"

"I'll see you later, Patience," said Grace as they separated at the head
of the stairs. Patience walked slowly down the hall to her room. The
door stood slightly ajar and the room was in darkness, but the sound of
a familiar voice caused Patience to halt abruptly.

"I could see," said the voice of Elfreda Briggs, "that something worried
you. I know just how sorry you feel, because I went through the same
thing myself. But if you could make up your mind to go to her and tell
her that----"

"Oh, I couldn't do that." It was Kathleen's voice that interrupted the
speaker. "I am sure she must hate me. I never believed that I should
care, but I do. If only I could do something to show her that at last I
understand what college spirit means."

"Do you really mean that?" There was a note of excitement in Elfreda's
voice. "Because, if you do, I have the most splendid idea, and the
beauty of it is that you are the only one who can carry it out. Will
you----"

But Patience, realizing with a start that she was eavesdropping, waited
to hear no more.

Turning about she stepped noiselessly along the hall and down the
stairs. Entering the living room she found Emma Dean entertaining three
girls who were laughing immoderately.

"Hello, Patience!" called Emma. "Come in and listen to my tale of woe.
Where was I? Oh, yes, the minute I stepped off the car I realized that I
had left my silk umbrella in it. The car started about five seconds
before I did. It was a beautiful race. I passed a fat policeman on the
corner, and waved my hand reassuringly at him merely to show that I was
not fleeing from Justice. Talk about fast running! I actually surprised
myself. I caught up with the car just as it was turning that curve on
High Street, and floundered into it, puffing like a steam engine. I made
one dash past the conductor, reached the seat where my cherished
umbrella still reposed and captured it. The conductor must have thought
me hopelessly demented, for I dashed out as the car stopped at the next
corner without having paid a cent of carfare or offered a sign of an
explanation.

"When I passed the corner where the fat policeman stood, he looked at me
with respectful admiration, and said: 'You got that car, lady, didn't
you?' and I proudly acknowledged that I did. I was only sorry that there
weren't more persons about to appreciate Emma Dean's Two Block Dash."

Patience joined in the laughter that had accompanied Emma's narrative.