had been plenty
of comment on the campus at Leslie Cairns' sudden whim of acting as
coach. Curiosity as to what kind of showing the juniors would make as a
result of her efforts at coaching had brought many girls to the scene.

Before the game began the freshman team were somewhat puzzled at the
extreme affability of the three Sans' members of the opposing team. The
trio met them as they emerged from the dressing room and hailed them as
though they had been long lost friends. The impression of this
unexpected cordiality had not died out of the five freshmen's minds when
the toss-up was made. As the game proceeded they became dimly aware that
this fulsome show of affability was being continued. Pitted against the
junior team, as they were, it was most annoying. Nor did the three Sans
play the game in silence. Whenever they came into close contact with
one or more of the freshmen, they had something to say. It was not more
than a hasty sentence or two uttered in a peculiarly soft tone. The
effect, however, was disconcerting. Soon it became maddening.
Involuntarily the one addressed strained the ear to catch the import. A
sudden exclamation or ejaculation would have passed unnoticed. This
purposely continued flow of soft remark drew the attention of the hearer
just enough to interfere with both speed and initiative.

Not until the first half of the game had been played did it dawn fully
upon the freshmen that they were being subjected to an interference as
unfair as any bodily move to hamper would have been. Further, the three
girls were doing it very cleverly. It was not hampering their playing in
the least. Ruth Hale and Nina Merrill were playing with honest vim and
in silence. Their sturdy work was equal to that of any of the opposing
team save Phyllis. She was as brilliant a player as her cousin, Robin
Page. Being, however, of a nervous, high-strung temperament, the three
Sans' tactics had effected her most of all. As a consequence, she missed
the basket two different times. Besides that, she grew disheartened with
the thought that she was playing badly and missed opportunities at the
ball that would never have ordinarily slipped by her.

The end of the first half of the game found the score 12-8 in favor of
the juniors. The instant it was over Phyllis, who captured her team,
gathered them into one of the several small rooms off the gymnasium.

"Girls," she said, in low intense tones, her blue eyes flashing, "you
u