eyes open. If the Middlers
suspected that they were being shadowed, they made no signs.

"It's a banquet, I'm sure," confided Mary Wilson to Landis and Min. "We
have our class exercises on Tuesday evening. The time was set for then,
but Elizabeth Hobart and some of the others had that changed. They wish to
attend our exercises. So it will be Wednesday evening. Elizabeth was
writing when I went into the room. Like a flash, she covered the letter;
but I saw enough to help us out. The letter was addressed to Achenbach. I
saw the word 'Wednesday.'"

"That settles it; for Nancy Eckdahl was making out a menu in chapel
yesterday, and the Middlers who take water-colors are painting
place-cards."

"What had best be done? I'd like to have them send on the banquet and lead
the delivery men off somewhere else."

"But, Mary, that will not be possible. Most of the Middlers know what
happened last year. They'll keep a watch on us, and if they are wise,
they'll send out scouts to meet the caterer at the train," said Mame
Welch.

"They shall not banquet if we take it from them by force!" Then suddenly
her face lighted up. "I have it. Landis, you must do this part. You have
such a don't-interfere-with-me manner that Achenbach will do exactly as
you wish. Get permission to go into town. Go to Achenbach's and tell them
that the Seniors have discovered where the banquet is to be served, that
you have come to give new orders, as the Seniors are determined to
appropriate the banquet for themselves."

There were a dozen Seniors in the room. They all gave their approval to
Miss Wilson's plan. Then they discussed it in detail. The laundry, big and
bare, would be an unsuspected place. There were ironing boards and folding
tables that would do to serve on.

"And if they are not enough," exclaimed Mary Wilson, "there's the floor."

Landis received her instructions. She was to go into the city the
following morning and visit Achenbach, the caterer. She was to be as
self-confident as possible. He might have been instructed not to tell
anyone where and when his services were ordered. Landis was not to be led
off by his assumed ignorance. She was to tell him plainly that she
referred to the order sent in by Miss Hobart the day before.

"Just raise your head high and look straight at him," advised Mary Wilson.
"Scare him into it, Landis."

The following morning, according to plan, Landis, dressed in the trimmest
of tailor-made gowns, went t