179'></a>179</span> +wrote him that Dulcie, for instance, was trying, by +lies, to have me or my friends expelled from Hamilton, +he would fight for me in a minute.” +</p> +<p> +The Sans stayed for some time in Leslie’s room +planning how they would meet further remarks +leveled at them on the campus as a result of Dulcie’s +defection. Leslie brought forth a fresh five-pound +box of chocolates and another of imported +sweet crackers. The party feasted and enjoyed +themselves regardless of the fact that three doors +from them a former comrade writhed and wept in +an agony of angry shame. While in a measure +their course might be justified, there was not one +among them who had not, to a certain extent, and +at some time or other, betrayed friendship. +</p> +<p> +This was also Dulcie’s most bitter grievance +against those who had been her chums. She knew +now that she had talked too much. So had the +others. Still, she was sorry for herself. She had +been deceived in Bess Walbert. Bess was the one +who had circulated most of the Sans’ private affairs. +She could not recall just how much she had told +Bess; very likely no more than had Leslie. If they +had given her time she would have been able to +defend herself. With such reflections she strove to +palliate her own offenses. +</p> +<p> +“Do you imagine Dulc will try to get back at us?” +was Natalie’s first remark to Leslie as the door +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_180'></a>180</span> +closed on the departing Sans. “She carried on +about as I thought she might. We came off easily +with Remson, didn’t we?” +</p> +<p> +“Dulcie is done, I tell you,” reasserted Leslie +with an impatient scowl. “Remson! Humph! My +worst enemy couldn’t have delivered a more telling +snub. She may suspect us of making trouble between +her and Matthews. I’ll say, I wish this year +was done and Commencement here. If we slide +through and capture those precious diplomas without +the sword falling it will be a miracle.” +</p> +<h2><a name='chXX' id='chXX'></a>CHAPTER XX—A BITTER PILL</h2> +<p> +Dulcie’s tumultuous resentment of accusation +had been heard throughout the Hall. More than +one door opened along the second, third and fourth +story halls as the shrill-sounding voice continued. +</p> +<p> +Among others, Jerry had gone to the door to +ascertain what was happening in the house of such +an unusual nature. Two or three moments of intent +listening and she had returned to her chair +before the center table. +</p> +<p> +“Why waste my good time listening to the far-off scrapping +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181'></a>181</span> +of the Sans?” she had lightly questioned. +“There is some kind of row going on in +Miss Cairns’ room. That’s the way it sounds to +me. I can’t say who is giving the vocal performance. +I don’t know the dear creatures well enough +to tag that sweet voice. I could hear other doors +besides ours open. We are not alone in our curiosity.” +</p> +<p> +“Your curiosity,” Marjorie had corrected. “I +wasn’t enough interested to go to the door.” Marjorie +had laughed teasingly. +</p> +<p> +“Stand corrected. My curiosity,” Jerry had +obligingly answered. With that the subject had +dropped as abruptly as the noise had begun. +</p> +<p> +The Sans were fortunate, in that the students +residing at Wayland Hall, with the exception of +themselves, were too fruitfully engaged in the minding +of their own affairs to give more than a passing +attention to the disturbance created by Dulcie Vale. +Within the next two or three days they were agreeably +surprised to find that no word of it had uttered +on the campus. +</p> +<p> +“Has anyone said anything to you of Dulcie’s +roars, howls and shrieks?” Leslie asked Natalie, +half humorously. It was the fourth evening after +the meeting in her room and the two were lounging +in Natalie’s room doing a little studying and a good +deal of talking. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_182'></a>182</span> +</p> +<p> +“No. You can see for yourself what the girls in +this house are; a mind-your-own-business crowd.” +Natalie’s reply contained a certain amount of admiration. +“If the story of it spreads over the +campus, it will not be their fault. Sometimes I am +sorry, Les, we didn’t go in for democracy from the +first. We are cut out of a lot of good times by +being so exclusive. Take this show that Miss Page +and Miss Dean are going to give in the gym tomorrow +night. Not one of the Sans was asked to be +in it.” +</p> +<p> +“Hardly!” Leslie laughed and raised her eyebrows. +“I can’t imagine Bean doing anything like +that.” +</p> +<p> +“You needn’t make fun of me. We couldn’t +expect to be asked to take part. I simply mentioned +it as an example of the way things are. There is a +great deal of sociability going on this year at Hamilton +among the whole four classes, yet the Sans are +as utterly out of it as can be,” Natalie complained +with evident bitterness. +</p> +<p> +“Glad of it,” was the unperturbed retort. “Why +yearn to be in a show, Nat, at this late stage of the +game? Next winter, when you are in New York +society, you’ll have plenty of opportunity for amateur +theatricals.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I daresay I shall.” This did not console +Natalie. Of all the Sans, she was the only one not +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_183'></a>183</span> +satisfied with her lot. She would not have exchanged +places with any student outside her own +particular coterie. Still, she had dreamed from her +freshman year of shining as a star in college theatricals. +To her lasting disappointment, she had +never been invited to take part in an entertainment. +The Sans had neither the inclination nor the ability +to engineer a play or revue. The democratic element +at Hamilton did not require the Sans’ services. +</p> +<p> +“Are you going to that show?” Leslie cast a +peculiar glance at her friend. +</p> +<p> +“I—well, yes; I bought a ticket.” Natalie appeared +rather ashamed of the admission. “Did you +buy one?” she hastily countered. +</p> +<p> +“Yes; two. Laura Sayres bought them for me. +Humphrey has them for sale in her office. I asked +Laura if everything were just the same with Matthews +since that Miss Warner substituted for her. +She said all was O. K. She has her files, letters +and papers arranged so that no one could ever make +trouble for her.” +</p> +<p> +“Too bad, Leslie, that Miss Warner was the one +to substitute for Laura. It gave her a chance to +meet Doctor Matthews. One never can tell what +might develop from even so small an incident as +that.” Natalie was not disposed to be reassuring +that evening. +</p> +<p> +“Will you cut out croaking, Nat?” Leslie +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_184'></a>184</span> +sprang from her chair and began a nervous pacing +of the floor. “You might as well pour ice-water +down the back of my neck. Enough annoying +things have happened lately to worry me without +having to reckon on what ‘might’ happen. I told +Sayres to take good care of herself and try not to +be away from her position again. I advised her, if +ever she had to be away, even for a day, to supply +her own sub. She should have had sense enough +to do so the last time.” +</p> +<p> +“I am surprised that Miss Warner does secretarial +work when that Miss Lynne she rooms with +is wealthy in her own right,” commented Natalie. +</p> +<p> +“I suppose that green-eyed ice-berg wants to earn +her own money. I made a mistake about Lynne. +Her father is the richest man in the far west. My +father told me so last summer. I always meant to +tell you that and kept on forgetting it. He said +then I ought to be friends with her, but I told him +‘nay, nay.’ She and I would be <em>so pleased</em> with each +other.” Leslie smiled ironically. +</p> +<p> +“‘The richest man in the far west,’” repeated +Natalie, her mind on that one enlightening sentence. +“Too bad she isn’t our sort. We could ask her into +the Sans in Dulcie’s place.” +</p> +<p> +“She wouldn’t leave Bean and Green-eyes and +those two savages, Harding and Macy. I sometimes +admire those two. They have so much nerve. Dulcie’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_185'></a>185</span> +place will stay vacant. I wouldn’t ask Lola to +join us after the way she has dropped me for Alida. +As for Bess; she has yet to hear from me. I have +an idea she and Dulc will get together. Dulc will +tell her the news. Then Bess will sidle around me +thinking she can get into the Sans. What? Watch +my speed!” The corners of Leslie’s mouth went +down contemptuously. She was a match for the +self-seeking sophomore. +</p> +<p> +The next evening being that of the revue, Leslie +and Natalie attended it together. The rest of the +Sans had elected also to go to it. Leslie had advised +against going in a body. “If we do, they’ll +think we were anxious to see their old show,” she +had argued. “We’d better scatter by twos and +threes about the gym.” +</p> +<p> +By a quarter to eight the gymnasium was packed +with students, faculty, and a goodly sprinkle of persons +from the town of Hamilton who had friends +among the students. Robin and Marjorie had worried +for fear the programme might be too long. +There would be sure to be encores. Their choice +of talent, however, was so happy that the audience +could not get enough of the various performers. +</p> +<p> +Marjorie was keyed up to the highest pitch of joy +by the presence of Constance Stevens and Harriet +Delaney. They had arrived from New York late +that afternoon on purpose to take part in the show. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_186'></a>186</span> +While the wonder of Constance’s matchless high +soprano notes in two grand opera selections +awarded her a fury of applause, Harriet came in +for her share of glory. It may be said that Constance +and Veronica divided honors that evening. +</p> +<p> +Urged by Marjorie, Ronny had sent to Sanford +for the black robe she used in the “Dance of the +Night.” It had been in her room in Miss Archer’s +house since the evening of the campfire three years +before. Besides the “Dance of the Night” she gave +a fine exhibition of Russian folk dancing in appropriate +costume. +</p> +<p> +Marjorie had felt impelled to write Miss Susanna +a special note of invitation inclosing several tickets. +“Jonas or the maids might like our show, even +if Miss Susanna won’t come. Of course she won’t, +but I wanted her to have the tickets,” she had said +to Jerry, who had agreed that her head was level +and her heart in the right place as usual. +</p> +<p> +For the first time since the beginning of her +hatred for Hamilton College, Miss Susanna had +been sorely tempted to break her vow and attend +the show. Realizing the sensation her presence on +the campus would create, she quickly abandoned the +impulse. She was half vexed with Marjorie for +sending her tickets and made note to warn her +never to send any more. +</p> +<p> +Of all the audience, those most impressed by +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_187'></a>187</span> +performance and performers were the Sans. While +they enjoyed the revue, girl-fashion, as a spectacle, +the knowledge of the enemy’s triumph was hard to +swallow. Ronny’s dancing was a revelation to +them, astonishing and bitter. As each number appeared, +perfect in its way, the realization of the +cleverness of the girls they had affected to despise +came home as a sharp thrust. +</p> +<p> +Leslie Cairns was particularly disgruntled as she +hurried Natalie from the gymnasium and into the +cold clear December night. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t talk to me, Nat,” she warned. “I am so +upset I feel like howling my head off. The way +Beanie has come to the front is a positive crime. +Did you see her marching around the gym tonight +as though she owned it?” +</p> +<p> +“It was a good show,” Natalie ventured. +</p> +<p> +“Entirely too good,” grumbled Leslie. “I don’t +like to talk of it. Did I mention that Bess wrote +me a note. She wants to see me about something +very important.” Leslie placed satirical stress on +the last three words. “She may see me but she won’t +be pleased. I’m in a very bad humor tonight. I +shall be in a worse one tomorrow.” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_188'></a>188</span><a name='chXXI' id='chXXI'></a>CHAPTER XXI—“DISPOSING” OF BESS</h2> +<p> +Leslie’s ominous prediction regarding herself +was not idle. She awoke the next morning signally +out of sorts. Though she had declared to Natalie +she did not care to discuss the revue, when she +arrived at the Hall she had changed her mind. She +had invited Natalie into her room for a “feed.” +The two had gorged themselves on French crullers, +assorted chocolates and strong tea. Nor did they +retire until almost midnight. +</p> +<p> +Leslie greeted the light of day with a sour taste +in her mouth and a desire to snap at her best friend, +were that unlucky person to appear on her immediate +horizon. She had thought herself fairly well +prepared in psychology for the morning recitation. +Instead she could not remember definitely enough +of what she had studied the afternoon before to +make a lucid recitation. This did not tend to render +her more amiable. She prided herself particularly +on her progress in the study of psychology and was +inwardly furious at her failure. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_189'></a>189</span> +</p> +<p> +Exiting from Science Hall that afternoon, the +first person her eyes came to rest upon was Elizabeth +Walbert. She stood at one side of the broad +stone flight of steps eagerly watching the main +entrance to the building. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, there you are!” she hailed. “I have been +waiting quite a while for you.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s too bad.” It was impossible to gauge +Leslie’s exact humor from the reply. Her answers +to impersonal remarks so often verged on insolence. +</p> +<p> +“So I thought,” pertly retorted the other girl. +At the same time she furtively inspected Leslie. +</p> +<p> +“What is it now? You make me think of that +old story of the ‘Flounder’ in ‘Grimms’ Fairy Tales.’ +You are like the fisherman’s wife who was always +asking favors of the flounder. We will assume that +I am the flounder.” +</p> +<p> +“How do you know that I wish to ask a favor?” +Elizabeth colored hotly at the insinuation. She put +on an injured expression, her lips slightly pouted. +</p> +<p> +“I’m a mind reader,” was the laconic reply. +</p> +<p> +“Hm! Suppose I were to ask you to do something +for me? Haven’t you <em>said</em> lots of times that +I could rely on you?” persisted Elizabeth. “I don’t +understand you, Leslie. You are so sweet to me +at times and so horrid at others.” +</p> +<p> +“You’ll understand me better after today,” came +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_190'></a>190</span> +the significant assurance. “Come on. We will +walk across the campus to your house.” +</p> +<p> +“Why not yours?” Elizabeth demanded in patent +disappointment. “I see enough of Alston Terrace. +I’d rather go with you to Wayland Hall. Your nice +room is a fine place for a confidential chat.” +</p> +<p> +“You won’t see the inside of it this P.M. I am +not going into the house when we come to Alston +Terrace. I have a severe headache and choose to +stay out in the open air. It’s a fair day, and not +cold enough to bar a walk on the campus.” +</p> +<p> +“Very well.” Elizabeth sighed and looked patient. +“I hope we don’t meet any of the girls. I have a +private matter to discuss with you.” +</p> +<p> +“Go ahead and discuss it,” imperturbably ordered +Leslie. +</p> +<p> +“Why—you—perhaps, if you have a headache, I +had better wait until another time,” deprecated the +sophomore. It occurred to her that she ought to +pretend solicitude. “I am so sorry,” she hastily +condoled. +</p> +<p> +“Thank you. There is no ‘if’ about my headache. +Get that straight. What? It won’t hinder +me from listening to you. Let’s hear your remarks +now and have them over with.” +</p> +<p> +“I have seen Dulcie,” began Elizabeth impressively, +“and she has told me what happened the +other night. Really, Leslie, I was <em>shocked, simply +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_191'></a>191</span> +shocked</em>. Yet I couldn’t blame you in the least. +The way Dulcie has talked about you on the campus +is disgraceful. But I went over all that with you +the day I first told you of how treacherous she had +been.” +</p> +<p> +“Quite true. You did, indeed,” Leslie conceded +with pleasant irony. “Now proceed. What next?” +</p> +<p> +“You are so <em>funny</em>, <em>Leslie</em>. You are so <em>deliciously</em> +matter-of-fact.” Elizabeth was hoping the compliment +would restore the difficult senior to a more +equitable frame of mind. +</p> +<p> +“You may not always appreciate my matter-of-fact +manner.” The ghost of a smile, cruel in its +vagueness, touched Leslie’s lips. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I am <em>sure</em> I shall. To go back to Dulcie, I +hope you didn’t mention my name the other night. +You promised you wouldn’t.” +</p> +<p> +“Is that what you have been so anxious to tell +me?” Leslie asked the question with exaggerated +weariness, eyes turned indifferently away from her +companion. +</p> +<p> +“No; it is not.” Elizabeth shot an exasperated +glance at her. “I merely mentioned it. Dulcie +tried to make me take the blame for it the first time +I met her after the meeting. I simply told her I +had nothing to do with it whatever.” +</p> +<p> +Leslie sniffed audible contempt at this information. +“Let me say this: Dulcie herself mentioned +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_192'></a>192</span> +your name, or rather she screamed it out at the top +of her voice the other night. The rest of us said +nothing. I made the charges against Dulcie and +mentioned no names.” +</p> +<p> +“I wish I had been there.” A wolfish light +flashed into the wide, babyish blue eyes. “It must +have been quite a party. Leslie,” Elizabeth decided +that the time had come to speak for herself, “you +said once that I couldn’t be a member of the Sans +because there was no vacancy; that the club must +be kept to the number of eighteen. There is a +vacancy <em>now</em>. The club has only seventeen members. +Why can’t I fill that vacancy and become the +eighteenth member? I don’t mind because it will +be only for the rest of this year. I shall count it an +honor to have been a Sans even that long. I will +certainly make a more loyal Sans than Dulcie was.” +</p> +<p> +Leslie drew a long breath. The wished-for +moment had come. She was in fine fettle to deliver +to the ambitious climber the “turn-down” she had +earned. +</p> +<p> +“Why can’t you become a member of the Sans?” +she asked, then drew back her head and indulged in +soundless laughter. “Do you think it would make +you very happy to join us?” +</p> +<p> +“You may better believe it,” Elizabeth made flippant +reply. More seriously, she added: “You know +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_193'></a>193</span> +how my heart has been set upon it from the very +first.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, I know. The fact of the matter is,” Leslie +measured each word, “there is one great drawback +to your joining.” +</p> +<p> +“If it is about money, I am sure my father has +as much as the fathers of the other members,” cut +in Elizabeth. “Our social position in New York +is——” +</p> +<p> +“All that has nothing to do with the drawback I +mentioned.” Leslie waved away Elizabeth’s attempt +at defending her position. They were not more +than half way across the campus, but Leslie was +tired of keeping up the suspense of the moment. +Her head ached violently. She was so utterly disgusted +with the other girl she could have cheerfully +pummeled her. +</p> +<p> +“Then I don’t quite understand——” began +Elizabeth. +</p> +<p> +“You’re going to—at once. We dropped one +girl from the Sans for being a liar and a gossip. +What would be the use in filling her place with +another liar and gossip. That’s the drawback. It +applies strictly to you.” +</p> +<p> +Leslie stopped short in her walk and faced her +companion, her heavy features a study in malignant +contempt. Elizabeth’s eyes widened involuntarily +this time. She could not believe the evidence of her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_194'></a>194</span> +own ears. Her moment of stupefaction gave Leslie +the very opportunity to continue and finish her +remarks before the other had time for angry defense. +</p> +<p> +“You would have been nothing socially on the +campus if I hadn’t taken you up,” she said forcefully. +“The other girls in my club, it is my club, +didn’t like you. I had a good many quarrels with +a number of them for trying to stand up for you, +you worthless little schemer. If you had had one +shred of principle or gratitude in your deceitful +composition, you would have come to me at once +with the first story against the club which Dulc told +you. But you did not. You simply gossiped all +she said to you to other students on the campus. +Dulcie told you things about us that were ridiculous. +You not only listened to them. You repeated them, +making them worse. +</p> +<p> +“I had heard of your tactics before I sent for you +to ask you about Dulc. I wanted to pump you and +hear what you had to offer. I made it my business +afterward to look up your record as a tale-bearer. +Some little record! I know exactly to whom you +have talked and what you have circulated concerning +the Sans. You ought to be <em>ashamed</em> of yourself. +Such ingrates as you have no sense of shame. +Now, I believe, you understand why the Sans don’t +care to put you in Dulcie’s place. It would merely +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_195'></a>195</span> +be a case of out of the frying pan into the fire. Of +the two, you are worse than Dulc. She is a liar, +but stupid. You are a liar and tricky.” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t you <em>dare</em> call me a story-teller again,” +burst forth Elizabeth in a fury. +</p> +<p> +“I didn’t say story-teller. I said liar. I never +mince matters. I’ve said that to you before.” Leslie +stood smiling at the culprit, the soul of mockery. +</p> +<p> +“You won’t be at Hamilton long enough to insult +me ever again, Leslie Cairns,” threatened Elizabeth, +a world of vindictiveness in every word. “I don’t +believe you, when you say that Dulcie hasn’t told +the truth. I guess Dulcie knows enough that is true +to make it very uncomfortable for you. I’ll help +her do it, too. No one can speak to me as you have +and expect I won’t get even.” +</p> +<p> +“Try it,” challenged Leslie. “Unless you have +Dulcie to back you you can’t prove one single thing +against our record at Hamilton. Dulcie doesn’t +care to make trouble for herself. You couldn’t get +her to go with you to headquarters. She has either +to be graduated from college with a fair rating or +fall into a bushel of trouble with her father. Let +me give you and Dulc both a last piece of advice. +You’ll tell her all about this, of course, only you +will be careful not to mention wanting her place in +the club. Keep a brake on those mill-clapper +tongues of yours for the rest of the year.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_196'></a>196</span> +</p> +<p> +Without giving Elizabeth time for another outburst +of wrath, Leslie wheeled and started away at +double quick. The other girl forgot dignity entirely +and pursued the senior, talking shrilly as she ran. +She might as well have pursued a fleeing shadow. +Leslie set her jaw and increased her pace. The enraged +sophomore kept up the chase for a matter of +yards, then stopped. Placing her hands to her +mouth, trumpet fashion, she hurled after Leslie one +pithy threat: “You’ll be sorry.” +</p> +<h2><a name='chXXII' id='chXXII'></a>CHAPTER XXII—PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE</h2> +<p> +The approach of the Christmas holidays called +a halt in the internal war which raged between the +Sans and their two betrayers. Having delivered +her ultimatum to Elizabeth Walbert, Leslie promptly +proceeded to forget her, so far as she could. As a +result of the tactics she had pursued with both +Dulcie and Elizabeth, she was more at ease than +for a long time. She was confident she had bullied +both to a point where they would hesitate before +doing any more idle talking about the Sans’ misdemeanors. +Every day which passed over her head +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_197'></a>197</span> +without mishap to herself was one day nearer Commencement +and freedom. She had no regret for +her misdeeds. She was merely in fear lest they +might be brought to light. +</p> +<p> +She had lost all interest in leadership at Hamilton. +Her one idea now was to end her college +course creditably and thus earn her father’s approval. +Natalie Weyman was on better terms with +her than were the other Sans. They found her +moody indifference harder to combat than her bullying. +She was interested in nothing the club did or +wished to do. “Go as far as you like, but let me +alone,” became her pet answer to her chums’ appeals +for advice or an expression of opinion. +</p> +<p> +“The Sans have become so exclusive they’ve +nearly effaced themselves from the college map,” +Jerry remarked to Marjorie several days after their +return from the Christmas vacation at home. +</p> +<p> +“They have had to settle down and do some +studying, I presume,” was Marjorie’s opinion. +“They used to be out evenings a good deal oftener +than ever we were. I’ve wondered how they kept +up at all.” +</p> +<p> +“Leila said that Miss Vale had been conditioned +two or three times, and had to hire a tutor to help +pull her through. I notice she doesn’t go around +with any of the Sans. You remember I spoke of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_198'></a>198</span> +her having changed her seat at table the next day +after that fuss up in Miss Cairns’ room.” +</p> +<p> +“I have seen her with Miss Walbert a good deal +lately. It seems odd, Jeremiah, that, after all the +trouble we had with those girls as freshies and +sophs, we should be almost free of them this year. +It has been such a beautiful, peaceful year, thus far. +We’ve had the gayest, happiest kind of times. If +only we could keep Leila, Vera, Kathie and Helen +with us next year everything would be perfect.” +</p> +<p> +“Would it? Well, I rather guess so. Gives me +the blues every time I stop to think about losing +them. Just when we are traveling along so pleasantly, +too. Here we are, victorious democrats. We +know Miss Susanna, even if we don’t dare boast of +it. We’ve been entertained at Hamilton Arms; +something President Matthews can’t say. You and +Robin are successful theatrical managers. Oh, I +can tell you, everything is upward striving. +</p> +<p> + “’Tis as easy now for hearts to be true,<br /> + As for grass to be green and skies to be blue.<br /> + ’Tis the natural way of living”<br /> +</p> +<p> +gayly quoted Marjorie, patting Jerry’s plump +shoulder in her walk across the room to find a +pencil she had mislaid. +</p> +<p> +“I wish we would hear from Miss Susanna,” she +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_199'></a>199</span> +continued, a little wistful note in the utterance. +“Perhaps she did not like our Christmas remembrance. +She doesn’t like birthday observances. +She loves flowers, though. So she couldn’t really +regard those we sent her as a present. And that +letter was delightful, I thought. We may have +made a mistake in sending the wreath.” +</p> +<p> +The letter to which Marjorie referred was a composite. +Each of the nine girls had contributed a +paragraph. They had tucked it into a box of long-stemmed +red roses which they had selected as a +Yule-tide offering to the last of the Hamiltons. +With it had gone a laurel wreath, to which was +attached a large bunch of double, purple violets. +They had asked that the wreath be hung in Brooke +Hamilton’s study above the oblong which contained +the founder’s sayings. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t believe Miss Susanna is on her ear at +us,” observed Jerry inelegantly. “She will write +when she feels like it. Maybe she thought it better +to postpone writing until she was sure we were all +back at college after Christmas. When did you last +hear from her?” +</p> +<p> +“Not since she sent me the money for the tickets +for the show. I bought those tickets for her myself. +She didn’t understand, I guess. I re-mailed +the money to her, explaining that they were from +me. Since then I have heard not a word from her. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_200'></a>200</span> +I should have taken the tickets back to her instead +of mailing them, but I was so busy just then. Besides, +I don’t like to go to the Arms without a +special invitation.” +</p> +<p> +Almost incident with Marjorie’s worry over Miss +Susanna’s silence came a note from her new friend, +appointing an evening for her to dine at Hamilton +Arms. +</p> +<p> +“I am not asking your friends this time,” the old +lady wrote, “as I prefer to devote my attention to +you, dear child. I could not answer the Christmas +letter for I had no medium of expression. I loved it, +and the flowers. Best of all, was the honor you +did Uncle Brooke. You may show this letter to +your friends, extending to them a crabbed old person’s +sincere thanks and good wishes.” +</p> +<p> +Marjorie kept her dinner appointment with Miss +Susanna and spent a happy evening with the old +lady. Miss Hamilton showed active interest in the +subject of the recent revue. The obliging lieutenant +had brought with her a programme which the +old lady insisted in going over, number by number, +inquiring about each performer. She expressed a +wish to hear Constance Stevens sing and asked +Marjorie to bring Constance to Hamilton Arms if +she should again come to Hamilton College. +</p> +<p> +“I was truly sorry to have missed that show,” +the last of the Hamiltons frankly confessed. “It +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_201'></a>201</span> +would never do for me to set foot on that campus. +I should be on bad terms with myself forever after; +on as bad terms as I am with the college.” +</p> +<p> +“I’ll tell you what we might do, Miss Hamilton,” +Marjorie ventured. “We could give a stunt party +here, just for you, at some time when it pleased +you to have us here. Perhaps Constance would +come from New York for a day or two. She isn’t +so far away. Then Ronny and Vera would dance +and Leila sings the most charming ancient Celtic +songs.” +</p> +<p> +Her lovely face had grown radiant as she described +her chums’ talents, and again, for her sake, +Miss Susanna had softened toward all girlhood. +She had assented with only half-concealed eagerness +to Marjorie’s plan. +</p> +<p> +Two days after Marjorie’s visit to her, she sent +her a check for five hundred dollars, asking that it +be placed with the money earned from the revue. +The youthful managers had charged a dollar apiece +for tickets with no reservations. To their intense +joy and amusement, the gross receipts amounted to +six hundred and seventy-two dollars. Their only +expenses being for printing and lighting the gymnasium, +they had, counting Miss Susanna’s gift, a +little over one thousand dollars with which to start +the beneficiary fund. +</p> +<p> +Anna Towne had done good work among the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_202'></a>202</span> +girls off the campus. Due to her efforts they had +been brought to look upon the new avenue of escape +from signal discomfort, now open to them, as an +opportunity to be embraced. Marjorie had said +conclusively that the funds at their disposal were +to be given, not lent. She argued on the basis that +money thus easily gained should be distributed +where it would benefit most, then be forgotten. +The girls who were struggling along to put themselves +through college would have enough to do to +earn their living afterward without stepping over +the threshold of their chosen work saddled with an +obligation. +</p> +<p> +It took tact, delicacy and more than one friendly +argument to establish this theory among the sensitive, +proud-spirited girls for whose benefit the project +had been carried out. Gradually it gained +ground and a new era of things began to spring up +for those who had sacrificed so much for the sake +of the higher education. The money so easily +earned by Ronny’s nimble feet, Constance’s sweet +singing and the talent of the other performers revolutionized +matters in the row of cheerless houses, +in one of which Anne Towne resided. Ability to +pay a higher rate for board brought better food and +heat. The drudgery of laundering was lifted, the +work being intrusted to several capable laundresses +in the vicinity. Those who had kept house abandoned +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_203'></a>203</span> +cooking and took their meals at one or another +of the boarding houses. According to Anna +Towne, the restfulness of the changed way of living +was unbelievable. +</p> +<p> +As successful theatrical managers, Robin and +Marjorie had rosy visions of a dormitory built +where several of the dingy boarding houses now +stood. Perhaps by next year they would have the +means to buy the properties. They purposed agitating +the subject so strongly, during their senior +year, that, at least, a few of the students among the +other three classes would be willing to go on with +the work. +</p> +<p> +Both had agreed that they had set themselves a +hard row to hoe, yet neither would have relinquished +the self-imposed task. In the first flush of +their ambition they had asked Miss Humphrey to +ascertain, if she could, whether the regulations of +the college forbade the erection of more houses on +the campus. She had returned the answer, that, +owing to a peculiar will left by Mr. Brooke Hamilton, +the consent to build on the campus would have +to come from Miss Hamilton, who had been prejudiced +against Hamilton College for many years. +</p> +<p> +This was a disturbing revelation to Marjorie. +She was fairly certain that Miss Susanna would +never give any such consent. She therefore +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_204'></a>204</span> +promptly abandoned the idea and laid her plans for +the outside territory. +</p> +<p> +As the winter winged away Marjorie made more +than one visit to Hamilton Arms. Occasionally her +chums accompanied her. The Nine Travelers gave +their stunt party at the Arms on Saint Valentine’s +eve. To please their lonely hostess they dressed in +the costumes they intended wearing at the masquerade +the next evening. Constance and Harriet managed +to get away from the conservatory for three +days, and a merry party ate a six o’clock dinner +with Miss Susanna so as to have plenty of time for +the stunts afterward. +</p> +<p> +Discreet to the letter, their visits to Hamilton +Arms were known to no one outside their own +group. Over and over again, when alone with the +old lady, she would say to Marjorie: “I had no +idea girls could be honorable. I had always considered +boys far more honest and loyal.” +</p> +<p> +“You and Miss Susanna Hamilton are getting +very chummy, aren’t you?” greeted Jerry, as Marjorie +sauntered into their room one clear frosty +evening in March, after having had tea at Hamilton +Arms. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know whether we are or not.” A tiny +pucker decorated Marjorie’s forehead. “I always +feel a little uncertain of how to take her. She is +kindness itself, then, all of a sudden, she turns +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_205'></a>205</span> +crotchety and says she hates everything and everybody. +Then she generally adds, ‘Don’t take that to +yourself, child.’” +</p> +<p> +“She thinks a lot of you or she wouldn’t be so +friendly with you. She looks at you in the most +affectionate way. I’ve noticed it every time we have +been to the Arms with you.” +</p> +<p> +“I am glad of it. I was fond of her before I met +her. Captain would like her. So would your +mother, Jeremiah. Next year when our mothers +come to Hamilton to see us graduate, I hope Miss +Susanna will like to meet them. Only one more +year after this. Oh, dear! I do love college, don’t +you?” Marjorie began removing her hat and coat, +an absent look in her brown eyes. +</p> +<p> +“I have seen worse ranches,” Jerry conceded +with a grin. “Speaking of ranches reminds me of +the West. The West reminds me of Ronny. Ronny +promised to help me with my French tonight. +Mind if I leave you? Such partings wring the +heart; mine I mean. You go galavanting off to +tea with no regard for my feelings.” Jerry gave a +bad imitation of a sob, giggled, and began gathering +up her books. +</p> +<p> +“I’ll try to have more consideration for your +feelings hereafter,” Marjorie assured, a merry +twinkle in her eyes. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_206'></a>206</span> +</p> +<p> +“I’ll believe that when I see signs of reform,” +Jerry threw back over her shoulder as she exited. +</p> +<p> +Left alone, Marjorie tried to shut out the memory +of Hamilton Arms and settle down to her +studying. The fascination the old house held for +her remained with her long after she had left it +behind her on her now fairly frequent visits there. +Nicely launched on the tide of psychology, an uncertain +rapping at the door startled her from her +absorption of the subject in hand. It flashed across +her as she rose to answer the knocking that it had +been done by an unfamiliar hand. None of the +girls she knew rapped on the door in that weak, +hesitating fashion. +</p> +<p> +As she swung open the door she made no effort +to force back the expression of complete astonishment +which she knew had appeared on her face. +Her caller was Dulcie Vale. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_207'></a>207</span><a name='chXXIII' id='chXXIII'></a>CHAPTER XXIII—AN AMAZING PROPOSAL</h2> +<p> +“I—are you alone, Miss Dean? I would like to +talk with you, but not unless you are alone.” +Dulcie spoke just above a whisper, peering past +Marjorie into the room so far as she could see from +where she was standing. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, I am alone. Miss Macy will not be back +for an hour, perhaps. Will you come in, Miss +Vale?” Marjorie endeavored to make the invitation +courteous. She could not feign cordiality. +</p> +<p> +“I am glad you are alone.” This idea seemed +uppermost in Dulcie’s mind. “I know you don’t +like me, Miss Dean. You haven’t any reason to +after the way you were treated by the Sans last +Saint Valentine’s night. Of course, I know you +know who we were that night.” She paused, as +though considering what to say next. +</p> +<p> +“I saw no faces, but I knew Miss Cairns’ and +Miss Weyman’s voices,” Marjorie said with a suspicion +of stiffness. She was not pleased to hear +Dulcie preface her remarks with implied aspersions +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_208'></a>208</span> +against the Sans. She knew that the latter had +quarreled with her. She guessed that pique might +have actuated the call. +</p> +<p> +“You never told anyone a single thing about it, +did you?” The question was close to wistful. It +seemed remarkable to Dulcie that Marjorie could +have kept the matter secret. +</p> +<p> +“No.” Marjorie shook her head slightly. +</p> +<p> +“Did your friends ever say a word about it? +Those were your friends who burst in on us and +made such a noise, weren’t they? Who was the one +who looked so horrible and blew out the candles?” +Dulcie seemed suddenly to give over to curiosity. +</p> +<p> +“I can’t answer your questions, Miss Vale.” +Marjorie could not repress the tiny smile that would +not stay in seclusion. “I wish you would sit down +and tell me frankly why you came to see me. You +have not been in my room since the night of my +arrival at Wayland Hall as a freshman.” +</p> +<p> +“I know.” Dulcie’s gaze shifted uneasily from +Marjorie’s face. “I thought I would come again,” +she excused, “but——” +</p> +<p> +The steadiness of Marjorie’s eyes forbade further +untruth. She became suddenly silent. Very humbly +she accepted the chair her puzzled hostess +shoved forward. Marjorie sat down in one at the +other side of the center table. +</p> +<p> +“I suppose you’ve heard all about my trouble +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_209'></a>209</span> +with the Sans,” the visitor commenced afresh and +awkwardly. “I don’t belong to the Sans Soucians +now. I wouldn’t stay in a club with such dishonorable +girls. I simply made Leslie Cairns accept my +resignation. She was wild about it.” +</p> +<p> +Now safely launched upon her story, Dulcie began +to gather up her self-confidence. “You see, +my father, who is president of the L. T. and M. +Railroad, has done a great deal for the Sans. You +know we have always come to Hamilton in the fall +in his private car. I have lent the Sans money and +done them endless favors, yet they couldn’t be even +moderately square with me.” She fixed her eyes +on Marjorie after this outburst as though waiting +for sympathy. +</p> +<p> +“I have heard nothing in regard to your having +left the Sans Soucians. I have noticed that you +were no longer at the table where you formerly sat +at meals.” Marjorie could not honestly concede +less than this. +</p> +<p> +“Didn’t you hear us fussing one night in Leslie’s +room? It was before Christmas. That was the +night I called them all down. I was so angry! I +went into a perfect frenzy! I’m so temperamental! +When I am <em>really</em> in a rage it simply shakes me +from head to foot.” There was a faint impetus +toward complacency in the statement. +</p> +<p> +“Yes; I heard a commotion going on up there +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_210'></a>210</span> +one evening, but only faintly. My door was closed. +I didn’t pay any attention to the noise, for it did +not concern me.” Marjorie was struggling against +an irresistible desire to laugh. To her mind Dulcie +was the last person she would have classed as temperamental. +</p> +<p> +“The rest of that crowd were just as noisy as I, +but Leslie Cairns blamed me for it all. She told +Miss Remson it was I alone who made the disturbance. +I’ll never forgive her; <em>never</em>. What I +thought was this, Miss Dean. The Sans deserve +to be punished for hazing you. I was a victim, too, +that night. They made me go along with them, +and I didn’t wish to go. I came home with my eye +blackened. I won’t say how it happened, only that +Leslie Cairns was to blame. I know about the +whole plan for the hazing. Leslie rented that house +for six months and paid the rent in advance so as +to have a good place to take you. She would have +left you there all night but Nell Ray and I said we +would not stand for that. We were the only ones +who stood up for you. Leslie Cairns was the Red +Mask. +</p> +<p> +“You know that Doctor Matthews is awfully down +on hazing,” Dulcie continued, taking a fresh supply +of breath. “I thought if you would go with me to +his office we could put the case before him. So +long as I have all the facts of that affair and you +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_211'></a>211</span> +and I were the ones hazed, he would certainly expel +those Sans from Hamilton. You could say, just to +clear me, that you knew I was hazed, too. That +is, I was forced to go with them against my will. +You see I had said I wouldn’t have a thing to do +with it. I put on a domino that night over my costume +and started across the campus by myself. +Half a dozen of the Sans headed me off and simply +dragged me along with them. I couldn’t get away +from them, either. If that wasn’t hazing, then +what was it?” +</p> +<p> +Marjorie was sorely tempted to reply, “Nothing +but a yarn.” She did not credit Dulcie’s story and +was growing momentarily more disgusted with the +author of it. +</p> +<p> +“I can get away with it nicely if you will help +me.” Dulcie evidently took Marjorie’s silence as +favorable to her plan. “I’ve resigned from the +Sans of my own accord. That will be in my favor. +Matthews doesn’t like Leslie. You know she received +a summons after Miss Langly was hurt. Maybe +the doctor didn’t call her down! With you on my +side. Oh, <em>fine</em>! I can see the Sans packing to leave +Hamilton in a hurry!” Dulcie brightened visibly +at the dire picture her mind had painted of her enemies’ +disaster. “I can tell you a lot more things +against them, too. Leslie is afraid all the time that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_212'></a>212</span> +Miss Remson will find out how she worked that +stunt to keep us our rooms here. She——” +</p> +<p> +Marjorie interrupted with a quick, stern: “Stop, +Miss Vale! I don’t wish to hear such things. I +listened to what you said about the hazing as that +concerned myself only. I have no desire to know +the Sans’ private affairs. Whatever they may have +done that is against the rules and traditions of +Hamilton they will have to answer for. In the long +run they will not be happy. I would not inform +against them to President Matthews or anyone +else.” +</p> +<p> +“Would you let them go on and be graduated +after what they have done against both of us?” +demanded Dulcie, her voice rising. +</p> +<p> +“It has not hurt me; being hazed, I mean,” was +the calm reply. “I do not approve of hazing. I +would not take part in any such disgraceful thing. +Still, I do not believe in tale-bearing. You will +gain more, Miss Vale, by going on as though all +that has annoyed and hurt you had never been. +Whoever has wronged you will be punished, eventually. +The higher law, the law of compensation, +provides for that.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know a thing about law. I wouldn’t +care to take the matter into court.” Marjorie’s little +preachment had gone entirely over the stupid +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_213'></a>213</span> +senior’s head. Leslie had often remarked, and with +truth, that Dulc was “thick.” +</p> +<p> +“I mean by the higher law, ‘As ye mete it out +to others, so shall it be measured back to you +again,’” Marjorie quoted with reverence. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I see. You mean what the Bible says. +Uh-huh! That’s true, I guess.” Dulcie looked +vague. “I’m sorry you won’t help me, Miss Dean. +I feel that Doctor Matthews ought to <em>know</em> what’s +going on, when it is as serious as hazing.” +</p> +<p> +Marjorie felt her patience winging away. She +wished Jerry would suddenly return and thus end +the interview. It was evident Dulcie intended to +report the hazing, despite her refusal to become a +party to the report. That meant she would be +dragged into the affair. +</p> +<p> +“I wish you would not go to Doctor Matthews +about the hazing, Miss Vale,” she said abruptly. +“If I, who was put to more inconvenience than you +by it, have never reported it, I see no reason why +you should. If you should succeed in having your +former chums expelled you would feel miserably +afterward for having betrayed them, no matter how +much they might have deserved it.” +</p> +<p> +“I surely should not.” Dulcie’s short upper lip +lifted in scorn. “I would love to see them disgraced. +They tried to down me. I have a splendid +case against them because you are so well-liked on +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_214'></a>214</span> +the campus. The use of your name will be of great +help. Sorry you won’t stand by me. You’ll have +to admit the truth if you are sent for at the office,” +she ended as a triumphant afterthought. +</p> +<p> +Marjorie contemplated her visitor in some wonder. +The small, mean soul of the vengeful girl +stood forth in the smile that accompanied her +threatening utterance. It seemed strange to the +upright lieutenant that a young woman with every +material advantage in life could be so devoid of +principle. +</p> +<p> +“Do not count on me.” Marjorie’s reply rang +out with deliberate contempt. “If I were to be +summoned to Doctor Matthews’ office concerning +the hazing, I would answer no questions and give +no information.” +</p> +<p> +This time it was Dulcie who lost patience. She +rose with an angry flounce. Sulkiness at being thus +thwarted replaced her earlier attempt at amenability. +</p> +<p> +“I might have known better than ask you,” she +sputtered, giving free rein to her displeasure. “I +shall do just as I please about going to Matthews. +I hope he sends for you. He will make you admit +you were hazed by the Sans. Goodnight.” She +switched to the door. Her hand on the knob, she +called over one shoulder: “I don’t blame Les for +having named you ‘Bean.’ You are just about as +stupid as one.” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_215'></a>215</span><a name='chXXIV' id='chXXIV'></a>CHAPTER XXIV—“THERE’S MANY A SLIP”</h2> +<p> +Dulcie’s parting fling drove away Marjorie’s +righteous indignation. It was so utterly childish. +She smiled as she arranged her books +and papers to her mind and sat down to study. +Two or three times in the course of study the +remark re-occurred to her and she giggled softly. +The name ‘Bean,’ as applied to her by Leslie Cairns, +had invariably made her laugh whenever she had +heard it. +</p> +<p> +When Jerry finally put in an appearance, Lucy +and Ronny at her heels, Marjorie related to them +the incident of Dulcie’s call. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, oh, oh!” groaned Jerry. “Why wasn’t I +here? I always miss the most exciting moments +of life.” +</p> +<p> +“I wished with all my heart that you would walk +in and end the interview. She had so little honor +about her I felt once as though I couldn’t endure +having her here another minute. Then she took +herself off so suddenly I was amazed.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_216'></a>216</span> +</p> +<p> +“Do you think she will go to Doctor Matthews?” +Ronny asked rather skeptically. “Possibly what +you said will take hold on her after all.” +</p> +<p> +“No. She will go,” Marjorie predicted with +conviction. “She is determined on that. Maybe +not right away. Goodness knows how much +trouble it will stir up.” +</p> +<p> +“You’re right,” nodded Jerry. “Bring the Sans +to carpet and they will probably name us as the +crowd who broke in on their ridiculous tribunal. +What then?” +</p> +<p> +“If we are accused of any such thing we can +only tell the truth,” smiled Lucy. “We were in +our masquerade costumes. We weren’t wearing +dominos, but our own coats and scarfs. We went +to rescue Marjorie. We were not out on a hazing +expedition.” +</p> +<p> +“The only thing we should not have done, perhaps, +was to blow out the candles,” declared Ronny +with a reminiscent chuckle. “That was my doing. +Some of the Sans might have been quite seriously +hurt in the dark. They deserved the few bumps +they garnered. I’m not sorry for that part of our +rescue dash on them.” +</p> +<p> +“What a wonderful time we’ll have if we are +brought up to face the Sans in Doctor Matthews’ +office. Lead me to it; away from it, I had better +say.” Jerry made a wry face. