harp lookout for the other crowd," she directed. "This knot is no
simple affair. What time is it, Luciferous?"

"Fifteen minutes past nine." Lucy held her wrist so that the rays of the
arc light over the gate fell directly upon her watch.

"Untied; thank my stars! Some knot!" Leila flipped the undesired net
from Marjorie. Rolling it up she tucked it under her arm. "Unmasking is
at nine-thirty. Let us be there. We can just make it, and it will puzzle
some persons to tell who interrupted them tonight. Our talk will wait
until after unmasking. Then we can dodge into one of the side rooms and
have it out."

"A fine plan," endorsed Ronny. "We are in luck to get here in time
enough for the unmasking."

The others heartily agreeing, the octette again set off in a hurry for
the gymnasium. Five minutes afterward they were entering its welcome
portal. They were obliged to make a frantic dash for the coat room. Once
there, wraps and overshoes were removed with gleeful haste. The belated
masqueraders entered the gymnasium just as the last, lingering strains
of a waltz were being played. It had hardly died away when the
stentorian order "Unmask!" was shouted out by a junior through a
megaphone.

"Here's where Muriel wins that dinner at Baretti's," declared Jerry
ruefully. "I certainly did not walk up to her and say, 'Hello, Muriel.'
Wonder where she is? I haven't the least idea what her costume is."

"For the sake of old Ireland!" called Leila, pointing. "Now will you
kindly take notice?"

A little shout of laughter burst from the participants in the recent
adventure as they obeyed Leila's exclamatory request. Coming toward them
at a carefully simulated stride was a handsome young man in evening
dress. From his silk opera hat to his patent leather ties he was a most
elegant person. He was not a particularly gallant youth, however, for
his first words on approaching the mirthful group were:

"Don't, for goodness' sake, ask me to take off my hat. How about that
dinner you promised me, Jeremiah?"

"Yes, I _guess_ so. Oh, but you are polite! Greet us with your hat on
and beg for a dinner invitation. My, my! What are the young men of the
present day coming to?" Jerry held up her hands in mock disapproval.
"Anyway, you win. Your costume is a dandy. I never would have known
you."

"What may your name be, young man?" inquired Leila, her eyes dancing.

"You may call me Mr. Harding. I shall not tell you my first name until I
kno