“I don’t want to go through any fiery
trial,” said Rhoda. “But if you insist,
I’ll put on that jacket and the pants.”
“‘Pants’ is truly Western, isn’t
it, Laura?” asked Amelia Boggs. “Civilized
folk say trousers.”
“I see I have much to learn,” said Rhoda,
too meekly, perhaps.
She slipped quickly into the roomy overalls behind
the curtain, and then came forth, putting on the jumper.
Her bare arms and shoulders were brown and firm.
Nan thought Rhoda’s figure was as attractive
as her face was pretty. She caught the new girl’s
glance and smiled encouragingly.
“Doesn’t she make a darling boy!”
whispered Bess Harley to her chum.
But the other girls—at least, some of them—meant
to make the newcomer feel keenly her position as a
“sawney.”
“She wears ’em just as though she was
at home in them,” said Laura drawlingly.
“I tell you she is a regular cowgirl at home
on the Hot Dog Mesa. Isn’t that so, Miss
Rhoda?”
“You seem to know,” replied the Western
girl bruskly.
Laura suddenly whispered to the hooded Amelia.
The latter cleared her throat portentously and said:
“Sawney, it is evident that you must be taught
your place. Meekness becomes you lambkins when
you first come to Lakeview Hall. Slave, prepare
the bandage.”
“What’s that?” demanded Rhoda.
“Do you know, I don’t like this foolishness
much.”
“The fiery trial all right for yours!”
exclaimed Laura, who had caught up a towel and was
folding it dexterously. “Turn around!”
“I won’t!” declared Rhoda flatly.
“Mutiny!” exclaimed Amelia. “Seize
the captive and bandage her eyes at once,” and
she pounded on the floor with the broom handle.
Nan was one of those who grabbed the Western girl.
But she did so to whisper swiftly in Rhoda’s
ear:
“Don’t fight against it. It’s
only fun.”
“Fun!” repeated Rhoda in disgust.
But she gave over struggling. Laura blindfolded
her quickly and securely. Of course she might
have torn the bandage off, for her hands were free.
But she waited more calmly now for what might come
next.
WALKING THE PLANK
Nan Sherwood knew very well that there was no intention
of really injuring the new girl; therefore she made
no objection to what was done. Indeed, she helped
haze Rhoda Hammond, but more for the sake of seeing
that the Western girl was not taken advantage of in
any way than for the fun of the prank.
Nan did not know what Amelia and Laura had planned
to do to the new girl, but knowing the older girls
as well as she did, she was sure that nothing very
bad was intended.
Somebody found an old striped silk parasol with some
of the panels split, and this was opened and given
to Rhoda to carry. The line of march was then
taken up, with the victim directly behind the Mistress
of Ceremonies and Laura and Nan shutting off all chance
of Rhoda’s escape.