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_217'></a>217</span> +</p> +<p> +“Don’t worry. I shall be on outpost duty,” +laughed Lucy. “I am going to begin substituting +for the Doctor tomorrow morning. Miss Humphrey +sent for me after biology this P.M. to ask me +if I would. Miss Sayres has bronchitis. I am so +far ahead in my subjects I can spare two weeks to +the doctor’s work. I was at Lillian’s house for dinner +tonight, so I didn’t have a chance to tell you +girls the news. If this affair comes up while I am +working for the doctor, I shall no doubt hear of it. +So long as we are all concerned in it, I shall feel I +have the right to tell you if Miss Vale starts +trouble.” +</p> +<p> +The Lookouts were not in the least worried over +their own position in the matter. While they might +not escape reprimand, they had done nothing underhanded +nor disgraceful. According to Jerry they +had “sprung a beautiful scare where it was needed.” +</p> +<p> +During the first week of her secretaryship for +the doctor, Lucy heard nothing that would indicate +the promised exposé on Dulcie’s part. They saw +her several times on the campus or driving with +Elizabeth Walbert, apparently well pleased with +herself. It was Jerry’s opinion that she had built +upon Marjorie’s aid. Being denied this, she had +abandoned the project as too risky to undertake +alone. +</p> +<p> +One thing lynx-eyed Lucy discovered concerning +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_218'></a>218</span> +the secretary was her extreme carelessness in filing. +More than once the doctor’s patience and her own +were taxed by protracted hunts on her part for correspondence +on file. +</p> +<p> +“I exonerate you from blame for this, Miss +Warner,” the kindly doctor declared more than +once. “I have spoken to Miss Sayres of this fault. +I shall take it up with her again when she returns.” +</p> +<p> +As the first week merged into the second and the +second into the third, and still Lucy remained as +the doctor’s secretary, the two began to be on the +best of terms. Quick to appreciate Lucy’s remarkable +brilliancy as a student, not to mention her perfect +work as secretary, the doctor and she had several +long talks on biology, mathematics, and the +affairs of Hamilton College as well. +</p> +<p> +During one of these talks a gleam of light shone +for a moment on the mystery Lucy never gave up +hoping to solve. In mentioning Wayland Hall, the +president referred to Miss Remson as one of his +oldest friends on the campus. +“I have not seen Miss Remson for a very long +time,” he said with a slight frown. “Let me see. +It will be——can it be possible?——two years in +June. And she living so near me! She used to be +a fairly frequent visitor at our house. I must ask +Mrs. Matthews to write her to dine with us soon. +Kindly remind me of that, Miss Warner; say this +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_219'></a>219</span> +afternoon before you leave. I will make a note +of it.” +</p> +<p> +Lucy reminded him of the matter that afternoon +with a glad heart. She confided it to her Lookout +chums and they rejoiced with her. She would have +liked to tell Miss Remson the good news but courtesy +forbade the doing. The Lookouts agreed +among themselves that it showed very plainly who +was responsible for the misunderstanding. +</p> +<p> +At the beginning of the fourth week Miss Sayres +returned. Lucy could only hope that Doctor Matthews +had not forgotten to remind his wife of the +dinner invitation. She was sure, had Miss Remson +received it, that she would have mentioned it to +them. She would have wished the Nine Travelers +to know it. Whether Miss Remson would have +accepted it was a question. She had her own +proper pride in the matter. The girls had agreed +that should she mention it, Lucy was then to tell +her of the conversation with Doctor Matthews. +</p> +<p> +“Queer, but Miss Remson hasn’t said a word +about receiving that invitation,” Ronny said to +Lucy one evening shortly before the closing of college +for the Easter holidays. “The doctor must +have forgotten all about it. That shows his conscience +is clear. It would appear that he doesn’t +even suspect Miss Remson has a grievance against +him.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_220'></a>220</span> +</p> +<p> +“I am sure he forgot it.” Lucy looked rather +gloomy over the doctor’s omission. “It was such +a fine opportunity, and now it’s lost. If I should +work for him again I might remind him of it. If +I did, I’d do more than mere reminding. I’d ask +him to try to see Miss Remson and tell him I +thought there had been a misunderstanding. I +would have said so this time, but when he spoke of +inviting her to their house for dinner, I supposed +the tangle would be straightened post haste.” +</p> +<p> +“He may happen to recall it months from now,” +Ronny consoled. “That’s the way my father does. +Men of affairs hardly ever forget things for good. +Sooner or later a memory of that kind crops up +again.” +</p> +<p> +While Lucy worried because the doctor had forgotten +his kindly intention toward their faithful +elderly friend, Leslie Cairns was plunged in the +depths of apprehension because of Lucy’s substitution +for Laura Sayres. Each day she wondered if +the sword would fall. She visited Laura and made +her worse by her irritating questions regarding the +secretary’s methods of filing. Was there any +danger of old Matthews going through the files +himself? Was Laura sure that she had eliminated +every bit of evidence against them? Was she positive +she had destroyed the letter Miss Remson had +written him, supposedly? Nor had Leslie any +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_221'></a>221</span> +mercy on the secretary’s weakened condition. Laura +bore her unfeeling selfishness without much protest. +Leslie had given her one hundred dollars in her first +visit. This palliated the senior’s faults. +</p> +<p> +When at the end of the third week nothing had +occurred of a dismaying nature, Leslie began to +believe that her college career was safe. With +Easter just ahead, a very late Easter, too, only two +months stretched between her and Commencement, +that dear day of honor and freedom for her. She +had worried but little over Dulcie’s threats. Elizabeth +Walbert’s parting shot, “You’ll be sorry,” +crossed her mind occasionally. She attached not +much importance to it at first and less as winter +drew on toward spring. +</p> +<p> +Dulcie Vale, however, was only biding her time. +She never relinquished for an hour her resolve to +bring disgrace upon the Sans. Leslie having +ordered her chums to steer clear of Bess Walbert, +the latter also burned for revenge. She and Dulcie, +after one glorious quarrel over what each had said +about the other to Leslie, had made up and joined +forces. They had a common object. Thus they +clung together. They made elaborate plans for +retaliation, only to abandon them for the one great +plan, the betrayal of the Sans to Doctor Matthews. +</p> +<p> +Dulcie had at first decided to go to the president +of Hamilton College within a few days after her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_222'></a>222</span> +unsuccessful talk with Marjorie. Then she thought +of something else which pleased her better. She +would wait until after Easter. If the Sans were +expelled from college just before Easter, they +would endeavor to slip away quietly, making it +appear that they had left of their own accord. If +she waited until they had returned, the blow would +be far more crushing. +</p> +<p> +Regarding herself, Dulcie had her own plans. +Her family, including her father, were in Europe. +Her mother would not return until the next July. +Her father, luckily for her, was to be in Paris until +the following January. Her mother allowed her to +do as she pleased. What Dulcie intended to do to +please herself was to leave Hamilton on the Easter +vacation not to return. She was not too stupid to +realize that the Sans, accused of many faults by her, +would turn on her <em>en masse</em> and implicate her. She +could not hold out against them if arraigned in the +presence of Doctor Matthews. She was also too +heavily conditioned to graduate, and she hated college +since her ostracization by the Sans. She was +more than ready to leave. She would walk out and +let her former chums bear the consequences. They +had not spared her. She would not spare them. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_223'></a>223</span><a name='chXXV' id='chXXV'></a>CHAPTER XXV—WHEN THE SWORD FELL</h2> +<p> +The longer Dulcie pondered the matter, the more +she became convinced she could do more damage +by letter than to go to the doctor in person. Elizabeth +Walbert had several times advised this course. +The latter knew nothing of Dulcie’s resolve to leave +college. Dulcie did not purpose she should until +she wrote the sophomore from her New York +apartment after leaving Hamilton. She had planned +to take an apartment in an exclusive hotel on Central +Park West. From there she would write her +mother that she was too ill to return to college. +She left it to her mother’s tact to break the news +to her father. He was not to know she had failed +miserably in all respects at Hamilton. +</p> +<p> +Over and over again she wrote the damaging +letter to Doctor Matthews. She wrote at first at +length, putting in everything she could think of +against the Sans. She made effort to stick to facts. +There were enough of them to create havoc. Then +she rewrote the letter, eliminating and revising +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_224'></a>224</span> +until the finished product of her spite was worded +to suit her. It was necessarily a long letter and +could not fail in its object. +</p> +<p> +When college closed for Easter, Dulcie shook the +dust of Hamilton from her feet and took her letter +to New York with her. She did not inform the +registrar that she would not return. She would +write that from New York. The day after college +reopened, following the ten days’ vacation, Dulcie +mailed four letters. One to Elizabeth Walbert, one +to Miss Humphrey, one to Leslie Cairns, and <em>the</em> +letter. +</p> +<p> +Those four letters created amazement, displeasure, +consternation, according to the recipient. Miss +Humphrey was annoyed as only a registrar can be +annoyed by such a procedure. Elizabeth Walbert +was surprised and miffed because Dulcie had not +confided in her. Doctor Matthews’ indignation +soared to still heights. Leslie Cairns opened her +letter at the breakfast table. She read the first +page and hurriedly rose, tipping over her coffee in +her haste. Paying no attention to the stream of +coffee which flowed to the floor, she rushed from +the dining room to her own. Locking the door, +she sat down with trembling knees to read the +letter. She read it twice, uttered a half sob of +agony and threw herself face downward on her +bed. The sword had fallen, the end had come. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_225'></a>225</span> +</p> +<p> +Of the four letters, the one Dulcie had written +her was the shortest and read: +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +“<span class='sc'>Leslie</span>: +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +“When you read this you will not feel so secure +as you did the night you humiliated me so. You +thought I would not dare say a word about a number +of things because I was afraid of being expelled +from college. You will see now that you made a +serious mistake; so serious you won’t be at Hamilton +long after President Matthews receives the +letter I have written him. I have told him <em>everything</em>. +The Sans are in for trouble with him. It +doesn’t make a particle of difference to me what +happens to you and your pals, for I am not coming +back to Hamilton. My letter to Doctor Matthews +is convincing. You will surely receive a summons. +What? Oh, yes! I think I have proved myself +almost as clever as you. +</p> +<p style='text-align:right; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-right:2em;;'>“Dulciana Maud Vale.”</p> +<p> +Not far behind Leslie came Natalie Weyman to +her friend’s room. Startled by Leslie’s peculiar +behavior she had followed her upstairs, her own +breakfast untouched. +</p> +<p> +“Leslie,” she called softly, “May I come in? It’s +Nat.” +</p> +<p> +“Go away.” Leslie’s voice was harsh and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_226'></a>226</span> +broken. “Come back after recitations this afternoon.” +</p> +<p> +“Very well.” Natalie retreated, puzzled but not +angry. She was understanding that something very +unusual had happened to Leslie. Her mind took it +up, however, as presumably bad news from home. +She hoped nothing serious had happened to Leslie’s +father. Her shallow serenity soon returned and she +went about her affairs smugly unconscious of what +was in store for her. +</p> +<p> +Meanwhile, President Matthews was holding a +long and unpleasant session with Laura Sayres. +Dulcie had not failed to describe Laura’s part in +the plot against Miss Remson. Now the incensed +doctor was endeavoring to pin his shifty secretary +down to lamentable facts. +</p> +<p> +Laura had always assured Leslie she would never +divulge the Sans’ secrets under pressure. For a +short period only she lied, evaded and pretended +ignorance. Little by little the ground was cut from +under her treacherous feet. Before the morning +was over President Matthews had the complete +story of the trickery which had brought misunderstanding +between him and Miss Remson. Of the +hazing Laura knew little; enough, however, to +establish the truth of Dulcie’s confession. +</p> +<p> +“I have yet to find a more flagrant case of dishonorable +dealing,” were the doctor’s cutting words +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_227'></a>227</span> +at the close of that painful morning. “I trusted +you. Knowing that, you should have been above +trading upon my confidence. I cannot comprehend +your object in allying yourself with these lawless +young women. You say you are not a member of +their club. Why, then, were their dishonest interests +so dear to you?” +</p> +<p> +To this Laura made no reply save by sobs. She +had crumpled entirely. One thing only she had +rigorously kept back. She would not admit that +she had been paid by Leslie Cairns for her ignoble +services. If the doctor suspected this he made no +sign of it. He dismissed her with stern brevity +and was glad to see her go. Aside from her worthless +character, she had not been a satisfactory secretary. +</p> +<p> +Immediately she was gone, he put on his hat and +overcoat and set out for Wayland Hall. To right +matters with his old friend was to be his second +move. +</p> +<p> +Arriving at the Hall at the hour the students +were returning for luncheon, his appearance caused +no end of private flutter. Having, as yet, held no +communication with Leslie, the older members of +the Sans were thrown into panic, nevertheless. +What they had least desired had come to pass. The +Lookouts, on the contrary, were overjoyed. Helen +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_228'></a>228</span> +Trent had spied the president and promptly passed +the word of it to her chums. +</p> +<p> +To Miss Remson the surprise of her caller +amounted to a shock. It did not take long for the +manager to produce the letter she had received, purporting +to be from Doctor Matthews. +</p> +<p> +“I never dictated any such letter,” was his blunt +denial. “Yes, the signature is mine. I can only +explain it by saying that it may have been traced +and copied from another letter, or else it has been +handed me to sign when I was in a hurry. Miss +Sayres had an annoying habit of bringing me my +letters for signature at the very last minute before +I was due to leave my office. I dropped the matter +of the way these girls at your house had behaved +because I received a letter from you which stated +that you had come to a better understanding with +them and would like to have the matter closed. I +deferred to your judgment, as always. I know no +one better qualified as manager of a campus house +than you.” +</p> +<p> +“I never wrote you any such letter,” avowed the +manager. “Several of my devoted friends in the +house among the students were confident that there +had been trickery used. I was obliged to acquaint +them with the fact that you had refused to act in +the matter of transferring these girls to another +campus house. My friends had suffered many annoyances +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_229'></a>229</span> +at their hands. I had promised them of +my own accord that these girls should be transferred. +It has all been a sad misunderstanding. I +am glad to have it cleared up.” Miss Remson +avoided all mention of her own personal humiliation. +</p> +<p> +Returned to his office at Hamilton Hall after a +late luncheon, Doctor Matthews requested Miss +Humphrey to lend him her stenographer for the +rest of the afternoon. His business correspondence +attended to, he brought forth Dulcie Vale’s letter +from an inside coat pocket and composed a stiff, +brief summons. This summons the stenographer +had the pleasure of typing seventeen times. A list +of names which Dulcie had thoughtfully included +in her letter furnished seventeen addresses. The +Sans were curtly informed that Doctor Matthews +required their presence in his office at Hamilton +Hall at four o’clock on Wednesday afternoon. +</p> +<p> +Almost incidental with the time at which these +notes were being typed, a bevy of white-faced girls +had gathered in Leslie Cairns’ room to discuss the +dire situation. Leslie had recovered from her first +spasm of grief and fear and had let Natalie into her +room immediately the latter had come from recitations. +Natalie brought more bad news in the shape +of an apprehensive report of the doctor’s call on +Miss Remson. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_230'></a>230</span> +</p> +<p> +During the afternoon Leslie had received a telephone +call from Laura Sayres. Laura had refused +to go into much detail over the telephone. She +announced herself as having been discharged from +the doctor’s employ and asserted that he knew “all +about everything” without her having said a word +of betrayal. Leslie had not stopped to consider +whether she believed the secretary’s story or not. +She had said: “You can’t tell me anything. I know +too much already. Goodbye.” With that she had +hung up the receiver. Her eyes blinded by tears of +defeat and real fear, she had stumbled her way to +her room. There she had spent the most unhappy +afternoon of her life. +</p> +<p> +“It’s no use, girls. We are done. You may as +well be thinking what excuse you can make to your +families, for you will be expelled as sure as fate. +Matthews’ call on Remson shows that Dulcie betrayed +us. Sayres was fired by the doctor; all on +account of that Remson mix-up. She didn’t see +Dulcie’s letter, but I know he received it. Sayres +called me on the ’phone.” +</p> +<p> +“But, Leslie, some of us don’t know a thing about +how you worked that Remson affair! You never +told us. I don’t see why we should be expelled for +something we know nothing of.” Eleanor made +this half tearful defense. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_231'></a>231</span> +</p> +<p> +“Oh, that isn’t <em>all</em>.” Leslie’s loose-lipped mouth +curled in a bitter smile. “There is the hazing business, +too. Dulc told that, of course. Perhaps she +told the ‘soft talk’ stunt Ramsey taught the soph +team last year. I don’t know. All is over for us. +I do know that. I expected to go into business +with my father after I was graduated from Hamilton. +Now!” She walked away from her companions +and stood with her back toward them at the +window. +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps it will blow over,” ventured Margaret +Wayne. “I shall make a hard fight to stay on at +Hamilton. I won’t be cheated out of my diploma, +if I can help it. It’s our word against Dulcie’s.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s of no use to us now.” Leslie turned +suddenly from the window with this gloomy utterance. +“Remember Laura Sayres has been discharged +from Matthews’ employ. Remson and +Matthews have had an understanding. What +chance have we? Sayres told me the doctor +quizzed her for over two hours. She claims she +told nothing against us. I know better. If Dulcie, +the little wretch, had sprung this before Easter we +might have saved our faces. She waited purposely. +She and Walbert deliberately planned this exposé. +Look for a summons soon. We won’t escape. I +shall begin to pack tonight. So far as this rattletrap +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_232'></a>232</span> +old college is concerned, I don’t care a rap +about leaving it. All that is worrying me is: What +shall I say to my father?” +</p> +<h2><a name='chXXVI' id='chXXVI'></a>CHAPTER XXVI—MAY DAY EVENING</h2> +<p> +For two days, in a second floor class room at +Hamilton Hall, a real tribunal, consisting of Doctor +Matthews and the college Board, convened. Very +patiently the body of dignified men listened to what +the offenders against Hamilton College had to say +by way of confession and appeal for clemency. To +her great disgust, Marjorie was summoned before +the Board on the morning of the second day. Questioned, +she admitted to having been hazed. More +than that she refused to state. +</p> +<p> +“I claim the right to keep my own counsel,” she +had returned, when pressed to relate the details of +the incident. “I was not injured. I did not even +contract a slight cold. I did not see the faces of +those who hazed me. I know only two of the Sans +Soucians personally, and these two slightly. My +evidence would, therefore, be too purely circumstantial. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_233'></a>233</span> +I do not wish to give it. I beg to be +excused.” +</p> +<p> +Not satisfied, two members of the Board had +requested that she state the time and manner of +her return to her house. Her quick assurance, “My +friends found out where I was and came for me. +We were all in the gymnasium at half-past nine, in +time for the unmasking,” was accepted, not without +smiles, by her inquisitors. She was allowed to go. +She took with her a memory of two rows of white, +despairing girl faces. It hurt her not a little. She +could not rejoice in the Sans’ downfall, though she +knew it to be merited. +</p> +<p> +At the end of the inquiry the verdict was unanimous +for expellment, to go into effect at once. The +culprits were given one week to pack and arrange +with their families for their return home. +</p> +<p> +Leslie Cairns had received the major share of +blame. Throughout the inquiry she had worn an +exasperating air of indifference, which she had doggedly +fought to maintain. Not a muscle of her +rugged face had moved during the reading of the +long letter written by Dulcie Vale to the president. +She had laconically admitted the truth of it, coolly +correcting one or two erroneous statements Dulcie +had made. Afterward, in her room, she had broken +down and sobbed bitterly. This no one but herself +knew. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_234'></a>234</span> +</p> +<p> +The disgraced seventeen left Hamilton for New +York on the seventh morning after sentence had +been pronounced upon them. They departed early +in the morning before the majority of the Wayland +Hall girls were up and stirring. Marjorie was glad +not to witness their departure. She had not approved +of them. Still they were young girls like +herself. She experienced a certain pity for their +weakness of character. Jerry, however, was openly +delighted to be rid of her pet abomination. +</p> +<p> +With the approach of May Day the Nine Travelers +had something pleasant to look forward to. +Miss Susanna had sent them invitations to dinner +on May Day evening. Very gleefully they planned +to deluge the mistress of Hamilton Arms with May +baskets. These they intended to leave in one of +the two automobiles which they would use. After +dinner, Ronny had volunteered to slip away from +the party, secure the baskets and place them before +the front door. She would lift the knocker, then +scurry inside, leaving Jonas, who was to be in the +secret, to call Miss Susanna to the door. +</p> +<p> +When, as Miss Hamilton’s guests on May Day +evening, they were ushered into the beautiful, mahogany-panelled +dining room at Hamilton Arms, a +surprise awaited them. The long room, an apartment +of state in Brooke Hamilton’s day, was a veritable +bower of violets. Bouquets of them, surrounded by their +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_235'></a>235</span> +own decorative green leaves were +in evidence everywhere in the room. They were +the double English variety, and their fragrance was +as a sweet breath of spring. A scented purple +mound of them occupied the center of the dining +table. It was topped by a familiar object; a willow, +ribbon-trimmed basket. As on the previous +May Day evening it was full of violets. Narrow +violet satin ribbon depended from the center of the +basket to each place, at which set a small replica +of the basket Marjorie had left before Miss Susanna’s +door, just one year ago that evening. +</p> +<p> +“I knew Miss Susanna would guess who went +Maying a year ago this evening!” Jerry exclaimed. +“After you had known Marvelous Marjorie a little +while the guessing came easy, didn’t it?” She +turned impulsively to Miss Hamilton. +</p> +<p> +“Yes; you are quite correct, Jerry,” the old lady +made quick answer. “One year ago tonight was a +very happy occasion for me. Violets were Uncle +Brooke’s favorite flower. I cannot tell you how +strangely I felt at sight of that basket. Jonas came +into the library and asked me to go to the front +door. He said in his solemn way: ‘There’s something +at the door I would like you to see, Miss +Susanna.’ He looked so mysterious, I rose at once +from my chair and went to the door. I must explain, +too, that the first of May was Uncle Brooke’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_236'></a>236</span> +birthday. When I looked out and saw that basket +of violets, it was like a silent message from him. +Jonas had no more idea than I from whom the +lovely May offering had come. He had heard the +clang of the knocker, but when he opened the door +there was not a soul in sight. The good fairy had +vanished, leaving me a fragrant May Day remembrance.” +</p> +<p> +Marjorie had laughed at first sight of the familiar +basket. She was still smiling, rather tremulously, +however. The beauty of the decorations, +the fragrance of the violets and the amazing knowledge +that she had brought Brooke Hamilton’s favorite +flower to the doorstep on the anniversary of his +birth, made strong appeal to the fund of sentiment +which lay deep within her, rarely coming to the +surface. +</p> +<p> +“How came you to remember a crotchety person +like me, child?” Miss Susanna’s bright brown eyes +were soft with tenderness. She reached forward +and took both Marjorie’s hands in hers. +</p> +<p> +Thus they stood for an instant, youth and age, +beside the violet-crowned table. The other girls, +lovely in their pale-hued evening frocks, surrounded +the pair with smiling faces. +</p> +<p> +“I—I don’t know,” stammered Marjorie. “I—I +thought perhaps you would like it. I couldn’t resist +putting it on your doorstep. We were all making +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_237'></a>237</span> +May baskets to hang on one another’s doors. I +thought of you. I knew you loved flowers, because +I had seen you working among them. That’s all.” +</p> +<p> +“No, that was only the beginning.” Miss Susanna +released Marjorie’s hands. “It gave me much +to think of for many months; in fact until a little +girl put aside her own plans to help a poor old lady +pick up a basket of spilled chrysanthemums.” +</p> +<p> +Appearing a trifle embarrassed at her own rush +of sentiment, Miss Hamilton turned to the others +and proceeded briskly to seat her guests at table. +While she occupied the place at the head, she gave +Marjorie that at the foot. Lifting the little basket +at her place to inhale the perfume of the flowers, +something dropped therefrom. It struck against +the thin water glass at her place with a little clang. +Next instant she was exclaiming over a dainty lace +pin of purple enameled violets with tiny diamond +centers. +</p> +<p> +“I would advise all of you to do a little exploring.” +Miss Susanna’s voice held a note of suppressed +excitement. +</p> +<p> +Obeying with the zest of girlhood, the others +found pretty lace pins of gold and silver, chosen +with a view toward suiting the personality of each. +</p> +<p> +As Marjorie fastened her new possession on the +bodice of the violet-tinted crêpe gown, which had +been Mah Waeo’s gift to her father for her, she had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_238'></a>238</span> +a feeling of living in a fairy tale. Hamilton Arms +had always seemed as an enchanted castle to her. +She had never expected to penetrate its fastnesses +and become an honored guest within its walls. +</p> +<p> +“Miss Susanna, when did you first guess that it +was I who left you a May basket?” she asked, rather +curiously. “Lucy and Jerry said you would find me +out. I didn’t think so.” +</p> +<p> +“It was after Christmas, Marjorie,” the old lady +replied. “Perhaps it was the bunch of violets on +the wreath you girls sent for Uncle Brooke’s study +that established the connection. I really can’t say. +It dawned upon me all of a sudden one evening. I +spoke of it to Jonas. The old rascal simply said: +‘Oh, yes. I have thought so for a long time.’ Not +a word to me of it had he peeped. It furnished me +with pleasant thoughts for so long, I decided that +one good turn deserves another. I succeeded in surprising +you children tonight, but no one could have +been more astonished than I when I gathered in +that blessed violet basket last May Day night.” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_239'></a>239</span><a name='chXXVII' id='chXXVII'></a>CHAPTER XXVII—CONCLUSION</h2> +<p> +“And tomorrow is another day; the great day!” +Leila Harper sat with clasped hands behind her +head, fondly viewing her chums. +</p> +<p> +The Nine Travelers had gathered in her room +for a last intimate talk. Tomorrow would be Commencement. +Directly after the exercises were over +the nine had agreed to meet for a last celebration +at Baretti’s. Evening of that day would see them +all going their appointed ways. +</p> +<p> +“I can’t make it seem true that you girls won’t +be back here next year,” Marjorie said dolefully, +setting down her lemonade glass with a despondent +thump, a half-eaten macaroon poised in mid-air. +</p> +<p> +“Eat your sweet cake child and don’t weep,” consoled +Leila. While she was trying hard to look +sad, there was a peculiar gleam in her blue eyes. +As yet Marjorie had failed to catch it. +</p> +<p> +“Nothing will seem the same,” grumbled Jerry. +“With you four good scouts lifted out of college +garden there will be an awful vacancy.” Jerry +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_240'></a>240</span> +fixed almost mournful eyes on Helen. “Why +couldn’t you girls have entered a year later or else +we a year earlier?” she asked retrospectively. +</p> +<p> +“Cheer up, Jeremiah. The worst is yet to come.” +Vera patted Jerry on the back. Standing behind +Jerry’s chair she cast an odd glance at Leila. Leila +passed it on to Helen, who in turn telegraphed some +mute message to Katherine Langly. +</p> +<p> +“I can’t see it,” Jerry said, her round face unusually +sober. “It is hard enough now to have to lose +four good pals at one swoop. I sha’n’t feel any +worse at the last minute tomorrow than I do tonight. +I have an actual case of the blues this evening +which even lemonade and cakes won’t dispel.” +</p> +<p> +“Let us not talk about it,” advised Veronica. +“Every time the subject comes up we all grow +solemn.” +</p> +<p> +“I’m worse off than the rest of you,” complained +Muriel. “I am torn between two partings. I can’t +bear to think of losing good old Moretense.” +</p> +<p> +“While we are on the subject of partings,” began +Leila, ostentatiously clearing her throat, “I regret +that I shall have to say something which can but +add to your sorrow. I—that is——” She looked +at Vera and burst into laughter which carried a +distinctly happy note. +</p> +<p> +“What ails you, Leila Greatheart?” Marjorie +focused her attention on the Irish girl’s mirthful +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_241'></a>241</span> +face. “I am just beginning to see that something +unusual is on foot. The idea of parading mysteries +before us at the very last minute of your journey +through the country of college!” +</p> +<p> +“’Tis a beautiful country, that.” Leila spoke +purposely, with a faint brogue. “And did you say +it was my last minute there? Suppose it was not? +What? As our departed bogie, Miss Cairns, used +to say.” +</p> +<p> +“Do you know what you are talking about?” +inquired Jerry. “I hope you do. I haven’t caught +the drift of your remarks—yet.” +</p> +<p> +“Do you tell her then, Midget.” Leila fell suddenly +silent, her Cheshire cat grin ornamenting her +features. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, let Helen tell it. She knows.” Vera +beamed on Helen, who passed the task, whatever +it might be, on to Katherine. She declined, throwing +it back to Leila. +</p> +<p> +“What is this bad news that none of you will +take upon yourselves to tell us?” Lucy’s green +eyes sought Katherine’s in mock reproach. +</p> +<p> +“I have it.” Leila held up a hand. “Now; altogether! +We are going to——” she nodded encouragement +to Kathie, Vera and Helen. +</p> +<p> +“We are going to stay!” shouted four voices in +concert. +</p> +<p> +“Stay where? What do——” Jerry stopped +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_242'></a>242</span> +abruptly. Her face relaxed of a sudden into one +of her wide smiles. She rose and began hugging +Helen, shouting: “You don’t mean it? Honestly?” +</p> +<p> +The rest of the Lookouts were going through +similar demonstrations of joy. For a moment or +two everyone talked and laughed at once. Gradually +the first noisy reception of the news subsided +and Leila could be heard: +</p> +<p> +“It’s like this, children,” she said. “Vera wants +to specialize in Greek. I am still keen on physics +and psychology. Helen wants to make a new and +more comprehensive study of literature, and Kathie +is going to teach English. Miss Fernald is leaving +and Kathie is to have her place. We’ve had all we +could do to keep it from you. Vera and I might +better be here next year than at home. We’d have +not much to do there. We are anxious to help +make the dream of the dormitory come true.” +</p> +<p> +“It is too beautiful for anything!” was Marjorie’s +childish but heartfelt rejoicing. “With you +four to help us next year we shall accomplish wonders. +Oh, I shall love being a senior!” +</p> +<p> +What Marjorie’s senior year at Hamilton +brought her will be told in “<span class='sc'>Marjorie Dean</span>, +<span class='sc'>College Senior</span>.” +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p>THE END</p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<p> +<span style='font-size:1.2em;font-weight:bold;'>The Camp Fire Girls Series</span> +</p> +<p> +By HILDEGARD G. FREY +</p> +<p> +A Series of Outdoor Stories for Girls 12 to 16 Years. +</p> +<p> +All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles +</p> +<p> +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH +</p> +<p> + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN THE MAINE WOODS;<br /> + or, The Winnebagos go Camping.<br /> + <br/> + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT SCHOOL; or, The<br /> + Wohelo Weavers.<br /> + <br/> + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT ONOWAY HOUSE; or,<br /> + The Magic Garden.<br /> + <br/> + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS GO MOTORING; or, Along<br /> + the Road That Leads the Way.<br /> + <br/> + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS’ LARKS AND PRANKS; or,<br /> + The House of the Open Door.<br /> + <br/> + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS ON ELLEN’S ISLE; or, The<br /> + Trail of the Seven Cedars.<br /> + <br/> + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS ON THE OPEN ROAD;<br /> + or, Glorify Work.<br /> + <br/> + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS DO THEIR BIT; or, Over<br /> + the Top with the Winnebagos.<br /> + <br/> + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS SOLVE A MYSTERY; or,<br /> + The Christmas Adventure at Carver House.<br /> + <br/> + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT CAMP KEEWAYDIN;<br /> + or, Down Paddles.<br /> +</p> +<p> +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price +by the Publishers +</p> +<p> +A. L. BURT COMPANY +</p> +<p> +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET, NEW YORK +</p> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<p> +<span style='font-size:1.2em;font-weight:bold;'>Marjorie Dean College Series</span> +</p> +<p> +BY PAULINE LESTER. +</p> +<p> +Author of the Famous Marjorie Dean High School Series. +</p> +<p> +Those who have read the Marjorie Dean High +School Series will be eager to read this new series, +as Marjorie Dean continues to be the heroine in +these stories. +</p> +<p> +All Clothbound. Copyright Titles. +</p> +<p> +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH. +</p> +<p> + MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE FRESHMAN<br /> + MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE SOPHOMORE<br /> + MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE JUNIOR<br /> + MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE SENIOR<br /> +</p> +<p> +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by +the Publishers. +</p> +<p> +A. L. BURT COMPANY +114-120 East 23rd Street, New York +</p> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<p> +<span style='font-size:1.2em;font-weight:bold;'>The Girl Scouts Series</span> +</p> +<p> +BY EDITH LAVELL +</p> +<p> +A new copyright series of Girl Scouts stories by +an author of wide experience in Scouts’ craft, as +Director of Girl Scouts of Philadelphia. +</p> +<p> +Clothbound, with Attractive Color Designs. +</p> +<p> +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH. +</p> +<p> + THE GIRL SCOUTS AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL<br /> + THE GIRL SCOUTS AT CAMP<br /> + THE GIRL SCOUTS’ GOOD TURN<br /> + THE GIRL SCOUTS’ CANOE TRIP<br /> + THE GIRL SCOUTS’ RIVALS<br /> + THE GIRL SCOUTS ON THE RANCH<br /> + THE GIRL SCOUTS’ VACATION ADVENTURES<br /> + THE GIRL SCOUTS’ MOTOR TRIP<br /> +</p> +<p> +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price +by the Publishers +</p> +<p> +A. L. BURT COMPANY +</p> +<p> +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET, NEW YORK +</p> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<p> +<span style='font-size:1.2em;font-weight:bold;'>Marjorie Dean High School Series</span> +</p> +<p> +BY PAULINE LESTER +</p> +<p> +Author of the Famous Marjorie Dean College Series +</p> +<p> +These are clean, wholesome stories that will be of great +interest to all girls of high school age. +</p> +<p> +All Cloth Bound, Copyright Titles +</p> +<p> +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH +</p> +<p> + MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN<br /> + MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE<br /> + MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR<br /> + MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR<br /> +</p> +<p> +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price +by the Publishers +</p> +<p> +A. L. BURT COMPANY +</p> +<p> +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET, NEW YORK +</p> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<p> +<span style='font-size:1.2em;font-weight:bold;'>The Golden Boys Series</span> +</p> +<p> +BY L. P. WYMAN, PH.D. +</p> +<p> +Dean of Pennsylvania Military College. +</p> +<p> +A new series of instructive copyright stories for +boys of High School Age. +</p> +<p> +Handsome Cloth Binding. +</p> +<p> +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH. +</p> +<p> + THE GOLDEN BOYS AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL<br /> + THE GOLDEN BOYS AT THE FORTRESS<br /> + THE GOLDEN BOYS IN THE MAINE WOODS<br /> + THE GOLDEN BOYS WITH THE LUMBER JACKS<br /> + THE GOLDEN BOYS RESCUED BY RADIO<br /> + THE GOLDEN BOYS ALONG THE RIVER ALLAGASH<br /> + THE GOLDEN BOYS AT THE HAUNTED CAMP<br /> +</p> +<p> +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price +by the Publishers +</p> +<p> +A. L. BURT COMPANY +</p> +<p> +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET, NEW YORK +</p> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<p> +<span style='font-size:1.2em;font-weight:bold;'>The Ranger Boys Series</span> +</p> +<p> +BY CLAUDE H. LA BELLE +</p> +<p> +A new series of copyright titles telling of the +adventures of three boys with the Forest Rangers +in the state of Maine. +</p> +<p> +Handsome Cloth Binding. +</p> +<p> +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH. +</p> +<p> + THE RANGER BOYS TO THE RESCUE<br /> + THE RANGER BOYS FIND THE HERMIT<br /> + THE RANGER BOYS AND THE BORDER SMUGGLERS<br /> + THE RANGER BOYS OUTWIT THE TIMBER THIEVES<br /> + THE RANGER BOYS AND THEIR REWARD<br /> +</p> +<p> +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by +the Publishers. +</p> +<p> +A. L. BURT COMPANY +</p> +<p> +114-120 East 23rd Street, New York +</p> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<p> +<span style='font-size:1.2em;font-weight:bold;'>The Boy Troopers Series</span> +</p> +<p> +BY CLAIR W. HAYES +</p> +<p> +Author of the Famous “Boy Allies” Series. +</p> +<p> +The adventures of two boys with the Pennsylvania +State Police. +</p> +<p> +All Copyrighted Titles. +</p> +<p> +Cloth Bound, with Attractive Cover Designs. +</p> +<p> +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH. +</p> +<p> + THE BOY TROOPERS ON THE TRAIL<br /> + THE BOY TROOPERS IN THE NORTHWEST<br /> + THE BOY TROOPERS ON STRIKE DUTY<br /> + THE BOY TROOPERS AMONG THE WILD MOUNTAINEERS<br /> +</p> +<p> +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by +the Publishers. +</p> +<p> +A. L. BURT COMPANY +</p> +<p> +114-120 East 23rd Street, New York +</p> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<p> +<span style='font-size:1.2em;font-weight:bold;'>The Radio Boys Series</span> +</p> +<p> +BY GERALD BRECKENRIDGE +</p> +<p> +A new series of copyright titles for +boys of all ages. +</p> +<p> +Cloth Bound, with Attractive Cover Designs +</p> +<p> +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH +</p> +<p> + THE RADIO BOYS ON THE MEXICAN BORDER<br /> + THE RADIO BOYS ON SECRET SERVICE DUTY<br /> + THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE REVENUE GUARDS<br /> + THE RADIO BOYS’ SEARCH FOR THE INCA’S TREASURE<br /> + THE RADIO BOYS RESCUE THE LOST ALASKA EXPEDITION<br /> + THE RADIO BOYS IN DARKEST AFRICA<br /> + THE RADIO BOYS SEEK THE LOST ATLANTIS<br /> +</p> +<p> +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price +by the Publishers +</p> +<p> +A. L. BURT COMPANY +</p> +<p> +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET, NEW YORK +</p> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<p> +<span style='font-size:1.2em;font-weight:bold;'>The Boy Allies with the Navy</span> +</p> +<p> +(Registered in the United States Patent Office) +</p> +<p> +BY ENSIGN ROBERT L. DRAKE +</p> +<p> +For Boys 12 to 16 Years. +</p> +<p> +All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles +</p> +<p> +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH +</p> +<p> +Frank Chadwick and Jack Templeton, young American lads, +meet each other in an unusual way soon after the declaration +of war. Circumstances place them on board the British cruiser, +“The Sylph,” and from there on, they share adventures with +the sailors of the Allies. Ensign Robert L. Drake, the author, +is an experienced naval officer, and he describes admirably the +many exciting adventures of the two boys. +</p> +<p> + THE BOY ALLIES ON THE NORTH SEA PATROL; or, Striking<br /> + the First Blow at the German Fleet.<br /> + <br/> + THE BOY ALLIES UNDER TWO FLAGS; or, Sweeping the<br /> + Enemy from the Sea.<br /> + <br/> + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE FLYING SQUADRON; or, The<br /> + Naval Raiders of the Great War.<br /> + <br/> + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE TERROR OF THE SEA; or,<br /> + The Last Shot of Submarine D-16.<br /> + <br/> + THE BOY ALLIES UNDER THE SEA; or, The Vanishing<br /> + Submarine.<br /> + <br/> + THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALTIC; or, Through Fields of<br /> + Ice to Aid the Czar.<br /> + <br/> + THE BOY ALLIES AT JUTALND; or, The Greatest Naval Battle<br /> + of History.<br /> + <br/> + THE BOY ALLIES WITH UNCLE SAM’S CRUISERS; or, Convoying<br /> + the American Army Across the Atlantic.<br /> + <br/> + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE SUBMARINE D-32; or, The<br /> + Fall of the Russian Empire.<br /> + <br/> + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE VICTORIOUS FLEETS; or,<br /> + The Fall of the German Navy.<br /> +</p> +<p> +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price +by the Publishers +</p> +<p> +A. L. BURT COMPANY +</p> +<p> +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET, NEW YORK +</p> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<p> +<span style='font-size:1.2em;font-weight:bold;'>The Boy Allies with the Army</span> +</p> +<p> +(Registered in the United States Patent Office) +</p> +<p> +BY CLAIR W. HAYES +</p> +<p> +For Boys 12 to 16 Years. +</p> +<p> +All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles +</p> +<p> +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH +</p> +<p> +In this series we follow the fortunes of two American lads +unable to leave Europe after war is declared. They meet the +soldiers of the Allies, and decide to cast their lot with them. +Their experiences and escapes are many, and furnish plenty +of good, healthy action that every boy loves. +</p> +<p> + THE BOY ALLIES AT LIEGE; or, Through Lines of Steel.<br /> + <br/> + THE BOY ALLIES ON THE FIRING LINE; or, Twelve Days<br /> + Battle Along the Marne.<br /> + <br/> + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE COSSACKS; or, A Wild Dash<br /> + Over the Carpathians.<br /> + <br/> + THE BOY ALLIES IN THE TRENCHES; or, Midst Shot and<br /> + Shell Along the Aisne.<br /> + <br/> + THE BOY ALLIES IN GREAT PERIL; or, With the Italian<br /> + Army in the Alps.<br /> + <br/> + THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALKAN CAMPAIGN; or, The<br /> + Struggle to Save a Nation.<br /> + <br/> + THE BOY ALLIES ON THE SOMME; or, Courage and Bravery<br /> + Rewarded.<br /> + <br/> + THE BOY ALLIES AT VERDUN; or, Saving France from the<br /> + Enemy.<br /> + <br/> + THE BOY ALLIES UNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES; or,<br /> + Leading the American Troops to the Firing Line.<br /> + <br/> + THE BOY ALLIES WITH HAIG IN FLANDERS; or, The Fighting<br /> + Canadians of Vimy Ridge.<br /> + <br/> + THE BOY ALLIES WITH PERSHING IN FRANCE; or, Over<br /> + the Top at Chateau Thierry.<br /> + <br/> + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE GREAT ADVANCE; or, Driving<br /> + the Enemy Through France and Belgium.<br /> + <br/> + THE BOY ALLIES WITH MARSHAL FOCH; or, The Closing<br /> + Days of the Great World War.