e sank into her own
seat. A moment later Teddy came and sat down beside her.

"I see we have your friend with us," he said, handing over the candy
box.

"My friend?" repeated Billie, bewildered.

"Amanda Peabody," he explained. "She is sitting with another girl who
looks as if she might be a second edition of Amanda. There! Away at the
end of the car! You surely missed a lot by not seeing them."

"Another girl," Billie repeated, looking worried. "Then there are two of
them."

"Yes. But don't let it hurt your appetite. Have some more candy."

"Do you know her name--the other one?" asked Billie, ignoring the
offered candy box.

"No, I didn't stop long enough to inquire. In fact," he chuckled and bit
into a chocolate, "I gave them one look and beat it."

Billie dimpled, but the next moment her face was grave again.

"That's all right for you," she said. "But what would you do if you
couldn't 'beat it'?"

It was Teddy's turn to be puzzled.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Only," said Billie, speaking very slowly and distinctly, "that Amanda
and most likely that other girl, whoever she is, are both going to Three
Towers Hall with us."

Teddy emitted a long whistle and looked sympathetic.

"Say, I'm sorry. That's tough luck."

"It's worse than that," wailed Billie. "It's--it's ruinous! I just know
that Amanda Peabody will do her best to spoil the term for us girls!"

CHAPTER VII

MISS WALTERS

In spite of their eagerness to reach their destination, the ride seemed
all too short to the boys and girls. They started when the guard called
out, "Molata, next stop!"

Hardly knowing what she was doing, Billie found her hat and coat, put
them on, and then sat on the very edge of her seat with her gladstone
bag grasped tightly in one hand. Then she looked around at Laura who was
sitting in the seat beside her.

It was then she got her surprise. For Laura was sitting in almost the
same position as herself, perched on the edge of the seat, bag tightly
gripped in one hand, pocketbook in the other and--this was the fact that
made Billie chuckle--Laura's hat was very much over one eye.

Laura looked up at the sound of the chuckle and giggled as her eyes met
Billie's.

"I'm so excited," she whispered in Billie's ear, "that my knees are
trembling. I'm afraid I'll never be able to walk out."

"Well, you needn't expect me to carry you," said Billie, reaching up and
putting Laura's hat on straight. "Becaus