“Sorry you must leave,” murmured Janet,
“but Judith has had a trying day. Come
again and I’ll treat you better.”
“We had a perfectly lovely time,” insisted
Jane, “but I must put Judy to bed. She
is apt to walk in her sleep when overtired. Come,
dearie, toddle along. Good night, girls.
Pleasant dreams,” and those who were not too
interested in the fudge and tid-bits responded appropriately.
“Oh,” moaned Jane, when the two finally
reached their own quarters, room 19, “wasn’t
that an ordeal?”
“Rather,” replied Judith, kicking her
shoes off. “How did I make out?”
“Wonderfully. You tied them all up in knots
without leaving an end to follow. Neither clues
nor climax—just a jumble of sounds, but
thrilling for all that. I was so fearful they
would ask more about the unfortunate Shirley but you
veered them off beautifully. Now, Pally dear,
tumble in, and I’ll slip out and get Dozia.
Lenox seems far away just now, and those babes are
trembling while we dare to enjoy ourselves.”
“Jane dear,” interrupted Judith, “I
do not believe you should risk going over there tonight.
Really I am getting nervous of the whole thing.”
“Just reaction,” said Jane, her own eyes
sparkling. “You have gone through enough
today to give you nerves, and I want you to shut your
eyes as soon as ever you can. After all I may
just—do something else. Leave it to
me and Dozia the Fearless. You know what a brave
she can be in an emergency.”
“And I know what a star you can be in a pinch.
But Lenox at midnight—”
“Hush, dear, and let me put out your light.
There, you will be asleep before the party winds up.
There’s the honor ring. Ten minutes more
to all lights out. I love an honor system with
a warning gong and an inspection. So complete.”
Judith required little coaxing to enter dreamland,
and when Jane heard Miss Fairlie’s step in the
hall, on that tripping little inspection tour, the
light in room 19 was out.
Also, Jane under the coverlets was fully dressed for
her ghost raid at Lenox Hall.
Miss Fairlie’s step paused at the door!
Jane tittered, but Judith breathed the regular tones
of sleep.
For a moment it seemed the inspector would knock!
She must want something!
Someone else came along the corridor and directly
at that door they chose to whisper!
Jane felt her hour had come, but it was merely the
fear of a troubled mind, for presently Miss Fairlie
laughed lightly, and the pair journeyed on.
It was a full hour before the coast was safely clear
for Jane’s venture.
A WILD NIGHT OF IT
It was a beautiful night, with the Hunter’s
Moon set high and bright in its ocean of flickering
stars, like nothing else than moon and stars in the
same old blue canopy, brocaded and embossed with incorrigible
little gray clouds, ducking in and out of lacy paths
and shadowy skyscapes.