<br /> +</p> +<p> +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price +by the Publishers +</p> +<p> +A. L. BURT COMPANY +</p> +<p> +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET, NEW YORK +</p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Marjorie Dean College Junior, by Pauline Lester + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARJORIE DEAN COLLEGE JUNIOR *** + +***** This file should be named 37176-h.htm or 37176-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/1/7/37176/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Marjorie Dean College Junior + +Author: Pauline Lester + +Release Date: August 23, 2011 [EBook #37176] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARJORIE DEAN COLLEGE JUNIOR *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +[Illustration: Under the tree was a grassy mound. On this Elaine was +invited to sit. _Page 66_] + + + + + MARJORIE DEAN + COLLEGE JUNIOR + + By PAULINE LESTER + + Author of + + "Marjorie Dean, College Freshman," "Marjorie Dean, + College Sophomore," "Marjorie Dean, College Senior," + and + The Marjorie Dean High School Series + + A. L. BURT COMPANY + Publishers--New York + + + + + THE + Marjorie Dean College Series + + A Series of Stories for Girls 12 to 18 Years of Age + + By PAULINE LESTER + + Marjorie Dean, College Freshman + Marjorie Dean, College Sophomore + Marjorie Dean, College Junior + Marjorie Dean, College Senior + + Copyright, 1922 + By A. L. BURT COMPANY + + MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE JUNIOR + + Made in "U. S. A." + + + + +MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE JUNIOR. + + + + +CHAPTER I--A MUSICAL WELCOME + + +"Remember; we are to begin with the 'Serenata.' Follow that with 'How +Fair Art Thou' and 'Hymn to Hamilton.' Just as we are leaving, sing 'How +Can I Leave Thee, Dear?' We will fade away on the last of that. Want to +make any changes in the programme?" + +Phyllis Moore turned inquiringly to her choristers. There were seven of +them including herself, and they were preparing to serenade Marjorie +Dean and her four chums. The Lookouts had returned to Hamilton College +that afternoon from the long summer vacation. This year, their Silverton +Hall friends had arrived before them. Hence Phyllis's plan to serenade +them. + +Robina Page, Portia Graham, Blanche Scott, Elaine Hunter, Marie Peyton +and Marie's freshman cousin, Hope Morris, comprised Phyllis's serenading +party. The latter had been invited to participate because she was still +company. Incidentally she knew the songs chosen, with the exception of +the "Hymn to Hamilton," and could sing alto. She was, therefore, a +valuable asset. + +"I hope Leila has managed to cage the girls in Marjorie's room," +remarked Blanche Scott. "We want all five Sanfordites in on the +serenade." + +"Leave it to Irish Leila to cage anything she starts out to cage," was +Robin's confident assurance. "If she says she will do a thing, she will +accomplish it, somehow. Leila is a diplomat, and so clever she is +amazing." + +"Vera Mason isn't far behind her. Those two have chummed together so +long their methods are similar. They were the first girls I knew at +Hamilton. They met the train I came in on. Nella Sherman and Selma +Sanbourne were with them. Two more fine girls. Portia looked pleasantly +reminiscent of her reception by the quartette to which she now referred. + +"I heard Selma Sanbourne wasn't coming back. I must ask Leila about +that." Robin made mental note of the question. + +"That will be hard on Nella," observed Elaine Hunter, with her usual +ready sympathy. "They have always been such great chums." + +"Sorry to interrupt, but we must be hiking, girls." In command of the +tuneful expedition, Phyllis tucked her violin case under her arm in +business-like fashion and cast a critical eye over her flock. + +"Be sure you have your instruments of torture with you," she laughed. +"One time, at home, three girls and myself started out to serenade a +friend of ours. Before we started we had all been sitting on our +veranda, eating ice cream. One of the girls was to accompany us on the +mandolin. She walked away and left it on the veranda. She never noticed +the omission until we were ready to lift up our voices. So we had to +sing without it, for it was over a mile to our house and she couldn't +very well go back after it." + +"Let this be a warning to you mandolin players not to do likewise." +Marie turned a severe eye on Elaine and Portia, who made pretext of +clutching their mandolins in a firmer grip. + +"My good old guitar is hung to me by a ribbon. I am not likely to go +away from here without it." Blanche patted the smooth, shining back of +the guitar. + +"We couldn't have chosen a better time for a serenade," exulted Robin. +"It is a fine night; just dark enough. Besides, there are not many girls +back at Wayland Hall yet. We won't be so conspicuous with our caroling." + +Meanwhile, in a certain room at Wayland Hall, wily Lelia Harper was +exerting herself to be agreeable to her Lookout chums. Three of them she +had marshaled to Marjorie's room on plea of showing them souvenirs of a +trip she had made through Ireland that summer. + +The souvenirs had been heartily admired, but even they could not stem +Muriel's and Jerry's determined desire to entertain. First Jerry +innocently proposed that they all walk over to Baretti's for ices. Leila +and Vera exhibited no enthusiasm at the invitation. Next, Muriel +re-proposed the jaunt at her expense. Vera cast an appealing look toward +Leila. The latter was equal to the occasion. + +"And are you so tired of me and my pictures of my Emerald Isle that you +want to hurry me off to Baretti's to be rid of me?" she questioned, in +an offended tone. + +"Certainly not, and you needn't pretend you think so, for you don't," +retorted Muriel, unabashed. "Your Irish views are wonderful. So is +Baretti's fresh peach ice cream. Helen was there and had some this +afternoon. She said it was better than ever. I was only trying to be +hospitable and so was Jerry. Sorry you had to take me too personally." +Muriel now strove to simulate offense. She turned up her nose, tossed +her head and burst out laughing. "It's no use," she said, "I couldn't +really fuss with you if I tried, Leila Greatheart." + +"I am relieved to hear it," Leila returned with inimitable dryness. + +"Lots of time for Baretti's and ice cream yet tonight. It's only +half-past eight." Marjorie indicated the wall clock with a slight move +of her head. "We can leave here about nine. We'll be there by ten +after." + +"Certainly; we have oceans of time," Leila agreed with alacrity. "The +ten-thirty rule is still on a vacation and won't be back for a week or +so." + +"Oh, I haven't told you about my new car," Vera began with sudden +inspiration. "Father bought it for me in August. It is a beauty. He is +going to send James, his chauffeur, here with it. It may arrive +tomorrow. I hope it does." Vera launched into a description of her car +with intent to kill time. Phyllis had set the hour for the serenade to +the Lookouts at a quarter to nine. + +"It will be good and dark then," she had told Leila and Vera. "We will +have to come as early as that, for we are going to Acasia House to +serenade Barbara Severn, and to Alston Terrace to sing to Isabel Keller. +Last, we are going to serenade Miss Humphrey. We'll have to hustle, in +order to go the rounds and get back to Silverton Hall before eleven +o'clock. I depend on you, Leila, to keep that lively bunch of +Sanfordites in until we get there." + +Leila, aided by Vera, was now endeavoring to carry out Phyllis's +request. She was privately hoping that the serenaders would be on time. +Should they delay until nine or after, they were quite likely to gather +in under the window of a deserted room. + +Readers of the "Marjorie Dean High School Series" have long been in +touch with Marjorie Dean and the friends of her high school days. +"Marjorie Dean, High School Freshman," recounted her advent into Sanford +High School and what happened to her during her first year there. +"Marjorie Dean, High School Sophomore," "Marjorie Dean, High School +Junior," and "Marjorie Dean, High School Senior," completed a series of +stories which dealt entirely with Marjorie's four years' course at +Sanford High School. Admirers of the loyal-hearted, high-principled +young girl, who became a power at high school because of her many fine +qualities, will recall her ardent wish to enroll as a student at +Hamilton College when she should have finished her high school days. + +In "Marjorie Dean, College Freshman," will be found the account of +Marjorie's doings as a freshman at Hamilton College. Entering college +full of noble resolves and high ideals, she was not disappointed in her +Alma Mater, although she was not long in discovering that an element of +snobbery was abroad at Hamilton which was totally against Hamilton +traditions. Aided by four of her Sanford chums, who had entered Hamilton +College with her, and a number of freshmen and upper class girls, of +democratic mind, the energetic band had endeavored to combat the +pernicious influence, exercised by a clique of moneyed girls, which was +fast taking hold upon other students. The end of the college year had +found their efforts successful, in a measure, and the way paved for +better things. + +In "Marjorie Dean, College Sophomore," the further account of Marjorie's +eventful college days was set forth. Opposed, from her return to +Hamilton College by certain girls residing in the same house with +herself, who disliked her independence and fair-mindedness, Marjorie was +later given signal proof of their enmity. How she and her chums fought +them on their own ground and won a notable victory over them formed a +narrative of pleasing interest and lively action. + +Now that the Five Travelers, as the quintette of Sanford girls loved to +call themselves, were once more settled in the country of college, their +devoted friends had already planned to honor them. Leila and Vera, who +invariably returned early to college, had encountered Phyllis on the +campus on the day previous. Informing her of the Lookouts' expected +arrival on the next afternoon, Phyllis had planned the serenade and +demanded Leila's help. Leila had rashly promised to keep the arrivals at +home that evening. She was now of the opinion that a promise was +sometimes easier made than fulfilled. + +"Since Vera has told you everything she can remember about her new +roadster, I shall now do a little talking myself." Leila was having the +utmost difficulty in controlling her risibles. She dared not look at +Vera; nor dared Vera look at her. "Ahem! When I was in Ireland," she +pompously announced, "I saw----" + +Came the welcome interruption for which she had been waiting. Clear and +sweet under the windows of the room rose the strains of Tosti's +"Serenata." A brief prelude and voices took it up, filling the evening +air with harmony. + +"Thank my stars! A-h-h!" Leila relaxed exaggeratedly in her chair, her +Cheshire-cat smile predominating her features. + +"You bad old rascal!" Marjorie paused long enough to shake Leila +playfully by the shoulders. Then she hurried to one of the windows. +Jerry, Muriel and Lucy had reached one. Ronny and Vera were at the +other. Marjorie joined them. Leila made no move to rise. She preferred +sitting where she was. + +"Keep quiet," Jerry had admonished at the first sounds. "If we start to +talk to them, they'll stop singing. Whoever they are, they certainly can +sing." Her companions of her mind, it was a silent and appreciative +little audience that gathered at the open windows to listen to the +serenaders. + +There was no moon that night. It was impossible to see the faces of the +carolers, nor, in the general harmony of melodious sound, was it +possible to identify any one voice. An energetic clapping of hands, from +other windows as well as those of Marjorie's room, greeted the close of +the "Serenata." Then a high soprano voice, which the girls recognized as +Robin Page's, began that most beautiful of old songs, "How Fair Art +Thou." A violin throbbed a soft obligato. + +The marked hush that hung over the Hall during the rendering of the song +was most complimentary to the soloist. The serenaders were not out for +glory, however. Hardly had the applause accorded Robin died out, when +mandolins, guitar and violin took up the stately "Hymn to Hamilton." + + "First in wisdom, first in precept; teach us to revere + thy way: + Grant us mind to know thy purpose, keep us in + thy brightest ray. + Let our acts be shaped in honor; let our steps be + just and free: + Make us worthy of thy threshold, as we pledge our + faith to thee." + +Thus ran the first stanza, set to a sonorous air which the combined +harmony of voices and musical instruments rendered doubly beautiful. It +seemed to those honored by the serenaders that they had never before +heard the fine old hymn so inspiringly sung. The whole three stanzas +were given. The instant the hymn was ended the familiar melody "How Can +I Leave Thee Dear?" followed. + +"That means they are going to beat it," called Jerry in low tones. "Let +us head them off before they can get away and take them with us to +Baretti's. We'll have to start now, if we expect to catch them. They're +beginning the second stanza. We'll just give _them_ a little surprise." + +With one accord the appreciative and mischievous audience left the +windows and made a rush for the stairs. Headed by Jerry they exited +quietly from the house and stole around its right-hand corner. + +Absorbed in their own lyric efforts, the singers had reached the third +sentimentally pathetic stanza: + + "If but a bird were I, homeward to thee I'd fly; + Falcon nor hawk I'd fear, if thou wert near. + Shot by a hunter's ball; would at thy feet I fall, + If but one ling'ring tear would dim thine eye." + +Ready to leave almost on the last line, they were not prepared for the +merry crowd of girls who pounced suddenly upon them. + +"How can you leave us, dears?" caroled Muriel Harding, as she caught +firm hold of Robin Page. "You are not going to leave us. Don't imagine +it for a minute." + + + + +CHAPTER II--UNDER THE SEPTEMBER STARS + + +"Captured by Sanfordites!" exclaimed Robin dramatically. "What fate is +left to us now?" Despite her tragic utterance, she proceeded to a +vigorous hand-shaking with Muriel. + +"Now why couldn't you have stayed upstairs like nice children and +praised our modest efforts in your behalf instead of prancing down +stairs to head us off?" inquired Phyllis in pretended disgust. "Not one +of you has the proper idea of the romance which should attend a +serenade. Of course, you didn't _know_ who was singing to you, and, of +course, you just simply _had_ to find out." + +"Don't delude yourself with any such wild idea," Jerry made haste to +retort. "We knew Robin's voice the minute she opened her mouth to sing +'How Fair Art Thou.' Now which one of us were you particularly referring +to in that number? I took it straight to myself. Of course I _may_ be a +trifle presumptuous, Ahem!" + +"Yes; 'Ahem!'" mimicked Phyllis. "You are just the same good old, funny +old scout, Jeremiah. Somebody please hold my violin while I embrace +Jeremiah." + +"Hold it yourself," laughed Portia. "We have fond welcomes of our own to +hand around and need the use of our arms." + +Full of the happiness of the meeting the running treble of girlhood, +mingled with ripples of gay, light laughter, was music in itself. + +"The Moore Symphony Orchestra and Concert Company will have to be moving +on," Elaine reminded after fifteen minutes had winged away. "This is +Phil's organization but she seems to have forgotten all about it. We are +supposed to serenade Barbara Severn, Isabel Keller and Miss Humphrey +while the night is yet young. I can see where someone of the trio will +have to be unserenaded this evening." + +"Couldn't you serenade them tomorrow night?" coaxed Marjorie. "We had it +all planned to go to Baretti's before we hustled down to head you off. +The instant I recognized Robin's heavenly soprano I knew that the +Silvertonites were under our windows. I guess the rest knew, too. We +didn't want to talk while you were singing." + +"Very polite in you, I am sure." In the darkness Elaine essayed a +profound bow. Result, her head came into smart contact with Blanche's +guitar. + +"Steady there! I need my guitar for the next orchestral spasm." Blanche +swung the instrument under her arm out of harm's way. + +"I need my head, too," giggled Elaine, ruefully rubbing that slightly +injured member. + +"Do serenade the others tomorrow night." Ronny now added her plea. "How +would you like to take us along with you, then? Not to sing, but just +for company, you know. I never went out serenading, and I fully feel the +need of excitement." + +"What you folks need is fresh peach ice cream and lots of it," Jerry +advised with crafty enthusiasm. "It's to be had at Giuseppe Baretti's." + +"I know of nothing more refreshing to tired soloists than fresh peach +ice cream," seconded Vera. "I leave it to my esteemed friend, Irish +Leila, if I am not entirely correct in this." + +"You are. Now what is it that you are quite right about?" Leila had +caught the last sentence and risen to the occasion. + +"Such support," murmured Vera, as a laugh arose. + +"Is it not now?" Leila blandly commented. "Never worry. There is little +I would not agree with you in, Midget. Be consoled with that handsome +amend. As for you singers and wandering musicians, you had better come +with us. + + "We'll feed you on fine white bread of the wheat + And the drip of honey gold: + We'll give you pale clouds for a mantle sweet, + And a handful of stars to hold." + +Leila sang lightly the quaint words of an old Irish ditty. + +"Can we resist such a prospect?" laughed Phyllis. "How about it, girls? +Is it on with the serenade or on to Baretti's?" + +"Baretti's it had better be, since we are invited there by such +distinguished persons," was Robin's decision. "Leila, you are to teach +me that song you were just humming. It is sweet!" + +Her companions were nothing loath to abandon their project for the +evening in order to hob-nob with their Wayland Hall friends. They came +to this decision very summarily. Now fourteen strong, the company turned +their steps toward their favorite restaurant. + +They were nearing the cluster lights stationed at each side of the wide +walk leading up to the entrance of the tea room, when Lucy Warner +stopped short with: "Oh, girls; I know something that I think would be +nice to do." + +"Speak up, respected Luciferous," encouraged Vera. "You say so little it +is a pleasure to listen to you. I wish I could say that of everyone I +know," she added significantly. + +"Have you an idea of whom she may be talking about?" quizzed Leila, +rolling her eyes at her companions. + +"She certainly doesn't mean us, even if she didn't say 'present company +excepted.'" Muriel beamed at Leila with trustful innocence. "Go ahead, +Luciferous Warniferous, noble Sanfordite, and tell us what's on your +mind." + +"I had no idea I was so greatly respected in this crowd. I never before +saw signs of it. Much obliged. This is what I thought of." Lucy came to +the point with her usual celerity. "Why not serenade Signor Baretti? He +is an Italian. The Italians all love music. I know he would like it. You +girls sing and play so beautifully." + +"Of course he would." Marjorie was the first to endorse Lucy's proposal +"This is really a fine time for it, too. It's late enough in the evening +so that there won't be many persons in the restaurant." + +"It would delight his little, old Giuseppeship," approved Blanche. + +"No doubt about it," Robin heartily concurred. "We ought to sing +something from an Italian opera. That would please him most. The Latins +don't quite understand the beauty of our English and American songs." + +"We can sing the sextette from 'Lucia,'" proposed Elaine. "It doesn't +matter about the words. We know the music. We have sung that together so +many times we wouldn't make a fizzle of it." + +"Yes, and there is the 'Italian Song at Nightfall' that Robin sings so +wonderfully. We can help out on the last part of it." Tucking her violin +under her chin, Phyllis played a few bars of the selection she had +named. "I can play it," she nodded. "I never tried it on the fiddle +before." + +"That's two," counted Robin. "For a third and last let's give that +pretty 'Gondelier's Love Song,' by Nevin. It doesn't matter about words +to that, either. There aren't any. People ought to learn to appreciate +songs without words. Giuseppe won't care a hang about anything but the +music. If any of you Wayland Hallites decide to sing with us, sing +nicely. Don't you dare make the tiniest discord." + +"She has some opinion of herself as a singer," Leila told the others, +with comically raised brows. "Be easy. We have no wish to lilt wid yez." + +Having decided to serenade the unsuspecting proprietor of the tea room, +the next point to be settled was where they should stand to sing. + +"Wait a minute. I'll go and look in one of the windows," volunteered +Ronny. "Perhaps I shall be able to see just where he is." + +"He is usually at his desk about this time in the evening. We'll gather +around the window nearest where he is sitting," planned Phyllis. + +Ronny flitted lightly ahead of her companions, stopping at a window on +the right-hand side, well to the rear. The others followed her more +slowly in order to give her time to make the observation. Before they +reached her she turned from her post and came quickly to them. + +"He is back at the last table on the left reading a newspaper. There +isn't a soul in the room but himself," she said in an undertone. "The +time couldn't be more opportune." + +"Oh, fine," whispered Robin. "We can go around behind the inn and be +right at the window nearest him." + +"The non-singers, I suppose we might call ourselves the trailers, will +politely station our magnificent selves at the next window above the +singers to see how the victim takes it," decided Jerry. "Contrary, 'no.' +I don't hear any opposing voices." + +"There mustn't be _any_ voices heard for the next two minutes," warned +Portia Graham. "Slide around the inn and take your places as quietly as +mice." + +In gleeful silence the girls divided into two groups, each group taking +up its separate station. + +"I hope the night air hasn't played havoc with my strings," breathed +Phyllis. "I don't dare try them. Are we ready?" She rapped softly on the +face of her violin with the bow. + +Followed the tense instant that always precedes the performance of an +orchestra, then Phyllis and Robin began the world-known sextette from +"Lucia." Robin had sung it so many times in private to the accompaniment +of her cousin's violin that the attack was perfect. The others took it +up immediately, filling the night with echoing sweetness. + +From their position at the next window the watchers saw the dark, solemn +face of the Italian raised in bewildered amazement from his paper. Not +quite comprehending at first the unbidden flood of music which met his +ears, he listened for a moment in patent stupefaction. Soon a smile +began to play about his tight little mouth. It widened into a grin of +positive pleasure. Giuseppe understood that a great honor was being done +him. He was not only being serenaded, but he was listening to the music +of his native country as well. + +His varying facial expressions, as the sextette rose and fell, showed +his love of the selection. As it ended, he did an odd thing. He rose +from his chair, bowed his profound thanks toward the window from whence +came the singing, and sat down again, looking expectant. + +"He knows very well he's being watched," whispered Marjorie. "Doesn't he +look pleased? I'm so glad you thought of him, Lucy." + +Lucy was also showing shy satisfaction at the success of her proposal. +She was secretly more proud of some small triumph of the kind on her +part than of her brilliancy as a student. + +Had Signor Baretti been attending a performance of grand opera, he could +not have shown a more evident pleasure in the programme. He listened to +the entertainment so unexpectedly provided him with the rapt air of a +true music-lover. + +"There!" softly exclaimed Phyllis, as she lowered her violin. "That's +the end of the programme, Signor Baretti. Now for that fresh peach ice +cream. I shall have coffee and mountain cake with it. I am as hungry as +the average wandering minstrel." + +"Let's walk in as calmly as though we had never thought of serenading +Giuseppe," said Robin. "Oh, we can't. I forgot. The orchestra part of +this aggregation is a dead give-away." + +"We don't care. He will know it was we who were out there. There is no +one else about but us. I hope he won't think we are a set of little +Tommy Tuckers singing for our suppers. That's a horrible afterthought on +my part," Elaine laughed. + +"Come on." Jerry and her group had now joined the singers. "He saw us +but not until you were singing that Nevin selection. He kept staring at +the window where the sound came from. We had our faces right close to +our window and all of a sudden he looked straight at us. You should have +seen him laugh. His whole face broke into funny little smiles." + +"He may have thought we were the warblers," suggested Muriel hopefully. +"We can parade into the inn on your glory. If I put on airs he may take +me for the high soprano." She glanced teasingly at Robin. + +"Oh, go as far as you like. It won't be the first instance in the +world's history where some have done all the work and others have taken +all the credit," Robin reminded. + +In this jesting frame of mind the entire party strolled around to the +inn's main entrance. At the door they found Giuseppe waiting for them, +his dark features wreathed in smiles. + +"I wait for you here," he announced, with an eloquent gesture of the +hand. "So I know som' my friendly young ladies from the college sing +just for me. You come in. You are my com'ny. You say what you like. I +give the best. Not since I come this country I hear the singing I like +so much. The Lucia! Ah, that is the one I lov'! + +"I tell you the little story while you stan' here. Then you come in. +When I come this country, I am the very poor boy. Come in the steerage. +No much to eat. I fin' work. Then the times hard, I lose work. All over +New York I walk, but don't fin'. I have _no one cent_. I am put from the +bed I rent. I can no pay. For four days I have the nothing eat. I say, +'It is over.' I am this, that I will walk to the river in the night an' +be no more. + +"It is the very warm night and I am tired. I walk an' walk." His face +took on a shade of his by-gone hopelessness as he continued. "Soon I +come the river, I think. Then I hear the music. It is in the next street +jus' I go turn into. It is the harp an' violin. Two my countrymen play +the Lucia. I am so sad. I sit on a step an' cry. Pretty soon one these +ask the money gif' for the music. He touch me on shoulder, say very kind +in Italian, '_Che c'e mai?_' That mean, 'What the matter?' He see I am +the Italiano. We look each other. Both cry, then embrac'. He is my +oldes' brother. He come here long before me. My mother an' I, we don't +hear five years. Then my mother die. Two my brothers work in the _vigna_ +for the rich vignaiuolo in my country. My father is dead long time. So I +come here. + +"My brother give me the eat, the clothes, the place sleep. He have good +room. He work in the day for rich Italian importer. Sometimes he go out +play at night for help his friend who play the harp. He is the old man +an' don't work all the time. So it is I lov' the Lucia. They don't play +that, mebbe I don't sit on that step. Then never fin' my brother. An' +you have please me more than for many years you play the Lucia for me +this night." + + + + +CHAPTER III--A VERANDA ENCOUNTER + + +It lacked but a few minutes of eleven o'clock when the serenading party +said goodnight to Signor Baretti and trooped off toward the campus. The +usually taciturn Italian had surprised and touched them by the impulsive +story of his most tragic hour. He had afterward played host to his +light-hearted guests with the true grace of the Latin. No one came to +the inn for cheer after they entered in that evening, so they had the +place quite to themselves. After a feast of the coveted peach ice cream +and cakes, the obliging orchestra tuned up again at Giuseppe's earnest +request. Robin sang Shubert's "Serenade" and "Appear Love at Thy +Window." Phyllis played Raff's "Cavatina" and one of Brahm's "Hungarian +Dances." Blanche Scott sang "Asleep in the Deep," simply to prove she +had a masculine voice when she chose to use it. + +"We'll come and make music for you again sometime," promised +kind-hearted Phyllis as they left their beaming host. + +"I thank you. An' you forget you say you come an' play, I tell you 'bout +it sometime you come here to eat," he warned the party as they were +leaving. + +"Talk about truth being stranger than fiction, what do you think of +Giuseppe's story?" Jerry exclaimed as soon as they were well away from +the inn. "Imagine how one would feel to meet one's long-lost brother +just as one was getting ready to commit suicide!" + +"One half of the world doesn't know how the other half lives," Ronny +said with a shake of her fair head. + +"To see Giuseppe today, successful and well-to-do, one finds it hard to +visualize him as the poor, starved, despondent Italian boy who cried his +heart out on the doorstep." Vera's tones vibrated with sympathy. The +Italian's story had impressed her deeply. + +The girls discussed it soberly as they wended a leisurely way across the +campus. Even care-free Muriel, who seldom liked to take life seriously, +remarked with becoming earnestness that it was such stories which made +one realize one's own benefits. + +"Be on hand tomorrow night at eight-thirty sharp," was Phyllis's parting +injunction to the Wayland Hall girls as the Silvertonites left them to +go on to their own house. "We have three fair ladies to sing to and we +don't want to slight any of them." + +"I think we ought to get up some entertainments of our own this year. I +never stopped to realize before how few clubs and college societies +Hamilton has. There's only the 'Silver Pen',--one has to have high +literary ability to make that,--the 'Twelfth Night Club' and the +'Fortnightly Debating Society.' We haven't a single sorority," Vera +declared with regret. + +"Miss Remson told me once of a sorority that Hamilton used to have +called the 'Round Table.' It flourished for many years. Then all of a +sudden she heard no more of it. She said Hamilton was very different +even ten years ago from now. There was little automobiling and more +sociability among the campus houses. There were house plays going on +every week and different kinds of entertainments in which almost +everyone joined." + +"That's the way college ought to be," commended Vera. "Even if Hamilton +hasn't yet won back to those palmy days, we had more fellowship here +last year than the year before. Why, during Leila's and my freshman year +here we were seldom invited anywhere. We hardly knew Helen Trent until +late in the year. Nella and Selma, Martha Merrick and Rosalind Black +were our only friends." + +"And now we are to lose Selma." Leila heaved an audible sigh. She had +already informed the girls of Selma's approaching marriage to a young +naval officer. + +"Did Selma know last year she was not going to finish college?" asked +Muriel. "If I had gone through three years of my college course I +wouldn't give up the last and most important year just to be married." + +"That is because you know nothing about love," teased Ronny. + +"Do you?" challenged Muriel. + +"I do not. I have a good deal more sentiment than you have though," +retorted Ronny. "I can appreciate Selma's sacrifice at the shrine of +love." + +"So could I if I knew more about it," Muriel flung back. + +"Precisely what I said to you. So glad you agree with me," chuckled +Ronny. + +"I don't agree with you at all. I meant if I knew more about what you +were pleased to call 'Selma's sacrifice,' not _love_." Muriel's emphasis +of the last word proclaimed her disdain of the tender passion. + +"Hear the geese converse," commented Leila. "Let me tell you both that +Selma had to lose either college or her fiance for two years. He was +ordered to the Philippines to take charge of a naval station on one of +the islands. They were to have been married anyway as soon as she was +graduated from Hamilton. As it was she chose to go with him. So Selma +gained a husband and lost her seniorship and we lost Selma. I shall miss +her, for a finer girl never lived." + +"Nella will miss her most of all," Vera said quickly. "We must try to +make it up to Nella by taking her around with us a lot." + +They had by this time reached the Hall. Girl-like they lingered on the +steps, enjoying the light night breeze that had sprung up in the last +hour. Marjorie's old friend, the chimes, had rung out the stroke of +eleven before they reached the Hall. College having not yet opened +officially, they claimed the privilege of keeping a little later hours. + +As they loitered outside, conversing in low tones, the front door opened +and a girl stepped out on the veranda. She uttered a faint sound of +surprise at sight of the group of girls. She made a half movement as +though to retreat into the house. Then, her face turned away from them, +she hurried across the veranda and down the steps. + +Though the veranda light was not switched on, the girls had seen her +face plainly. To four of them she was known. + +"Who was _she_ and what ailed her?" was Muriel's light question. "She +acted as though she were afraid we might eat her up." + +"That was Miss Sayres, President Matthews' private secretary," answered +Leila in a peculiar tone. "As to what ailed her, she did not expect to +see us and she was not pleased. We have an old Irish proverb: 'When a +man runs from you be sure his feet are at odds with his conscience.'" + + + + +CHAPTER IV--A CONGENIAL PAIR + + +"Well, here we are at the same old stand again." Leslie Cairns yawned, +stretched upward her kimono-clad arms and clasped them behind her head. +Lounging opposite her, in a deep, Sleepy-Hollow chair, Natalie Weyman, +also in a negligee, scanned her friend's face with some anxiety. + +"Les, do you or do you not intend to try to make a new stand this year +for our rights? I think the way we were treated last year after that +basket-ball affair was simply outrageous. I don't mean by Miss Dean and +her crowd, I mean by girls we had lunched and done plenty of favors +for." + +"If you are talking about the freshies they never were to be depended +upon from the first. Bess Walbert stood by us, of course. So did a lot +of Alston Terrace kids. She did good work for us there." + +"Every reason why she should have," Natalie tartly pointed out. She was +still jealous of Leslie's friendship with Elizabeth Walbert. "You did +enough for _her_. She certainly will not win the soph presidency, no +matter how much you may root for her. She was awfully unpopular with her +class before college closed. I know that to be a fact." + +"Why is it that you have to go up in the air like a sky rocket every +time I mention Bess Walbert's name?" Leslie scowled her impatience. "You +wouldn't give that poor kid credit for anything clever she had done, no +matter how wonderful it was." + +"Humph! I have yet to learn of anything wonderful she ever did or ever +will do," sneered Natalie. "I am not going to quarrel with you, Leslie, +about her." Natalie modified her tone. "She isn't worth it. You think I +am awfully jealous of her. I am not. I don't like her because she is so +untruthful." + +"Why don't you say she is a liar and be done with it?" 'So untruthful!' +Leslie mimicked. "That sounds like Bean and her crowd." Displeased with +Natalie for decrying Elizabeth Walbert, Leslie took revenge by mimicking +her chum. She knew nothing cut Natalie more than to be mimicked. + +"All right. I will say it. Bess Walbert _is_ a liar and you will find it +out, too, before you are done with her. Besides, she is treacherous. If +you were to turn her down for any reason, she wouldn't care what she +said about you on the campus. I have watched her a good deal, Les. She's +like this. She will take a little bit of truth for a foundation and then +build up something from it that's entirely a lie. If she would stick to +facts; but she doesn't." + +"She has always been square enough with me," Leslie insisted. + +"Because you have made a fuss over her," was the instant explanation. +"She knows you are at the head of the Sans and she has taken precious +good care to keep in with you. She cares for no one but herself." + +"Oh, nonsense! That's what you always said about Lola Elster. I've never +had any rows with Lola. We're as good friends today as ever." + +"Still Lola dropped you the minute she grew chummy with Alida Burton," +Natalie reminded. "Lola was just ungrateful, though. She has more honor +in a minute than Bess will ever have. She isn't a talker or a +mischief-maker. She never thinks of much but having a good time. She +hardly ever says anything gossipy about anyone." + +"I thought you didn't like Lola?" Leslie smiled in her slow fashion. + +"I don't," came frankly. "Of the two evils, I prefer her to Bess. My +advice to you is not to be too pleasant with Bess until you see what her +position here at Hamilton is going to be. I tell you she isn't well +liked. You can keep her at arm's length, if you begin that way, without +making her sore. If you baby her and then drop her, look out!" Natalie +shook a prophetic finger at Leslie. + +"We can't afford to take any chances this year, Les. With all the things +we have done that would put us in line for being expelled, we have +managed by sheer good luck to slide from under. If we hadn't worked like +sixty last spring term to make up for the time we lost fooling with +basket-ball we wouldn't be seniors now. I don't want any conditions to +work off this year." + +"Neither do I. Don't intend to have 'em. I begin to believe you may be +right about keeping Bess in her place." Natalie's evident earnestness +had made some impression on her companion. + +"I _know_ I am," Natalie emphasized with lofty dignity. "Are you sure +she doesn't know anything about that hazing business? She made a remark +to Harriet Stephens last spring that sounded as though she knew all +about it." + +"Well, she does not, unless someone of the Sans besides you or I has +told her of it." Leslie sat up straight in her chair, looking rather +worried. "I must pump her and find out what she knows. If she does know +of it, then we have a traitor in the camp. Mark me, I'll throw any girl +out of the club who has babbled that affair. Didn't we doubly swear, +afterward, never to tell it to a soul while we were at Hamilton?" + +"Hard to say who told Bess," shrugged Natalie. "Certainly it was not I." + +"No; you're excepted. I said that." Leslie's assurance was bored. She +was tired of hearing Natalie extol her own loyalty. It was an everyday +citation. "That hazing stunt of ours doesn't worry me half so much as +that trick we put over on Trotty Remson. I am always afraid that Laura +will flivver someday and the whole thing will come to light. If it +happens after I leave Hamilton, I don't care. All I care about is +getting through. If I keep on the soft side of my father he is going to +let me help run his business. That's my dream. But I have to be +graduated with honors, if there are any I can pull down. At least I must +stick it out here for my diploma." + +"What would your father do if you flunked this year in any way?" + +"He would disown me. I mean that. I have money of my own; lots of it. +That part of it wouldn't feaze me. But my father is the only person on +earth I really have any respect for. I'd never get over it; _never_." + +Leslie's loose features showed a tightened intensity utterly foreign to +them. Her hands took hold on the chair arms with a grip which revealed +something of the nervous emotion the fell contingency inspired in her. + +The two girls had arrived on the seven o'clock train from the north that +evening. They had stopped at the Lotus for dinner and had reached the +hall shortly before the beginning of the serenade. Leslie had been +Natalie's guest at the Weymans' camp in the Adirondacks. Thus the two +had come on to college together instead of accepting Dulcie Vale's +invitation to journey from New York City to Hamilton in the Vales' +private car, as they had done the three previous years. Since the hazing +party on St. Valentine's night, Leslie and Dulcie had not been on +specially good terms. Leslie was still peeved with Dulcie for not having +locked the back door of the untenanted house as she had been ordered to +do. Had she obeyed orders the Sans would not have been put to +panic-stricken flight by unknown invaders. While those who had come to +Marjorie's rescue might have hung about the outside of the house, they +could not have found entrance easy with both back and front doors +properly locked. + +"I don't know what is the matter with me tonight." Leslie rose and +commenced a restless walk up and down the room, hands clasped behind her +back. "That music upset me, I guess. I wonder who the singers were. +Serenading Bean and her gang. Humph! Nobody ever serenaded us that I can +recall. I suppose Beanie arrived in all her glory this afternoon, hence +those yowlers under her window tonight." + +"They really sang beautifully. Whoever played the violin was a fine +musician. I never heard a better rendition of 'How Fair Art Thou.'" Fond +of music, Natalie was forced to admit the high quality of the +performance, even though the serenade had been in honor of the girl of +whom she had always been so jealous. + +"I don't care much for music unless it is rag-time or musical comedy +stuff. Sentimental songs get on my nerves. I hate that priggish old +'Hymn to Hamilton.' I hope Laura got out of here without being seen." +Leslie went back to the subject still uppermost in her mind. "It was +risking something to send for her to come over here, but I was anxious +to see her and find out if anything had happened this summer detrimental +to us. I didn't feel like meeting her along the road tonight." + +"Oh, I don't believe anyone saw her," reassured Natalie. "It was after +eleven when she left here. The house was quiet as could be. I noticed it +when I went out in the hall before she left to see if the coast was +clear. Not more than half the girls who belong here are back yet. Bean +and her crowd had gone to bed, I presume. You wouldn't catch such angels +as they even making a dent in the ten-thirty rule." + +"That's so." Leslie made one more trip up and down the room, then +resumed the chair in which she had been sitting. "Well, I'll take it for +granted that Sayres made a clean get-away. One thing about her, she will +stand by us as long as she is paid for it. Besides, she would get into +more trouble than we if the truth were known. That's where we have the +advantage of her. She has to protect herself as well as us. What I have +always been afraid of is this: If Remson and old Doctor Know-it-all ever +came to an understanding he would go to quizzing Sayres. If she lost her +nerve, for he is a terror when he's angry, she might flivver." + +"Don't cross bridges until you come to them," counseled Natalie. She was +beginning to see the value of assuming the role of comforter to Leslie. +One thing Natalie had determined. She would strain a point to be first +with Leslie during their senior year. She had importuned Leslie to visit +her for the purpose of regaining her old footing. She and Leslie had +spent a fairly congenial month together in the Adirondacks. Now Natalie +intended to hold the ground she had gained against all comers. + +"I'm not going to. I shall forget last year, so far as I can. I +certainly spent enough money and didn't gain a thing. Our best plan is +to go on as we did last spring. If I see a good opportunity to bother +Bean and her devoted beanstalks, I shall not let it pass me by. I am not +going to take any more risks, though. If I manage to live down those +I've taken, I'll do well." + +"I know I wouldn't _raise a hand_ to help a freshie this year," Natalie +declared with a positive pucker of her small mouth. "Think of the way we +rushed the greedy ingrates! Then they wouldn't stand up for us during +that basket-ball trouble." + +"Put all that down to profit and loss." Leslie had emerged from the +brief spasm of dread which invariably visited her after seeing Laura +Sayres. "We had the wrong kind of girls to deal with. There were more +digs and prigs in that class than eligibles. That's why we lost. I am +all done with that sort of thing. If I can't be as popular as Bean," +Leslie's intonation was bitterly sarcastic, "I can be a good deal more +exclusive. As it is, I expect to have all I can do to keep the Sans in +line. Dulcie Vale has an idea that she ought to run the club. Give her a +chance and she'd run it into the ground. She has as much sense as a +peacock. She can fan her feathers and squawk." + +Natalie laughed outright at this. It was so exactly descriptive of +Dulcie. + +Leslie looked well pleased with herself. She thoroughly enjoyed saying +smart things which made people laugh. It was a sore cross to her that +after three years of the hardest striving she had not attained the kind +of popularity at Hamilton which she craved. Yet she could not see +wherein she was to blame. + +Gifted with a keen sense of humor, she had tricks of expression so +original in themselves that she might have easily gained a reputation as +the funniest girl in college. Had good humor radiated her peculiarly +rugged features she would have been that rarity, an ugly beauty. Due to +her proficiency at golf and tennis, she was of most symmetrical figure. +She was particularly fastidious as to dress, and made a smart +appearance. Having so much that was in her favor, she was hopelessly +hampered by self. + + + + +CHAPTER V--A LUCKY MISHAP + + +The serenading expedition of the next night was the beginning of a +succession of similar gaieties for the Lookouts. As Hamilton continued +to gather in her own for the college year, the Sanford quintette found +themselves in flattering demand. + +"If I don't stay at home once in a while I shall never be able to find a +thing that belongs to me," Muriel Harding cried out in despair as Jerry +reminded her at luncheon that they were invited to Silverton Hall that +evening to celebrate Elaine Hunter's birthday. "You girls may laugh, but +honestly I haven't finished unpacking my trunk. Every time I plan to +wind up that delightful job, along comes some friendly, but misguided +person and invites me out." + +"Stay at home then," advised Jerry. "If that last remark of yours was +meant for me, I am _not_ misguided and I shall _not_ be friendly if you +hurl such adjectives at me." + +"Neither was meant for you. You are only the bearer of the invitation. +Why stir up a breeze over nothing?" + +"If you don't go to Elaine's birthday party she will think you stayed +away because you were too stingy to buy her a present. We are all going +to drive to Hamilton this afternoon after classes to buy gifts for her. +Don't you wish you were going, too?" Ronny regarded Muriel with +tantalizing eyes. + +"Oh, I'm going along," Muriel glibly assured. "You can't lose me. What I +like to do and what I ought to do are two very different things. After +this week I shall settle down to the student life in earnest. My +subjects are terrific this term. I am sorry I started calculus. I had +enough to do without that." + +"This will have to be my last party for a week or two," Marjorie +declared. "I haven't done any real studying this week, and I owe all my +correspondents letters. I feel guilty for not having done more toward +helping this year's freshies. I've only been down to the station twice." + +"They're in good hands. Phil and Barbara have done glorious work. They +have had at least twenty sophs helping them. It's a cinch this year. +Very different from last." Jerry gave a short laugh. "Phil says," Jerry +discreetly lowered her voice, "that not a Sans has come near the station +since she has been on committee duty there to welcome the freshies. I +told her it didn't surprise me." + +"I didn't know Miss Cairns and Miss Weyman had come back until I +happened to pass them in the upstairs hall," Muriel said. + +"They were here for a couple of days before Leila knew it, and she +generally knows who is back and who isn't. Miss Remson told Leila she +didn't know it herself until the next day after they arrived. The two of +them came back together on the night we were serenaded. They simply +walked into the house and went to their rooms. She didn't see them until +noon the next day." It was Veronica who delivered this information. + +"Did Miss Remson say anything to them on account of it?" questioned +Muriel. + +"No; she wasn't pleased, but she said she thought it best to ignore it. +It was just one more discourtesy on their part." + +"That accounts for our meeting Miss Sayres on the veranda." Lucy's +greenish eyes had grown speculative. "She had been calling on those two. +We spoke of it after she passed, you will remember. Leila said 'No,' +they had not come back yet. We wondered on whom she had been calling at +the Hall. While we can't prove that it was Miss Cairns and Miss Weyman +she had come to see, that would be the natural conclusion," Lucy summed +up with the gravity of a lawyer. + +"I object, your honor. The evidence is too fragmentary to be +considered," put in Muriel in mannish tones. She bowed directly to +Marjorie. + +"Court's adjourned. I have nothing to say." Marjorie laughed and pushed +back her chair from the table. "I'm not making light of what you said, +Lucy." She turned to the latter. "I was only funning with Muriel. I +think as you do. Still none of us can prove it." + +"I wish the whole thing would be cleared up before those girls are +graduated and gone from Hamilton," Katherine Langly said almost +vindictively. "I wouldn't care if it made a lot of trouble for them all. +Miss Remson has stood so much from them and she still feels so hurt at +Doctor Matthews' unjust treatment of her. I can't believe he wrote that +letter. She believes it." + +"I don't see how she can in face of all the contemptible things the Sans +have done," asserted Jerry. + +"She believes it because she says he signed the letter, so he must have +written it. I told her the signature might be a forgery. She said 'No, +it could hardly be that.' I saw she was set on that point, so I didn't +argue it further." + +"Excuse me for abruptly changing the subject, but where are we to meet +after classes this P.M.?" inquired Muriel. + +The chums had left the table and proceeded as far as the hall, where +their ways separated. + +"Go straight over to the garage. Our two Old Reliables will be there +with their buzz wagons. Be on time, too," called Jerry, as with an "All +right, much obliged, Jeremiah," Muriel started up the stairs. Half way +up she turned and asked, "What time?" + +"Quarter past four. If you aren't there on the dot we shall go without +you. None of us know what we are going to buy, so we want all the time +we can have to look around. Remember, we have to hustle back to the +Hall, have dinner and dress." + +"I'll remember." With a wag of her head Muriel resumed her ascent of the +stairs and quickly disappeared. + +The others stopped briefly in the hall to talk. Marjorie was next to +leave the group. She remembered she had intended to change her white +linen frock, which did not look quite fresh enough for a trip to town. +Her last recitation of the afternoon being chemistry, she knew she would +have no time to return to the Hall before meeting her chums at the +garage. + +Alas for the pretty gown of delft blue pongee which she had donned with +girlish satisfaction at luncheon time. An accident at the chemical desk +sent a veritable deluge of discoloring liquid showering over her. +Despite her apron, her frock was plentifully spotted by it. + +Ordinarily she would have made light of the misfortune. As it was she +felt ready to cry with vexation. She would have to change gowns again in +order to be presentable for the trip to Hamilton. The girls had set +four-fifteen as the starting time. She could not possibly make it before +four-thirty. + +Her first resolve was to hurry over to the garage immediately after the +chemistry period and tell the the girls not to wait for her. + +In spite of Jerry's assertion to Muriel that they would not wait a +moment after four-fifteen, Marjorie knew that they would strain a point +and linger a little longer if she did not put in an appearance at the +time appointed. Recalling the fact that Lucy was in the Biological +Laboratory, situated across the hall from the Chemical Laboratory, +Marjorie decided to try to catch Lucy before she left the building and +send word to the others to go on without her. She could then hurry +straight to the Hall, slip into another gown and hail a taxicab going to +the town of Hamilton. There were usually two or three to be found in the +immediate vicinity of the campus. + +"Oh, there you are!" Marjorie hailed softly, when, at precisely four +o'clock Lucy emerged from the laboratory across the hall. "I thought you +would be out on the minute on account of going to town. I left chemistry +five minutes earlier for fear of missing you. Just see what happened to +me." She displayed the results of the accident. "I am a sight. Tell the +girls not to wait. I must go on to the Hall and make myself presentable. +I'll take a taxi and meet them at the Curio Shop. If they're ready to go +on before I reach there, tell them to leave word with the proprietor +where they are going next." + +"All right. What a shame about your dress. Do you think those stains +will come out?" Lucy scanned the unsightly spots and streaks with a +dubious eye. + +"I know they won't." Marjorie voiced rueful positiveness. "This is the +first time I ever wore this frock. I gave it a nice baptism, didn't I? +Well, it can't be helped now. I mustn't stop." The two had come to the +outer entrance to Science Hall. "See you at the Curio Shop." With a +parting wave of the hand Marjorie ran lightly down the steps and trotted +across the campus. + +Always quick of action, it did not take her long, once she had gained +her room, to discard the