ction for class president."

"I'm waiting," remarked Jennie, calmly. "But what will _that_ have to
do with Grace Montgomery?"

"You'll find out then how popular she is."

"I will, and so will she," chuckled Jennie, suddenly all a-smile.

"You don't believe she will have the most votes?"

"Not, unless she puts them all in herself," laughed Jennie. "Why! if
Grace had a chance to be class president I'd go into sackcloth and ashes
during the rest of the year."

"You wait and see!" snapped Cora.

In her heart Jennie believed that the only girl among the freshmen
entries who had the least chance to win the long race was Nancy. But she
knew that this wasn't the time to begin "rooting" for her friend.

Indeed, the best way to do was to cheer for all the freshies entered
until they showed--within the first few laps--what they could do. And to
this method Jennie,--a leader among the younger girls,--clung.

At the starting shot--for Miss Etching was not afraid of a pistol and
used it to start the race--the thirty-eight girls got away from the line
without much confusion. The best skaters were quickly in the lead, so
that there was little entanglement at the first stake. By that time the
girls were strung out for some yards.

Rounding the home stake for the first time, the seniors and juniors,
with Judy Craig and--to Jennie's surprise--Grace Montgomery and Cora,
were in the lead. Nancy was trailing them easily, but it worried Jennie.

The latter lost her head and did all her best work--put out every bit of
strength she had--in the second lap. She passed Nancy and many of the
other girls belonging to the freshies and sophs; but she could not reach
Grace and Cora. Judy Craig fell back, however.

At the beginning of the third lap more than half the girls dropped out.
The leaders were so far ahead it was useless for them to continue. And
their dropping out cleared the course for the real contestants.

Jennie fell back in that third lap, and Nancy passed her, still skating
easily, and about half a lap behind the leaders.

"Oh, dear, Nance! Do hurry up and beat them," gasped Jennie. "I'd hate
to see Grace--or Cora--carry off the glory for our class."

Nancy did not speak; she only smiled. She saved her breath--as Jennie
might better have done.

For, at the beginning of the fourth lap, both of the girls who called
themselves leaders of the freshmen class began to fall back, although
they still struggled. The race was not