nsible, the act itself had served only as a means of advertising,
and had aroused the curiosity and interest of the public.

After several earnest discussions on the part of the club, the admission
fee had been fixed at twenty-five cents, and the public had been
invited. As a college town Overton's "public" was largely made up of the
classes rather than the masses, and many of the visitors claimed Overton
as their Alma Mater. The students, however, were the hope on which the
club based its dreams of profit. "No girl could walk around the
gymnasium without spending money. She couldn't resist those darling
shops. They are all too fascinating for words," Arline had declared
rapturously as she and Grace were taking a last walk around the great,
gayly decorated room before going to luncheon that day.

Now, as they stood side by side anxiously watching the steadily
increasing tide of visitors, they agreed that their efforts were about
to be rewarded.

"Isn't it splendid!" exulted Arline. "And, oh, have you seen the Sphinx,
and isn't she great! How did Emma happen to think of her, let alone
getting her up?"

"S-h-h!" cautioned Grace in a warning tone. "Some one might hear you."

"Oh, I forgot. Sphinxes are supposed to be shrouded in mystery, aren't
they?"

"This one is," smiled Grace. Then her face sobered instantly. "I hope no
one else besides ourselves finds out. We ought to keep her identity a
secret. I think the idea is simply great, don't you?"

Arline nodded. "Come on over and see her," she coaxed.

A moment later they stood before the entrance to a small tent, hung with
a heavy curtain. Pushing the curtain aside, Arline stepped into the
tent. A burnoosed, turbaned Arab standing inside salaamed profoundly.
The two girls giggled, and there was a stifled, most un-Arab-like echo
from the bronzed son of the desert. Then they paused before a platform
about four feet in height on which reposed what appeared to be a
gigantic Sphinx, her paws stiffly folded in front of her.

"Ask me a question." This sudden, mysterious croak that issued from
inside the great head caused Arline to start and step back. "Ask me a
question. I am as old as the world. I am the world's great riddle, the
one which has never been solved. Ask me a question, only one, one only."
The eerie voice died away into yards of drapery that extended in huge
folds from the back of the head and far out on the platform.

"How on earth did you ever get into t