unlucky blue pongee gown for one of pink linen. + +"Just half-past four. I didn't do so badly," she congratulated, +consulting her wrist watch as she hastened down the driveway toward the +west gate. "Now for a taxi." + +No taxicab was in sight, however. Three of these useful vehicles had +recently reaped a harvest of students bound for town and started off +with them. Five minutes passed and Marjorie grew more impatient. To +undertake to walk to Hamilton would add greatly to the delay in joining +the gift seekers. True she might meet a taxicab on the way. Whether the +driver would turn back for a single fare she was not sure. She +determined to walk on rather than stand still. If she were lucky enough +to meet a taxicab on the highway she would offer its driver double fare +to turn around and take her into town. + +The brisk pace at which she walked soon brought her to the western end +of the campus wall. Presently she had reached the beginning of Hamilton +Estates. And still no sign of a taxicab! + +"It looks as though I'd have to walk after all," she remarked, half +aloud. "How provoking!" She would reach the Curio Shop about the time +the others were starting for the campus was her vexed calculation. +Besides, there was Lucy, who would patiently wait for her when she might +be going on with the others. They had planned to visit two or three +shops. + +In the midst of her annoyance, the sound of a motor behind caused her to +turn. To her surprise she recognized the driver and machine as being of +the regular jitney service between the campus and the town. His only +fare was a young man, evidently a salesman who had had business at the +college. He was occupying the front seat beside the driver. + +The latter stopped at Marjorie's sign and opened the door of the tonneau +for her. Very thankfully she stepped in. Engaged in conversation with +the salesman, the man at the wheel drove along at a leisurely rate of +speed. Marjorie could only wish that he would hurry a little faster. + +Coming opposite to Hamilton Arms, Marjorie forgot her impatience as her +eyes eagerly took in the estate she so greatly admired. The +chrysanthemums had begun to throw out luxuriant bloom in border and bed, +while the bronze and scarlet of fallen leaves lay lightly on the +short-cropped grass. + +Almost opposite the point where Hamilton Arms adjoined the next estate, +Marjorie spied a small, familiar figure trotting along at the left of +the highway. It was Miss Susanna Hamilton. In one hand she carried a +good-sized splint basket from which nodded a colorful wealth of +chrysanthemums in little individual flower pots. She was bare-headed, +though over her black silk dress she wore the knitted scarlet shawl +which gave her the odd likeness to a lively old robin. + +Marjorie leaned forward a trifle as the machine came opposite Miss +Susanna. She viewed the last of the Hamiltons with kindly, non-curious +eyes. The taxicab had almost slid past the sturdy pedestrian when +something happened. The handle of the splint basket treacherously gave +way, landing the basket on the ground with force. It tipped side-ways. +Two or three of the flower pots rolled out of it. + +Forgetting everything but the mishap to Brooke Hamilton's eccentric +descendant, Marjorie called out on impulse: "Driver; please stop the +taxi! I wish to get out here!" + + + + +CHAPTER VI--THE LAST OF THE HAMILTONS + + +The man promptly brought the machine to a slow stop. He was too well +acquainted with the whims of "them girls from the college" to exhibit +surprise. Having paid her fare on entering the taxicab, Marjorie now +quitted it with alacrity and ran back to the scene of the mishap. + +"Please let me help you," she offered in a gracious fashion which came +straight from her heart. "I saw the handle of that basket break and I +made the driver stop and let me out of the taxi." + +Without waiting for Miss Susanna's permission, Marjorie stooped and lay +hold on one of the scattered flower pots. Thus far the old lady had made +no effort to gather them in. She had stood eyeing the unstable basket +with marked disgust. + +"And who are you, may I ask?" The brisk manner of question reminded +Marjorie of Miss Remson. + +"Oh, I am Marjorie Dean from Hamilton College," Marjorie said, +straightening up with a smile. + +For an instant the two pairs of dark eyes met. In the old lady's +appeared a gleam half resentful, half admiring. In the young girl's +shone a pleasant light, hard to resist. + +"Yes; I supposed you were one of them," nodded Miss Susanna. "Let me +tell you, young woman, you are the first I have met in all these years +from the college who had any claim on gentle breeding." + +Marjorie smiled. "There are a good many fine girls at Hamilton," she +defended without intent to be discourteous. "Any one of a number I know +would have been glad to help you." + +"Then that doll shop has changed a good deal recently," retorted the old +lady with rapidity. "Nowadays it is nothing but drive flamboyant cars +and spend money for frivolities over there. I hate the place." + +Marjorie was silent. She did not like to contradict further by saying +pointedly that she loved Hamilton, neither could she bear the thought of +not defending her Alma Mater. + +"I can't say that I hate Hamilton College, because I don't," she finally +returned, before the pause between the two had grown embarrassing. "I am +sure you must have good reason to dislike Hamilton and its students or +you would not say so." + +The pink in her cheeks deepened. Marjorie bent and completed the task of +returning the last spilled posy to the basket. + +"There!" she exclaimed good-naturedly. "I have them all in the basket +again, and not a single one of those little jars are broken. I wish you +would let me carry the basket for you, Miss Hamilton. It is really a +cumbersome affair without the handle." + +"You are quite a nice child, I must say." Miss Susanna continued to +regard Marjorie with her bright, bird-like gaze. "Where on earth were +you brought up?" + +Signally amused, Marjorie laughed outright. She had raised the basket +from the ground. As she stood there, her lovely face full of light and +laughter, arms full of flowers, Miss Susanna's stubborn old heart +softened a trifle toward girlhood. + +"I come from Sanford, New York," she answered. "This is my junior year +at Hamilton. Four other girls from Sanford entered when I did." + +"Sanford," repeated her questioner. "I never heard of the place. If +these girls are friends of yours I suppose they escape being +barbarians." + +"They are the finest girls I ever knew," Marjorie praised with +sincerity. + +"Well, well; I am pleased to hear it." The old lady spoke with a +brusquerie which seemed to indicate her wish to be done with the +subject. "You insist on helping me, do you?" + +"Yes; if it pleases you to allow me." + +"It's to my advantage, so it ought to," was the dry retort. "I am not +particular about lugging that basket in my arms. I loaded it too +heavily. Brian, the gardener, would have carried it for me, but I didn't +care to be bothered with him. I am carrying these down to an old man who +used to work about the lawns. His days are numbered and he loves flowers +better than anything else. He lives in a little house just outside the +estate. It is still quite a walk. If you have anything else to do you +had better consider it and not me." + +"I was on my way to town. It is too late to go now." Marjorie explained +the nature of her errand as they walked on. "The girls will probably +come to the conclusion that I found it too late to go to Hamilton after +I had changed my gown. One or another of them will buy me something +pretty to give to Elaine," she ended. + +"It is a good many years since I bought a birthday gift for anyone. I +always give my servants money on their birthdays. I have not received a +birthday gift for over fifty years and I don't want one. I do not allow +my household to make me presents on any occasion." Miss Susanna +announced this with a touch of defiance. + +"It seems as though my life has been full of presents. My father and +mother have given me hundreds, I guess. My father is away from home a +good deal. When he comes back from his long business trips he always +brings Captain and I whole stacks of treasures." + +Marjorie was not sure that this was what she should have said. She found +conversing with the last of the Hamiltons a trifle hazardous. She had no +desire to contradict, yet she and her new acquaintance had thus far not +agreed on a single point. + +"Who is 'Captain,'" was the inquiry, made with the curiosity of a child. + +Marjorie turned rosy red. The pet appellation had slipped out before she +thought. + +"I call my mother 'Captain,'" she informed, then went on to explain +further of their fond home play. She fully expected Miss Susanna would +criticize it as "silly." She was already understanding a little of the +lonely old gentlewoman's bitterness of heart. Her earnest desire to know +the last of the Hamiltons had arisen purely out of her great sympathy +for Miss Susanna. + +"You seem to have had a childhood," was the surprising reception her +explanation called forth. "I can't endure the children of today. They +are grown up in their minds at seven. I must say your father and mother +are exceptional. No wonder you have good manners. That is, if they are +genuine. I have seen some good imitations. Young girls are more +deceitful than young men. I don't like either. There is nothing I +despise so much as the calloused selfishness of youth. It is far worse +than crabbed age." + +"I know young girls are often selfish of their own pleasure," Marjorie +returned with sudden humility. "I try not to be. I know I am at times. +Many of my girl friends are not. I wish I could begin to tell you of the +beautiful, unselfish things some of my chums have done for others." + +Miss Susanna vouchsafed no reply to this little speech. She trotted +along beside Marjorie for several rods without saying another word. When +she spoke again it was to say briefly: "Here is where we turn off the +road. Is that basket growing very heavy?" + +"It is quite heavy. I believe I will set it down for a minute." Marjorie +carefully deposited her burden on the grass at the roadside and +straightened up, stretching her aching arms. The basket had begun to be +considerable of a burden on account of the manner in which it had to be +carried. + +"I couldn't have lugged that myself," Miss Susanna confessed. "I found +it almost too much for me with the handle on. Ridiculous, the flimsy way +in which things are put together today! Splint baskets of years ago +would have stood any amount of strain. If you had not kindly come to my +assistance, I intended to pick out as many of those jars as I could +carry in my arms and go on with them. The others I would have set up +against my own property fence and hoped no one would walk off with them +before my return. I dislike anyone to have the flowers I own and have +tended unless I give them away myself." + +"I have often seen you working among your flowers when I have passed +Hamilton Arms. I knew you must love them dearly or you would not spend +so much time with them." + +"Hm-m!" The interjection might have been an assent to Marjorie's polite +observation. It was not, however. Miss Susanna was understanding that +this young girl who had shown her such unaffected courtesy had thought +of her kindly as a stranger. She experienced a sudden desire to see +Marjorie again. Her long and concentrated hatred against Hamilton +College and its students forbade her to make any friendly advances. She +had already shown more affability according to her ideas than she had +intended. She wondered why she had not curtly refused Marjorie's offer. + +"I am rested now." Marjorie lifted the basket. The two skirted the +northern boundary of Hamilton Arms, taking a narrow private road which +lay between it and the neighboring estate. The road continued straight +to a field where it ended. At the edge of the field stood a small +cottage painted white. Miss Susanna pointed it out as their destination. + +"I will carry this to the door and then leave you." Marjorie had no +desire to intrude upon Miss Susanna's call at the cottage. + +"Very well. I am obliged to you, Marjorie Dean." Miss Susanna's thanks +were expressed in tones which sounded close to unfriendly. She was +divided between appreciation of Marjorie's courtesy and her dislike for +girls. + +"You are welcome." They were now within a few yards of the cottage. +Arriving at the low doorstep, Marjorie set the basket carefully upon it. +"Goodbye, Miss Hamilton." She held out her hand. "I am so glad to have +met you." + +"What's that? Oh, yes." The old lady took Marjorie's proffered hand. The +evident sincerity of the words touched a hidden spring within, long +sealed. "Goodbye, child. I am glad to have met at least one young girl +with genuine manners." + +Marjorie smiled as she turned away. She had never before met an old +person who so heartily detested youth. She knew her timely assistance +had been appreciated. On that very account Miss Susanna had tried to +smother, temporarily, her standing grudge against the younger +generation. + +Well, it had happened. She had achieved her heart's desire. She had +actually met and talked with the last of the Hamiltons. + + + + +CHAPTER VII--TWO KINDS OF GIRLS + + +"You are a dandy," was Jerry's greeting as Marjorie walked into their +room at ten minutes past six. "Where were you? Lucy said you ruined your +blue pongee with some horrid old chemical. It didn't take you two hours +to change it, did it? I see we have on our pink linen." + +"You know perfectly well it did not take me two hours to change it. A +plain insinuation that I'm a slowpoke. Take it back." In high good +humor, Marjorie made a playful rush at her room-mate. + +"Hold on. I am not made of wood, as Hal says when I occasionally hammer +him in fun." Jerry put up her hands in comic self-defense. "You +certainly are in a fine humor after keeping your poor pals waiting for +you for an hour and a half and then not even condescending to appear." + +"I've had an adventure, Jeremiah. That's why I didn't meet you girls in +Hamilton. I started for there in a taxicab. Then I met a lady in +distress, and, emulating the example of a gallant knight, I hopped out +of the taxi to help her." + +"Wonderful! I suppose you met Phil Moore or some other Silvertonite with +her arms full of bundles. About the time she saw you she dropped 'em. +'With a sympathetic yell, Helpful Marjorie leaped from the taxicab to +aid her overburdened but foolish friend.' Quotation from the last best +seller." Jerry regarded Marjorie with a teasing smile. + +"Your suppositions are about a mile off the track. I haven't seen a +Silvertonite this afternoon. The lady in distress I met was----" Marjorie +paused by way of making her revelation more effective, "Miss Susanna +Hamilton." + +"_What?_ You don't say so." Jerry exhibited the utmost astonishment. +"Good thing you didn't ask me to guess. She is the last person I would +have thought of. Now how did it happen? I am glad of it for your sake. +You've been so anxious to know her." + +Rapidly Marjorie recounted the afternoon's adventure. As she talked she +busied herself with the redressing of her hair. After dinner she would +have no more than time to put on the white lingerie frock she intended +to wear to Elaine's birthday party. + +Jerry listened without comment. While she had never taken the amount of +interest in the owner of Hamilton Arms which Marjorie had evinced since +entering Hamilton College, she had a certain curiosity regarding Miss +Susanna. + +"I knew you girls would wait and wonder what had delayed me. I am +awfully sorry. You know that, Jeremiah," Marjorie apologized. "But I +couldn't have gone on in the taxi after I saw what had happened to Miss +Susanna. She couldn't have carried the basket as I did clear over to +that cottage. She said she would have picked up as many plant jars as +she could carry in her arms and gone on with them." + +"One of the never-say-die sort, isn't she? Very likely in the years she +has lived near the college she has met with some rude girls. On the +order of the Sans, you know. If, in the past twenty years, Hamilton was +half as badly overrun with snobs as when we entered, one can imagine why +she doesn't adore students." + +"It doesn't hurt my feelings to hear her say she disliked girls. I only +felt sorry for her. It must be dreadful to be old and lonely. She is +lonely, even if she doesn't know it. She has deliberately shut the door +between herself and happiness. I am so glad we're young, Jeremiah." +Marjorie sighed her gratitude for the gift of youth. "I hope always to +be young at heart." + +"I sha'n't wear a cap and spectacles and walk with a cane until I have +to, believe me," was Jerry's emphatic rejoinder. "Are you ready to go +down to dinner? My hair is done, too. I shall dress after I've been fed. +Oh, I forgot to tell you. I bought you a present to give Elaine. We +bought every last thing we are going to give her at the Curio Shop." + +"You are a dear. I knew some of the girls would help me out. I supposed +it would be you, though. Do let me see my present." + +"There it is on my chiffonier. You'd better examine it after dinner. It +is a hand-painted chocolate pot; a beauty, too. Looks like a bit of +spring time." + +"I'll look at it the minute I come back. I'm oceans obliged to you." +Marjorie cast a longing glance at the tall package on the chiffonier, as +the two girls left the room. + +At dinner that night Marjorie's adventure of the afternoon excited the +interest of her chums. She was obliged to repeat, as nearly as she could +what she said to Miss Susanna and what Miss Susanna had said to her. + +"Did she mention the May basket?" quizzed Muriel with a giggle. + +"Now why should she?" counter-questioned Marjorie. + +"Well; she was talking about not receiving a birthday present for over +fifty years. She might have said, 'But some kind-hearted person hung a +beautiful violet basket on my door on May day evening!'" + +"Only she didn't. That flight of fancy was wasted," Jerry informed +Muriel. + +"Wasted on you. You haven't proper sentiment," flung back Muriel. + +"I'll never acquire it in your company," Jerry assured. The subdued +laughter the tilt evoked reached the table occupied by Leslie Cairns, +Natalie Weyman, Dulcie Vale and three others of the Sans. + +"Those girls seem to find enough to laugh at," commented Dulcie Vale +half enviously. + +"Simpletons!" muttered Leslie Cairns. She was out of sorts with the +world in general that evening. "They sit there and 'ha-ha-ha' at their +meals until I can hardly stand it sometimes. I hate eating dinner here. +I'd dine at the Colonial every evening, but it takes too much time. I +really must study hard this year to get through. I certainly will be +happy to see the last of this treadmill. I'm going to take a year after +I'm graduated just to sail around and have a good time. After that I +shall help my father in business." + +"There's one thing you ought to know, Leslie, and that is you had better +be careful what you do this year. I have heard two or three rumors that +sound as though those girls over there had told about what happened the +night of the masquerade. I wouldn't take part in another affair of that +kind for millions of dollars." + +Dulcie Vale assumed an air of virtuous resolve as she delivered herself +of this warning to Leslie. + +"Don't worry. There won't be any occasion. I don't believe those muffs +ever told a thing outside of their own crowd. They're a close +corporation. I wish I could say the same of us." Leslie laughed this +arrow with cool deliberation. + +"What do you mean?" Harriet Stephens said sharply. "Who of us would be +silly enough to tell our private affairs?" + +"I hope you wouldn't." Leslie's eyes narrowed threateningly. "I have +heard one or two things myself which may or may not be true. I am not +ready to say anything further just now. My advice to all of you is to +keep your affairs to yourselves. If you are foolish enough to babble +your own about the campus, on your head be it. Be sure you will hear +from me if you tell tales. Besides, you are apt to lose your diplomas by +it. A word to the wise, you know. I have a recitation in psychology in +the morning. I must put in a quiet evening. Kindly let me alone, all of +you." She rose and sauntered from the room, leaving her satellites to +discuss her open insinuation and wonder what she had heard to put her in +such an "outrageous" humor. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII--A FROLIC AT SILVERTON HALL + + +The "simpletons" finished their dinner amid much merriment, quite +unconscious of their lack of sense, and hustled up to their rooms to +dress for the party. Leila, Vera, Helen, Hortense Barlow, Eva Ingram, +Nella Sherman and Mary Cornell had also been invited. Shortly after +seven the elect started for Silverton Hall, primed for a jubilant +evening. Besides their gifts, each girl carried a small nosegay of mixed +flowers. The flowers had been purchased in bulk by Helen, Eva and Mary. +The trio had made them up into dainty, round bouquets. These were to be +showered upon Elaine, immediately she appeared among them. Helen had +also composed a Nonsense Ode which she said had cost her more mental +effort than forty themes. + +Every girl at Silverton Hall was invited to the party. It was not in +gentle Elaine to slight anyone. With twenty girls from other campus +houses, the long living room at the Hall was filled. Across one of its +lower corners had been hung a heavy green curtain. What it concealed +only those who had arranged the surprise knew. Elaine had been seized by +Portia Graham and Blanche Scott and made to swear on her sacred honor +that she would absolutely shun the living room until granted permission +to enter it. + +"I hope you have all put cards with your presents," were Portia's first +words after greeting them at the door. "You can't give them to Elaine +yourselves. We've arranged a general presentation. So don't be snippy +because I rob you of your offerings." + +"Glad of it." Jerry promptly tendered her gift to Portia. "I always feel +silly giving a present." + +The others from Wayland Hall very willingly surrendered their good-will +offerings. Their bouquets they kept. Entering the reception hall, Elaine +stepped forward to welcome them and received a sudden flower pelting, to +the accompaniment of a lively chorus of congratulations. + +"How lovely! Umm! The dear things!" she exclaimed, as the rain of +blossoms came fast and furious. Her sweet, fair face aglow with the love +of flowers, she gathered them up in the overskirt of her white chiffon +frock and sat down on the lower step of the stairs to enjoy their +fragrance. "I am not allowed in the living room, girls. Everyone can go +in there but poor me. I thank you for these perfectly darling bouquets. +I'll have a different one to wear every day this week. If you want to +fix your hair or do any further beautifying go up to Robin's room. If +not, go into the living room." + +Lingering for a little further chat with Elaine, whom they all adored, +they entered the living room to be met by a vociferous welcome from the +assembled Silvertonites. When the last guest had arrived and been +ushered into the reception room, from somewhere in the house a bell +suddenly tinkled. In order to give more space the chairs had been +removed and the guests lined the sides of the apartment and filled one +end of it halfway to the wide doorway opening into the main hall. + +At sound of the bell a hush fell upon the merry-makers. Again it tinkled +and down the stairs came a procession that might have stepped from a +tapestry depicting the life of the greenwood men. Four merry men, their +green cambric costumes carefully modeled after the attire of Robin Hood +and his followers, had come to the party. The first, instead of being +Robin Hood, was Robin Page. She bowed low to Elaine, who was still +languishing in exile in the hall, and offered her arm. + +"Delighted; I am so tired of hanging about that old hall!" Elaine seized +Robin's arm with alacrity and the two passed into the adjoining room. +The other three faithful servitors followed their leader. The last one +carried a violin and drew from it an old-time greenwood melody as Elaine +and Robin joined forces and paraded into the living room. + +Straight toward the green curtain Robin piloted Elaine to the fiddler's +plaintive tune. Stationed before the curtain, Blanche Scott drew it +aside. + +A surprised and admiring chorus of exclamations arose. There stood a +real greenwood tree. Portia and Blanche could have amply testified to +this fact as the two of them, armed with a hatchet, had laboriously +chopped down a small maple and brought it to the house from the woods on +the afternoon previous. Its branches were as well loaded with packages +of various sizes as those of a Christmas tree. Under the tree was a +grassy mound built up of hard cushions, the whole covered with real sod +dug up by the patient wood cutters. + +On this Elaine was invited to sit. She formed a pretty picture in her +fluffy white gown in conjunction with the greenery. The four merry men +gathered round her and bowed low, then sang her an ancient ballad to the +accompaniment of the violin. Followed a short speech by the tallest of +the four congratulating her, in stately language on the anniversary of +her birth. Three of the four then busied themselves with stripping the +tree of its spoils and laying them at her feet. During this procedure +the fiddler evoked further sweet thin melodies from his violin. + +Last, Elaine's gallant escort, who had left her briefly, returned to the +scene with a large green and white straw basket, piled high with gifts. +These duly presented, the quaint bit of forest play was over and the +enjoying spectators crowded about the lucky recipient of friendly +riches. + +"I don't know what I shall ever do with them all," she declared in an +amazed, quavering voice. "I'm not half over the shock of so much wealth +yet. I simply can't open them now. I'll weep tears of gratitude over +every separate one of them." + +"You aren't expected to look at them now," was Robin's reassurance. +"Your merry men are going to carry Elaine's nice new playthings up to +her room. So there! Tomorrow's Saturday. You can spend the afternoon +exploring. We are going to have a stunt party now. Anyone who is called +upon to do a stunt has to conform or be ostracized." + +"If we are going to do stunts there is no use in bringing back the +chairs. After Elaine's presents have all been carted upstairs everybody +can stand in that half of the room. We can roll the rug up from the +other end exactly half way. That will give room and a smooth floor for +dancing stunts. We shall surely have some," planned Blanche. "I had +better inform the company of what's going to happen next. It will give +them a chance to think up a stunt." + +While the faithful greenwood men busied themselves in Elaine's behalf, +Blanche proceeded to make a humorous address to the guests. Her +announcement sent them into a flutter. At least half of the crowd +protested to her and to one another that they did not know any stunts to +perform. + +When the deck was finally clear for action and the show began, it was +amazing the number of funny little stunts that came to light. The first +girl called upon was Hortense Barlow. She marched solemnly to the center +of the improvised stage and announced "'Home Sweet Home,' by our +domestic animals." A rooster lustily crowed the first few bars of the +old song, then two hens took it up. They relinquished it in favor of a +bleating lamb. It was succeeded by a pair of grunting pigs. The opening +bars of the chorus were mournfully "mooed" by a lonely cow, and the rest +of it was ably sung by a donkey, a dog and a guinea hen. She then +repeated the chorus as a concerted effort on the part of the barnyard +denizens. + +The manner in which she managed to imitate each creature, still keeping +fairly in tune, was clever in the extreme. Her final concert chorus +convulsed her audience and she was obliged to repeat it. + +Hers was the only encore allowed. Portia announced that, owing to the +lack of time, encores would have to be dispensed with. The guests had +received permission to be out of their house until half-past eleven and +no later. + +Leila was the next on the list and responded with an old-time Irish jig. +Vera Ingram and Mary Cornell gave a brief singing and dancing sketch. +Jerry responded with the one stunt she could do to perfection. She had +half closed her eyes, opened her mouth to its widest extent, and wailed +a popular song just enough off the key to be funny. Heartily detesting +this class of melody, she never failed to make her chums laugh with her +mocking imitation. + +Portia being in charge of the stunt programme, she called upon Blanche +who gave the "Prologue from Pagliacci" in a baritone voice and with +expression which would have done credit to an opera singer. Lucy Warner +surprised her chums by a fine recital of "The Chambered Nautilus," +giving the quiet dramatic emphasis needed to bring out Holmes' poem. +Marie Peyton danced a fisher's hornpipe. Vera Mason borrowed one of +Robin's kimonos and a fan and performed a Japanese fan dance. Several of +the Silvertonites sang, danced, recited, or told a humorous story. + +"As we shall have time for only one more stunt, I will call on Ronny +Lynne," Portia announced, smiling invitingly at Ronny. "Wait a minute +until I call the orchestra together. We will play for you," she added. + +"Play for me for what?" Ronny innocently inquired. Nevertheless she +laughed. Though she had yet to dance for the first time at Hamilton, she +knew that her ability as a dancer was an open secret. + +"For your dance, of course. What kind of dance are you going to do? +Mustn't refuse. Everyone else has been so obliging." Portia beamed +triumph of having thus neatly caught Ronny. + +"I suppose I must fall in line. I don't know what to dance. Most of my +dances require special costumes." Ronny glanced dubiously at the white +and gold evening frock she was wearing. "I know one I can do," she said, +after a moment's thought. + +Raising her voice so as to be heard by all, she continued in her clear +tones: "Girls, I am going to do a Russian interpretative dance for you. +The idea is this: A dancer at the court of a king, who is honored +because of her art, loses her sweetheart. She becomes so despondent that +no amount of praise can lift her from her gloom. She tries to decide +whether she had best kill her rival or herself. Finally she decides to +kill her rival. I shall endeavor to make this plain in a dance +containing two intervals and three episodes. The first depicts the +dancer in her glory. The second, in her dejection. The third, her +decision to kill." + +A brief consultation with the orchestra as to what they could play, +suitable to the interpretation, and Ronny was ready. Phyllis, the +reliable, who had been proficient on the violin from childhood, and +possessed a wide musical repertoire, both vocal and instrumental, played +over a few measures of a valse lente. Her musicians were familiar enough +with it to follow her lead. Moskowski's "Serenade" was chosen for the +second episode, and Scharwenki's "Polish Dance" for the third. + +Every pair of eyes was centered on Ronny's slight, graceful figure as +she stood at ease for an instant waiting for the music to begin. Many of +the girls present had never seen an interpretative dance. With the first +slow, seductive strains of the waltz, Ronny became the court dancer. In +perfect time to the music she made the low sweeping salutes to an +imaginary court, then executed a swaying, beautiful dance of intricate +steps in which her whole body seemed to take part in the expression of +her art. The grace of that symphonic, white and gold figure was such the +watchers held their breath. At the end of the episode there was a dead +silence. Applause, when it came, was deafening. + +Ronny claimed the tiny interval for rest, merely raising her hands in a +despairing gesture at the hub-bub her dance had created. By the time she +was ready to continue it had subsided. All were now anxious to see her +interpretation of the jilted woman. + +The second, though much harder to execute, Ronny liked far better than +the first. Particularly fond of the Russian idea of the dance, she threw +her whole heart into the story she was endeavoring to convey by motion. +When she had finished she was tired enough to gladly claim a rest while +Portia went upstairs for a paper knife which would serve as a dagger for +the third episode. + +The wild strains of the "Polish Dance" were well suited to the character +of the episode. The flitting, white and gold figure of indolent grace +had now become one of tense purpose. Every line of her figure had now +become charged with the desire for revenge. Every step of the dance and +movement of the arms were in accordance with the mood she was +portraying. She enacted the dancer's plan to steal upon her rival +unawares and deliver the fatal knife thrust. + +Had Ronny not explained the dance beforehand, so vivid was her +interpretation, her audience could have gained the meaning of it without +difficulty. A united sighing breath of appreciation went up as she +concluded the Terpsichorean tragedy by a triumphant flinging of her arms +above her head, one hand tightly grasping the murder knife. + +Carried out of life ordinary by the glimpse of another world of emotion, +it took the admiring girls a minute or so to realize that Ronny was +herself and a fellow student. She had cast over them the perfect +illusion of the tragic dancer; the sure measure of her art. When they +came out of it they crowded about her asking all sorts of eager +questions. + +"Ronny has brought down the house, as usual. Look at those girls fairly +idolizing her." Jerry's round face was wreathed with smiles over Ronny's +triumph. "I shall go in for interpretative dancing myself, hereafter. +It's about time I did something to make myself popular around here." + +"What are you going to interpret?" Muriel demanded to know. + +"I haven't yet decided," Jerry vaguely replied. "Anyway, I wouldn't tell +you if I had. I should expect to practice my dance awhile before I +sprang it on anyone. It might give my victim a horrible scare." + +"You wouldn't scare me," was the valorous assurance. "You had better try +it on me first when you are ready to burst upon the world as a dancer. I +will give you valuable criticism." + +"Laugh at me, you mean. Come on. Let's interview the orchestra. Phil is +certainly some little fiddler." + +Taking Muriel by the arm, Jerry marched her up to Phyllis, who, with the +other members of the orchestra, were also coming in for adulation. The +addition of Jerry and Muriel to the group was soon noticeable by the +burst of laughter which ascended therefrom. Good-natured Jerry had not +the remotest idea of how very popular she really was. + +Promptly on the heels of the stunt party followed a collation served in +the dining room. An extra table had been added to the two long ones used +by the residents. When the company trooped into the prettily-decorated +room with its flower-trimmed tables, the Wayland Hall girls were +pleasantly surprised to see Signor Baretti in charge there. While he had +repeatedly refused at various times to cater for private parties given +at the campus houses, Elaine had secured his valued services without +much coaxing. He had long regarded her as "one the nicest, maybe the +best, all my young ladies from the college." + +It was one minute past eleven when the guests rose from the table after +a vigorous response to Portia's toast to Elaine, and joined in singing +one stanza of "Auld Lang Syne." With the last note of the song hasty +goodnights were said. "Not one minute later than half-past eleven" had +been the stipulation laid down with the permission for the extra hour. + +"We'll have to walk as though we all wore seven league boots," declared +Jerry, as the Wayland Hall girls hurried down the steps of Silverton +Hall. "But, oh, my goodness me, haven't we had a fine time? Tonight was +like our good old Sanford crowd parties at home, wasn't it? It looks to +me as though the right kind of times had actually struck Hamilton!" + + + + +CHAPTER IX--HER "DEAREST" WISH + + +It did not need Elaine's party to cement more securely the friendship +which existed between the Silvertonites and the group of Wayland +Hallites who had co-operated with them so loyally from the first. They +had fought side by side for principle. Now they were beginning to +glimpse the lighter, happier side of affairs and experience the pleasure +of discovering how much each group had to admire in the other. + +"What we ought to do is organize a bureau of entertainment and give +musicales, plays, revues and one thing or another," Robin proposed to +Marjorie as the two were returning from a trip to the town of Hamilton +one afternoon in early October. "We would charge an admission fee, of +course, and put the money to some good purpose. I don't know what we +would do with it. There are so few really needy students here. We'd find +some worthy way of spending it. I know we would make a lot. The students +simply mob the gym when there's a basket-ball game. They'd be willing to +part with their shekels for the kind of show we could give." + +"I think the same," Marjorie made hearty response. "At home we gave a +Campfire once, at Thanksgiving. We held it in the armory. We had booths +and sold different things. We had a show, too. That was the time Ronny +danced those two interpretative dances I told you of the other night. We +made over a thousand dollars. Half of it went to the Sanford guards and +the Lookouts got the other half." + +"We could make a couple of hundred dollars at one revue, I believe. We +could give about three entertainments this year and three or four next," +planned Robin. "It would have to be a fund devoted to helping the +students, I guess. Come to think of it, I would not care to get up a +show unless our purpose was clearly stated in the beginning. A few +unjust persons might start the story that we wanted the money for +ourselves. By the way, the Sans are not interesting themselves in our +affairs this year, are they? Do you ever clash with them at the Hall?" + +"No; they never notice us and we never notice them. It isn't much +different in that respect than it was in the beginning. I'd feel rather +queer about it sometimes if they hadn't been so utterly heartless in so +many ways. This is their last year. It will seem queer when we come back +next fall as seniors to have almost an entirely new set of girls in the +house. I can't bear to think of losing Leila and Vera and Helen. Then +there are Rosalind, Nella, Martha and Hortense; splendid girls, all of +them. I wish they had been freshies with us. That's the beauty of the +Silvertonites. They will all be graduated together." + +"We are fortunate. Think of poor Phil! She is going to be lonesome when +we all leave the good old port of Hamilton. To go back to the show idea. +I'm going to talk it over with my old stand-bys at our house. You do the +same at yours. Maybe some one of them will have a brilliant inspiration. +I mean, about what we ought to do with the money, once we've made it." + +A sudden jolt of the taxicab in which they were riding, as it swung to +the right, combined with an indignant yell of protest from its driver, +startled them both. A blue and buff car had shot past them, barely +missing the side of the taxicab. + +"Look where you're goin' or get off the road!" bawled the man after it. +His face was scarlet with anger, he turned in his seat, addressing his +fares. "That blue car near smashed us," he growled. "The young lady that +drives it had better quit and give somebody else the wheel. This is the +third time she near put my cab on the blink. She can't drive for sour +apples. I wisht, if you knew her, you'd tell her she's gotta quit it. I +don't own this cab. I don't wanta get mixed up in no smash-up. If she +does it again I'll go up to the college boss and report that car." + +"Neither of us know her well enough to give her your message," Marjorie +smiled faintly, as she pictured herself giving the irate driver's +warning to Elizabeth Walbert. She had recognized the girl at the wheel +as the blue and buff car had passed her. + +"I'll stop her myself and tell her where she gets off at," threatened +the man. "I ain't afraida her." + +"I think that would be a very good idea," calmly agreed Marjorie. "There +is no reason why you should not rebuke her for her recklessness. She was +at fault; not you." + +"Do you imagine he really would report Miss Walbert to Doctor Matthews," +inquired Robin in discreetly lowered tones, as the driver resumed +attention at the wheel. + +"He might. He would be more likely to do his talking to her," was +Marjorie's opinion. "I tried to encourage him in that idea. A report of +that kind to Dr. Matthews might result in the banning of cars at +Hamilton." + +"Did you hear last year, at the time Katherine was hurt, that Miss +Cairns received a summons from Doctor Matthews? I was told that he gave +her a severe lecture on reckless driving. She told some of the Sans and +it came to Portia and I in a round-about way." + +"I believe it to be true." Marjorie hesitated, then continued frankly. +"Katherine did not report her." + +Unbound by any promise of secrecy to any person, Marjorie acquainted +Robin with the way the report of the accident had been put before the +president. She and her chums had heard the story from Lillian +Wenderblatt, who had so ardently urged her father to take up the cudgels +for Katherine directly after the accident. + +"Lillian explained to her father that Katherine utterly refused to take +the matter up. He reported it to the doctor of his own accord, saying +that Katherine wished the affair closed. So Doctor Matthews didn't send +for her at all. While he never referred to the subject afterward to +Professor Wenderblatt, he said at the time of their talk that he would +send Miss Cairns a summons to his office. Lillian's father said the +doctor's word was equivalent to the summons. So I believe she received +one. None of us who are Kathie's close friends ever mentioned it to +others. Lillian told no one but us. She did not ask us to keep it a +secret. We simply _did not talk_ about it. That's why I felt free to +tell you, since you asked me a direct question." + +"Strange, isn't it, that the Sans can't even be loyal to one another," +Robin commented. "Very likely Leslie Cairns told them in confidence, not +expecting it would be betrayed. She may not know to this day that a girl +of her own crowd told tales." + +"She is not honorable herself. Her intimates know that." Marjorie's +rejoinder held sternness. "There is nothing truer than the Bible verse: +'As ye sow, so must ye also reap.' She tries to gain whatever she +happens to want by dishonorable methods. In turn, her chums behave +dishonorably toward her. + +"An unhappy state of affairs." Robin shrugged her disfavor. "Phil says +Miss Walbert is a talker; that she is becoming unpopular with the sophs +who voted for her last year because she gossips." + +Marjorie smiled whimsically. "Wouldn't it be poetic justice if she were +to turn the half of her class who were for her last year against her by +her own unworthiness? After Miss Cairns worked so hard to establish her +too! There's surely a greater inclination toward democracy than last +year, or Phil wouldn't have won the sophomore presidency." + +"Yes; and she won it by eighteen votes this year over Miss Keene, and +she is one of Miss Walbert's pals. Last year she lost it by nine. Some +difference!" Robin looked her pride of her lovable cousin. "I think +there is a great change for the better in Hamilton since we were +freshies, don't you?" + +Marjorie made quick assent. "You Silverites have done the most for +Hamilton," she commended. "We Lookouts have tried our hardest, but we +couldn't have done much if you hadn't been behind us like a solid wall." + +"You Lookouts deserve as much credit as we. You girls are social +successes in the nicest way, because you have all been so friendly and +sweet to everyone. Then you have fought shoulder to shoulder with us. +Now that we have begun to make our influence felt, we should follow it +up by giving entertainments in which the whole college can have a part." + +"Let's do this," Marjorie proposed. "Bring the orchestra and Hope +Morris, she's so nice, over to Wayland Hall on Saturday evening. I'll +have a spread. Then we can plan something to give in the near future. +Here's my getting-off place. Goodbye." + +The taxicab having reached a point on the main campus drive where two +other drives branched off right and left, the machine slowed down. She +rarely troubled the driver to take her to the door of the Hall, it being +but a few rods distant from this point. + +Swinging up the drive and into the Hall in her usual energetic fashion, +Marjorie's first move was toward the bulletin board. Three letters was +the delightful harvest she reaped from it. One in Constance's small fine +hand, one from General. The third she eyed rather suspiciously. It was +in an unfamiliar hand and bore the address, "Marjorie Dean, Hamilton +College." + +"An advertisement, I guess," was her frowning reflection as she went on +upstairs. "Anyone I know, well enough to receive a letter from, would +know my house address." + +Anxious to relieve her arms of several bundles containing purchases made +at Hamilton before opening her letters, Marjorie did not stop to examine +her mail on the landing. Entering her room, she found it deserted of +Jerry's always congenial company. Immediately she dropped her packages +on the center table and plumped down to enjoy her letters. + +Second glance at the letter informed her that the envelope was of fine +expensive paper. This fact dismissed the advertisement idea. Marjorie +toyed with it rather nervously. In the past she had received enough +annoying letters to make her dread the sight of her address in +unfamiliar handwriting. On the verge of reveling in the other two whose +contents she was sure to love, she hated the idea of a disagreeable +shock. She knew of no reason why she should be the recipient of any such +letter. That, however, would not prevent an unworthy person from writing +one. + +Determined to read it first and have it over with, Marjorie tore open an +end of the envelope and extracted the missive from it. A hasty glance at +the end and she vented a relieved "A-h-h!" Turning back to the +beginning, she read with rising color: + + "Marjorie Dean, + Hamilton College. + + "Dear Child: + + "Will you come to Hamilton Arms to tea next Thursday afternoon at + five o'clock? I find I have the wish to see and talk with you again. + I prefer you to keep the matter of your visit from your girl + friends. I am not on good terms with Hamilton College and its + students, and the information that I had invited you to tea would + form a choice bit of campus gossip. + + "Yours sincerely, + "Susanna Craig Hamilton." + + + + +CHAPTER X--HAMILTON ARMS AND ITS OWNER + + +"Well, of all things!" Marjorie could not get over her undiluted +amazement. For a second it struck her that she might again be the victim +of a hoax. Perhaps an unkindly-minded person wished her to essay a call +on Miss Susanna, thinking she might receive a sound snubbing. She shook +her head at this canny suspicion. The phrasing was unmistakably Miss +Susanna's. She doubted also whether anyone had seen her that day with +the old lady. Only a few cars had passed them before they had turned +into the private road. These had contained persons not from the college. +Outside the Lookouts, only Katherine, Leila and Vera knew of her +encounter with Miss Susanna. She had not thought of keeping it a secret. +She now made mental note to tell the girls not to mention it to anyone. + +This resolve brought with it the annoying cogitation that the girls +would wonder why she suddenly wished the matter kept secret. Nor could +she explain to them without violating Miss Hamilton's request. She could +readily understand the latter's point of view. Miss Susanna could not be +blamed for taking it. Marjorie could only wish the old lady knew how +honorable and discreet her chums were. She decided she would endeavor to +make her hostess acquainted with that truth during her call. + +She came to the conclusion that she could not pledge her close friends +to secrecy regarding her recent adventure until after she had been to +Hamilton Arms and talked with its eccentric owner. Miss Susanna would no +doubt be displeased to learn that she had already mentioned their +meeting to others. She would have to be told of it, nevertheless. + +Marjorie's next problem was to slip quietly away on Thursday afternoon +without saying where she was going. That would not be difficult, +provided none of the Lookouts happened to desire her company on some +particular jaunt or merry-making. An indefinite refusal on her part +would bring down on her a volley of mischievous questions. + +"I'll have to keep clear of the girls on Thursday," she ruminated, with +a half vexed smile. "I'll have to put on the gown I'm going to wear to +tea in the morning and wear it all day so as not to arouse their +curiosity. That's a nuisance. I'd like to wear one of my best frocks and +I can't on account of chemistry. I'll wear that organdie frock Jerry +likes so much; the one with the yellow rosebud in it. It is not fussy. +If it is cold or rainy I can wear a long coat over it. I hope it's a +nice day. I can wear my picture hat. It goes so well with that gown. I +can slip it out of the Hall without them noticing if I swing it on my +arm. I hope to goodness I don't ruin my organdie during chemistry. I +feel like a conspirator." + +Marjorie chuckled faintly as she rose from her chair, letter in hand. +She tucked the letter away in the top drawer of her chiffonier with the +optimistic opinion that it would not be very long before she could +frankly tell her chums of its contents. + +Fortune favored her on Thursday. She awoke with a stream of brilliant +sunshine in her face. She rejoiced that the day was fair and hoped Miss +Susanna would suggest a walk about the grounds. Then she remembered the +request the latter had made, and smiled at her own stupidity. A walk +about the grounds would probably be the last thing Miss Susanna would +suggest. + +As it happened, Jerry had made an engagement to go to Hamilton with +Helen. Ronny had a theme in French to write, which she said would take +her spare time both in the afternoon and evening. Lucy and Katherine +would be in the Biological Laboratory until dinner time, and Leila and +Vera were invited to a tea given by a senior to ten of her class-mates. +These were the only ones to be directly interested in her movements. To +Jerry's invitation, "Want to go to town with Helen and I this +afternoon?" she had replied, "No, Jeremiah," in as casual a tone as she +could command, and that had ended the matter. + +Marjorie was doubly careful in the Chemical Laboratory that afternoon +and walked from it this time with no disfiguring stains on her dainty +organdie frock. The letter had named the hour for her visit as five +o'clock. This gave her ample time to return to the Hall, re-coif her +curly hair and add a pretty satin sash of wide pale yellow ribbon to her +costume. The absence of Jerry was, for once, welcome. She had a free +hand to put the finishing touches to her toilet. It appealed to a +certain sense of dignity, latent within her, to be able to quietly +adjust her hat before the mirror and walk openly out of Wayland Hall. +Marjorie inwardly hated anything connected with secrecy, yet it seemed +to her she was always becoming involved in something which demanded it. + +When finally she emerged from the Hall, she did not follow the main +drive but cut across the campus, making for the western entrance. +Reaching the highway, she kept a sharp lookout for passing automobiles. +She laughed to herself as she thought of how disconcerting it would be +after all her pains to run squarely into Jerry and Helen. The latter had +just been the lucky recipient of a limousine, long promised her by her +father, and she and Jerry were trying it out that afternoon. + +It was ten minutes to five when, without having met anyone save two or +three campus acquaintances, Marjorie walked sedately between the high, +ornamental gate posts of Hamilton Arms, and on up the drive to the +house. She compared her present approach to that of last May Day +evening, when she had stolen like a shadow to the veranda to hang the +May basket. It did not seem quite real to her that now she was actually +coming to Hamilton Arms as an invited guest. + +The knocker was no easier to pull than it had been on that night. She +waited, feeling as though she were about to leave the college world +behind and enter one rich in the romance of Colonial days. Then the door +opened slowly and a dignified old man with thick, snow-white hair and a +smooth-shaven face stood regarding her solemnly. + +"You are Marjorie Dean?" he interrogated in deep, but very gentle tones. +This before she had time to ask for Miss Susanna. + +"Yes," she affirmed, smiling in her unaffected, charming fashion. +"I--Miss Hamilton expects me to tea." + +"I know." He bowed with grave politeness. "Come in. Miss Susanna is in +the library. I will show you the way." + +Marjorie drew a long breath of admiration as she was ushered into a wide +almost square reception hall paneled in walnut. Her feet sank deep into +the heavy brown velvet rug which completely covered the floor. Walking +quickly behind her guide, she had no more than time for a passing glance +at the massive elegance of the carved walnut furniture. She caught a +fleeting glimpse of herself in the great square mirror of the hall rack +and thought how very small and insignificant she appeared. + +"How are you, Marjorie Dean?" Ushered into the library by the stately +old man, the last of the Hamiltons now came forward to greet her. + +"I am very well, thank you. I hope you are feeling well, too, Miss +Susanna." + +Marjorie took the small, sturdy hand Miss Susanna extended in both her +own. The mistress of Hamilton Arms looked so very tiny in the great +room. Marjorie experienced a wave of sudden tenderness for her. + +"Yes; I am well, by the grace of God and my own good sense," returned +her hostess in her brisk, almost hard tones. "You are prompt to the +hour, child. I like that. I hate to be kept waiting. I have my tea at +precisely five o'clock. It is years since I had a guest to tea. Sit down +there." She indicated a straight chair with an ornamental leather back +and seat. "Jonas will bring the tea table in directly, and serve the +tea. Take off your hat and lay it on the library table. I wish to see +you without it." + +She had not more than finished speaking, when the snowy-haired servitor +wheeled in a good-sized rosewood tea-table. He drew it up to where +Marjorie sat, and brought another chair for the mistress of Hamilton +Arms similar to the one on which the guest was sitting. Withdrawing from +the room, he left youth and age to take tea together. + +"Who would have thought that I should ever pour tea for one of my +particular aversions," Miss Susanna commented with grim humor. "Do you +take sugar and cream, child?" + +"Two lumps of sugar and no cream." Marjorie held out her hand for the +delicate Sevres cup. + +"Help yourself to the muffins and jam. It is red raspberry. I put it up +myself. Now eat as though you were hungry. I am always ravenous for my +tea. I do not have dinner until eight and I am outdoors so much I grow +very hungry as five o'clock approaches." + +"I am awfully hungry," Marjorie confessed. "I love five o'clock tea. We +have it at home in summer but not in winter. We girls at Hamilton hardly +ever have it, because we have dinner shortly after six." + +"At what campus house are you?" was the abrupt question. + +"Wayland Hall. I like it best of all, though Silverton Hall is a fine +house." + +"Wayland Hall," the old lady repeated. "It was his favorite house." + +"You are speaking of Mr. Brooke Hamilton?" Marjorie inquired with +breathless interest. "Miss Remson said it was his favorite house. He was +so wonderful. 