on Tuesday morning. As soon as a girl from
any of the three lower classes appeared she was approached by some of
the former and a great deal of whispering and subdued laughter went on.
A few girls were seen to shake their heads dubiously, and a number of
those termed "grinds" were not interviewed. The majority, however,
appeared to be highly delighted over what they heard, one group standing
near one of the windows, of which Eleanor was the center, laughed so
loudly that they were sent to their seats.

Among the number to whom nothing was said were the members of the Phi
Sigma Tau, and as the morning advanced they became fully aware that
something unusual was in the wind. Several times they caught sight of a
folded paper being stealthily passed from one desk to another, but as to
its contents they had no idea, as it was not handed to any one of them.

At recess there was more grouping and whispering, and Grace was puzzled
and not a little hurt over the way in which she and her friends were
ignored. Such a thing had not happened since the basketball trouble the
previous year.

"Eleanor started that paper, whatever it is," said Nora O'Malley to the
Phi Sigma Tau, who stood in a group around her desk. "She was here when
I came in this morning, and I was early, too. It is some masterpiece of
mischief on her part, or she wouldn't take the trouble to get here on
time."

"Here comes Mabel," said Jessica. "Maybe she has seen the paper. Mabel,
dear, did you see that paper that has been going the rounds this
morning?"

Mabel nodded.

"What was written on it, Mabel?" asked Grace curiously.

Mabel looked distressed for a moment then she said, "I wish I might
tell you all about it, but I gave my word of honor before I read it
that I wouldn't mention the contents to any one."

"Then, of course, we won't ask you," said Anne Pierson quickly. "But
tell us this much--is it about any of us?"

"No," replied Mabel. "It isn't. It is something I was asked to sign."

"And did you sign it?" asked Jessica.

"I certainly did not," responded Mabel. "It was----" she stopped, then
flushed. She had been on the point of telling. "I am sorry I ever saw
it," she continued. "I can't bear to have secrets and not tell you."

"That's all right, Mabel," said Marian Barber, patting her on the
shoulder. "We don't want you to tell. If it doesn't concern us we don't
care, do we, girls?"

"No, indeed," was the reply.

Just then the bell sounded