la Griffin--just like that."

It was hard work later on, when they had to face the inquiries of the
wrathful Judith, to convince her that the whole thing was not a plot
against Elinor by some envious rival.

"Mark my words, Elinor Kendall," she said impressively. "Some one is
at the bottom of this, and I have my suspicions, too, who that someone
is. I'm not going to tell, for you girls always laugh at me, but I'm
going to prove it to you before that committee meets that you're the
victim of a conspiracy."

The relish with which Judith pronounced these ominous words made Elinor
smile, but Patricia felt only aggravation at what she considered airs
on Judith's part.

"Stuff and nonsense, Judy!" she said, impatiently. "You've been
soaking your brain in fiction till you can't see straight. Don't you
meddle with Elinor's affairs unless she gives you permission. You'll
only make her ridiculous."

Judith, ignoring Patricia's pungent remarks, turned her calm eyes
inquiringly to Elinor.

"You don't mind if I can help prove that someone else was the deceiver,
do you, Elinor?" she asked with such seriousness that Elinor rippled
with enjoyment:

"Bless your heart, kitten, make yourself as happy as you please with my
affairs; only, I beseech of you, do it quietly and with as little
martial music as possible."

Judith pulled herself free from Elinor's circling arms and made for the
door, pausing on the threshold.

"As if I'd publish it on the housetops!" she cried in infinite disdain.
"It's plain you aren't much up in detective stories."

After their laughter at her dramatic disappearance had died down, they
sat quietly in the twilight watching the lamps flicker into life across
the park, each one busy with her own thoughts.

"Do you know, Miss Pat," said Elinor, breaking a long silence "that I
don't like Doris Leighton any more. It isn't because she got the
prize--you know me better than to think that--but I've been noticing
her more closely recently and I don't think she rings true."

"Oh, I wish you wouldn't, Norn," protested Patricia, in a small voice.
"I do so want to have her for a friend. She's so lovely and talented
and attractive. What is the matter with her now that you say such
things? You didn't use to feel like that."

Elinor hesitated. "I don't know," she replied slowly, measuring her
words. "I can't put my finger on it, but she doesn't seem the same to
me as she did at first. She isn't jealo