'We shall ne'er see his like again,'" she quoted, her +brown eyes eloquent. + +Miss Susanna stared at her in silence, as though trying to determine the +worth of Marjorie's unexpected remarks. + +"He _was_ wonderful," she said at last. "I am amazed at your +appreciation of him. You _are_ an amazing young person, I must say. How +much do you know concerning my great uncle that you should have arrived +at your truly high opinion of him?" + +"I know very little about him except that he loved Hamilton and planned +it nobly." Marjorie's clear eyes looked straight into her vis-a-vis's +sharp dark ones. "I have asked questions. I have treasured every scrap +of information about him that I have heard since I came to Hamilton +College. No one seems to know much of him except in a general way." + +"That is true. Well, the fault lies with the college." The reply hinted +of hostility. "Perhaps I will tell you more of him some day. Not now; I +am not in the humor. I must get used to having you here first. I try to +forget that you are from the college. I told you I did not like girls. I +may call you an exception, child. I realized that after you had left me, +the day you helped me to the cottage with the chrysanthemums. I was +cheered by your company. I am pleased with your admiration for him. He +was worthy of it." + +As on the day of her initial meeting with Brooke Hamilton's great niece, +Marjorie was again at a loss as to what to say next. She wished to say +how greatly she revered the memory of the founder of Hamilton College. +In the face of Miss Susanna's declaration that she did not wish to talk +of him, she could not frame a reply that conveyed her reverence. + +"Try these cakes. They are from an old recipe the Hamiltons have used +for four generations. Ellen, my cook, made these. I seldom do any baking +now. I used to when younger. I spend most of my time out of doors in +good weather. Let me have your cup." + +Her hostess tendered a plate of delicate little cakes not unlike +macaroons. Marjorie helped herself to the cakes and forebore asking +questions about Brooke Hamilton. Miss Susanna had partially promised to +tell her of him some day. She could do no more than possess her soul in +patience. + +"What do you do in winter, Miss Hamilton, when you can't be out?" she +questioned interestedly. "Do you live at Hamilton Arms the year round?" + +"Yes; I have not been away from here for a number of years. In winter I +read and embroider. I do plain sewing for the poor of Hamilton. Jonas +takes baskets of clothing and necessities to needy families in the town +of Hamilton. 'The poor ye have always with ye,' you know." + +"I know," Marjorie affirmed, her lovely face growing momently sad. +"Captain, I mean, my mother, does a good deal of such work in Sanford. I +have helped her a little. During our last year at high school a number +of us organized a club. We called ourselves the Lookouts and we rented a +house and started a day nursery for the mill children. The house was in +their district." + +"And how long did you keep it up?" was the somewhat skeptical inquiry. + +"Oh, it is running along beautifully yet." Marjorie laughed as she made +answer. + +"I am more amazed than before. A club of girls usually hangs together +about six weeks. Each girl feels that she ought to be at the head of it +and in the end a grand falling-out occurs." Miss Susanna's eyes were +twinkling. This time her remarks were not pointedly ill-natured. "You +are to tell me about this club," she commanded. + +Marjorie complied, giving her a brief history of the day nursery. + +"Are any of your Lookouts here at Hamilton with you?" she was +interrogated. + +"Four of them. One, Lucy Warner, won a scholarship to Hamilton." Now on +the subject, Marjorie determined to make a valiant stand for her chums. +She therefore told of the offering of the scholarship by Ronny and of +Lucy's brilliancy as a student. She told of Lucy's ability as a +secretary and of how much she had done to help herself through college. +She did not forget to speak of Katherine Langly, and her exceptional +winning of a scholarship especially offered by Brooke Hamilton. + +"I had no idea there were any such girls over there." The old lady spoke +half to herself. "I might have known there would be some apostles." + +"Miss Susanna,"--Marjorie decided that this would be the best time to +acquaint her hostess with what she had purposed to tell her,--"I told my +intimate friends of meeting you the day the basket handle broke. I +thought you ought to know that. You had asked me in your letter not to +mention to anyone that I was coming here. I did not say a word to anyone +of the letter. I would ask my chums not to mention what I told them +about meeting you in the first place, but, if I do, they will wish to +know why." + +"Humph!" The listener used Jerry's pet interjection. "Where did you tell +them you were going today? Some of them must have seen you as you came +away." + +"No; they were all out except one girl. She was busy writing a theme." + +"What would you have told them if they had seen you?" Miss Hamilton eyed +the young girl searchingly. + +"I would have said I was going out and hoped they wouldn't feel hurt if +I didn't tell them my destination. What else could I have said?" It was +Marjorie's turn to fix her gaze upon her hostess. + +"Nothing else, by rights. If I allowed you to tell your chums, as you +call them, that you were here today, would they keep your counsel? How +many of them would have to know it?" The older woman's face had softened +wonderfully. + +Marjorie thought for an instant. "Eight," she answered. "They are +honorable. I would like to tell them." + +"Very well, you may." The permission came concisely. "I will take your +word for their discretion. I have my own proper reasons for not wishing +to be gossiped about on the campus. I wish you to come again. I do not +wish your visits to be a secret. I abhor that kind of secrecy. Perhaps +in time I shall not care if the whole college knows. At present what +they do not know will not hurt them. In the words of my distinguished +uncle, 'Be not secret; be discreet.'" + + + + +CHAPTER XI--COMPARING NOTES + + +Tea over, Jonas removed the tea-table and Miss Susanna waved her guest +toward a leather-covered arm chair. Changing her own chair for one +corresponding to Marjorie's, Miss Hamilton proceeded to ply Marjorie +with interested questions concerning her college course. She exhibited a +kind of repressed eagerness to hear of the college and her guest's +doings there. + +The tall rosewood floor clock had chimed six, then again the musical +stroke of half hour, before Marjorie found graceful opportunity to take +her leave. She was willing to stay longer, but was not certain that her +erratic hostess would wish her to do so. The shadows had begun to fall +across the sombre elegance of the library and the October twilight would +soon be upon them. + +Miss Susanna made no effort to detain her beyond saying: "So you think +you must go. Well, you will be coming again soon to see me. You have +given me much to think of." She accompanied Marjorie to the front door, +giving her a warm handshake in parting. Marjorie noticed, however, that +her small face wore a pensive expression quite at variance with her +accustomed alert demeanor. It gave her the appearance of great age, +though her brown hair was only partially streaked with gray. Marjorie +thought she could not be much more than sixty years old. + +A happy little smile touched the pleased lieutenant's lips as she +hurried toward the campus through the gathering twilight. Far from being +dissatisfied at not hearing more of Brooke Hamilton, she was blissfully +content with her visit. Miss Susanna had promised to tell her of him. +She had given her consent to allowing Marjorie to inform her chums of +her visit to Hamilton Arms. She had actually set foot in the house of +her dreams. The two rooms she had seen had more than justified her +expectations of what it would be like inside. + +Dinner was on when she reached Wayland Hall. Marjorie had fared too well +on hot muffins, jam, cakes, and the most delicious tea she had ever +drunk, to care for anything more to eat. + +"Where, may I ask, have you been keeping yourself?" saluted Jerry about +twenty minutes after Marjorie's return. Coming into their room she +beheld her missing room-mate calmly preparing her French lesson for the +next day. "Why don't you go and have your dinner? Or have you had it?" + +"I have had tea instead of dinner. I couldn't eat another mouthful to +save me. 'An' ye hae been where I hae been,'" hummed Marjorie +mischievously. + +"Something like that," satirized Jerry. "Where did you say you were? +Never mind. I am sure you will tell me some day." She simpered at +Marjorie. "You should have been with Helen and I today. Something +awfully funny happened. Not to us. The girls are coming up to hear about +it soon. Helen and I didn't care to tell it at the table on account of +the Sans." + +"Then farewell to my peaceful study hour." Marjorie laid away the +translation she had been making. + +"You can chase the girls away at eight-thirty, that will give you time +enough. If you don't, I will. I have studying of my own to do." + +"As long as the gang will be here I may as well save _my_ remarks until +then." + +A buzz of voices outside the door announced the "gang." Beside the three +Lookouts and Katherine were the beloved trio, Helen, Leila and Vera. The +entire crowd pounced upon Marjorie, demanding to know where she had +been. It was unusual for her to be away without having left word with +some one of them. + +"Will I tell you where I was? Certainly! It's no secret; at least not +now," she added tantalizingly. "Don't you want to hear Jerry's tale +first? I do." + +"Nothing doing. You go ahead and relieve our anxious minds. We didn't +know but maybe you had been spirited away by a bogus note again." + +A peculiar expression appeared in Marjorie's eyes as she went to her +chiffonier and drew from it Miss Hamilton's letter. + +"It's queer, but when I received this letter the other day, I was almost +afraid it was another fake. Notice the address, then read it," she +commanded, handing it to Vera who was nearest her. + +It brought forth exclamatory comment from all, once each had acquainted +herself with its contents. + +"No wonder you didn't leave word where you were going. Did you have a +nice time?" Jerry's chubby features registered her pleasure of the honor +accorded her room-mate. + +"Yes; I had a beautiful time. I was worried because I couldn't speak of +going to any of you. Miss Susanna gave me permission to tell you eight, +but no others." Marjorie recounted her visit in detail. "I wish she +would invite the rest of you to Hamilton Arms. It is a beautiful house +inside. I only saw the hall and library, but they were magnificent." + +"Don't weep, Marvelous Manager." Ronny had noted Marjorie's wistful +expression. "Through your miraculous machinations we shall all be +parading about Hamilton Arms in the near future." + +"I certainly hope so," was the fervent response. + +For a little the bevy of girls discussed Marjorie's news. All were +elated over the pleasure which had come to her. Her generous thought of +the peculiar old lady on May Day of the previous year had touched them. + +"She hasn't asked you yet if you hung that basket, has she?" queried +Lucy. + +"How could she possibly suspect me of hanging it?" laughed Marjorie. + +"Because it was like you. It carried your atmosphere. Some day she will +suddenly notice that and ask you about the basket," Lucy sagely +prophesied. "She seems to be a shrewd old person." + +"She is." Marjorie smiled at the candid criticism. She wondered if Miss +Susanna had not been in her youth a trifle like Lucy. + +"Now for what Helen and I saw and heard this afternoon," declared Jerry +gleefully. The first interest in Marjorie's visit to Hamilton Arms had +abated. + + "Oh, a horrible tale I have to tell, + Of the terrible fate that once befell + A couple of students who resided + In the very same neighborhood that I did," + +chanted Helen. "You tell it, Jeremiah. You can make it funnier than I +can." + +"Helen and I started out with the new car as proudly as you please this +afternoon," began Jerry with a reminiscent chuckle. "We hadn't gone much +further than Hamilton Arms when whiz, bing, buzz! Along came that Miss +Walbert in her blue and buff car and nearly bumped into us. She came up +from behind and her car just missed scraping against Helen's. Leslie +Cairns was with her. We never said a word, but I heard Miss Cairns raise +her voice. I think she gave Miss Walbert a call down." + +"There was no excuse for her, except that she never seems to pay any +particular attention to anyone's car but her own," put in Helen. "I have +heard complaint of her from I don't remember how many girls who own +cars. Occasionally you will find a girl who can't learn to drive a car. +She belongs in that class. Excuse me for butting in. Proceed, Jeremiah." + +"That's all of the prologue," Jerry continued. "Now comes the first act. +We went on to town, drove around a little, did our errands, had ice +cream at the Lotus and started back highly pleased with ourselves. You +know that place just before you leave the town where the turn into +Hamilton Highway is made? There is a grocery store and a garage on one +side of the road and a hotel on the other. Just before we came to that +point Miss Walbert and her car whizzed by us again. She took that corner +with a lurch. When we struck the place a minute later we saw something +had happened. She had actually scraped the side of one of those taxis +that run between town and the college. It was coming from the college, I +suppose. Anyway, Miss Cairns and she were both out of their car and so +was the taxi driver. Maybe he wasn't giving those two a call down!" + +Jerry and Helen exchanged joyful smiles at the recollection of the +reckless couple's discomfiture. + +"Helen drove very slowly past them. We wanted to hear what the man was +saying," Jerry continued. "He was laying down the law to them to beat +the band. We heard Leslie Cairns say, 'Do you know to whom you are +talking?' He shouted out, 'Yes; to a simpleton of a girl who don't know +no more about drivin' than a goose. I seen you drive your own car, lady, +an' I never had no trouble with you. Your friend, there, is the limit. +You're runnin' chances of landin' in the hospital or worse when you go +ridin' with her.' Leslie Cairns was furious. I could tell that by her +expression. Miss Walbert fairly shrieked something at him. She was mad +as hops, too. We had passed them by that time so we couldn't catch what +she was saying. There was quite a crowd around them, mostly men and +youngsters." + +"That must be the man Robin and I rode with the other day," Marjorie +said. "Is he short, with a red face and quite gray hair?" + +"Yes; that's the man. How did you know which one it was?" Jerry showed +surprise. + +"He had a near collision with Miss Walbert that day." Marjorie related +the incident. + +"It is a shame!" Leila's face had darkened as she listened to both +girls. "I hope Leslie Cairns takes her in hand. She's the very one to +cause a bad accident and then home go our cars. She is such a poor +driver. She bowls along the road without regard for man or beast. She +has a good car which will presently be in the ditch." + +"Do you think President Matthews would ban cars if a Hamilton girl were +to ditch her car or met with serious accident to herself?" Vera asked +reflectively. + +"Hard to say, Midget. It would depend upon the seriousness of the +accident. Suppose a girl were to ditch her car and be killed. It would +be horrifying. I doubt whether we would be allowed our cars after any +such accident." + +"Grant nothing like that ever happens." Lucy Warner gave a slight +shudder. "I shall never forget the day Kathie was hurt." + +"None of us who were with her that day are likely ever to forget it. +Miss Cairns escaped easily considering the way she was driving. She +ought to be the very one to tell that Miss Walbert a few things not in +the automobile guide," declared Jerry. "She certainly did not appear at +advantage this afternoon." + + + + +CHAPTER XII--A TRAITOR IN CAMP + + +Leslie Cairns' opinion of the matter coincided with Jerry's, though the +latter could not know it. To become involved in a roadside argument with +an irate taxicab driver did not appeal to her in the least. She was not +half so angry with him, however, as with Elizabeth Walbert. She blamed +the latter for the whole thing. For several minutes after Helen and +Jerry had driven by them, Elizabeth and the driver continued to quarrel. + +"How much do you want for the damage you say we have done your cab?" +Leslie had impatiently inquired of the man. "Cut it out, Bess, and get +back to your car," she had ordered in the next breath. "Let me settle +this business." + +A momentary hesitation and Elizabeth had obeyed. She could not afford to +antagonize Leslie, at present. She had an axe of her own yet to be +ground. + +"I oughtta have twenty-five dollars. It ain't my car. Repairin' comes +high." + +"Very good. Here is your money. Wait a minute." Leslie had extracted the +sum from her handbag. With it came a small pad of blank paper and a +fountain pen. Then and there she obtained not only a receipt for the +money but a statement of release as well. She was well aware that it +would not cost twenty-five dollars to repaint the side of the cab +scraped by their car, but she preferred the matter summarily closed. + +Returning to the car she had said shortly: "I'll take the wheel." +Elizabeth had resumed the driver's seat. Nor had she made any move +toward relinquishing it. + +"You heard what I said, Bess," she had sharply rebuked. "Either that, or +you and I are on the outs for good. You let me drive that car and show +you a few things you need badly to know about driving." Leslie's +lowering face and tense utterance had had its effect. Elizabeth had +allowed her to drive back to Hamilton but had sulked all the way to the +campus. + +At the garage she had unbent a little and inquired how much Leslie had +paid the driver. "I'll return it to you next week," she had promised. + +"Suit yourself about that. I'm in no hurry. I took it upon myself to +settle with the idiot. It wouldn't worry me if you never paid it. I +thought it best to pacify him. I don't care to have him reporting us to +Matthews as he threatened to do." This had been Leslie's mind on the +subject. + +"I don't believe he would ever go near Doctor Matthews. Still _you_ +couldn't afford to risk being reported," Elizabeth had retorted with +special emphasis on the "you." + +To this Leslie had vouchsafed no reply. She had merely stared at her +companion in a most disconcerting fashion and walked off and left her. +She was thoroughly nettled with Elizabeth for her lack of gratitude. +Natalie was right about her it seemed. She was also wondering where the +ungrateful sophomore had obtained certain information which she +apparently possessed. No one beyond her seven intimates among the Sans +knew that she had been reprimanded by President Matthews for the +accident to Katherine Langly. To the other members of the club she had +intimated that she had adjusted the matter quietly with Katherine. + +That evening, while Jerry was recounting to her chums what she and Helen +had heard of the altercation between the cab driver and the two girls, +Leslie was having a confidential talk with Natalie Weyman. She had gone +straight from the garage to her room, eaten dinner at the Hall and asked +Natalie to come to her room after dinner. + +"Nat, you are right about Bess. She is no good," Leslie began, dropping +into a chair opposite that of her friend. Briefly narrating the +happening of the afternoon, she repeated the remark Elizabeth had made +to her at the garage. "What would you draw from that?" she asked. + +"Someone has been talking." Natalie compressed her lips in a tight line. +"You are sure you never told her yourself?" + +"_Positively, no._ I have never babbled my private affairs to Bess, or +Lola either. Only the old crowd were told the facts of that trouble. We +have a traitor in the camp and _I know who it is_." Leslie's eyes +narrowed with sinister significance. "It's Dulcie. I am going to find +out quietly what all she has been saying about me and to whom she has +been saying it. I'm sure she told Bess about the summons. That isn't so +serious. I could overlook that, although I don't like it. It is the +other things she may have told. That's what worries me. She and I have +been on the outs since that Valentine masquerade last year. She hardly +ever comes to my room. I am not sorry. I never got along well with +Dulcie. I never trusted her." + +"Dulcie ought to know better than tell all she knows to that Walbert +creature," Natalie made indignant return. "Why, Les, suppose she were +foolish enough to tell her about that high tribunal stunt?" Natalie drew +a sharp breath of consternation. "Dulcie knows the rights of the Remson +mix-up, too." + +"Dulcie knows too much. So do some of the other girls. If I had it to do +over again, I would not tell anyone but you how I put over a stunt. Why +did we haze Bean? Simply because she reported me to Matthews after +Langly had agreed to drop it. The girls were all in on the hazing, so +not one of them would be safe if they told it." + +"The Remson affair would do you the most harm if it got out," Natalie +said decidedly. "It is contemptible in Dulcie to gossip about you after +all the favors you have done her. You've lent her money over and over +again. You know she never pays it back if she can slide out of it." + +Leslie made an indifferent gesture of assent. "She owes me over two +hundred dollars now. I lent it to her during her freshie year. She paid +up what she borrowed of me last year, but she never said a word about +the other. Dulcie has _nerve_, Nat; pure, unadulterated _nerve_. She +can't bear me lately because I run the Sans to suit myself. I always ran +the club and she knows that. Last year she decided that she would like +to run it herself. I sat down on her every time she tried it. She +deliberately left the back door of that house unlocked the night we +hazed Bean. I told her to see to it. She was edgeways at me. She never +went near the door. You know what happened." + +"Dulcie will have to be told a few plain truths." Natalie frowned +displeased anxiety. The news of Dulcie's defection was rather alarming. + +"She is going to hear them from me, but not yet. I shall catch her dead +to rights before I have things out with her. I've made up my mind just +how I am going to do it, provided the rest of the Sans stand by me. It +will be to their interest to do so. I mean, with their support, I can +give her precisely what she deserves." + +"I'll stand by you. Joan will, too. She is down on Dulcie for some +reason or other. They haven't been on speaking terms for a week. I asked +Joan what the trouble was between them. She said Dulcie made her weary +and she didn't care whether she ever spoke to her again or not. That was +all I could get out of her." + +"Hm-m!" Leslie looked interested. "I shall find out tomorrow what Joan +has against her. If Dulcie hasn't gabbed anything worse to Bess, and I +presume a few others, than the news that I received a summons from his +high and cranky mightiness, I will let her off with my candid opinion of +her. If she has been a busy little news distributor of secret matters, +she will rue it. I'll have no traitors among the Sans." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII--WELL MATCHED + + +Leslie's first crafty move toward determining Dulcie Vale's treachery +was in the direction of Elizabeth Walbert. The latter had promised to +return the next week the twenty-five dollars Leslie had expended in her +behalf. Leslie planned to wait until she did so before making an attempt +to discover how many of the Sans' secrets Elizabeth knew. She was +certain that Elizabeth would return the loan promptly, as she received a +large allowance from home and as much more as she chose to demand. + +To seek the self-satisfied sophomore's society was not what Leslie +proposed to do. She intended matters should be the other way around. She +could then take Elizabeth completely off her guard and find out more +easily what Dulcie had imparted to her. + +Elizabeth also had views of her own regarding Leslie. The latter had not +been nearly so friendly with her since college had opened as she had +been during the previous year. Leslie had renewed her old comradeship +with Natalie Weyman, whom Elizabeth detested and stood a little in fear +of. Natalie had never been friendly with her. She had always held +herself aloof. Whenever they chanced to meet she treated Elizabeth as a +mere acquaintance. It was galling to the ambitious, self-seeking +sophomore, but she loftily ignored Natalie's frigidity. She had +complained of it once to Leslie and been soundly snubbed for her pains. +"You needn't expect much of Nat. She doesn't like you. That's why she +freezes you out. It won't do you any good to tell me about it, for Nat +is my particular pal." This had been Leslie's unsympathetic reception of +the complaint. + +In her heart Elizabeth did not like Leslie. She resented Leslie's +domineering ways. This did not deter her from fawning upon the despotic +senior. She was depending on Leslie to help her regain a certain +popularity which had been hers as a freshman. She had cherished a vain +hope that she might be elected to the sophomore presidency. To her +chagrin she had not even been nominated. Determined to shine on the +campus, her thoughts were now turning toward basket ball. She was now +anxious to enlist Leslie's services in helping her devise a means of +making the sophomore team. As a senior Leslie could easily influence the +sports committee to favor her. Mae Lowry and Sarah Pierce, both Sans, +were on the committee. + +It had been rumored that Professor Leonard and the sports committee had +disagreed; that the instructor had coolly advised the committee to do as +it pleased and dropped all interest in sports for that year. With him +out of the reckoning, nothing stood in her way provided Leslie chose to +favor her. + +Her greatest ambition, however, was to belong to the Sans. She was +always privately wishing that one member of the club would drop out. +Leslie had once more told her that the club limit was eighteen members. +If anyone left the club an outside eligible would be chosen to replace +the retiring member so as to keep the number of girls at eighteen. She +had also tried on the previous June to arrange for a room at Wayland +Hall for the ensuing college year. She had been unsuccessful in the +attempt. + +After leaving Leslie on the occasion of her mishap on Hamilton Highway, +she had realized her folly in showing spleen against her companion. She +resolved to offset it as speedily as possible. She wrote Leslie a note +which remained unanswered. She then telephoned the Hall, but Leslie was +out. Her allowance check having arrived, she had an excuse to go to see +Leslie. Her afternoon classes over, she set out for Wayland Hall one +rainy afternoon, hoping the inclement weather had kept Leslie indoors. + +Her baby-blue eyes gleamed triumph at the cheering news that Miss Cairns +was in. As she ascended the stairs to Leslie's room, which was the +largest and most expensive in the house, her curious glances roved +everywhere. She wished she could see into the room of every student. Her +lips fell into an envious pout as she thought of her own failure to get +into the Hall. She would try again in June, on that she was determined. + +Coming to the door of Leslie's room, she uttered a muffled exclamation +of impatience. A large "Busy" sign stared her in the face. She did not +turn and go away. Instead her surveying eyes took in the long hall from +end to end. Next, she drew close to the door and listened. She could +hear no voices from within. Leslie was evidently alone and studying. + +With a defiant lifting of her chin Elizabeth rapped on the panel twice +and loudly. She listened again and was repaid by the sound of a chair +being hastily moved, then approaching footsteps. The door opened with a +jerk. Leslie stared at her visitor with no pleasantness. + +"I came to return that twenty-five dollars." Elizabeth did not give +Leslie a chance to speak first. "I saw the sign on your door. I thought +I would knock, anyway. I've been trying to see you for a week to give it +to you. Why didn't you answer my note, or didn't you receive it?" + +Leslie continued to stare. She was taken aback for an instant by the +cool impudence of the other girl. This was in reality the only thing +about Elizabeth that Leslie liked. She found the sophomore's bold +assurance amusing. + +"Come in," she drawled, assuming her most indifferent pose. "I intended +asking you if you could read. I'll forgive you. I told you there was no +hurry about that money." + +"What's money to me? Not that much!" Elizabeth snapped her fingers. "I +can have all the money I want to spend here. I simply happened to be +without it the other day. I won't stay. I see you are really busy +writing letters. It goes to show you can write. I thought perhaps you +had forgotten how." + +Having delivered this thrust she busied herself with her handbag. "Here +you are; much obliged." She tendered the money to Leslie. "I must go." +She turned as though to depart. + +"Oh, sit down!" Leslie tossed the little wad of bills on the table. "I +can finish this letter later. I have to keep that sign on the door when +I want to be alone. I'd be mobbed if I did not." + +At heart Leslie was distinctly glad to see her caller. She had her part +to play on the stage of deceit, however. + +"I suppose the Sans are running in and out of your room a good deal," +Elizabeth returned enviously. "I wish I could live here. It makes me so +cross when I think of that Miss Dean and those girls living here and I +can't get in. There will be a lot of girls graduated from here in June. +I think I can make it next fall. What's the use, though. You'll be gone. +It is on your account I'd like to be here. I think more of you, Leslie, +than of all the rest of the girls put together." Elizabeth simulated +wistful regret. She had tried out that particular expression before the +mirror until she had perfected it. It was useful on so many occasions. + +"Do you truly think as much of me as you say, Bess, or are you simply +talking to hear yourself talk?" Leslie carried out admirably a pretense +of sudden earnestness. + +"Why, _of course_, I care a lot about you, Leslie." Elizabeth adopted a +slightly grieved tone. "Think of how _much_ you have done for me." + +"Oh, that's all right." Leslie dismissed the reminder with a wave of the +hand. "I have a reason for asking you that question. I have one or two +other questions to ask you, too. If you are my friend, _and wish to +continue to be my friend_, you will answer them." + +"I certainly will, if I can," was the glib promise. + +"You can," Leslie curtly assured. "First, who told you about my having +received a summons to Matthews' office on account of that accident to +Langly last fall?" + +"How do you know----" began the sophomore, then bit her lip. + +"I _know_. There isn't much goes on on the campus that I don't know." +This with intent to intimidate. "I know who told you, for that matter." + +"I promised I wouldn't tell. Still, if you say you know who it was, I +believe you do." Elizabeth hastily conceded, remembering her own +interests. "You won't let on that I told you?" + +Leslie shook her head. "Trust me to be discreet," she said. + +"It was Dulcie Vale," came the treacherous answer. + +"I knew it." Leslie brought one hand sharply down against the other. +"What else has Dulcie told you?" + +"About what?" counter-questioned the sophomore. + +"That's what I am asking you." Leslie leaned forward in her chair, +steady eyes on her vis-a-vis. + +Elizabeth experienced inward trepidation. Dulcie had told her a great +many things which she had promptly repeated to friends of hers under +promise of secrecy. Suppose Leslie had traced some bit of gossip to her. +She had heard that Leslie could pretend affability when she was the +angriest. She might be only using Dulcie as a blind in order to extract +a confession from her. + +"I don't quite understand you, Leslie," she asserted, knitting her light +brows. "Dulcie has talked to me a little about the Sans. I never +mentioned a word she said to anyone else." + +"That's not the point. I am not accusing you of talking too much. You +made a remark the other day which I took as an assumption that you had +been told about the summons. I knew Dulcie had told you. Dulcie has said +things to others, too." + +"Oh, I know that." Confidence returning, Elizabeth was quick to place +the blame on the absent Dulcie. + +"Yes; and so do I. It is very necessary that I should get to the bottom +of her talk. Some say one thing about her, some another. I thought I +could rely on you for the facts." + +"I don't care to have any trouble with Dulcie over this," deprecated +Elizabeth. + +"You won't. Your name won't be mentioned in it. All I need is the facts. +You will be doing me a great favor. If there is anything I can do for +you in return, let me know." Leslie had donned her cloak of +pseudo-sincerity. + +"Oh, no; there is nothing." Elizabeth slowly shook her head. "I--well, I +wouldn't want you to think I _cared_ for a return." Her manner plainly +indicated that there was something Leslie might do for her if she chose. + +"What is it you want?" Leslie exhibited marked impatience. "Favor for +favor you know," she added boldly. "I never mince matters." + +"I am crazy to play on the soph basket-ball team. Do you think you can +fix it for me?" + +"Surest thing ever. Leonard is peeved and has tossed up sports. Two of +the Sans are on committee. Is that all you need?" + +"Yes." The wide babyish eyes registered a flash of gratification. "You +are so _kind_, Leslie. Thank you a thousand times. I know you won't fail +me." + +"You're welcome. I'll fix it for you tomorrow. One bit of advice. Don't +play unless you are an expert." + +"I am. When I was at prep school----" + +"Never mind about that now. You go ahead and tell me what I asked you. +It is almost six and Nat will be here soon." + +"Oh, will she?" The sophomore cast an apprehensive glance toward the +door. "Is she a very good friend of Dulcie's?" + +"She's a better friend of mine," was the bored reply. Leslie was growing +tired of being kept from what she burned to know. "Please don't waste +any more time, Bess. We can't talk after Nat comes in. I don't believe +I'll be able to see you again before Saturday. I'm awfully busy. I'll +lunch you at the Lotus then. We'll use my roadster for the trip to town. +What?" + +Elated at having gleaned from Leslie a promise of benefit to herself and +an invitation to luncheon, Elizabeth once more stipulated that her name +should be left out of the revelation. Again reassured, she proceeded to +regale Leslie with the confidences Dulcie had imparted to her at various +times. She talked steadily for almost half an hour. Leslie gave her free +rein, interrupting her but little. + +"It's even worse than I had thought," Leslie declared grimly, when +Elizabeth could recall nothing more to tell. "Bess, if you know when you +are well off, you will never tell a soul what you have told me. Part of +it isn't true. Dulcie was romancing to you about that hazing affair. We +talked about it for fun, but that was all. Why, we were all at the +masquerade that night." + +"Dulcie wasn't," flatly contradicted the other. "She had a black eye. +She said she was hurt at that house when----" + +"Dulcie bumped into the door of her room that night with her mask on," +interrupted Leslie angrily. "So she told us. If she was where she claims +she was, certainly we were not with her. This isn't the first foolish +rumor of the kind she has started. It's a good thing the rest of the +girls don't know this. They'd never forgive Dulcie for starting such +yarns. As for that trouble she claims we had with Miss Remson. There was +nothing to that, either. We have never exchanged a word with Remson on +the subject. I don't mind what she told you about the summons. The rest +of her lies! Well, there is this much to it, Dulcie is due to hear from +me and in short order." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV--SANS' MERCY + + +Despite Leslie's denials, Elizabeth left her room only half convinced. +Being as lost to honor as Leslie, she was also as shrewd. She made a vow +to keep her own counsel thereafter. She knew herself to be as guilty as +Dulcie. She hoped Leslie would never discover that. Leslie had promised +that her name should not be mentioned in the matter. If brought to book +by Leslie, Dulcie could not accuse her of circulating the stories +intrusted to her without incriminating herself. Elizabeth felt quite +safe on that score. + +For two or three days after her call upon Leslie, she kept out of +Dulcie's way for fear the latter had been taken to task for her +treachery and might suspect her as being instrumental in having brought +it about. On Friday, however, she met Dulcie in the library. Dulcie +invited her to dinner at the Colonial and she went without a tremor of +conscience. The former was not in a gossiping humor that day. She was +doing badly in all her subjects and worried in consequence. + +Elizabeth went calmly to luncheon at the Lotus with Leslie on Saturday, +pluming herself in that she was on excellent terms with both factions. +She reported to Leslie her meeting with Dulcie on Friday, saying lamely +that Dulcie never gossiped a bit about the Sans. "She hadn't better," +Leslie had returned vengefully. "She has done mischief enough already." +When Elizabeth had ventured to inquire when Dulcie was to be "called +down," Leslie had said, "When I get ready to do it. I'm not ready yet." + +Natalie and Joan Myers had been informed by Leslie of Dulcie's +treachery. The trio had then set to work to discover how much damage she +had done; something not easy to determine. Natalie and Joan demanded +that she should be dropped from the club. They were sure the others +would be of the same mind. Even Eleanor Ray, her former chum, was on the +outs with Dulcie. There would be no objection to the penalty from +Eleanor. Leslie's plan was to gather the evidence against Dulcie, place +it before the Sans, minus the culprit, at a private meeting, and let +them decide her fate. In spite of Leslie Cairns' unscrupulous +disposition, she had a queer sense of justice which occasionally stirred +within her. Thus she was bent on being sure of her ground before +accusing Dulcie to her face. + +After a week had passed and the three had learned nothing new regarding +the circulation of their misdeeds about the campus, Leslie called a +meeting of the club in her room while Dulcie was absent from the Hall. +Indignation ran high at the revelation. The verdict was, "Drop her from +the club." Notwithstanding the possibility pointed out by Leslie that +she might turn on them and betray them to headquarters, her associates +were keen for dropping her. + +"What harm can she do us?" argued Margaret Wayne. "She can't give us +away to Doctor Matthews without cooking her own goose. That's our only +danger from her. It's our word against hers. Any stories she has told on +the campus will never go further than among the students. It is too bad! +Dulcie should have known better than to be so utterly treacherous. She +deserves to be dropped. We could never trust her again." + +"That's what I think," concurred Joan Myers. "Even if her tales _did_ +bring about a private inquiry, it is our word against hers. We have +really walked with a sword over our heads since last Saint Valentine's +night. It has never fallen. I say, _simply fire_ Dulcie from the Sans, +and be done with it. Let it be a lesson to the rest of us to be +discreet." + +"When is the deed to be done?" Adelaide Forman inquired. + +"I don't know yet. I want you girls to see what you can glean on the +campus. I must have every scrap of evidence against her that I can get," +Leslie announced. "We may not be able to spring it on her for a week or +two. When we do, the meeting will be in this room. I'll hang a heavy +curtain over the door so we won't be heard. If she gets very angry she +will raise her voice to a positive shriek." + +"Wouldn't it be better to hold that meeting outside the Hall? Dulcie +will raise an awful fuss. If she hadn't told something I made her swear +she wouldn't tell, I would not hear to having her treated that way. I am +down on her for that very reason. Otherwise I would feel very sorry for +her," explained Eleanor Ray. + +"I am not on good terms with her. She made trouble between Evangeline +and me last week. We only straightened it up today." Joan volunteered +this information. "Leslie's room is the best place for the meeting. It +is situated so that Dulcie won't be heard if she cries or flies into a +temper." + +While among the Sans there was not one girl who had not stooped to +dishonorable acts since her entrance into Hamilton College, the fact of +Dulcie's defection seemed monstrous indeed. + +"Be careful what you say to Bess Walbert," Natalie took the liberty of +saying. "How much does she know about what we shall do with Dulc? What +did you tell her about it?" + +"I said I had heard other things Dulcie had been saying; that she was +due to hear from me for gossiping. That such yarns must be stopped. I +warned her to keep to herself whatever Dulc had told her. She promised +silence. I don't know." Leslie shrugged dubiously. "Take a leaf from +Nat's book, girls, and keep mum to Bess. She may try to pump you. She's +crazy to know what I am going to say to Dulc and when the fuss is to +come off." + +Natalie flushed her gratification of Leslie's approbation. The others +received their leader's counsel with marked respect. The news of +Dulcie's perfidy had given them food for uneasy reflection. + +"We'll just have to depend on you, Les, to deal with Dulcie," Joan Myers +said emphatically. "You can do it scientifically. Of course, we expect +to stand by you. When the time comes you ought to do the talking." + +"The firing, you mean," corrected Leslie, smiling in her most unpleasant +fashion. "Leave it to me. It's our campus reputation against her +feelings; if she has any. We all have a certain pride in ourselves as +seniors. I'm not anxious to be looked down upon by the other classes. It +is only a few months until Commencement. We must hang on until then, and +at the same time keep up an appearance of senior dignity." + +An assenting murmur arose. Allowed to do as they pleased by doting or +careless parents, not one of the Sans would escape parental wrath were +she to fail in her college course. Even more serious consequences would +be attached to expellment. + +"How are we to behave toward Dulcie?" was Eleanor Ray's question as the +meeting broke up. + +"As though nothing had happened," Leslie directed. "I shall take her by +surprise. I wish her to be so completely broken up she won't have the +nerve to fight back, either on the night of the fuss or afterward." + + + + +CHAPTER XV--PLANNING FOR OTHERS + + +While the Sans were experiencing the discomfort of internal friction, +the Lookouts and their friends were traveling the pleasant ways of +harmony and peace. The sophomores had so thoroughly taken their freshman +sisters under their genial wing that the juniors had little welfare work +to do in that direction. + +In the matter of basket ball they lost all active interest after the +first game between the freshman and sophomore teams which took place on +the first Saturday afternoon in November. The Sans still had friends +enough among the seniors to make their influence felt in this respect. +With two Sans elected to the sports committee, Professor Leonard had +thrown up his hands in disgust after a vain attempt to get along +pleasantly with the arrogant committee. He refused to be present at the +try-out. Afterward he made it a point to be away from the gymnasium +during team practice. + +Leslie Cairns kept her word to Elizabeth Walbert to the letter. She was +chosen by the committee to play on the official sophomore team. Phyllis +Moore was also picked solely on account of her prowess. When she found +herself on the same team with Elizabeth, she promptly resigned. + +The freshman team was picked by the committee entirely according to Sans +tactics. Therefore, the democratic element of Hamilton foresaw a series +of uninteresting games ahead. Dutifully they attended the initial game +of the season which the sophs won. Most of the applause came from the +seniors present at the game. According to Muriel Harding, she had seen +better games played by the grammar school children of Sanford. + +Basket ball thus failing to arouse their marked enthusiasm, the former +faithful fans and expert players turned their moments of recreation into +channels which pleased them better. Incidental with the decline of +basket ball, Marjorie and Robin took to looking earnestly about them for +a motive for the entertainments they had discussed giving. + +Marjorie scouted about diligently in an effort to locate students off +the campus who needed financial help. She took Anna Towne into her +confidence at last and found out something of interest. + +"It isn't half so much that most of the girls living off the campus +can't pull themselves through college. They manage to do it by working +through the summer vacations. It is the way we have to live that is so +nerve-racking at times. The food isn't always good, and there's so +little variety if one boards. The girls who cook for themselves have to +market. That's a strain. One is out of bread or butter or another staple +and forgets all about it until supper time. Then the small stores nearby +are