The Mystery of Arnold Hall

e and scattering its fine, powdered sugar all over her face. Sitting up quickly, she saw through her o

e cried softly.

tty sleepily, from the other bed

g the unfortunate bit of confectionery and returning it with such good aim that it str

d Jane. "We've got to go out

oaned Patricia. "I wish tha

ined Betty. "I want to sleep; and,

three girls stole softly down t

not only with her door open, but also, so the

moss for botany class," answered Jane.

go fa

d moss on the fire escape?

e we going?" a

back yard here into Foth Road a

ory, and, to their surprise, saw Rhoda

a?" asked Jane casually, as the g

I often run out here for a breath o

just as if she'd been caught doing someth

y following her companions down the treacherous, b

know that; did you?" The girl regarded in surprise the thr

on; somebody is watching us from t

manded Jane, hurrying

in aside a little while we were wait

lained Jane, turning to Patricia, "which made it rather nice for us because, besides using the yard as a thoroughfare, we sometimes had littl

d by then, and walking b

cted Ruth, after they had walked a mile in vain. "I shou

Jane. "I'm too

snakes in a pine woods. They're mo

ke to the woods," decided Ruth. "We've got to find some moss so

cold and stone-like? Even when he says unpleasant things-and, oh, boy! can't he be

t like him even any! For that matter, no love at all is lost

shed a few feet from the road. On its roof, near the r

mbled across a wire fence and crossed a stretch

Ruth. "How a

gh to reach it, if you girls wil

en's sake be as quiet as possible

dow on this side of the shed, and the door is on the

g about the country," said Jane scor

boards and stretch her long arms up toward the coveted plants. With much effort, she succeeded in reaching the moss and in tearing up two big handfuls. Resting on her elbows for a moment to ease the strain on her arms, she was horr

from within the shed mingled with Patricia

horror, gazed down through the hole over which she hung, and met the cold, grey eyes of Pro

he horrified Patricia, finally

l your dress,

own, for Pete's sake!"

in dragging Patricia safely to the ground, minus th

ss?" demanded R

Yates!" gasped Pat

ane looked as if she feared

in tha

retorted Jane, f

oodness! Cro

off, and now looked as calm and neat as if he were in his classroom. His gaze traveled coldly from one to anot

ens of moss today 'without

ing it from my own roof, and r

tly, "and I had no intention of breaking through it. It

y expense involved," put in Jane

d watching them scramble over the fence

'm certainly done for with him now. Next time I

ose he was doing out

place where he raises all kinds of truck for the lab, but I didn't pay much attention to her. She talk

il the girls h

did you know it?" asked Jane. "Doll's

'special' in some year o

es

"he's a born flirt. I was at the Black Book the other ni

d?" asked Jane

t! I can't

" inquired Ruth, "that

to be, so far as I am con

," said Jane easily, "and we'll just borrow a litt

Freshman Class. Rhoda was looking after the Black Book and the telephone; so the girls were quite free to enjoy themselves, without responsibility. The new maid had quickly become as much of

for the eats?" demanded Hazel, coming out into

she was putting frantic last minute lines

, rushing in to borrow some thread

ted Ruth from her bed, where she lay on her back tryi

red Anne, entering with L

uth, hanging onto the book which A

the morning and do it. Then it wil

early rising,

o came in at that moment, attracted by the noise, slipped past Ruth and

th indignantly, jerking away

and pulled Betty in beside her, whil

ghed Katharine impishly.

arice the length of the hall where she barricaded herself with a heavy chair in the corner beside the telephone booth. At the other end of the hall, on a couple of well-stuffed whit

e from her vantage point, where s

nded the length of the hall, the girls quickly disposed of orangeade, sandwiches, cakes, and ice cream, not forgetting to give Rhoda a share. A son

oise at once! You sound like a lot of hy

me so early?" mutter

with Ivan," whispered

d Mrs. Vincent paused to gaze ho

in a low tone. "Y

ally calm face, Rhoda turned to Mrs. Vincen