an," answered Mary absently, "but I've waited so long
that I hardly know if I can use it."

Just then Alice Waite and her roommate came panting up the hill, and
Mary, who seldom took much exercise and was very tired, fell back to the
rear of the procession. But when the freshmen stopped in front of the
Hilton House she trilled and waved her hand to attract their attention.

"Oh. Betty, please take my skates home," she said as she limped up to
the group. Then she smiled what Roberta had named her "beamish" smile.
"I know what you girls are talking about," she said. "Will you give me a
supper at Holmes's if I'm right?"

"Yes," said Katherine recklessly, "for you couldn't possibly guess. What
was it?"

"You're wondering about those fifty freshmen," answered Mary promptly.

"What freshmen?" demanded the four girls in a chorus, utterly ignoring
the lost wager.

"Why, those fifty who, according to a perfectly baseless rumor, are
going to be sent home after mid-years."

"What do you mean?" gasped Betty.

"Hadn't you heard?" asked Mary soothingly. "Well, I'm sure it will be
all over the college by this afternoon. Now understand, I don't believe
it's true. If it were ten or even twenty it might be, but fifty--why,
girls, it's preposterous!"

"But I don't understand you," said Miss Madison excitedly. She had grown
very pale and was hanging on to Katherine's arm. "Do you mean that there
is such a story--that fifty freshmen are to be sent home after
mid-years?"

"Yes," said Mary sadly, "there is, and that's what I meant. I'm sorry
that I should have been the one to tell you, but you'd have heard it
from some one else, I'm sure. A thing like that is always repeated so.
Remember, I assure you I don't believe a word of it. Somebody probably
started it on purpose to frighten you little freshmen. If you would take
my skates, Betty. I hate to lug them around till dinner time. Now
good-bye, and do cheer up."

Left to themselves the four freshmen stared blankly at one another.
Finally Katherine broke the mournful silence.

"Girls," she said solemnly, "it's utter foolishness to worry about this
report. Mary didn't believe it herself, and why should we?"

"She's not a freshman," suggested Alice gloomily.

"There are almost four hundred freshmen. Perhaps the fifty wouldn't be
any of us," put in Betty.

Miss Madison maintained a despairing silence.

"Well," said Katherine at last, "if it is true there's nothing to be
done