closed. Perhaps one wishes to spend an hour or two in the library +after recitations. There is the marketing to do, or else it has to be +done early in the morning when one is hurrying to get ready for a first +recitation. That's merely one of the difficulties attached to trying to +lead the student life and doing light housekeeping at the same time. + +"On the other hand," Anna had further explained, "if one boards one +isn't always allowed to do one's own laundering. That's quite an item of +expense. It costs more in money to board, and it is more of an expense +of spirit to keep house on a small scale. It is a great irritation +either way. That is the opinion of every girl off the campus I have +talked with. You girls in your beautiful campus house are lucky. Many of +these boarding and rooming houses are so cold in winter. For the amount +of board or rental we pay the proprietors claim they can't afford to +give adequate heat. + +"You see, Marjorie, when girls like myself decide on enrolling at a +certain college, they have only the prospectus to go by. They read in +the Bulletin of Students' Aids and Bureaus of Self-help but they do not +reckon on them. They go to college on their own resources. They wouldn't +dream of asking help as freshmen; perhaps not at all during their whole +course." + +"I see," Marjorie had assented very soberly. It hurt her to hear of the +struggles for an education going on so near her, while she had +everything and more than heart could desire. "There ought to be one or +two houses on the campus where students could live as cheaply as in +boarding and rooming houses and still have their time entirely for study +and recreation." + +"That won't be in my time at Hamilton," Anna had declared with a tired +little smile. "I hope it will happen some day." + +When Marjorie had left Anna, it was with a certain generous resolve. +That night she made it known to Jerry. + +"Do you know what I am going to do?" she asked, after recounting to her +room-mate her conversation of the afternoon. + +"I do not. I'll be pleased to hear your remarks, whatever they may be," +encouraged Jerry with one of her wide smiles. + +"You know what a lot of vacancies there will be here in June," Marjorie +began. "Those vacancies ought to be filled by off-the-campus girls. Take +Anna, for instance. She earns about one-third enough money summers to +keep her at Wayland Hall. I shall furnish the other two-thirds for her. +I shall begin now and save something from my allowance toward it. I +shall ask Captain not to buy me a lot of new clothes for next year, but +to give me the money instead. I am going to do a little sacrificing. I +shall cut out dinners and luncheons off the campus. I'll go only to +Baretti's and not so very often." + +"We are an extravagant set," Jerry confessed. "Our board is paid at the +Hall; the very best board, too. Yet away we go every two or three days +for a feed at our favorite tea-rooms. That's a good idea, Marvelous +Manager. I shall presently adopt an off-the-campusite myself. Ronny will +adopt a dozen." + +"Ronny would finance them all, but I sha'n't let her. General would give +me the money to see Anna through college, but I don't wish it to be that +way. I want it to be self-denial money. I'd like to find a way to help +the off-the-campus girls this year." + +"Give shows. Make money. Turn it over to 'em," suggested Jerry, with an +airy wave of the hand. "Nothing easier." + +"Nothing harder, you mean," corrected Marjorie. "They wouldn't like to +accept it as a private gift, I'm afraid. Besides, some of them board; +others do light housekeeping. Those who keep house could use the money +we offered to make things easier. Still they'd have the strain of +housework on their minds. Those who board wouldn't be benefited much +unless they changed boarding places. There is only that one collection +of boarding houses near the campus. One is about the same as another. +Hamilton has been a rich girls' college for a long time. The fine +equipment and super-excellent faculty have filled it up with well-to-do +and moneyed students." + +"I'd like to see every Hamilton student on the campus," declared Jerry +heartily. "It would take three campus houses to do it. There must be +close to seventy-five girls in that bunch of off-campus houses." + +"We could start our fund for that purpose," was the hopeful response. + +"Who'd take care of the plan after we were graduated? It would take a +lot of money to build campus houses. Besides, how would we get the site? +Maybe the Board wouldn't hear to the project" + +"Too true, too true, Jeremiah," Marjorie conceded gayly. "That plan is a +little far-fetched just yet. Later it may seem feasible. The fact +remains that Robin and I yearn to get up a show; object to give away the +proceeds." + +"You can do this. Arrange for the show. Advertise it as being given for +the purpose of founding a students' beneficiary association. Take a +third of the proceeds and start the society. Give the other two-thirds +to Anna and let her distribute it privately among the girls who need it. +She knows them. She can get away with it better than you can. If anyone +comes down on the treasury for our little lone third we can hand it out +and keep it up by private contributions until some more money is earned. +I suppose you two marvelous managers will continue in the show business +as long as it is profitable." + +"Your head is level, Jeremiah," laughed Marjorie, her eyes sparkling. +"That's a good plan. I'll see Robin tomorrow, and Anna too. Robin can +begin to gather up the performers. Anna can find out for me as to how +her flock are situated. I shall call the girls in tomorrow evening and +ask them if they each would like to finance a student next year. Leila, +Vera and Helen will like to, even if they have been graduated from +Hamilton. Kathie can't, but she will wish to help in some other way." + +"Anna Towne was my freshie catch. You may have her. I'll scout around +and find someone else," magnanimously accorded Jerry. + +Marjorie spent her leisure hours during the ensuing few days in +interviewing her friends and helping Robin plan the show. With +Thanksgiving only ten days off, the show would not take place until +after that holiday. The girls tackled the programme, however, and +completed it within three days. + +Ronny was to dance twice. Marjorie had written to Constance Stevens, who +had promised to sing at the revue. These two numbers were to be the +features. The Silverton Hall orchestra would contribute two numbers. +Leila and Vera had promised an ancient Irish contra dance in costume. +Phyllis would give a violin solo. Blanche Scott would offer a grand +opera selection in her best baritone voice. Ronny agreed to train eight +girls in a singing and dancing number. As a wind-up, four Acasia House +girls were to put on a one-act French play. + +Busy with her new project, Marjorie had not forgotten Miss Susanna. The +day after her visit to Hamilton Arms she had written the old lady one of +her sincere, friendly notes. She had not expected a reply. Nevertheless, +Miss Hamilton had returned a few lines of acknowledgment. Since then the +wires of communication between them had been idle. + +Marjorie regretted this. She would have liked, during the beautiful +autumn weather, to walk about the grounds of Hamilton Arms with its +owner. With the last leaves off the trees and the earth frost-bitten, +she began to feel that Miss Susanna had not desired her further +acquaintance. In passing Hamilton Arms she strained her eyes, +invariably, for a sight of the old lady. She saw her but once, and at a +distance. + +She wondered as Thanksgiving approached what kind of Thanksgiving Miss +Hamilton would have. She resolved, before leaving college for home, to +write the last of the Hamiltons as cheerful a note as she could compose. + +Three days before college closed for the holiday she found a letter in +the Hall bulletin board in Miss Susanna's handwriting. This letter bore +the address "Wayland Hall," and read: + + "Dear Child: + + "I have a curiosity to meet some of the young women you exalted to + me when you took tea at the Arms. Will you bring them with you to + five o'clock tea tomorrow afternoon? I had intended writing you + before this date, but have been ill and out of sorts. I believe you + mentioned eight young women as your particular friends. I can + entertain you and the beloved eight, but no more. Do not trouble to + answer this note. I shall expect to see you, even if the others + can't come to tea. + + "Yours sincerely, + "Susanna Craig Hamilton." + +Marjorie uttered a kind of exultant crow and performed a funny little +dance of jubilation about the room. Jerry had not yet come from +recitations, so she hurried out to find the other Lookouts. Ronny was +the only one in. She rejoiced with Marjorie, her interest in Hamilton +Arms and its owner being second only to that of her chum. + +"She loves flowers. We must take her a big box of roses," was Marjorie's +generous thought. "Pink, white and red ones; yellow roses, too, if we +can find them. It is hard to find a certain kind of fragrant, very +double yellow rose at the florist's now." + +"You mean 'Perle de Jaddin,'" Ronny said quickly. "We have acres of them +at 'Manana.' They are my favorite rose." + +"I love them, too," Marjorie nodded. "I remember that name now. I will +collect two dollars apiece from the girls. Two times nine are eighteen. +We ought to be able to buy an armful of roses for eighteen dollars. I'll +ask Leila to drive to Hamilton for them. She has no class the last hour. +I think we had better walk to Hamilton Arms. Miss Susanna seems to be +rather down on girls who drive cars. So there is no use in flaunting her +dislike in her face. I may be in error on that point. She made a remark +on the day I met her that led me to think so." + +"You go and find the other girls. I'll tell Lucy as soon as she comes +in," Ronny offered. "The sooner you see them, the better. If they have +engagements for tomorrow afternoon they will have to gracefully slide +out of them. We all must accept Miss Susanna's invitation. It is a case +of now or never." + +Marjorie left Ronny to go joyfully on her pleasant errand. Her second +quest was more successful. Leila and Vera had returned while she was in +Ronny's room. Both were elated over the unexpected honor. Leila was more +than willing to make the trip to the florist's shop. Marjorie met +Katherine in the hall just as she was leaving Leila's room. + +The trio of absentees, Helen, Muriel and Jerry, she decided must be out +somewhere together. She smiled to herself as she pictured Jerry's face +when she heard the news. "Just because I am in a hurry to tell Jerry she +will probably go to dinner off the campus and come marching in about +nine o'clock," was her half-vexed rumination. + +To her satisfaction Jerry walked into the room at ten minutes to six. +She and Helen had taken a ride in the latter's car. Jerry was full of +mirth over the fact that they had met Elizabeth Walbert's car at the +side of the road with a blown-out tire. A mechanician from a Hamilton +garage was on the scene adjusting a new one under the verbose direction +of the owner. + +"Helen drove her car past at a crawl. We wanted to hear what she was +saying to the man from the garage. Honestly, we could hear her voice +before we came very near her. She shrieks at the top of her lungs. She +was trying to tell him what to do. He wasn't paying any more attention +to her than if she hadn't been there. That blond freshie, who snubbed +Phil the day she tried to help her at the station, was with her. I heard +her say, 'My, but he is slow. Our chauffeur could have put on three +tires while he was thinking about putting on one.' So encouraging to the +workman!" Jerry's tones registered gleeful sarcasm. "I wish she had been +stuck there for about four hours." + +"You should not rejoice at the downfall of others," Marjorie reproved +with a giggle. "That is, if you can class a bursted tire as a downfall." + +"It did me a world of good to see those two little snips stuck at the +side of the road," returned Jerry. "That Walbert girl and her car are a +joke. I wish we had a college paper. I'd write her up. Funny there isn't +one at Hamilton. Almost every other college has one, sometimes two. I +think I shall start one next year, if I'm not too busy." + +"You might call it 'Jeremiah's Journal,'" suggested Marjorie. Both girls +laughed at this conceit. Marjorie then acquainted her room-mate with the +invitation, at the same time handing her Miss Hamilton's note. + +"Will wonders never cease!" Jerry laid down the note and beamed at +Marjorie. "All your fault, Marvelous Manager. You went ahead and paved +the way into Miss Susanna's good graces for the rest of us. You +certainly do get on the soft side of people without trying." + +"Not a bit of it," Marjorie stoutly contested. "Any one of you girls +would have done as I did and with the same results. I am so glad you are +all going to meet her. She can't help but have a better opinion of our +dear old Alma Mater after she has met some of her nicest children. I +guess that basket handle broke at the psychological moment." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI--OUT OF THE PAST + + +The invited guests were in scarcely more of an anticipatory flutter than +Miss Susanna herself. She had broken down her prejudice against girls +partly out of curiosity to see and know Marjorie's friends, partly +because of her growing fondness for Marjorie. The innocent beauty of the +young girl, and her utter lack of conceit and affectation, had made a +deep impression on the suspicious, embittered old lady. She had no +expectation of liking Marjorie's friends as she was learning to like the +courteous, gracious lieutenant. It was her skeptical opinion, uttered to +Jonas, that, if _one_ of the "new ones" turned out to be half as worthy +as "that pretty child," she would not regret the experiment. + +"You may take me for an old fool, Jonas," she declared to her faithful +servitor of many years. "Here I am entertaining college misses after +I've sworn enmity against them for so long. Well, everything once, +Jonas; everything once. If I don't like 'em, they won't be invited here +again." + +"The young lady's friends will be all right, Miss Susanna," Jonas had +earnestly assured. "She is a fine little lady." + +The "young lady's friends," however, were seized with a certain amount +of trepidation when, on the designated afternoon, they advanced on +Hamilton Arms, looking their prettiest. Each had worn the afternoon +frock she liked best in honor of her hostess. Marjorie, Leila and Jerry +headed the van, Leila bearing in her arms a huge box of roses. Marjorie +had insisted that Leila must present these to Miss Susanna. Leila had +sturdily demurred, then accepted the honor thrust upon her. All the way +to Hamilton Arms she had kept the party in a gale of laughter with the +humorous presentation speeches which she framed en route. + +Within a few steps of the house her fund of words deserted her. "Take +these yourself, Marjorie," she implored. "I am in too much of a glee at +my own foolishness. I shall laugh and disgrace us all if I undertake to +give her the roses." + +"You'll be all right, you goose. I refuse to help you out." Marjorie +waved aside the proffered box. "Rally your nerve and say the first thing +that occurs to you. It will be sure to be the best thing you could +possibly say." + +"I doubt it. Well, I can but take firm hold on the box and make the best +of a bad matter." Leila grasped the box with exaggerated force, cleared +her throat and burst out laughing. She continued to laugh as they +ascended the steps. She had hardly straightened her face when Jonas +answered the door and ushered the guests over the threshold they had +never expected to cross. + +"I have not seen so many girls at close range for a long time," +announced a brisk voice. Miss Susanna had come from the library into the +hall to greet her visitors. She was attired in a one-piece dress of dark +gray silk with a white fichu at the throat of frost-like lace. + +"How are you, my child?" She now took Marjorie's hand. "And these are +your friends." Her bright brown eyes were inspecting the group of young +women with a kind of reflective curiosity. "Introduce them to me and +tell me each name slowly. I wish to know each one by name from now on. I +used to have a good memory for names." + +Marjorie complied with the instruction, adding some friendly little +point descriptive of each chum. This evoked laughter and helped to ease +the slight strain attached to the presentation. Leila then proffered the +box of roses with a frank, "Here is our good will to you, Miss +Hamilton." + +"What's this?" Miss Susanna viewed the long box in amazement. A swift +tide of color rose to her cheeks. She reached for it mechanically as +though uncertain what to do next. She held it for an instant, then said: +"I thank you, girls. You could have done nothing that would please me +more. I love flowers; particularly roses. Come into the library now and +let us get acquainted." + +In the library Miss Susanna explored the florist's box with the pleasure +of a child. She exclaimed happily over the masses of gorgeous roses as +she lifted them from the box and inhaled their fragrance. She sent Jonas +for vases and arranged them to suit her fancy, talking animatedly to her +guests as her small hands busied themselves with the pleasant task. + +The girls gathered informally about her, looking on with gratified eyes. +The flower gift had established a bond of sympathy between them. Already +Miss Susanna was beginning to glimpse the reason for Marjorie's devotion +to her special friends. The girls also understood Marjorie's growing +interest in the last of the Hamiltons. Miss Hamilton had an oddly +fascinating personality which commanded liking. + +"There!" Miss Susanna exclaimed, as the last rose went into a vase to +her satisfaction. "I shall leave them in the library while you are here. +Afterward I shall take my posies to my room. They will be the last thing +I see tonight and the first in the morning. I have selfishly fussed with +my lovely roses instead of giving you hungry children your tea. We are +going to have it in the tea room today. I will ask you to come now." + +She led the way from the library to an apartment directly behind it. A +subdued chorus of admiration ascended from the guests as they stepped +into a room which was quite Chinese in character. The walls were hung +with rare Chinese embroideries and delicately-tinted prints. A pale +green matting rug with intricately-wrought lavender and buff characters +covered the floor. The tables and chairs were of polished teak, +beautifully inlaid with mother of pearl. In one corner was a tall +Chinese cabinet topped by two exquisite peachblow vases. Here and there +were other vases of value and beauty. It was an amazing room. With so +much to look at, it required time to appreciate fully its worth from an +artistic point of view. + +While there were several small tables, there was a large oblong one +which would seat the party. It was laid for tea and graced by the most +wonderful tea set the girls had ever seen. It was of faint, almost +translucent, green banded by an odd Chinese scroll border in silver. + +"What a perfectly wonderful room!" gasped Vera, her hands coming +together in an admiring clasp, so characteristic of her. + +Her approval was echoed by the others. The mistress of Hamilton Arms +piloted them to the large table, taking her place at the head of it. + +"Have your tea first, then you may explore Uncle Brooke's famous tea +room as much as you please." Miss Susanna glanced about at the circle of +eager young faces with a bright smile. She was enjoying this innovation +so much more than she had thought she might. "This will really be a meat +tea. I know you girls will need something more substantial than tea and +cakes, as you won't be home in time for dinner." + +The invaluable Jonas now appearing, an appetizing collation consisting +of creamed chicken, hot muffins, a salad and sweets was served, together +with much tea and more talk and laughter. The girls were hungry enough +to enjoy every mouthful of the delicious food provided by their hostess, +agreeing with Marjorie as to the super-excellence of the tea. + +"Please tell us about this tea room, Miss Susanna," coaxed Marjorie. The +repast finished, the party still sat at table. "I suppose it was planned +and arranged by Mr. Brooke Hamilton." + +"Yes; it is considered the finest private tea room in America," was the +reply. The odd part of this room is that every article in it was a gift +to my great uncle. Shortly after LaFayette's visit to America, when +Uncle Brooke was a young man in his early twenties, he embarked on a +business venture to China. He expected to be gone only a year. Instead, +he remained in China for twelve years. Unlike many persons, he did not +antagonize the Chinese. They learned to appreciate him for his nobility, +and became his firm friends. Every now and then, someone would make him +a present. A true Chinaman will give the best he has if he wishes to +give. + +"Uncle Brooke was so much pleased with his growing collection of things +Chinese, that he announced his intention of having a Chinese room in his +home when he returned to America," continued the old lady, a gleam of +pride in her eyes. "He told his Chinese friends of his idea and they +were delighted. Eventually a rich noble, who had been one of Uncle +Brooke's truest friends, died. He bequeathed a priceless collection of +Chinese antiquities to my ancestor. Among them was this tea set, those +two peachblow vases, and that print on the east wall. When he returned +to America it took him six months to arrange this room to his +satisfaction. He arranged it and pulled it to pieces dozens of times +before he produced the effect he desired." + +"Do you remember him, Miss Susanna?" asked Marjorie eagerly, then +blushed for fear her question might be considered too pointed by her +hostess. + +"Very well, indeed. I was a young woman when he died. He was +seventy-nine years old the week before his death. My father was the son +of his only brother who was several years older than Uncle Brooke. +Father was an invalid during the last years of his life. We came here to +live when I was twelve. As a child, Uncle Brooke would often take me for +walks about the estate. He taught me the names and habits of trees, +shrubs and flowers. He was a true nature man." + +"It seems odd to hear so much, all at once, of Mr. Brooke Hamilton," +observed Helen. "We have not heard anything of him before except what +little is known on the campus. He is almost a mystery at Hamilton +College." + +"The fault of the college," retorted Miss Susanna with bitterness. +"There was a time when the college board might have had the data for his +biography. That time has passed. They shall never have one scrap of +information concerning him from me. What I have told you of him today is +in strict confidence. I have spoken freely of him because Marjorie has +assured me that you are to be trusted. Were you to break this +confidence, I would refuse to verify whatever you might tell and forbid +any publication of the information." + +Miss Hamilton glanced defiantly about the circle. Her kindly expression +had entirely vanished. + +"We can but assure you of our discretion." It was Leila who made an +answer, a hint of wounded pride in her blue eyes. + +"You can trust us, Miss Susanna," added Marjorie, smiling bravely. She +was experiencing a queer little sinking of the heart at the displeased +old lady's intent to permanently withhold from the college the true +history of its founder. + +"I daresay I can, child. Let us change the subject. It is unpleasant to +me. You girls had better walk about the tea room and enjoy the curios +until I recover my good humor." + +Prompt to obey the mandate, the girls spent at least a half hour in the +Oriental room, examining and admiring the departed connoisseur's +individual arrangement of a marvelous collection. Miss Susanna sat and +watched them, almost moodily. Returned to the library, the sight of her +roses mollified her. She decided to do a certain thing which had risen +to her mind. The desire to give pleasure to these young girls who had +thought of her conquered her sudden gust of spleen against Hamilton +College. + +"Would you like to see my great uncle's study?" she asked, turning from +the flowers to her guests. + +"Oh!" Ronny drew a wondering audible breath. She could hardly believe +her ears. + +The others laughed at her, but the eager light in their eyes told its +own story. + +"May we see it, Miss Susanna?" Vera's tone was almost imploring. + +"You may. Another time, when all of you come to see me, I will show you +about the house. It is well worth seeing. My great uncle gathered beauty +from the four corners of the earth. He loved to travel and brought back +with him the treasure of other lands. I should like you to see the +study. It holds one thing, in particular, in which I am sure you will be +interested." + +"There is no corner of this house without interest," Leila said warmly. +"I am sure of that." + +"So it seems to me," nodded Miss Hamilton. "I have lived in it many +years. I am not over the wonder of it yet. At times I am sorry that +others cannot enjoy it with me. Again I am glad to be alone." + +Following the old lady, who mounted the broad staircase as nimbly as any +of them, they found on the second landing the same solid magnificence of +furnishing that marked the first floor. Down a long hallway, which +extended back from the main reception hall, they went. At the end of the +hall was a door of heavy walnut, its upper half of stained glass. This +their guide opened. They were now seeing the room where the founder of +Hamilton College had spent so many hours planning the institution which +bore his name. + +The murmur of voices died out among them as they stepped into the study. +Compared with other rooms in the house which the girls had seen, it was +rather small. The floor was bare save for one medium-sized rug in the +center of the room, on which stood a heavy-legged mahogany writing +table. A tall desk, a book-case, three high-backed chairs and a filing +cabinet, all of carved mahogany, completed the furnishings, plus one +broad-seated chair, leather cushioned, and with a rounding back. It was +drawn up before the library table; Brooke Hamilton's own chair. + +The most notable object in the study was a framed, illuminated oblong +about five feet long and perhaps two and a half feet wide. It was hung +at a point on the wall directly opposite the founder's chair. + +"This is what you wished us to see, isn't it?" Marjorie cried out, +stopping in front of the oblong. "I think I know what it is." + +"Tell us, then." Miss Susanna was smiling fondly at the animated face +Marjorie turned toward her. + +"The maxims of Mr. Brooke Hamilton," she guessed breathlessly. Her eyes +traveled slowly down the oblong. "There are fifteen of them," she +announced. "What a beautiful illumination!" + +"Yes; they were his favorite sayings. He originated them all except the +first one. More, he lived up to them." The old lady's intonation had +grown singularly gentle. + +A reverent silence visited the study as the knot of girls gathered about +the oblong to read the sayings of one long gone from earth. The colors +used in the illumination were principally blue and gold with mere +touches of green and black. Red had been left out entirely from the +color scheme. + +"Remember the stranger within thy gates." + +"To the wise nothing is forbidden." + +"Becoming earnestness is never out of place." + +"Let thy gratitude be lasting." + +"Ask Heaven for courtesy; the supply is greater than the demand." + +"Make thy deference to age not too marked." + +"Truth flies a winning pennant." + +"Beware, lest what seems unattainable falls too near thine hand." + +"Let thy learning be seasoned with merriment." + +"O, Justice, how fair art thine heights!" + +"Be motivated by the grace of God." + +"Be not secret; be discreet." + +"For the gift of life give thanks." + +"The ways of light reach upward to eternity." + +"To stumble honorably is to learn to walk." + +Such were the informal rules of conduct which Brooke Hamilton had carved +for himself with the blade of experience. + +"We have five of these at the college, Miss Susanna." Ronny finally +broke the spell which had fallen. "The first, third, fourth, seventh and +ninth. 'Remember the stranger within thy gates,' is over the doorway of +Hamilton Hall. The ninth one is in the library and the third, fourth and +seventh are in the chapel." + +"I knew some of them were there. The first he had placed over the door +of Hamilton Hall. The others were to be presented to the college as the +students earned them." + +"Earned them?" queried Muriel impulsively. "I don't understand----" She +broke off, coloring at her own temerity. Her companions were also +looking slightly mystified. + +"His idea was this. He wished to reward any particularly noteworthy act +on the part of a student, of which he chanced to hear, by an honor. The +recipient was to receive a citation in chapel and one of his favorite +maxims, decoratively framed, was to be hung in one of the campus +buildings. A record of the citation was to be established in an honor +book kept in a special niche in the chapel. This was one of his later +ideas. He did not live to carry it out. I don't know how they managed to +get hold of four of his sayings. They have no right to them." + +Acridity again dominated Miss Susanna's tones. She appeared to resent +deeply the fact that the college authorities held any information +whatsoever regarding her famous kinsman. + +"Maybe a person who knew your great uncle remembered these four maxims +of his and they were thus handed down," suggested Lucy, always +interested in a mystery. + +"I wish we had them all; everyone of them!" Marjorie gave an audible +sigh of regret. "I can't help saying it, Miss Susanna. It is the way I +feel about these true, wonderful sayings of Mr. Brooke Hamilton." + +"You may say it without offending me, my dear. I understand you and your +affection for Hamilton College. _He_ would have liked you to say it. +_He_ never held a grudge. I have held one many years. I shall continue +to hold it." Miss Susanna crested her stubborn head. "It is a supreme +pleasure to me to know that I have thwarted the college board in some +respects. I shall continue to thwart them." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII--LUCY'S NEWS + + +On the heels of their memorable visit to Hamilton Arms came the added +joy of going home for Thanksgiving. All the pleasure that the occasion +afforded was crowded into those four brief days. The Nine Travelers, as +they agreed to call themselves, returned to college more firmly +amalgamated than ever. + +The Lookouts had long since included their four close friends in the +formal association which they had dubbed the Five Travelers. At first +they had decided that the name should remain the same, though four +members were added. Later, Ronny suggested that Nine Travelers would be +more appropriate. At the end of their college course, they would choose +nine girls to replace them with a new chapter, as they had done in the +case of the Lookout Club. All nine were anxious to leave a sorority +behind them of which they could claim to have founded. + +Marjorie and Robin Page, who, according to Jerry, "had gone into the +show business," had their hands full the moment they returned to +Hamilton. They tackled the enterprise with a will, however, and within a +couple of days after resuming the difficult duties of managership they +had made considerable headway. + +"Have you those posters yet?" greeted Robin, as she joyfully pounced +upon Marjorie on the steps of the library. "I have been trying to see +you ever since yesterday morning. I was coming over last night, but I +simply had to stay at home and study. I struck a horrible snag in +calculus and struggled with it half the evening." + +"Ethel said she would have them done tomorrow," was the comforting news. +"She made four. I imagine they must be beauties, too." + +"Uh-h-h!" Robin pretended to crumple with relief. "That's one torture +off my mind. Naturally they will be great stuff. Ethel Laird draws +better than any other girl at Hamilton. It was mighty fine in her to +take such a job on herself. I asked her for only one you know." + +"Probably she saw a wistful gleam in your eye and was kind," laughed +Marjorie. + +"There will be an entirely different gleam in my eye if those printers +don't hurry up with the programmes. Last I heard from them they hadn't +even started the work. We really took a good deal upon ourselves when we +started this show. I'm glad I am not a manager for my living. It is too +strenuous a life for Robin." + +"We ought to call a rehearsal Saturday evening. There won't be anyone +caring to use the gym, and there won't be much time for it next week in +the evenings, with all the studying we have to do. Just recall, the show +is to be next Friday evening," was Marjorie's reminder. + +"Oh, I know it," groaned Robin. "I shall be enraged, infuriated and +foaming at the mouth if those aggravating printers don't have our +programmes done in time." + +"They will. Don't worry. When did they promise you the tickets?" + +"Tomorrow. They've done fairly well with the tickets," Robin grudgingly +conceded. "That is, provided they deliver them tomorrow, as promised. I +am just a little tired, I guess. I like the programme part of getting up +a show, but I don't like the tiresome details." + +"Come on over to Baretti's," invited Marjorie. "What you need is +sustenance. We can talk things over and have dinner at the same time. I +can stay out until eight. It's only five-fifteen now. We shall have +oceans of time." + +"All right. Don't you believe, though, that we'll have much chance to +talk. Some of our gang will be there, sure as fate," Robin +prognosticated. + +Surely enough, they were greeted by a hospitable quartette occupying a +table near the door. It was composed of Ronny, Jerry, Elaine Hunter and +Barbara Severn. + +"Aren't you going home to dinner?" quizzed Jerry accusingly. "And you +never said a word to me this noon of your secret intentions." + +"I hadn't any. May I ask why you are here without having obtained my +permission?" Marjorie drew down her face in an imitation of Miss Merton, +a Sanford teacher both girls had greatly disliked. + +"I have nothing to say," chuckled Jerry. "You and your friend may sit at +our table, if you like." + +"Thank you. My friend and I have weighty matters to discuss. We're in +the show business now, Jeremiah. We are bound for that last table in the +row." Marjorie pointed. "We'll join you later, and please don't disturb +us. Ahem!" + +"I don't even know either of you by sight. Beat it." Jerry waved both +girls away with a magnificent gesture of disdain which sent them, +giggling, toward their table. + +"This is my first off-the-campus treat since we talked about getting up +the show that day we went to Hamilton," Marjorie confided to Robin. "I +have thirty-eight dollars saved. Captain gave me twenty-five when I came +away from home. I told her I did not need it, but you see I had told her +about saving my money, too. That's the reason she gave it to me. I seem +not to be able to make any real sacrifices," Marjorie smiled ruefully. + +"I have saved close to thirty. I could have saved more, but I have had +three Silvertonites to remember on their birthdays. Not my pals, but +girls who appreciate remembrances and who don't receive many. I haven't +been here but twice since we had that talk. We mustn't desert Signor +Baretti, either. He would feel dreadfully if we stopped patronizing his +tea room." + +"We will have to try to please all our friends somehow, and ourselves, +too," Marjorie said gayly. + +Their dinner ordered, the two settled down to talk over the progress of +their "show" with the business energy of two real theatrical managers. +Later, however, Jerry and her trio sidled up to the forbidden table and +were graciously allowed to remain. In consequence, it was half-past +eight before the party left the tea room. + +"Lucy will wonder what has become of me," Ronny declared, as the three +Lookouts entered Wayland Hall. "I told her this noon I was not going +anywhere after recitations. Oh, dear! I am a nice person! I promised to +help Muriel with her French, before dinner. I forgot all about it until +this minute. She will be raving." + +"You seem to be in a bad case all around," sympathized Marjorie in most +unsympathetic tones. "I'm sorry for you." + +"I'm a great deal more sorry for myself," retorted Jerry. + +"I haven't broken any promise by staying out, but I won't do much +studying tonight. Let me see, what recitations do I have tomorrow that I +can slight the least tiny bit?" Marjorie puckered her brows over her +problem. + +Entering their room, the first sight that met hers and Jerry's eyes was +Lucy Warner, fast asleep in an arm chair. Jerry laid a warning finger +against her lips, then she stole softly up to Lucy. + +"Wake up and pay for your lodgings," she growled in a deep, hoarse +voice. + +"Oh-h! Ah-h!" Lucy sat up with a suddenness which narrowly missed +landing her on the floor. "I thought you would never come home," she +mumbled, not yet fully awake. Blinking sleepily at the two laughing +girls, she continued: "I had some news for you. I sat down to wait until +you came. Ronny was out; so was Muriel. I've been here since eight +o'clock. Were you out to dinner?" + +"That means _you_ were not here." Jerry pointed an arraigning finger at +Lucy. "Where have you been? Lately you have become a regular gad-about. +It must be stopped, Luciferous." + +"Gad-about nothing," disclaimed Lucy. "You, not I, belong to that +deplorable class, Jeremiah Macy. _I_ have been working. True, I dined +outside the Hall, and in distinguished company. I am President Matthews' +secretary pro tem. I had dinner at his house tonight. I told you I had +news for you." + +"Can you beat that?" Jerry sank into the nearest chair as though about +to collapse. "You are mounting the college scale by leaps and bounds, +aren't you? Chummy with the registrar, a friend of Professor +Wenderblatt's, and now established in Doctor Matthews' good graces. The +unprecedented rise of Luciferous Warniferous; or, Secretaries who have +become famous." + +"How did it happen? Where is Miss Sayres?" Marjorie exhibited lively +curiosity at the news. + +"Miss Sayres is at home with a cold. Nothing very serious, I imagine. +Miss Humphrey recommended me to the doctor. He was away behind in his +correspondence. Miss Sayres has been ill for two days. It was nearly six +when I finished his letters. He still had an address to dictate. He +asked me if I would stay until after dinner and take the dictation. I +had a beautiful time. He and his wife are such friendly persons. He is a +great biologist, too. His son was there. He is a New York lawyer and is +home for a few days' visit." Lucy added this last without enthusiasm. + +"Well, well, Luciferous!" patronized Jerry. "And were you afraid to talk +to the young man?" + +"Oh, stop teasing me! No, I was not. He talked to his mother most of the +time, anyway. I must go and find Ronny. Was she with you girls?" Lucy +rose, gathered her books from the table, and prepared to depart. + +"She was with us, Lucy. You'd better stay and talk to us," coaxed +Marjorie. "It's growing later and later and still I am not studying. I +might as well wind up a pleasant but unprofitable evening with gossiping +about Doctor Matthews. Come on back and resume your chair, Miss Warner." + +Lucy had now reached the door. "Wait until I go and see Ronny, and I +will come back." She exited, returning five minutes afterward with +Ronny. + +"You don't seem to have the study habit tonight, either," commented +Jerry genially to the new arrival. "Well, sit down and have a good time. +That's what college is for." + +"How do you like the doctor, Lucy?" There was a note of sharp interest +in the question. Marjorie was anxious to hear Lucy's opinion of the +president. "I know you said he was friendly; but, I mean, what do you +think of him in other ways?" + +"I understand you. You are thinking of Miss Remson. So was I, whenever I +had a chance to study the man. He is one of the kindest, finest men I +have ever come in contact with," Lucy declared impressively. "He is so +courteous; he goes to great pains in answering his letters. I know he +never wrote that letter to Miss Remson." + +"I felt that way about him, too, the day I played messenger for Miss +Humphrey." Marjorie nodded agreement of Lucy's emphatic praise. + +"I wish I could solve that letter mystery while I am there." Lucy's +green eyes gleamed. "My one chance would be to have a talk about it with +Doctor Matthews. That's not likely to happen. I could find out a good +deal about Miss Sayres by going through the letter files, but I would +die rather than touch one of them. I shall only be there for a day or +two, I suppose. If I could be his secretary for two or three weeks I +might be able to say a good word for Miss Remson. I am sure there has +been a great misrepresentation and I believe Miss Sayres is at the +bottom of it." + +"What would you do, Luciferous, if, while you were there, you found out +something that was plain proof against the Sans?" was Marjorie's +thoughtful query. + +"I would take it up with Doctor Matthews at once, wouldn't you, in the +same circumstances?" + +"Yes," came the unhesitating reply. "That is the one thing I have always +thought I would not mind telling against the Sans." Marjorie's features +grew sternly determined. "It was such a cruel thing to do; to estrange +two friends of such long standing. For all we know, Doctor Matthews may +wonder why Miss Remson has not visited him and his wife for over a +year." + +"It is not likely that I shall find any such proof. If I should, I would +use it very quickly. Miss Remson was dreadfully hurt over that miserable +letter. I would put the proof before Doctor Matthews if I had to fight +all the Sans single-handed afterward." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII--WHEN FRIENDS BECOME FOES + + +Lucy's secretaryship for Doctor Matthews lasted only three days. During +that short space of time she found out nothing special, bearing on the +wrong to Miss Remson which she longed to right. She learned to like the +president of Hamilton College better than ever, and wished she might +work for him longer. The only item of interest she came across was at +his residence. In the secretary's desk there she discovered the New York +address of Leslie Cairns in a small red leather address book. To her +analytical mind this was proof enough of an acquaintance between the +two. + +She had not expected to do anything of moment toward helping Miss Remson +during those three days. Still she could not help confessing to Marjorie +that she was a wee bit disappointed at not having learned a single +thing. + +"Never mind, Luciferous," Marjorie had consoled. "You had the will to +help Miss Remson if you did not have the opportunity. It may all come to +light when you least expect it. That's the way such things often +happen." + +While Lucy had deplored her inability to obtain the desired information +she legitimately sought, the Sans loudly deplored among themselves her +temporary appointment as secretary. Coupled with it a story had reached +the ears of Natalie Weyman and Joan Myers which caused them to flee to +Leslie Cairns in a hurry. It had to do with the hazing party the +previous February. Joan had been slyly taxed with it first. Pretending +innocence, she had made an excuse to leave the senior who had intimated +it to her without having betrayed herself in any particular. + +Several days afterward she and Natalie Weyman had gone through almost +the same experience with two juniors who had appeared to treat the +affair as a huge joke. The girl who had first hinted it to Joan had been +rather horrified over what she had evidently heard. + +"I think it is high time we called Dulcie Vale to account!" Natalie +exclaimed stormily, as she finished the recital of what she and Joan had +just heard. + +The two had burst in upon Leslie, regardless of the "Busy" sign which +now ornamented her door a good deal of the time when she was in her +room. + +"Calm down, Nat. You are so mad you are fairly shouting. Take seats and +have some candy, both of you." Leslie lazily pushed a huge box of nut +chocolates across the table within easy reach of her excited callers. + +"Um-m! Glaucaire's best!" Natalie forgot her wrath and helped herself to +sweets. + +"I had made up my mind before you two burst in with your tale of woe +that Dulcie had escaped long enough. I have heard things, too, and just +lately. Dulcie is not the only one. She talked to Bess. Bess Walbert is +as busy a little news circulator as you'd care to find." + +"What did I tell you?" Natalie cried out in triumph. + +"You were right, Nat. I give you credit for reading her correctly. I +haven't seen her since the first of the week. When I do----" Leslie nodded +her head, looking thoroughly disagreeable. Elizabeth Walbert was in for +a very stormy interview with her. + +"When will you call the meeting, Les?" anxiously inquired Joan. "Don't +put it off. No telling how much more mischief Dulcie may do if she isn't +curbed promptly." + +"Tomorrow night," Leslie named. "See as many of the Sans as you can +between now and the ten-thirty bell. Don't go near Loretta Kelly's and +Della Byron's room. Dulcie goes there a good deal lately. Della is +coming to see me this evening after dinner. I'll tell her then. Let me +know before the last bell tonight how many of the girls are on, Nat. +Will you?" + +"Surely, Leslie dear." Natalie had simmered down to affability. She was +very proud of Leslie's confidence in her. + +Left alone, Leslie settled back in her chair very much as her father +might have done on the eve of a pitched battle on the stock exchange. +Her eyes roved about her room as she planned where the culprit should +stand, where she wished the Sans to group themselves, and where her +place as conductor of the arraignment should be. + +A half smile flitted across her face as she remembered the last high +tribunal she had conducted. This time the culprit was a real one. It had +been hard to trump up charges against "Bean." There would be no masks +worn save the mask of deceit which she would ruthlessly strip from +Dulcie, showing her in her true colors. After she was "all through" with +Dulcie she would read the riot act to Bess Walbert. She wished to wait, +however, until the sophomore unsuspectingly came to her for a favor. +Then she would be shown a side of Leslie she had not dreamed existed. + +At twenty minutes after ten Natalie came to Leslie's room with the +welcome news that "every last Sans" except Loretta and Della had been +told and would be on hand promptly at eight o'clock the next evening. + +"I saw Loretta and Della," Leslie informed her chum. "They are wild. +They heard that Dulc told two juniors about my renting that house for +six months so we could use it when we hazed Bean. That's a nice report +to have in circulation on the campus, now isn't it? Does that sound like +Dulc, or doesn't it?" + +"Dulcie told that, undoubtedly. There were not more than six or seven of +us who knew the terms on which you rented that house. Dulc knew. You +always let her into extra private matters because she was one of the old +guard. You and she were not so edgeways toward each other until after +the night of the masquerade." + +"We never agreed on a single thing. Away back at prep school Dulc and I +were always squabbling. In her heart she has never really liked me. +Since the masquerade she has cordially hated me. That's about my feeling +toward her. I want her out of the Sans. She is a disgrace to them. I +expected Nell Ray would fight for her, but she gave in as nicely as you +please." + +"The girls are all down on her for telling tales," returned Natalie. "I +wonder if she thinks they don't know the way she has gossiped about +them?" + +"She will know it tomorrow night," asserted Leslie shortly. + +"There goes the bell. I had better beat it. I have an hour's studying to +do tonight yet, and I am so sleepy," Natalie yawned. "One thing more." +Half way across the threshold she turned and reentered the room. "How +are you going to get Dulc on the scene?" + +"Harriet is to tell her, late tomorrow afternoon, that the Sans are to +meet in my room tomorrow night at eight to discuss something very +important. She will come. She will be eaten up with curiosity to know +what is going on. She'll be just a little bit surprised when she learns +how much she has to do with that important discussion." Leslie threw +back her head and laughed in her silent fashion. + +"She deserves it." Natalie's whole face hardened perceptibly. "Look out +for her, Les. She is capable of making a lot of fuss. We don't care to +have Remson coming up here to see what the trouble is." + +"If she is noisy, half a dozen of us will simply take her by the arms +and bundle her off to her own room. It is only three doors from here," +Leslie answered with cool decision. "I can manage her, I think." + +The next day Dulcie received word of the meeting through the medium of +Harriet. The latter delivered the notice in a careless tone which +completely misled Dulcie. + +"Why can't it be some place besides Leslie Cairns' room?" Dulcie +pettishly demanded. "I hate to go near her!" + +"Suit yourself," shrugged Harriet. "You can't say I didn't tell you +about it. It won't be any place other than Leslie's room." + +Her simulated indifference merely aroused in Dulcie a contrary resolve +to attend that meeting at all costs. She had not been in Leslie's room +since the opening of college. She had a curiosity to see what changes +Leslie had made in it from the previous year. Strangely enough, her own +misdeeds never crossed her mind. She had no thought, when regaling +others with her chums' private affairs, that such treachery might +possibly bring her a day of reckoning. The recent quarrels she had had +with her former intimate, Eleanor Ray, and also Joan Myers, left no +impression on her save a sullen dislike for the two girls because they +had taken her to task for betraying their confidence. + +As it was, she accepted an invitation to dinner at the Colonial extended +her by Alida Burton. She lingered so long at the tea room that she +walked into Leslie's room at ten minutes past eight. + +Slow of comprehension, even she felt dimly the tension of the moment. +The Sans sat or stood in little groups about the room. With her +entrance, conversation suddenly languished and died out. Every pair of +eyes was leveled at her in a cool fashion which bordered on hostility. + +"It seems to me you are all very quiet tonight. What's the _matter?_ +Peevish because I'm late? _Yes? What?