r
heart she cared nothing for her class. She had tried to be their leader,
and Grace had supplanted her, but now Grace should pay for it.

All this passed through Miriam's mind as she covertly watched Grace, who
was reassuring Anne for the fiftieth time, not to worry over the lost
signals.

"Don't tell any one about it," she whispered to Anne. "You may find them
yet."

Anne shook her head sorrowfully. She felt in some way that those signals
were bound to make trouble for her.

"By the way, girls," said Grace, addressing the team, "has any one any
objection to Anne and Jessica staying to see the practice game? They have
seen all our work and are now anxious to see the practice game. They know
all the points, but they want to see how the new signal code works."

"Of course not," answered the girls. "We won't turn Oakdale's star pupil
out of the gym. Anne shall be our mascot. As for Jessica, she is a matter
of course."

"I object," said Miriam. "I object seriously."

"Object?" repeated Grace, turning in amazement to Miriam. "Why?"

"You know that it is against all basketball rules to allow any one in the
gymnasium during practice except the regular team and the subs. If we
follow our rules then we shall be certain that nothing we do reaches the
ears of the juniors. We have always made an exception of Jessica, but I
don't think we should allow any one else here."

"And do you think that Anne Pierson would carry information?" exclaimed
Grace sharply. "Really, Miriam, you are provoking enough to try the
patience of a saint. Just as if Anne, who is the soul of honor, would do
such a thing."

An indignant murmur arose from the girls. They were all prepared to like
little Anne, although they did not know her very well.

"How can you say such things, Miriam?" cried Nora.

"I didn't say she would," said Miriam rather alarmed at the storm she had
raised. "But I do think it is better to be careful. However, have it your
own way. But if we lose the game----"

She paused. Her judgment told her she had said enough. If anything did
happen, the blame would fall on Grace's shoulders.

Anne, deeply hurt, tried to leave the gymnasium but the girls caught her,
and brought her back again. She shed a few tears, but soon forgot her
grief in the interest of the game.

"Girls," said Grace, as she and Nora and Jessica walked down the street
that night after leaving Anne at her corner, "we must look out for Anne.
It is evident fr