“My poor noodle just thumps with the thinking,”
confessed Judith. “Of course I am not willing
to take the responsibility of policing Lenox Hall
all night Jane. There must be some other way.”
“I positively decline, Judy, to tell the office
or ask for official help. That would be too silly
if we have made a mistake,” decided Jane falling
into a convenient seat.
Judith did not speak directly. She was loath
to cross Jane further, yet unwilling to shoulder this
rather serious responsibility.
“Why not invite both Bobbie and Sally over here
and have them remain all night?” she suggested.
“That would be a treat for the—”
“You forget the Lenox girls are having a party,”
Jane interrupted.
“Then let us break in on the party,” followed
Judith quickly.
“I agree, Judy, we must keep as close to them
for a day at least, as it is possible to do without
actually locking them up. Dear me, Jude!
Look at the time! And I’ve got to get in
some gym practice. My joints are as stiff as
sticks, and I had congested headaches just from laziness.
Coming to the gym?”
“No, not today. My head aches from activity.
You have me all swirled up. Don’t mind
if I take a rest, do you? Suppose we have to go
on picket duty?”
Jane laughed, defying her fears for Sally and Bobbie.
“When I have anything important to do I must
be alert,” explained Jane. “Go to
sleep if you like Judy, but be ready if you hear me
whistle. It may be a race between the freshies
and juniors you know.”
“Oh—hum!” groaned Judith as
Jane raced off.
THE REAL STORY
It was just before six o’clock that same evening
when Dolly Lloyd burst into the gym where Jane was
exercising.
“They’re gone!” she exclaimed.
“Sally and Bobbie have left Lenox, and are rushing
to get the six-thirty train. Why do you suppose
they have sneaked off like that?”
“Gone? Are you sure?” asked Jane.
“Positive, we have a note and—”
But Jane heard no more. Snatching up her sweater,
she jabbed her arms into it as she ran, and hardly
stopped until she hammered on the door of the stable
where her horse, Firefly, with others were kept.
Jim, the stable-boy, answered immediately, but seemed
unable to comprehend the unseemly haste, as Jane dashed
in, loosened the headstall of her intelligent mount,
led him to the path and then sprang up bareback to
overtake the runaways.
Jim stood speechless. That a student should romp
off like that in bloomers too—and without
a hat!
And how she was a-going it!
Her hair flew out in a cloud about her head, while
Firefly, who was plainly wildly excited at his unexpected
caper, just did as Jane told him without the slightest
regard for lack of bridle or saddle. Wasn’t
he from Montana and didn’t his mistress train
him to go as she chose without foolish restrictions?
Students along the way looked in amazement at the
racing girl, but being Jane Allen some allowance was
made for the caprice.