_ Don't cry. Ten minutes won't kill +any of you," she greeted flippantly. "Hope I haven't _missed_ anything +by being a tiny bit behind time." She had adopted Leslie's insolent +swagger. + +"No; you haven't missed anything," Leslie said dryly. "We were waiting +for you." She turned abruptly from Dulcie, addressing the others. + +"Girls," she raised her voice a trifle, "bring your chairs and arrange +them on each side of the davenport in a half circle. Six girls can sit +on the davenport. We are all here now, so we can proceed with the +business of the evening." + +Her order promptly obeyed, the Sans settled themselves in their chairs +with mingled emotions. None of them had a definite idea of how Leslie +intended to conduct the embarrassing session against Dulcie. Face to +face with the momentous occasion, a few of them felt slightly inclined +toward clemency. The older members of the Sans were too greatly incensed +by her treachery to do other than approve of the humiliation about to +descend on the traitor. + +It had been Leslie's first idea to seat Dulcie in a particular chair. +Second thought assured her that Dulcie would refuse the chair, merely to +be contrary. She would undoubtedly sit where she would be most +conspicuous if left to her own devices. Leslie decided the rest of the +Sans must sit in a compact group. Wherever Dulcie might choose to post +herself in the room she could not escape arraignment. + +While the girls were arranging their chairs, Leslie occupied herself +with hanging a heavy velvet curtain in front of the door leading to the +hall. That task completed, she turned to find Dulcie had seated herself +on the left hand side of the semi-circle, the last girl in the row. She +had pulled her chair forward a trifle so as to command a good view of +the company. + +Dulcie was well-pleased with herself. She was still admiring her brazen +entrance into the room. She felt that she had quite outdone Leslie in +matter of cool insolence. In fact she was much better able to direct the +club than Leslie. She wondered the girls had never realized it. She eyed +Leslie with ill-concealed contempt as the latter seated herself in the +chair of office which Natalie had placed in the fairly wide space +between the ends of the half circle. Les grew homelier every day, was +her uncharitable opinion. + +"We are here tonight to perform a duty, which, though not pleasant, +_must be done_." Leslie made this beginning with only a slight drawl to +her tones. "When we organized the Sans Soucians we all promised to be +loyal to one another. I regret to say that one of our number has so +completely violated this promise it becomes necessary to take drastic +measures. We cannot allow a Sans to betray deliberately either club or +personal secrets." + +Leslie placed great stress on "deliberately." She was careful not to +look toward Dulcie. "Do you agree with me in this?" She put the question +generally. + +_"Yes,"_ was the concerted, emphatic answer. Dulcie's voice helped to +swell the chorus. + +"The Sans have done certain things as a matter of reprisal and +self-defense, which, if generally known, would entail very serious +consequences. It is vital to our welfare at Hamilton that these matters +should be kept secret, yet a member of the Sans has gossiped them to +outsiders. For example, it is known to a number of seniors and juniors +outside the Sans that a hazing affair took place last St. Valentine's +night, conducted by the Sans. Seven of us have been approached on this +subject. We know, to a certainty, that a faction, antagonistic to us, +did not start this story. + +"Still more serious is a report brought to me concerning the methods +employed by Joan and I to keep a residence for the Sans at the Hall when +we were threatened with expulsion from here as sophomores. A person who +will betray such intimate matters, knowing that her treachery may ruin +the prospects of her chums for graduation from college, is not only a +fool for risking her own safety, but a menace to the club as well." + +For ten minutes Leslie talked on in this strain, her hearers observing a +strained silence. She was purposely piling up the enormity of Dulcie's +misdeed so as to impress the others. As for Dulcie, she had begun to +show signs of nervousness. Once or twice her eyes measured the distance +from her chair to the door as if she were meditating sudden flight. What +remnants of conscience she still had, stirred to the point of informing +her that the coat Leslie was airing fitted her too snugly for comfort. +She had not yet arrived at the moment of awakening, however. She +believed Leslie's remarks to be directed toward someone else. Margaret +Wayne, perhaps; or, Loretta Kelly. Leslie had once said to her that +Loretta was a gossip. Dulcie now tried to recall an instance of +Loretta's perfidy. It would be to her interest to cite an instance of it +should Leslie call for special evidence. It would pay Loretta back for +once having called her a stupid little owl. + +In the midst of racking her vindictive brain for evidence against a +fellow member, Dulcie lost briefly the thread of Leslie's discourse. +Mention of her own name re-furnished her with it. + +"Dulciana Vale," she heard Leslie saying in a tense note quite different +from her indolent drawl, "do you know of any reason why you should be +allowed a further membership in the Sans Soucians after having become an +utter traitor to their interests?" + +Dulcie struggled to her feet, her sulky features a study in slow-growing +rage. "What--what--do you--mean?" Her voice was rising to a gasping scream. +"How dare you call me a traitor. You are telling lies; just nothing but +lies." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX--IN THE INTEREST OF PRIVATE SAFETY + + +"Sit down," ordered Leslie sharply, "and keep your voice down! You have +made us all enough trouble. We don't propose that you shall add to it." + +"I have not," shrieked Dulcie. "I don't know what you are talking about. +You're crazy if you say I told all that stuff you mentioned. Why don't +you put the blame where it belongs? You told me yourself that Loretta +and Margaret were both gossips. You told Bess Walbert a lot of things +yourself. She told me so. You used to tell Lola Elster a lot, too. Nat +Weyman isn't above gossiping, either. She has said some _hateful_ things +about you, if you care to know it." + +Fully launched, Dulcie bade fair to stir up dissension in a breath. +Worse, her lung power seemed to increase with every word. + +"Pay no attention to her," Leslie advised her chums in a cold, level +voice. "She can tell more yarns to the second than anyone else I know." + +"You said you could manage her, Les. For goodness' sake do so. I am +afraid she'll be heard down stairs." Joan Myers sprang to her feet in +exasperation. + +"Leave that to me." Leslie's eyes snapped. She was fast losing the +admirable poise she had held so well. The real Leslie Cairns was coming +to the surface. + +Three or four lithe steps and she was facing Dulcie. The latter still +stood by her chair shrieking forth invective. + +"Listen to me, you _idiot_," she said with an intensity of wrath that +approached a snarl. "Cut out that screaming--_now_. We are done with you. +We know you for what you are. Not one of us will ever speak to you again +after you leave this room. Get that straight. If you ever repeat another +word on the campus of the Sans' business you will be a sorry girl. +_Don't you forget that._ You carried the idea that, if trouble came from +your talk, you could slide out of it and leave us to face it. You +couldn't have cleared yourself. What you are to do from now on is----" + +A sharp rapping at the door interrupted Leslie. Raising a warning finger +to her lips, she crossed the room to answer the knock. + +"Good evening, Miss Remson," she coldly greeted. "Will you come in? Our +club is holding a meeting in my room." She made an indifferent gesture +toward the assembled girls. + +"Good evening, Miss Cairns. No; I do not wish to enter your room. I must +insist, however, that you conduct your meeting quietly. The commotion +going on in here can be heard downstairs." + +The very impersonality of the manager's reproof brought a quick rush of +blood to Leslie's cheeks. It was as though Miss Remson considered Leslie +and her companions so far beneath her it took conscientious effort on +her part even to reprove them. It stung Leslie to a desire to clear +herself of the opprobrium. + +"I am sorry about the noise," she apologized in annoyed embarrassment. +"Miss Vale is responsible for it. I have been trying to quiet her. She +is very angry with us for calling her to account for disloyalty. She has +done so many despicable things we felt it necessary to call a meeting of +the club to----" + +"Pardon me. I am not interested in anything save the fact that there +must be no more screaming or loud altercation from this room tonight or +at any other time. As it is your room, Miss Cairns, I shall hold you +responsible for the good behavior of your guests." + +Again the aloofness of the rebuke cut Leslie through and through. She +had never believed that she could be so utterly snubbed by "Trotty" +Remson. + +"Very well." It was the only thing she could think of to say. + +Miss Remson turned from the door and went on down the long hall. Leslie +was seized with a savage inclination to bang the door. She refrained +from indulging it. There had been enough noise already. + +She returned to her companions to find Dulcie furious because she had +been reported to Miss Remson as the author of the commotion. + +"Talk about anyone being treacherous," she stormed, but in a more +subdued key. "_You're_ treacherous as a snake. _You'd_ tell tales on--on +your own father, if it would save you from disgrace." + +"That's enough." Leslie's last atom of self-control vanished. "I am +tired of your foolishness. Get out of my room, instantly. Don't you ever +dare even speak to me again. Let me hear one word you have said against +any of us and I will have you expelled within twenty-four hours +afterward. I can do it, too. If you go to headquarters with any tales +against us, remember you are one and we are seventeen who will act as +one in denying your fairy stories. You----" + +"Not fairy stories," sneered Dulcie. "I'd be satisfied to tell the truth +about you deceitful things. It would more than run you out of Hamilton." + +"You couldn't tell the truth to save your life," retorted Leslie with a +caustic contempt which hit Dulcie harder than anything else Leslie had +said to her. + +"I--I--think----" Dulcie struggled with her emotions, then suddenly burst +into hysterical sobs. Her arm against her face to shut her distorted +features from sight of her accusers, she stumbled to the door, groping +for the knob with her free hand. An instant and she had gone, too +thoroughly humiliated to slam the door after her. The sounds of her +weeping could be faintly heard by the others until her own door closed +behind her. + +"Gone!" Joan Myers sighed exaggerated relief. + +"Yes; and _broken_," announced Leslie Cairns with cruel satisfaction. + +"Oh, I don't know," differed Margaret Wayne. She had not forgotten +Dulcie's assertion as to what Leslie had said of her and Loretta. "Dulc +had spunk enough to answer you back to the very last. I don't see +that----" + +"No, you don't see. Well, I do. I say that Dulcie Vale left here just +now _utterly crushed_," argued Leslie with stress. "You are peeved, +Margaret, because of what she claimed I said of you and Retta. She +lied." + +"Certainly, Dulcie lied," supported Natalie. "Do you believe that _I_, +Leslie's best friend, would say hateful things about her? Yet Dulc said +I had. Didn't Les warn you not to pay any attention to what she said? We +knew she would try to make trouble among the Sans the minute we called +her down." + +"We did, indeed." Leslie made a movement of her head that betokened +Dulcie's utter hopelessness. + +"I didn't say I believed what Dulcie said," half-apologized Margaret. In +her heart she did not trust Leslie, however. It was like her to make +just such remarks about any of the Sans if in bad humor. + +"Never mind. It isn't worrying me," was the purposely careless response. +"To go back to what you said about Dulc not being broken. I have known +her longer than you, Margaret. She can keep up a row about so long, then +she crumples. After that there isn't a spark of fight left in her. She +always ends by a fit of crying, next door to hysterics. Isn't that true +of her, Nat?" + +Natalie nodded. "Yes; Dulcie will mind her own affairs now and keep her +mouth closed for a long time to come." + +"She's afraid of me," Leslie continued, her intonation harsh. "She +doesn't know just the extent of my influence here." + +"Could you truly have her expelled within twenty-four hours?" queried +Harriet Stephens somewhat incredulously. + +"You heard me say so. It would take a very slight effort to do that. I +could wire my father, then----" Leslie paused, looking mysterious. "Sorry, +girls, but I can't tell you any more than that. I'll simply say that my +wonderful father's influence can remove mountains, if necessary. That's +why I was so furious with that little sneak for daring even to mention +his name." + +"Could your father's influence save you from being expelled if different +things you have done here were brought up against you?" demanded +Adelaide Forman. + +Leslie's eyes narrowed at the question. It was a little too searching +for comfort. In reality her father's influence at Hamilton was a minus +quantity. She had been boasting with a view toward increasing her own +importance. + +"It would depend entirely on what I had done," she answered after a +moment's thought. "You must understand that my father would be wild if +he knew I had gone out hazing when it is strictly against rules. He +wouldn't do a thing to help me if I had trouble with Matthews over that. +If I wrote him that Dulcie, for instance, was trying, by lies, to have +me or my friends expelled from Hamilton, he would fight for me in a +minute." + +The Sans stayed for some time in Leslie's room planning how they would +meet further remarks leveled at them on the campus as a result of +Dulcie's defection. Leslie brought forth a fresh five-pound box of +chocolates and another of imported sweet crackers. The party feasted and +enjoyed themselves regardless of the fact that three doors from them a +former comrade writhed and wept in an agony of angry shame. While in a +measure their course might be justified, there was not one among them +who had not, to a certain extent, and at some time or other, betrayed +friendship. + +This was also Dulcie's most bitter grievance against those who had been +her chums. She knew now that she had talked too much. So had the others. +Still, she was sorry for herself. She had been deceived in Bess Walbert. +Bess was the one who had circulated most of the Sans' private affairs. +She could not recall just how much she had told Bess; very likely no +more than had Leslie. If they had given her time she would have been +able to defend herself. With such reflections she strove to palliate her +own offenses. + +"Do you imagine Dulc will try to get back at us?" was Natalie's first +remark to Leslie as the door closed on the departing Sans. "She carried +on about as I thought she might. We came off easily with Remson, didn't +we?" + +"Dulcie is done, I tell you," reasserted Leslie with an impatient scowl. +"Remson! Humph! My worst enemy couldn't have delivered a more telling +snub. She may suspect us of making trouble between her and Matthews. +I'll say, I wish this year was done and Commencement here. If we slide +through and capture those precious diplomas without the sword falling it +will be a miracle." + + + + +CHAPTER XX--A BITTER PILL + + +Dulcie's tumultuous resentment of accusation had been heard throughout +the Hall. More than one door opened along the second, third and fourth +story halls as the shrill-sounding voice continued. + +Among others, Jerry had gone to the door to ascertain what was happening +in the house of such an unusual nature. Two or three moments of intent +listening and she had returned to her chair before the center table. + +"Why waste my good time listening to the far-off scrapping of the Sans?" +she had lightly questioned. "There is some kind of row going on in Miss +Cairns' room. That's the way it sounds to me. I can't say who is giving +the vocal performance. I don't know the dear creatures well enough to +tag that sweet voice. I could hear other doors besides ours open. We are +not alone in our curiosity." + +"Your curiosity," Marjorie had corrected. "I wasn't enough interested to +go to the door." Marjorie had laughed teasingly. + +"Stand corrected. My curiosity," Jerry had obligingly answered. With +that the subject had dropped as abruptly as the noise had begun. + +The Sans were fortunate, in that the students residing at Wayland Hall, +with the exception of themselves, were too fruitfully engaged in the +minding of their own affairs to give more than a passing attention to +the disturbance created by Dulcie Vale. Within the next two or three +days they were agreeably surprised to find that no word of it had +uttered on the campus. + +"Has anyone said anything to you of Dulcie's roars, howls and shrieks?" +Leslie asked Natalie, half humorously. It was the fourth evening after +the meeting in her room and the two were lounging in Natalie's room +doing a little studying and a good deal of talking. + +"No. You can see for yourself what the girls in this house are; a +mind-your-own-business crowd." Natalie's reply contained a certain +amount of admiration. "If the story of it spreads over the campus, it +will not be their fault. Sometimes I am sorry, Les, we didn't go in for +democracy from the first. We are cut out of a lot of good times by being +so exclusive. Take this show that Miss Page and Miss Dean are going to +give in the gym tomorrow night. Not one of the Sans was asked to be in +it." + +"Hardly!" Leslie laughed and raised her eyebrows. "I can't imagine Bean +doing anything like that." + +"You needn't make fun of me. We couldn't expect to be asked to take +part. I simply mentioned it as an example of the way things are. There +is a great deal of sociability going on this year at Hamilton among the +whole four classes, yet the Sans are as utterly out of it as can be," +Natalie complained with evident bitterness. + +"Glad of it," was the unperturbed retort. "Why yearn to be in a show, +Nat, at this late stage of the game? Next winter, when you are in New +York society, you'll have plenty of opportunity for amateur +theatricals." + +"Oh, I daresay I shall." This did not console Natalie. Of all the Sans, +she was the only one not satisfied with her lot. She would not have +exchanged places with any student outside her own particular coterie. +Still, she had dreamed from her freshman year of shining as a star in +college theatricals. To her lasting disappointment, she had never been +invited to take part in an entertainment. The Sans had neither the +inclination nor the ability to engineer a play or revue. The democratic +element at Hamilton did not require the Sans' services. + +"Are you going to that show?" Leslie cast a peculiar glance at her +friend. + +"I--well, yes; I bought a ticket." Natalie appeared rather ashamed of the +admission. "Did you buy one?" she hastily countered. + +"Yes; two. Laura Sayres bought them for me. Humphrey has them for sale +in her office. I asked Laura if everything were just the same with +Matthews since that Miss Warner substituted for her. She said all was +O. K. She has her files, letters and papers arranged so that no one +could ever make trouble for her." + +"Too bad, Leslie, that Miss Warner was the one to substitute for Laura. +It gave her a chance to meet Doctor Matthews. One never can tell what +might develop from even so small an incident as that." Natalie was not +disposed to be reassuring that evening. + +"Will you cut out croaking, Nat?" Leslie sprang from her chair and began +a nervous pacing of the floor. "You might as well pour ice-water down +the back of my neck. Enough annoying things have happened lately to +worry me without having to reckon on what 'might' happen. I told Sayres +to take good care of herself and try not to be away from her position +again. I advised her, if ever she had to be away, even for a day, to +supply her own sub. She should have had sense enough to do so the last +time." + +"I am surprised that Miss Warner does secretarial work when that Miss +Lynne she rooms with is wealthy in her own right," commented Natalie. + +"I suppose that green-eyed ice-berg wants to earn her own money. I made +a mistake about Lynne. Her father is the richest man in the far west. My +father told me so last summer. I always meant to tell you that and kept +on forgetting it. He said then I ought to be friends with her, but I +told him 'nay, nay.' She and I would be _so pleased_ with each other." +Leslie smiled ironically. + +"'The richest man in the far west,'" repeated Natalie, her mind on that +one enlightening sentence. "Too bad she isn't our sort. We could ask her +into the Sans in Dulcie's place." + +"She wouldn't leave Bean and Green-eyes and those two savages, Harding +and Macy. I sometimes admire those two. They have so much nerve. +Dulcie's place will stay vacant. I wouldn't ask Lola to join us after +the way she has dropped me for Alida. As for Bess; she has yet to hear +from me. I have an idea she and Dulc will get together. Dulc will tell +her the news. Then Bess will sidle around me thinking she can get into +the Sans. What? Watch my speed!" The corners of Leslie's mouth went down +contemptuously. She was a match for the self-seeking sophomore. + +The next evening being that of the revue, Leslie and Natalie attended it +together. The rest of the Sans had elected also to go to it. Leslie had +advised against going in a body. "If we do, they'll think we were +anxious to see their old show," she had argued. "We'd better scatter by +twos and threes about the gym." + +By a quarter to eight the gymnasium was packed with students, faculty, +and a goodly sprinkle of persons from the town of Hamilton who had +friends among the students. Robin and Marjorie had worried for fear the +programme might be too long. There would be sure to be encores. Their +choice of talent, however, was so happy that the audience could not get +enough of the various performers. + +Marjorie was keyed up to the highest pitch of joy by the presence of +Constance Stevens and Harriet Delaney. They had arrived from New York +late that afternoon on purpose to take part in the show. While the +wonder of Constance's matchless high soprano notes in two grand opera +selections awarded her a fury of applause, Harriet came in for her share +of glory. It may be said that Constance and Veronica divided honors that +evening. + +Urged by Marjorie, Ronny had sent to Sanford for the black robe she used +in the "Dance of the Night." It had been in her room in Miss Archer's +house since the evening of the campfire three years before. Besides the +"Dance of the Night" she gave a fine exhibition of Russian folk dancing +in appropriate costume. + +Marjorie had felt impelled to write Miss Susanna a special note of +invitation inclosing several tickets. "Jonas or the maids might like our +show, even if Miss Susanna won't come. Of course she won't, but I wanted +her to have the tickets," she had said to Jerry, who had agreed that her +head was level and her heart in the right place as usual. + +For the first time since the beginning of her hatred for Hamilton +College, Miss Susanna had been sorely tempted to break her vow and +attend the show. Realizing the sensation her presence on the campus +would create, she quickly abandoned the impulse. She was half vexed with +Marjorie for sending her tickets and made note to warn her never to send +any more. + +Of all the audience, those most impressed by performance and performers +were the Sans. While they enjoyed the revue, girl-fashion, as a +spectacle, the knowledge of the enemy's triumph was hard to swallow. +Ronny's dancing was a revelation to them, astonishing and bitter. As +each number appeared, perfect in its way, the realization of the +cleverness of the girls they had affected to despise came home as a +sharp thrust. + +Leslie Cairns was particularly disgruntled as she hurried Natalie from +the gymnasium and into the cold clear December night. + +"Don't talk to me, Nat," she warned. "I am so upset I feel like howling +my head off. The way Beanie has come to the front is a positive crime. +Did you see her marching around the gym tonight as though she owned it?" + +"It was a good show," Natalie ventured. + +"Entirely too good," grumbled Leslie. "I don't like to talk of it. Did I +mention that Bess wrote me a note. She wants to see me about something +very important." Leslie placed satirical stress on the last three words. +"She may see me but she won't be pleased. I'm in a very bad humor +tonight. I shall be in a worse one tomorrow." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI--"DISPOSING" OF BESS + + +Leslie's ominous prediction regarding herself was not idle. She awoke +the next morning signally out of sorts. Though she had declared to +Natalie she did not care to discuss the revue, when she arrived at the +Hall she had changed her mind. She had invited Natalie into her room for +a "feed." The two had gorged themselves on French crullers, assorted +chocolates and strong tea. Nor did they retire until almost midnight. + +Leslie greeted the light of day with a sour taste in her mouth and a +desire to snap at her best friend, were that unlucky person to appear on +her immediate horizon. She had thought herself fairly well prepared in +psychology for the morning recitation. Instead she could not remember +definitely enough of what she had studied the afternoon before to make a +lucid recitation. This did not tend to render her more amiable. She +prided herself particularly on her progress in the study of psychology +and was inwardly furious at her failure. + +Exiting from Science Hall that afternoon, the first person her eyes came +to rest upon was Elizabeth Walbert. She stood at one side of the broad +stone flight of steps eagerly watching the main entrance to the +building. + +"Oh, there you are!" she hailed. "I have been waiting quite a while for +you." + +"That's too bad." It was impossible to gauge Leslie's exact humor from +the reply. Her answers to impersonal remarks so often verged on +insolence. + +"So I thought," pertly retorted the other girl. At the same time she +furtively inspected Leslie. + +"What is it now? You make me think of that old story of the 'Flounder' +in 'Grimms' Fairy Tales.' You are like the fisherman's wife who was +always asking favors of the flounder. We will assume that I am the +flounder." + +"How do you know that I wish to ask a favor?" Elizabeth colored hotly at +the insinuation. She put on an injured expression, her lips slightly +pouted. + +"I'm a mind reader," was the laconic reply. + +"Hm! Suppose I were to ask you to do something for me? Haven't you +_said_ lots of times that I could rely on you?" persisted Elizabeth. "I +don't understand you, Leslie. You are so sweet to me at times and so +horrid at others." + +"You'll understand me better after today," came the significant +assurance. "Come on. We will walk across the campus to your house." + +"Why not yours?" Elizabeth demanded in patent disappointment. "I see +enough of Alston Terrace. I'd rather go with you to Wayland Hall. Your +nice room is a fine place for a confidential chat." + +"You won't see the inside of it this P.M. I am not going into the house +when we come to Alston Terrace. I have a severe headache and choose to +stay out in the open air. It's a fair day, and not cold enough to bar a +walk on the campus." + +"Very well." Elizabeth sighed and looked patient. "I hope we don't meet +any of the girls. I have a private matter to discuss with you." + +"Go ahead and discuss it," imperturbably ordered Leslie. + +"Why--you--perhaps, if you have a headache, I had better wait until +another time," deprecated the sophomore. It occurred to her that she +ought to pretend solicitude. "I am so sorry," she hastily condoled. + +"Thank you. There is no 'if' about my headache. Get that straight. What? +It won't hinder me from listening to you. Let's hear your remarks now +and have them over with." + +"I have seen Dulcie," began Elizabeth impressively, "and she has told me +what happened the other night. Really, Leslie, I was _shocked, simply +shocked_. Yet I couldn't blame you in the least. The way Dulcie has +talked about you on the campus is disgraceful. But I went over all that +with you the day I first told you of how treacherous she had been." + +"Quite true. You did, indeed," Leslie conceded with pleasant irony. "Now +proceed. What next?" + +"You are so _funny_, _Leslie_. You are so _deliciously_ matter-of-fact." +Elizabeth was hoping the compliment would restore the difficult senior +to a more equitable frame of mind. + +"You may not always appreciate my matter-of-fact manner." The ghost of a +smile, cruel in its vagueness, touched Leslie's lips. + +"Oh, I am _sure_ I shall. To go back to Dulcie, I hope you didn't +mention my name the other night. You promised you wouldn't." + +"Is that what you have been so anxious to tell me?" Leslie asked the +question with exaggerated weariness, eyes turned indifferently away from +her companion. + +"No; it is not." Elizabeth shot an exasperated glance at her. "I merely +mentioned it. Dulcie tried to make me take the blame for it the first +time I met her after the meeting. I simply told her I had nothing to do +with it whatever." + +Leslie sniffed audible contempt at this information. "Let me say this: +Dulcie herself mentioned your name, or rather she screamed it out at the +top of her voice the other night. The rest of us said nothing. I made +the charges against Dulcie and mentioned no names." + +"I wish I had been there." A wolfish light flashed into the wide, +babyish blue eyes. "It must have been quite a party. Leslie," Elizabeth +decided that the time had come to speak for herself, "you said once that +I couldn't be a member of the Sans because there was no vacancy; that +the club must be kept to the number of eighteen. There is a vacancy +_now_. The club has only seventeen members. Why can't I fill that +vacancy and become the eighteenth member? I don't mind because it will +be only for the rest of this year. I shall count it an honor to have +been a Sans even that long. I will certainly make a more loyal Sans than +Dulcie was." + +Leslie drew a long breath. The wished-for moment had come. She was in +fine fettle to deliver to the ambitious climber the "turn-down" she had +earned. + +"Why can't you become a member of the Sans?" she asked, then drew back +her head and indulged in soundless laughter. "Do you think it would make +you very happy to join us?" + +"You may better believe it," Elizabeth made flippant reply. More +seriously, she added: "You know how my heart has been set upon it from +the very first." + +"Yes, I know. The fact of the matter is," Leslie measured each word, +"there is one great drawback to your joining." + +"If it is about money, I am sure my father has as much as the fathers of +the other members," cut in Elizabeth. "Our social position in New York +is----" + +"All that has nothing to do with the drawback I mentioned." Leslie waved +away Elizabeth's attempt at defending her position. They were not more +than half way across the campus, but Leslie was tired of keeping up the +suspense of the moment. Her head ached violently. She was so utterly +disgusted with the other girl she could have cheerfully pummeled her. + +"Then I don't quite understand----" began Elizabeth. + +"You're going to--at once. We dropped one girl from the Sans for being a +liar and a gossip. What would be the use in filling her place with +another liar and gossip. That's the drawback. It applies strictly to +you." + +Leslie stopped short in her walk and faced her companion, her heavy +features a study in malignant contempt. Elizabeth's eyes widened +involuntarily this time. She could not believe the evidence of her own +ears. Her moment of stupefaction gave Leslie the very opportunity to +continue and finish her remarks before the other had time for angry +defense. + +"You would have been nothing socially on the campus if I hadn't taken +you up," she said forcefully. "The other girls in my club, it is my +club, didn't like you. I had a good many quarrels with a number of them +for trying to stand up for you, you worthless little schemer. If you had +had one shred of principle or gratitude in your deceitful composition, +you would have come to me at once with the first story against the club +which Dulc told you. But you did not. You simply gossiped all she said +to you to other students on the campus. Dulcie told you things about us +that were ridiculous. You not only listened to them. You repeated them, +making them worse. + +"I had heard of your tactics before I sent for you to ask you about +Dulc. I wanted to pump you and hear what you had to offer. I made it my +business afterward to look up your record as a tale-bearer. Some little +record! I know exactly to whom you have talked and what you have +circulated concerning the Sans. You ought to be _ashamed_ of yourself. +Such ingrates as you have no sense of shame. Now, I believe, you +understand why the Sans don't care to put you in Dulcie's place. It +would merely be a case of out of the frying pan into the fire. Of the +two, you are worse than Dulc. She is a liar, but stupid. You are a liar +and tricky." + +"Don't you _dare_ call me a story-teller again," burst forth Elizabeth +in a fury. + +"I didn't say story-teller. I said liar. I never mince matters. I've +said that to you before." Leslie stood smiling at the culprit, the soul +of mockery. + +"You won't be at Hamilton long enough to insult me ever again, Leslie +Cairns," threatened Elizabeth, a world of vindictiveness in every word. +"I don't believe you, when you say that Dulcie hasn't told the truth. I +guess Dulcie knows enough that is true to make it very uncomfortable for +you. I'll help her do it, too. No one can speak to me as you have and +expect I won't get even." + +"Try it," challenged Leslie. "Unless you have Dulcie to back you you +can't prove one single thing against our record at Hamilton. Dulcie +doesn't care to make trouble for herself. You couldn't get her to go +with you to headquarters. She has either to be graduated from college +with a fair rating or fall into a bushel of trouble with her father. Let +me give you and Dulc both a last piece of advice. You'll tell her all +about this, of course, only you will be careful not to mention wanting +her place in the club. Keep a brake on those mill-clapper tongues of +yours for the rest of the year." + +Without giving Elizabeth time for another outburst of wrath, Leslie +wheeled and started away at double quick. The other girl forgot dignity +entirely and pursued the senior, talking shrilly as she ran. She might +as well have pursued a fleeing shadow. Leslie set her jaw and increased +her pace. The enraged sophomore kept up the chase for a matter of yards, +then stopped. Placing her hands to her mouth, trumpet fashion, she +hurled after Leslie one pithy threat: "You'll be sorry." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII--PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE + + +The approach of the Christmas holidays called a halt in the internal war +which raged between the Sans and their two betrayers. Having delivered +her ultimatum to Elizabeth Walbert, Leslie promptly proceeded to forget +her, so far as she could. As a result of the tactics she had pursued +with both Dulcie and Elizabeth, she was more at ease than for a long +time. She was confident she had bullied both to a point where they would +hesitate before doing any more idle talking about the Sans' +misdemeanors. Every day which passed over her head without mishap to +herself was one day nearer Commencement and freedom. She had no regret +for her misdeeds. She was merely in fear lest they might be brought to +light. + +She had lost all interest in leadership at Hamilton. Her one idea now +was to end her college course creditably and thus earn her father's +approval. Natalie Weyman was on better terms with her than were the +other Sans. They found her moody indifference harder to combat than her +bullying. She was interested in nothing the club did or wished to do. +"Go as far as you like, but let me alone," became her pet answer to her +chums' appeals for advice or an expression of opinion. + +"The Sans have become so exclusive they've nearly effaced themselves +from the college map," Jerry remarked to Marjorie several days after +their return from the Christmas vacation at home. + +"They have had to settle down and do some studying, I presume," was +Marjorie's opinion. "They used to be out evenings a good deal oftener +than ever we were. I've wondered how they kept up at all." + +"Leila said that Miss Vale had been conditioned two or three times, and +had to hire a tutor to help pull her through. I notice she doesn't go +around with any of the Sans. You remember I spoke of her having changed +her seat at table the next day after that fuss up in Miss Cairns' room." + +"I have seen her with Miss Walbert a good deal lately. It seems odd, +Jeremiah, that, after all the trouble we had with those girls as +freshies and sophs, we should be almost free of them this year. It has +been such a beautiful, peaceful year, thus far. We've had the gayest, +happiest kind of times. If only we could keep Leila, Vera, Kathie and +Helen with us next year everything would be perfect." + +"Would it? Well, I rather guess so. Gives me the blues every time I stop +to think about losing them. Just when we are traveling along so +pleasantly, too. Here we are, victorious democrats. We know Miss +Susanna, even if we don't dare boast of it. We've been entertained at +Hamilton Arms; something President Matthews can't say. You and Robin are +successful theatrical managers. Oh, I can tell you, everything is upward +striving. + + "'Tis as easy now for hearts to be true, + As for grass to be green and skies to be blue. + 'Tis the natural way of living" + +gayly quoted Marjorie, patting Jerry's plump shoulder in her walk across +the room to find a pencil she had mislaid. + +"I wish we would hear from Miss Susanna," she continued, a little +wistful note in the utterance. "Perhaps she did not like our Christmas +remembrance. She doesn't like birthday observances. She loves flowers, +though. So she couldn't really regard those we sent her as a present. +And that letter was delightful, I thought. We may have made a mistake in +sending the wreath." + +The letter to which Marjorie referred was a composite. Each of the nine +girls had contributed a paragraph. They had tucked it into a box of +long-stemmed red roses which they had selected as a Yule-tide offering +to the last of the Hamiltons. With it had gone a laurel wreath, to which +was attached a large bunch of double, purple violets. They had asked +that the wreath be hung in Brooke Hamilton's study above the oblong +which contained the founder's sayings. + +"I don't believe Miss Susanna is on her ear at us," observed Jerry +inelegantly. "She will write when she feels like it. Maybe she thought +it better to postpone writing until she was sure we were all back at +college after Christmas. When did you last hear from her?" + +"Not since she sent me the money for the tickets for the show. I bought +those tickets for her myself. She didn't understand, I guess. I +re-mailed the money to her, explaining that they were from me. Since +then I have heard not a word from her. I should have taken the tickets +back to her instead of mailing them, but I was so busy just then. +Besides, I don't like to go to the Arms without a special invitation." + +Almost incident with Marjorie's worry over Miss Susanna's silence came a +note from her new friend, appointing an evening for her to dine at +Hamilton Arms. + +"I am not asking your friends this time," the old lady wrote, "as I +prefer to devote my attention to you, dear child. I could not answer the +Christmas letter for I had no medium of expression. I loved it, and the +flowers. Best of all, was the honor you did Uncle Brooke. You may show +this letter to your friends, extending to them a crabbed old person's +sincere thanks and good wishes." + +Marjorie kept her dinner appointment with Miss Susanna and spent a happy +evening with the old lady. Miss Hamilton showed active interest in the +subject of the recent revue. The obliging lieutenant had brought with +her a programme which the old lady insisted in going over, number by +number, inquiring about each performer. She expressed a wish to hear +Constance Stevens sing and asked Marjorie to bring Constance to Hamilton +Arms if she should again come to Hamilton College. + +"I was truly sorry to have missed that show," the last of the Hamiltons +frankly confessed. "It would never do for me to set foot on that campus. +I should be on bad terms with myself forever after; on as bad terms as I +am with the college." + +"I'll tell you what we might do, Miss Hamilton," Marjorie ventured. "We +could give a stunt party here, just for you, at some time when it +pleased you to have us here. Perhaps Constance would come from New York +for a day or two. She isn't so far away. Then Ronny and Vera would dance +and Leila sings the most charming ancient Celtic songs." + +Her lovely face had grown radiant as she described her chums' talents, +and again, for her sake, Miss Susanna had softened toward all girlhood. +She had assented with only half-concealed eagerness to Marjorie's plan. + +Two days after Marjorie's visit to her, she sent her a check for five +hundred dollars, asking that it be placed with the money earned from the +revue. The youthful managers had charged a dollar apiece for tickets +with no reservations. To their intense joy and amusement, the gross +receipts amounted to six hundred and seventy-two dollars. Their only +expenses being for printing and lighting the gymnasium, they had, +counting Miss Susanna's gift, a little over one thousand dollars with +which to start the beneficiary fund. + +Anna Towne had done good work among the girls off the campus. Due to her +efforts they had been brought to look upon the new avenue of escape from +signal discomfort, now open to them, as an opportunity to be embraced. +Marjorie had said conclusively that the funds at their disposal were to +be given, not lent. She argued on the basis that money thus easily +gained should be distributed where it would benefit most, then be +forgotten. The girls who were struggling along to put themselves through +college would have enough to do to earn their living afterward without +stepping over the threshold of their chosen work saddled with an +obligation. + +It took tact, delicacy and more than one friendly argument to establish +this theory among the sensitive, proud-spirited girls for whose benefit +the project had been carried out. Gradually it gained ground and a new +era of things began to spring up for those who had sacrificed so much +for the sake of the higher education. The money so easily earned by +Ronny's nimble feet, Constance's sweet singing and the talent of the +other performers revolutionized matters in the row of cheerless houses, +in one of which Anne Towne resided. Ability to pay a higher rate for +board brought better food and heat. The drudgery of laundering was +lifted, the work being intrusted to several capable laundresses in the +vicinity. Those who had kept house abandoned cooking and took their +meals at one or another of the boarding houses. According to Anna Towne, +the restfulness of the changed way of living was unbelievable. + +As successful theatrical managers, Robin and Marjorie had rosy visions +of a dormitory built where several of the dingy boarding houses now +stood. Perhaps by next year they would have the means to buy the +properties. They purposed agitating the subject so strongly, during +their senior year, that, at least, a few of the students among the other +three classes would be willing to go on with the work. + +Both had agreed that they had set themselves a hard row to hoe, yet +neither would have relinquished the self-imposed task. In the first +flush of their ambition they had asked Miss Humphrey to ascertain, if +she could, whether the regulations of the college forbade the erection +of more houses on the campus. She had returned the answer, that, owing +to a peculiar will left by Mr. Brooke Hamilton, the consent to build on +the campus would have to come from Miss Hamilton, who had been +prejudiced against Hamilton College for many years. + +This was a disturbing revelation to Marjorie. She was fairly certain +that Miss Susanna would never give any such consent. She therefore +promptly abandoned the idea and laid her plans for the outside +territory. + +As the winter winged away Marjorie made more than one visit to Hamilton +Arms. Occasionally her chums accompanied her. The Nine Travelers gave +their stunt party at the Arms on Saint Valentine's eve. To please their +lonely hostess they dressed in the costumes they intended wearing at the +masquerade the next evening. Constance and Harriet managed to get away +from the conservatory for three days, and a merry party ate a six +o'clock dinner with Miss Susanna so as to have plenty of time for the +stunts afterward. + +Discreet to the letter, their visits to Hamilton Arms were known to no +one outside their own group. Over and over again, when alone with the +old lady, she would say to Marjorie: "I had no idea girls could be +honorable. I had always considered boys far more honest and loyal." + +"You and Miss Susanna Hamilton are getting very chummy, aren't you?" +greeted Jerry, as Marjorie sauntered into their room one clear frosty +evening in March, after having had tea at Hamilton Arms. + +"I don't know whether we are or not." A tiny pucker decorated Marjorie's +forehead. "I always feel a little uncertain of how to take her. She is +kindness itself, then, all of a sudden, she turns crotchety and says she +hates everything and everybody. Then she generally adds, 'Don't take +that to yourself, child.'" + +"She thinks a lot of you or she wouldn't be so friendly with you. She +looks at you in the most affectionate way. I've noticed it every time we +have been to the Arms with you." + +"I am glad of it. I was fond of her before I met her. Captain would like +her. So would your mother, Jeremiah. Next year when our mothers come to +Hamilton to see us graduate, I hope Miss Susanna will like to meet them. +Only one more year after this. Oh, dear! I do love college, don't you?" +Marjorie began removing her hat and coat, an absent look in her brown +eyes. + +"I have seen worse ranches," Jerry conceded with a grin. "Speaking of +ranches reminds me of the West. The West reminds me of Ronny. Ronny +promised to help me with my French tonight. Mind if I leave you? Such +partings wring the heart; mine I mean. You go galavanting off to tea +with no regard for my feelings." Jerry gave a bad imitation of a sob, +giggled, and began gathering up her books. + +"I'll try to have more consideration for your feelings hereafter," +Marjorie assured, a merry twinkle in her eyes. + +"I'll believe that when I see signs of reform," Jerry threw back over +her shoulder as she exited. + +Left alone, Marjorie tried to shut out the memory of Hamilton Arms and +settle down to her studying. The fascination the old house held for her +remained with her long after she had left it behind her on her now +fairly frequent visits there. Nicely launched on the tide of psychology, +an uncertain rapping at the door startled her from her absorption of the +subject in hand. It flashed across her as she rose to answer the +knocking that it had been done by an unfamiliar hand. None of the girls +she knew rapped on the door in that weak, hesitating fashion. + +As she swung open the door she made no effort to force back the +expression of complete astonishment which she knew had appeared on her +face. Her caller was Dulcie Vale. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII--AN AMAZING PROPOSAL + + +"I--are you alone, Miss Dean? I would like to talk with you, but not +unless you are alone." Dulcie spoke just above a whisper, peering past +Marjorie into the room so far as she could see from where she was +standing. + +"Yes, I am alone. Miss Macy will not be back for an hour, perhaps. Will +you come in, Miss Vale?" Marjorie endeavored to make the invitation +courteous. She could not feign cordiality. + +"I am glad you are alone." This idea seemed uppermost in Dulcie's mind. +"I know you don't like me, Miss Dean. You haven't any reason to after +the way you were treated by the Sans last Saint Valentine's night. Of +course, I know you know who we were that night." She paused, as though +considering what to say next. + +"I saw no faces, but I knew Miss Cairns' and Miss Weyman's voices," +Marjorie said with a suspicion of stiffness. She was not pleased to hear +Dulcie preface her remarks with implied aspersions against the Sans. She +knew that the latter had quarreled with her. She guessed that pique +might have actuated the call. + +"You never told anyone a single thing about it, did you?" The question +was close to wistful. It seemed remarkable to Dulcie that Marjorie could +have kept the matter secret. + +"No." Marjorie shook her head slightly. + +"Did your friends ever say a word about it? Those were your friends who +burst in on us and made such a noise, weren't they? Who was the one who +looked so horrible and blew out the candles?" Dulcie seemed suddenly to +give over to curiosity. + +"I can't answer your questions, Miss Vale." Marjorie could not repress +the tiny smile that would not stay in seclusion. "I wish you would sit +down and tell me frankly why you came to see me. You have not been in my +room since the night of my arrival at Wayland Hall as a freshman." + +"I know." Dulcie's gaze shifted uneasily from Marjorie's face. "I +thought I would come again," she excused, "but----" + +The steadiness of Marjorie's eyes forbade further untruth. She became +suddenly silent. Very humbly she accepted the chair her puzzled hostess +shoved forward. Marjorie sat down in one at the other side of the center +table. + +"I suppose you've heard all about my trouble with the Sans," the visitor +commenced afresh and awkwardly. "I don't belong to the Sans Soucians +now. I wouldn't stay in a club with such dishonorable girls. I simply +made Leslie Cairns accept my resignation. She was wild about it." + +Now safely launched upon her story, Dulcie began to gather up her +self-confidence. "You see, my father, who is president of the L. T. and +M. Railroad, has done a great deal for the Sans. You know we have always +come to Hamilton in the fall in his private car. I have lent the Sans +money and done them endless favors, yet they couldn't be even moderately +square with me." She fixed her eyes on Marjorie after this outburst as +though waiting for sympathy. + +"I have heard nothing in regard to your having left the Sans Soucians. I +have noticed that you were no longer at the table where you formerly sat +at meals." Marjorie could not honestly concede less than this. + +"Didn't you hear us fussing one night in Leslie's room? It was before +Christmas. That was the night I called them all down. I was so angry! I +went into a perfect frenzy! I'm so temperamental! When I am _really_ in +a rage it simply shakes me from head to foot." There was a faint impetus +toward complacency in the statement. + +"Yes; I heard a commotion going on up there one evening, but only +faintly. My door was closed. I didn't pay any attention to the noise, +for it did not concern me." Marjorie was struggling against an +irresistible desire to laugh. To her mind Dulcie was the last person she +would have classed as temperamental. + +"The rest of that crowd were just as noisy as I, but Leslie Cairns +blamed me for it all. She told Miss Remson it was I alone who made the +disturbance. I'll never forgive her; _never_. What I thought was this, +Miss Dean. The Sans deserve to be punished for hazing you. I was a +victim, too, that night. They made me go along with them, and I didn't +wish to go. I came home with my eye blackened. I won't say how it +happened, only that Leslie Cairns was to blame. I know about the whole +plan for the hazing. Leslie rented that house for six months and paid +the rent in advance so as to have a good place to take you. She would +have left you there all night but Nell Ray and I said we would not stand +for that. We were the only ones who stood up for you. Leslie Cairns was +the Red Mask. + +"You know that Doctor Matthews is awfully down on hazing," Dulcie +continued, taking a fresh supply of breath. "I thought if you would go +with me to his office we could put the case before him. So long as I +have all the facts of that affair and you and I were the ones hazed, he +would certainly expel those Sans from Hamilton. You could say, just to +clear me, that you knew I was hazed, too. That is, I was forced to go +with them against my will. You see I had said I wouldn't have a thing to +do with it. I put on a domino that night over my costume and started +across the campus by myself. Half a dozen of the Sans headed me off and +simply dragged me along with them. I couldn't get away from them, +either. If that wasn't hazing, then what was it?" + +Marjorie was sorely tempted to reply, "Nothing but a yarn." She did not +credit Dulcie's story and was growing momentarily more disgusted with +the author of it. + +"I can get away with it nicely if you will help me." Dulcie evidently +took Marjorie's silence as favorable to her plan. "I've resigned from +the Sans of my own accord. That will be in my favor. Matthews doesn't +like Leslie. You know she received a summons after Miss Langly was hurt. +Maybe the doctor didn't call her down! With you on my side. Oh, _fine_! +I can see the Sans packing to leave Hamilton in a hurry!" Dulcie +brightened visibly at the dire picture her mind had painted of her +enemies' disaster. "I can tell you a lot more things against them, too. +Leslie is afraid all the time that Miss Remson will find out how she +worked that stunt to keep us our rooms here. She----" + +Marjorie interrupted with a quick, stern: "Stop, Miss Vale! I don't wish +to hear such things. I listened to what you said about the hazing as +that concerned myself only. I have no desire to know the Sans' private +affairs. Whatever they may have done that is against the rules and +traditions of Hamilton they will have to answer for. In the long run +they will not be happy. I would not inform against them to President +Matthews or anyone else." + +"Would you let them go on and be graduated after what they have done +against both of us?" demanded Dulcie, her voice rising. + +"It has not hurt me; being hazed, I mean," was the calm reply. "I do not +approve of hazing. I would not take part in any such disgraceful thing. +Still, I do not believe in tale-bearing. You will gain more, Miss Vale, +by going on as though all that has annoyed and hurt you had never been. +Whoever has wronged you will be punished, eventually. The higher law, +the law of compensation, provides for that." + +"I don't know a thing about law. I wouldn't care to take the matter into +court." Marjorie's little preachment had gone entirely over the stupid +senior's head. Leslie had often remarked, and with truth, that Dulc was +"thick." + +"I mean by the higher law, 'As ye mete it out to others, so shall it be +measured back to you again,'" Marjorie quoted with reverence. + +"Oh, I see. You mean what the Bible says. Uh-huh! That's true, I guess." +Dulcie looked vague. "I'm sorry you won't help me, Miss Dean. I feel +that Doctor Matthews ought to _know_ what's going on, when it is as +serious as hazing." + +Marjorie felt her patience winging away. She wished Jerry would suddenly +return and thus end the interview. It was evident Dulcie intended to +report the hazing, despite her refusal to become a party to the report. +That meant she would be dragged into the affair. + +"I wish you would not go to Doctor Matthews about the hazing, Miss +Vale," she said abruptly. "If I, who was put to more inconvenience than +you by it, have never reported it, I see no reason why you should. If +you should succeed in having your former chums expelled you would feel +miserably afterward for having betrayed them, no matter how much they +might have deserved it." + +"I surely should not." Dulcie's short upper lip lifted in scorn. "I +would love to see them disgraced. They tried to down me. I have a +splendid case against them because you are so well-liked on the campus. +The use of your name will be of great help. Sorry you won't stand by me. +You'll have to admit the truth if you are sent for at the office," she +ended as a triumphant afterthought. + +Marjorie contemplated her visitor in some wonder. The small, mean soul +of the vengeful girl stood forth in the smile that accompanied her +threatening utterance. It seemed strange to the upright lieutenant that +a young woman with every material advantage in life could be so devoid +of principle. + +"Do not count on me." Marjorie's reply rang out with deliberate +contempt. "If I were to be summoned to Doctor Matthews' office +concerning the hazing, I would answer no questions and give no +information." + +This time it was Dulcie who lost patience. She rose with an angry +flounce. Sulkiness at being thus thwarted replaced her earlier attempt +at amenability. + +"I might have known better than ask you," she sputtered, giving free +rein to her displeasure. "I shall do just as I please about going to +Matthews. I hope he sends for you. He will make you admit you were hazed +by the Sans. Goodnight." She switched to the door. Her hand on the knob, +she called over one shoulder: "I don't blame Les for having named you +'Bean.' You are just about as stupid as one." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV--"THERE'S MANY A SLIP" + + +Dulcie's parting fling drove away Marjorie's righteous indignation. It +was so utterly childish. She smiled as she arranged her books and papers +to her mind and sat down to study. Two or three times in the course of +study the remark re-occurred to her and she giggled softly. The name +'Bean,' as applied to her by Leslie Cairns, had invariably made her +laugh whenever she had heard it. + +When Jerry finally put in an appearance, Lucy and Ronny at her heels, +Marjorie related to them the incident of Dulcie's call. + +"Oh, oh, oh!" groaned Jerry. "Why wasn't I here? I always miss the most +exciting moments of life." + +"I wished with all my heart that you would walk in and end the +interview. She had so little honor about her I felt once as though I +couldn't endure having her here another minute. Then she took herself +off so suddenly I was amazed." + +"Do you think she will go to Doctor Matthews?" Ronny asked rather +skeptically. "Possibly what you said will take hold on her after all." + +"No. She will go," Marjorie predicted with conviction. "She is +determined on that. Maybe not right away. Goodness knows how much +trouble it will stir up." + +"You're right," nodded Jerry. "Bring the Sans to carpet and they will +probably name us as the crowd who broke in on their ridiculous tribunal. +What then?" + +"If we are accused of any such thing we can only tell the truth," smiled +Lucy. "We were in our masquerade costumes. We weren't wearing dominos, +but our own coats and scarfs. We went to rescue Marjorie. We were not +out on a hazing expedition." + +"The only thing we should not have done, perhaps, was to blow out the +candles," declared Ronny with a reminiscent chuckle. "That was my doing. +Some of the Sans might have been quite seriously hurt in the dark. They +deserved the few bumps they garnered. I'm not sorry for that part of our +rescue dash on them." + +"What a wonderful time we'll have if we are brought up to face the Sans +in Doctor Matthews' office. Lead me to it; away from it, I had better +say." Jerry made a wry face. + +"Don't worry. I shall be on outpost duty," laughed Lucy. "I am going to +begin substituting for the Doctor tomorrow morning. Miss Humphrey sent +for me after biology this P.M. to ask me if I would. Miss Sayres has +bronchitis. I am so far ahead in my subjects I can spare two weeks to +the doctor's work. I was at Lillian's house for dinner tonight, so I +didn't have a chance to tell you girls the news. If this affair comes up +while I am working for the doctor, I shall no doubt hear of it. So long +as we are all concerned in it, I shall feel I have the right to tell you +if Miss Vale starts trouble." + +The Lookouts were not in the least worried over their own position in +the matter. While they might not escape reprimand, they had done nothing +underhanded nor disgraceful. According to Jerry they had "sprung a +beautiful scare where it was needed." + +During the first week of her secretaryship for the doctor, Lucy heard +nothing that would indicate the promised expose on Dulcie's part. They +saw her several times on the campus or driving with Elizabeth Walbert, +apparently well pleased with herself. It was Jerry's opinion that she +had built upon Marjorie's aid. Being denied this, she had abandoned the +project as too risky to undertake alone. + +One thing lynx-eyed Lucy discovered concerning the secretary was her +extreme carelessness in filing. More than once the doctor's patience and +her own were taxed by protracted hunts on her part for correspondence on +file. + +"I exonerate you from blame for this, Miss Warner," the kindly doctor +declared more than once. "I have spoken to Miss Sayres of this fault. I +shall take it up with her again when she returns." + +As the first week merged into the second and the second into the third, +and still Lucy remained as the doctor's secretary, the two began to be +on the best of terms. Quick to appreciate Lucy's remarkable brilliancy +as a student, not to mention her perfect work as secretary, the doctor +and she had several long talks on biology, mathematics, and the affairs +of Hamilton College as well. + +During one of these talks a gleam of light shone for a moment on the +mystery Lucy never gave up hoping to solve. In mentioning Wayland Hall, +the president referred to Miss Remson as one of his oldest friends on +the campus. "I have not seen Miss Remson for a very long time," he said +with a slight frown. "Let me see. It will be----can it be possible?----two +years in June. And she living so near me! She used to be a fairly +frequent visitor at our house. I must ask Mrs. Matthews to write her to +dine with us soon. Kindly remind me of that, Miss Warner; say this +afternoon before you leave. I will make a note of it." + +Lucy reminded him of the matter that afternoon with a glad heart. She +confided it to her Lookout chums and they rejoiced with her. She would +have liked to tell Miss Remson the good news but courtesy forbade the +doing. The Lookouts agreed among themselves that it showed very plainly +who was responsible for the misunderstanding. + +At the beginning of the fourth week Miss Sayres returned. Lucy could +only hope that Doctor Matthews had not forgotten to remind his wife of +the dinner invitation. She was sure, had Miss Remson received it, that +she would have mentioned it to them. She would have wished the Nine +Travelers to know it. Whether Miss Remson would have accepted it was a +question. She had her own proper pride in the matter. The girls had +agreed that should she mention it, Lucy was then to tell her of the +conversation with Doctor Matthews. + +"Queer, but Miss Remson hasn't said a word about receiving that +invitation," Ronny said to Lucy one evening shortly before the closing +of college for the Easter holidays. "The doctor must have forgotten all +about it. That shows his conscience is clear. It would appear that he +doesn't even suspect Miss Remson has a grievance against him." + +"I am sure he forgot it." Lucy looked rather gloomy over the doctor's +omission. "It was such a fine opportunity, and now it's lost. If I +should work for him again I might remind him of it. If I did, I'd do +more than mere reminding. I'd ask him to try to see Miss Remson and tell +him I thought there had been a misunderstanding. I would have said so +this time, but when he spoke of inviting her to their house for dinner, +I supposed the tangle would be straightened post haste." + +"He may happen to recall it months from now," Ronny consoled. "That's +the way my father does. Men of affairs hardly ever forget things for +good. Sooner or later a memory of that kind crops up again." + +While Lucy worried because the doctor had forgotten his kindly intention +toward their faithful elderly friend, Leslie Cairns was plunged in the +depths of apprehension because of Lucy's substitution for Laura Sayres. +Each day she wondered if the sword would fall. She visited Laura and +made her worse by her irritating questions regarding the secretary's +methods of filing. Was there any danger of old Matthews going through +the files himself? Was Laura sure that she had eliminated every bit of +evidence against them? Was she positive she had destroyed the letter +Miss Remson had written him, supposedly? Nor had Leslie any mercy on the +secretary's weakened condition. Laura bore her unfeeling selfishness +without much protest. Leslie had given her one hundred dollars in her +first visit. This palliated the senior's faults. + +When at the end of the third week nothing had occurred of a dismaying +nature, Leslie began to believe that her college career was safe. With +Easter just ahead, a very late Easter, too, only two months stretched +between her and Commencement, that dear day of honor and freedom for +her. She had worried but little over Dulcie's threats. Elizabeth +Walbert's parting shot, "You'll be sorry," crossed her mind +occasionally. She attached not much importance to it at first and less +as winter drew on toward spring. + +Dulcie Vale, however, was only biding her time. She never relinquished +for an hour her resolve to bring disgrace upon the Sans. Leslie having +ordered her chums to steer clear of Bess Walbert, the latter also burned +for revenge. She and Dulcie, after one glorious quarrel over what each +had said about the other to Leslie, had made up and joined forces. They +had a common object. Thus they clung together. They made elaborate plans +for retaliation, only to abandon them for the one great plan, the +betrayal of the Sans to Doctor Matthews. + +Dulcie had at first decided to go to the president of Hamilton College +within a few days after her unsuccessful talk with Marjorie. Then she +thought of something else which pleased her better. She would wait until +after Easter. If the Sans were expelled from college just before Easter, +they would endeavor to slip away quietly, making it appear that they had +left of their own accord. If she waited until they had returned, the +blow would be far more crushing. + +Regarding herself, Dulcie had her own plans. Her family, including her +father, were in Europe. Her mother would not return until the next July. +Her father, luckily for her, was to be in Paris until the following +January. Her mother allowed her to do as she pleased. What Dulcie +intended to do to please herself was to leave Hamilton on the Easter +vacation not to return. She was not too stupid to realize that the Sans, +accused of many faults by her, would turn on her _en masse_ and +implicate her. She could not hold out against them if arraigned in the +presence of Doctor Matthews. She was also too heavily conditioned to +graduate, and she hated college since her ostracization by the Sans. She +was more than ready to leave. She would walk out and let her former +chums bear the consequences. They had not spared her. She would not +spare them. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV--WHEN THE SWORD FELL + + +The longer Dulcie pondered the matter, the more she became convinced she +could do more damage by letter than to go to the doctor in person. +Elizabeth Walbert had several times advised this course. The latter knew +nothing of Dulcie's resolve to leave college. Dulcie did not purpose she +should until she wrote the sophomore from her New York apartment after +leaving Hamilton. She had planned to take an apartment in an exclusive +hotel on Central Park West. From there she would write her mother that +she was too ill to return to college. She left it to her mother's tact +to break the news to her father. He was not to know she had failed +miserably in all respects at Hamilton. + +Over and over again she wrote the damaging letter to Doctor Matthews. +She wrote at first at length, putting in everything she could think of +against the Sans. She made effort to stick to facts. There were enough +of them to create havoc. Then she rewrote the letter, eliminating and +revising until the finished product of her spite was worded to suit her. +It was necessarily a long letter and could not fail in its object. + +When college closed for Easter, Dulcie shook the dust of Hamilton from +her feet and took her letter to New York with her. She did not inform +the registrar that she would not return. She would write that from New +York. The day after college reopened, following the ten days' vacation, +Dulcie mailed four letters. One to Elizabeth Walbert, one to Miss +Humphrey, one to Leslie Cairns, and _the_ letter. + +Those four letters created amazement, displeasure, consternation, +according to the recipient. Miss Humphrey was annoyed as only a +registrar can be annoyed by such a procedure. Elizabeth Walbert was +surprised and miffed because Dulcie had not confided in her. Doctor +Matthews' indignation soared to still heights. Leslie Cairns opened her +letter at the breakfast table. She read the first page and hurriedly +rose, tipping over her coffee in her haste. Paying no attention to the +stream of coffee which flowed to the floor, she rushed from the dining +room to her own. Locking the door, she sat down with trembling knees to +read the letter. She read it twice, uttered a half sob of agony and +threw herself face downward on her bed. The sword had fallen, the end +had come. + +Of the four letters, the one Dulcie had written her was the shortest and +read: + + "Leslie: + + "When you read this you will not feel so secure as you did the night + you humiliated me so. You thought I would not dare say a word about + a number of things because I was afraid of being expelled from + college. You will see now that you made a serious mistake; so + serious you won't be at Hamilton long after President Matthews + receives the letter I have written him. I have told him + _everything_. The Sans are in for trouble with him. It doesn't make + a particle of difference to me what happens to you and your pals, + for I am not coming back to Hamilton. My letter to Doctor Matthews + is convincing. You will surely receive a summons. What? Oh, yes! I + think I have proved myself almost as clever as you. + + "Dulciana Maud Vale." + +Not far behind Leslie came Natalie Weyman to her friend's room. Startled +by Leslie's peculiar behavior she had followed her upstairs, her own +breakfast untouched. + +"Leslie," she called softly, "May I come in? It's Nat." + +"Go away." Leslie's voice was harsh and broken. "Come back after +recitations this afternoon." + +"Very well." Natalie retreated, puzzled but not angry. She was +understanding that something very unusual had happened to Leslie. Her +mind took it up, however, as presumably bad news from home. She hoped +nothing serious had happened to Leslie's father. Her shallow serenity +soon returned and she went about her affairs smugly unconscious of what +was in store for her. + +Meanwhile, President Matthews was holding a long and unpleasant session +with Laura Sayres. Dulcie had not failed to describe Laura's part in the +plot against Miss Remson. Now the incensed doctor was endeavoring to pin +his shifty secretary down to lamentable facts. + +Laura had always assured Leslie she would never divulge the Sans' +secrets under pressure. For a short period only she lied, evaded and +pretended ignorance. Little by little the ground was cut from under her +treacherous feet. Before the morning was over President Matthews had the +complete story of the trickery which had brought misunderstanding +between him and Miss Remson. Of the hazing Laura knew little; enough, +however, to establish the truth of Dulcie's confession. + +"I have yet to find a more flagrant case of dishonorable dealing," were +the doctor's cutting words at the close of that painful morning. "I +trusted you. Knowing that, you should have been above trading upon my +confidence. I cannot comprehend your object in allying yourself with +these lawless young women. You say you are not a member of their club. +Why, then, were their dishonest interests so dear to you?" + +To this Laura made no reply save by sobs. She had crumpled entirely. One +thing only she had rigorously kept back. She would not admit that she +had been paid by Leslie Cairns for her ignoble services. If the doctor +suspected this he made no sign of it. He dismissed her with stern +brevity and was glad to see her go. Aside from her worthless character, +she had not been a satisfactory secretary. + +Immediately she was gone, he put on his hat and overcoat and set out for +Wayland Hall. To right matters with his old friend was to be his second +move. + +Arriving at the Hall at the hour the students were returning for +luncheon, his appearance caused no end of private flutter. Having, as +yet, held no communication with Leslie, the older members of the Sans +were thrown into panic, nevertheless. What they had least desired had +come to pass. The Lookouts, on the contrary, were overjoyed. Helen Trent +had spied the president and promptly passed the word of it to her chums. + +To Miss Remson the surprise of her caller amounted to a shock. It did +not take long for the manager to produce the letter she had received, +purporting to be from Doctor Matthews. + +"I never dictated any such letter," was his blunt denial. "Yes, the +signature is mine. I can only explain it by saying that it may have been +traced and copied from another letter, or else it has been handed me to +sign when I was in a hurry. Miss Sayres had an annoying habit of +bringing me my letters for signature at the very last minute before I +was due to leave my office. I dropped the matter of the way these girls +at your house had behaved because I received a letter from you which +stated that you had come to a better understanding with them and would +like to have the matter closed. I deferred to your judgment, as always. +I know no one better qualified as manager of a campus house than you." + +"I never wrote you any such letter," avowed the manager. "Several of my +devoted friends in the house among the students were confident that +there had been trickery used. I was obliged to acquaint them with the +fact that you had refused to act in the matter of transferring these +girls to another campus house. My friends had suffered many annoyances +at their hands. I had promised them of my own accord that these girls +should be transferred. It has all been a sad misunderstanding. I am glad +to have it cleared up." Miss Remson avoided all mention of her own +personal humiliation. + +Returned to his office at Hamilton Hall after a late luncheon, Doctor +Matthews requested Miss Humphrey to lend him her stenographer for the +rest of the afternoon. His business correspondence attended to, he +brought forth Dulcie Vale's letter from an inside coat pocket and +composed a stiff, brief summons. This summons the stenographer had the +pleasure of typing seventeen times. A list of names which Dulcie had +thoughtfully included in her letter furnished seventeen addresses. The +Sans were curtly informed that Doctor Matthews required their presence +in his office at Hamilton Hall at four o'clock on Wednesday afternoon. + +Almost incidental with the time at which these notes were being typed, a +bevy of white-faced girls had gathered in Leslie Cairns' room to discuss +the dire situation. Leslie had recovered from her first spasm of grief +and fear and had let Natalie into her room immediately the latter had +come from recitations. Natalie brought more bad news in the shape of an +apprehensive report of the doctor's call on Miss Remson. + +During the afternoon Leslie had received a telephone call from Laura +Sayres. Laura had refused to go into much detail over the telephone. She +announced herself as having been discharged from the doctor's employ and +asserted that he knew "all about everything" without her having said a +word of betrayal. Leslie had not stopped to consider whether she +believed the secretary's story or not. She had said: "You can't tell me +anything. I know too much already. Goodbye." With that she had hung up +the receiver. Her eyes blinded by tears of defeat and real fear, she had +stumbled her way to her room. There she had spent the most unhappy +afternoon of her life. + +"It's no use, girls. We are done. You may as well be thinking what +excuse you can make to your families, for you will be expelled as sure +as fate. Matthews' call on Remson shows that Dulcie betrayed us. Sayres +was fired by the doctor; all on account of that Remson mix-up. She +didn't see Dulcie's letter, but I know he received it. Sayres called me +on the 'phone." + +"But, Leslie, some of us don't know a thing about how you worked that +Remson affair! You never told us. I don't see why we should be expelled +for something we know nothing of." Eleanor made this half tearful +defense. + +"Oh, that isn't _all_." Leslie's loose-lipped mouth curled in a bitter +smile. "There is the hazing business, too. Dulc told that, of course. +Perhaps she told the 'soft talk' stunt Ramsey taught the soph team last +year. I don't know. All is over for us. I do know that. I expected to go +into business with my father after I was graduated from Hamilton. Now!" +She walked away from her companions and stood with her back toward them +at the window. + +"Perhaps it will blow over," ventured Margaret Wayne. "I shall make a +hard fight to stay on at Hamilton. I won't be cheated out of my diploma, +if I can help it. It's our word against Dulcie's." + +"That's of no use to us now." Leslie turned suddenly from the window +with this gloomy utterance. "Remember Laura Sayres has been discharged +from Matthews' employ. Remson and Matthews have had an understanding. +What chance have we? Sayres told me the doctor quizzed her for over two +hours. She claims she told nothing against us. I know better. If Dulcie, +the little wretch, had sprung this before Easter we might have saved our +faces. She waited purposely. She and Walbert deliberately planned this +expose. Look for a summons soon. We won't escape. I shall begin to pack +tonight. So far as this rattletrap old college is concerned, I don't +care a rap about leaving it. All that is worrying me is: What shall I +say to my father?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI--MAY DAY EVENING + + +For two days, in a second floor class room at Hamilton Hall, a real +tribunal, consisting of Doctor Matthews and the college Board, convened. +Very patiently the body of dignified men listened to what the offenders +against Hamilton College had to say by way of confession and appeal for +clemency. To her great disgust, Marjorie was summoned before the Board +on the morning of the second day. Questioned, she admitted to having +been hazed. More than that she refused to state. + +"I claim the right to keep my own counsel," she had returned, when +pressed to relate the details of the incident. "I was not injured. I did +not even contract a slight cold. I did not see the faces of those who +hazed me. I know only two of the Sans Soucians personally, and these two +slightly. My evidence would, therefore, be too purely circumstantial. I +do not wish to give it. I beg to be excused." + +Not satisfied, two members of the Board had requested that she state the +time and manner of her return to her house. Her quick assurance, "My +friends found out where I was and came for me. We were all in the +gymnasium at half-past nine, in time for the unmasking," was accepted, +not without smiles, by her inquisitors. She was allowed to go. She took +with her a memory of two rows of white, despairing girl faces. It hurt +her not a little. She could not rejoice in the Sans' downfall, though +she knew it to be merited. + +At the end of the inquiry the verdict was unanimous for expellment, to +go into effect at once. The culprits were given one week to pack and +arrange with their families for their return home. + +Leslie Cairns had received the major share of blame. Throughout the +inquiry she had worn an exasperating air of indifference, which she had +doggedly fought to maintain. Not a muscle of her rugged face had moved +during the reading of the long letter written by Dulcie Vale to the +president. She had laconically admitted the truth of it, coolly +correcting one or two erroneous statements Dulcie had made. Afterward, +in her room, she had broken down and sobbed bitterly. This no one but +herself knew. + +The disgraced seventeen left Hamilton for New York on the seventh +morning after sentence had been pronounced upon them. They departed +early in the morning before the majority of the Wayland Hall girls were +up and stirring. Marjorie was glad not to witness their departure. She +had not approved of them. Still they were young girls like herself. She +experienced a certain pity for their weakness of character. Jerry, +however, was openly delighted to be rid of her pet abomination. + +With the approach of May Day the Nine Travelers had something pleasant +to look forward to. Miss Susanna had sent them invitations to dinner on +May Day evening. Very gleefully they planned to deluge the mistress of +Hamilton Arms with May baskets. These they intended to leave in one of +the two automobiles which they would use. After dinner, Ronny had +volunteered to slip away from the party, secure the baskets and place +them before the front door. She would lift the knocker, then scurry +inside, leaving Jonas, who was to be in the secret, to call Miss Susanna +to the door. + +When, as Miss Hamilton's guests on May Day evening, they were ushered +into the beautiful, mahogany-panelled dining room at Hamilton Arms, a +surprise awaited them. The long room, an apartment of state in Brooke +Hamilton's day, was a veritable bower of violets. Bouquets of them, +surrounded by their own decorative green leaves were in evidence +everywhere in the room. They were the double English variety, and their +fragrance was as a sweet breath of spring. A scented purple mound of +them occupied the center of the dining table. It was topped by a +familiar object; a willow, ribbon-trimmed basket. As on the previous May +Day evening it was full of violets. Narrow violet satin ribbon depended +from the center of the basket to each place, at which set a small +replica of the basket Marjorie had left before Miss Susanna's door, just +one year ago that evening. + +"I knew Miss Susanna would guess who went Maying a year ago this +evening!" Jerry exclaimed. "After you had known Marvelous Marjorie a +little while the guessing came easy, didn't it?" She turned impulsively +to Miss Hamilton. + +"Yes; you are quite correct, Jerry," the old lady made quick answer. +"One year ago tonight was a very happy occasion for me. Violets were +Uncle Brooke's favorite flower. I cannot tell you how strangely I felt +at sight of that basket. Jonas came into the library and asked me to go +to the front door. He said in his solemn way: 'There's something at the +door I would like you to see, Miss Susanna.' He looked so mysterious, I +rose at once from my chair and went to the door. I must explain, too, +that the first of May was Uncle Brooke's birthday. When I looked out and +saw that basket of violets, it was like a silent message from him. Jonas +had no more idea than I from whom the lovely May offering had come. He +had heard the clang of the knocker, but when he opened the door there +was not a soul in sight. The good fairy had vanished, leaving me a +fragrant May Day remembrance." + +Marjorie had laughed at first sight of the familiar basket. She was +still smiling, rather tremulously, however. The beauty of the +decorations, the fragrance of the violets and the amazing knowledge that +she had brought Brooke Hamilton's favorite flower to the doorstep on the +anniversary of his birth, made strong appeal to the fund of sentiment +which lay deep within her, rarely coming to the surface. + +"How came you to remember a crotchety person like me, child?" Miss +Susanna's bright brown eyes were soft with tenderness. She reached +forward and took both Marjorie's hands in hers. + +Thus they stood for an instant, youth and age, beside the violet-crowned +table. The other girls, lovely in their pale-hued evening frocks, +surrounded the pair with smiling faces. + +"I--I don't know," stammered Marjorie. "I--I thought perhaps you would +like it. I couldn't resist putting it on your doorstep. We were all +making May baskets to hang on one another's doors. I thought of you. I +knew you loved flowers, because I had seen you working among them. +That's all." + +"No, that was only the beginning." Miss Susanna released Marjorie's +hands. "It gave me much to think of for many months; in fact until a +little girl put aside her own plans to help a poor old lady pick up a +basket of spilled chrysanthemums." + +Appearing a trifle embarrassed at her own rush of sentiment, Miss +Hamilton turned to the others and proceeded briskly to seat her guests +at table. While she occupied the place at the head, she gave Marjorie +that at the foot. Lifting the little basket at her place to inhale the +perfume of the flowers, something dropped therefrom. It struck against +the thin water glass at her place with a little clang. Next instant she +was exclaiming over a dainty lace pin of purple enameled violets with +tiny diamond centers. + +"I would advise all of you to do a little exploring." Miss Susanna's +voice held a note of suppressed excitement. + +Obeying with the zest of girlhood, the others found pretty lace pins of +gold and silver, chosen with a view toward suiting the personality of +each. + +As Marjorie fastened her new possession on the bodice of the +violet-tinted crepe gown, which had been Mah Waeo's gift to her father +for her, she had a feeling of living in a fairy tale. Hamilton Arms had +always seemed as an enchanted castle to her. She had never expected to +penetrate its fastnesses and become an honored guest within its walls. + +"Miss Susanna, when did you first guess that it was I who left you a May +basket?" she asked, rather curiously. "Lucy and Jerry said you would +find me out. I didn't think so." + +"It was after Christmas, Marjorie," the old lady replied. "Perhaps it +was the bunch of violets on the wreath you girls sent for Uncle Brooke's +study that established the connection. I really can't say. It dawned +upon me all of a sudden one evening. I spoke of it to Jonas. The old +rascal simply said: 'Oh, yes. I have thought so for a long time.' Not a +word to me of it had he peeped. It furnished me with pleasant thoughts +for so long, I decided that one good turn deserves another. I succeeded +in surprising you children tonight, but no one could have been more +astonished than I when I gathered in that blessed violet basket last May +Day night." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII--CONCLUSION + + +"And tomorrow is another day; the great day!" Leila Harper sat with +clasped hands behind her head, fondly viewing her chums. + +The Nine Travelers had gathered in her room for a last intimate talk. +Tomorrow would be Commencement. Directly after the exercises were over +the nine had agreed to meet for a last celebration at Baretti's. Evening +of that day would see them all going their appointed ways. + +"I can't make it seem true that you girls won't be back here next year," +Marjorie said dolefully, setting down her lemonade glass with a +despondent thump, a half-eaten macaroon poised in mid-air. + +"Eat your sweet cake child and don't weep," consoled Leila. While she +was trying hard to look sad, there was a peculiar gleam in her blue +eyes. As yet Marjorie had failed to catch it. + +"Nothing will seem the same," grumbled Jerry. "With you four good scouts +lifted out of college garden there will be an awful vacancy." Jerry +fixed almost mournful eyes on Helen. "Why couldn't you girls have +entered a year later or else we a year earlier?" she asked +retrospectively. + +"Cheer up, Jeremiah. The worst is yet to come." Vera patted Jerry on the +back. Standing behind Jerry's chair she cast an odd glance at Leila. +Leila passed it on to Helen, who in turn telegraphed some mute message +to Katherine Langly. + +"I can't see it," Jerry said, her round face unusually sober. "It is +hard enough now to have to lose four good pals at one swoop. I sha'n't +feel any worse at the last minute tomorrow than I do tonight. I have an +actual case of the blues this evening which even lemonade and cakes +won't dispel." + +"Let us not talk about it," advised Veronica. "Every time the subject +comes up we all grow solemn." + +"I'm worse off than the rest of you," complained Muriel. "I am torn +between two partings. I can't bear to think of losing good old +Moretense." + +"While we are on the subject of partings," began Leila, ostentatiously +clearing her throat, "I regret that I shall have to say something which +can but add to your sorrow. I--that is----" She looked at Vera and burst +into laughter which carried a distinctly happy note. + +"What ails you, Leila Greatheart?" Marjorie focused her attention on the +Irish girl's mirthful face. "I am just beginning to see that something +unusual is on foot. The idea of parading mysteries before us at the very +last minute of your journey through the country of college!" + +"'Tis a beautiful country, that." Leila spoke purposely, with a faint +brogue. "And did you say it was my last minute there? Suppose it was +not? What? As our departed bogie, Miss Cairns, used to say." + +"Do you know what you are talking about?" inquired Jerry. "I hope you +do. I haven't caught the drift of your remarks--yet." + +"Do you tell her then, Midget." Leila fell suddenly silent, her Cheshire +cat grin ornamenting her features. + +"Oh, let Helen tell it. She knows." Vera beamed on Helen, who passed the +task, whatever it might be, on to Katherine. She declined, throwing it +back to Leila. + +"What is this bad news that none of you will take upon yourselves to +tell us?" Lucy's green eyes sought Katherine's in mock reproach. + +"I have it." Leila held up a hand. "Now; altogether! We are going to----" +she nodded encouragement to Kathie, Vera and Helen. + +"We are going to stay!" shouted four voices in concert. + +"Stay where? What do----" Jerry stopped abruptly. Her face relaxed of a +sudden into one of her wide smiles. She rose and began hugging Helen, +shouting: "You don't mean it? Honestly?" + +The rest of the Lookouts were going through similar demonstrations of +joy. For a moment or two everyone talked and laughed at once. Gradually +the first noisy reception of the news subsided and Leila could be heard: + +"It's like this, children," she said. "Vera wants to specialize in +Greek. I am still keen on physics and psychology. Helen wants to make a +new and more comprehensive study of literature, and Kathie is going to +teach English. Miss Fernald is leaving and Kathie is to have her place. +We've had all we could do to keep it from you. Vera and I might better +be here next year than at home. We'd have not much to do there. We are +anxious to help make the dream of the dormitory come true." + +"It is too beautiful for anything!" was Marjorie's childish but +heartfelt rejoicing. "With you four to help us next year we shall +accomplish wonders. Oh, I shall love being a senior!" + +What Marjorie's senior year at Hamilton brought her will be told in +"Marjorie Dean, College Senior." + + THE END + + + + +The Camp Fire Girls Series + +By HILDEGARD G. FREY + +A Series of Outdoor Stories for Girls 12 to 16 Years. + +All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles + +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH + + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN THE MAINE WOODS; + or, The Winnebagos go Camping. + + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT SCHOOL; or, The + Wohelo Weavers. + + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT ONOWAY HOUSE; or, + The Magic Garden. + + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS GO MOTORING; or, Along + the Road That Leads the Way. + + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS' LARKS AND PRANKS; or, + The House of the Open Door. + + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS ON ELLEN'S ISLE; or, The + Trail of the Seven Cedars. + + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS ON THE OPEN ROAD; + or, Glorify Work. + + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS DO THEIR BIT; or, Over + the Top with the Winnebagos. + + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS SOLVE A MYSTERY; or, + The Christmas Adventure at Carver House. + + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT CAMP KEEWAYDIN; + or, Down Paddles. + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +Publishers + +A. L. BURT COMPANY + +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET, NEW YORK + + + + +Marjorie Dean College Series + +BY PAULINE LESTER. + +Author of the Famous Marjorie Dean High School Series. + +Those who have read the Marjorie Dean High School Series will be eager +to read this new series, as Marjorie Dean continues to be the heroine in +these stories. + +All Clothbound. Copyright Titles. + +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH. + + MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE FRESHMAN + MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE SOPHOMORE + MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE JUNIOR + MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE SENIOR + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +Publishers. + +A. L. BURT COMPANY 114-120 East 23rd Street, New York + + + + +The Girl Scouts Series + +BY EDITH LAVELL + +A new copyright series of Girl Scouts stories by an author of wide +experience in Scouts' craft, as Director of Girl Scouts of Philadelphia. + +Clothbound, with Attractive Color Designs. + +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH. + + THE GIRL SCOUTS AT MISS ALLEN'S SCHOOL + THE GIRL SCOUTS AT CAMP + THE GIRL SCOUTS' GOOD TURN + THE GIRL SCOUTS' CANOE TRIP + THE GIRL SCOUTS' RIVALS + THE GIRL SCOUTS ON THE RANCH + THE GIRL SCOUTS' VACATION ADVENTURES + THE GIRL SCOUTS' MOTOR TRIP + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +Publishers + +A. L. BURT COMPANY + +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET, NEW YORK + + + + +Marjorie Dean High School Series + +BY PAULINE LESTER + +Author of the Famous Marjorie Dean College Series + +These are clean, wholesome stories that will be of great interest to all +girls of high school age. + +All Cloth Bound, Copyright Titles + +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH + + MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN + MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE + MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR + MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +Publishers + +A. L. BURT COMPANY + +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET, NEW YORK + + + + +The Golden Boys Series + +BY L. P. WYMAN, PH.D. + +Dean of Pennsylvania Military College. + +A new series of instructive copyright stories for boys of High School +Age. + +Handsome Cloth Binding. + +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH. + + THE GOLDEN BOYS AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL + THE GOLDEN BOYS AT THE FORTRESS + THE GOLDEN BOYS IN THE MAINE WOODS + THE GOLDEN BOYS WITH THE LUMBER JACKS + THE GOLDEN BOYS RESCUED BY RADIO + THE GOLDEN BOYS ALONG THE RIVER ALLAGASH + THE GOLDEN BOYS AT THE HAUNTED CAMP + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +Publishers + +A. L. BURT COMPANY + +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET, NEW YORK + + + + +The Ranger Boys Series + +BY CLAUDE H. LA BELLE + +A new series of copyright titles telling of the adventures of three boys +with the Forest Rangers in the state of Maine. + +Handsome Cloth Binding. + +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH. + + THE RANGER BOYS TO THE RESCUE + THE RANGER BOYS FIND THE HERMIT + THE RANGER BOYS AND THE BORDER SMUGGLERS + THE RANGER BOYS OUTWIT THE TIMBER THIEVES + THE RANGER BOYS AND THEIR REWARD + + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +Publishers. + +A. L. BURT COMPANY + +114-120 East 23rd Street, New York + + + + +The Boy Troopers Series + +BY CLAIR W. HAYES + +Author of the Famous "Boy Allies" Series. + +The adventures of two boys with the Pennsylvania State Police. + +All Copyrighted Titles. + +Cloth Bound, with Attractive Cover Designs. + +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH. + + THE BOY TROOPERS ON THE TRAIL + THE BOY TROOPERS IN THE NORTHWEST + THE BOY TROOPERS ON STRIKE DUTY + THE BOY TROOPERS AMONG THE WILD MOUNTAINEERS + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +Publishers. + +A. L. BURT COMPANY + +114-120 East 23rd Street, New York + + + + +The Radio Boys Series + +BY GERALD BRECKENRIDGE + +A new series of copyright titles for boys of all ages. + +Cloth Bound, with Attractive Cover Designs + +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH + + THE RADIO BOYS ON THE MEXICAN BORDER + THE RADIO BOYS ON SECRET SERVICE DUTY + THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE REVENUE GUARDS + THE RADIO BOYS' SEARCH FOR THE INCA'S TREASURE + THE RADIO BOYS RESCUE THE LOST ALASKA EXPEDITION + THE RADIO BOYS IN DARKEST AFRICA + THE RADIO BOYS SEEK THE LOST ATLANTIS + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +Publishers + +A. L. BURT COMPANY + +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET, NEW YORK + + + + +The Boy Allies with the Navy + +(Registered in the United States Patent Office) + +BY ENSIGN ROBERT L. DRAKE + +For Boys 12 to 16 Years. + +All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles + +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH + +Frank Chadwick and Jack Templeton, young American lads, meet each other +in an unusual way soon after the declaration of war. Circumstances place +them on board the British cruiser, "The Sylph," and from there on, they +share adventures with the sailors of the Allies. Ensign Robert L. Drake, +the author, is an experienced naval officer, and he describes admirably +the many exciting adventures of the two boys. + + + THE BOY ALLIES ON THE NORTH SEA PATROL; or, Striking + the First Blow at the German Fleet. + + THE BOY ALLIES UNDER TWO FLAGS; or, Sweeping the + Enemy from the Sea. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE FLYING SQUADRON; or, The + Naval Raiders of the Great War. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE TERROR OF THE SEA; or, + The Last Shot of Submarine D-16. + + THE BOY ALLIES UNDER THE SEA; or, The Vanishing + Submarine. + + THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALTIC; or, Through Fields of + Ice to Aid the Czar. + + THE BOY ALLIES AT JUTALND; or, The Greatest Naval Battle + of History. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH UNCLE SAM'S CRUISERS; or, Convoying + the American Army Across the Atlantic. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE SUBMARINE D-32; or, The + Fall of the Russian Empire. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE VICTORIOUS FLEETS; or, + The Fall of the German Navy. + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +Publishers + +A. L. BURT COMPANY + +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET, NEW YORK + + + + +The Boy Allies with the Army + +(Registered in the United States Patent Office) + +BY CLAIR W. HAYES + +For Boys 12 to 16 Years. + +All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles + +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH + +In this series we follow the fortunes of two American lads unable to +leave Europe after war is declared. They meet the soldiers of the +Allies, and decide to cast their lot with them. Their experiences and +escapes are many, and furnish plenty of good, healthy action that every +boy loves. + + THE BOY ALLIES AT LIEGE; or, Through Lines of Steel. + + THE BOY ALLIES ON THE FIRING LINE; or, Twelve Days + Battle Along the Marne. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE COSSACKS; or, A Wild Dash + Over the Carpathians. + + THE BOY ALLIES IN THE TRENCHES; or, Midst Shot and + Shell Along the Aisne. + + THE BOY ALLIES IN GREAT PERIL; or, With the Italian + Army in the Alps. + + THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALKAN CAMPAIGN; or, The + Struggle to Save a Nation. + + THE BOY ALLIES ON THE SOMME; or, Courage and Bravery + Rewarded. + + THE BOY ALLIES AT VERDUN; or, Saving France from the + Enemy. + + THE BOY ALLIES UNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES; or, + Leading the American Troops to the Firing Line. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH HAIG IN FLANDERS; or, The Fighting + Canadians of Vimy Ridge. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH PERSHING IN FRANCE; or, Over + the Top at Chateau Thierry. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE GREAT ADVANCE; or, Driving + the Enemy Through France and Belgium. + + THE BOY ALLIES WITH MARSHAL FOCH; or, The Closing + Days of the Great World War. + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +Publishers + +A. L. BURT COMPANY + +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET, NEW YORK + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Marjorie Dean College Junior, by Pauline Lester + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARJORIE DEAN COLLEGE JUNIOR *** + +***** This file should be named 37176-8.txt or 37176-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/1/7/37176/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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