ates
over their arms.

"Come in, girls, and have some hot tea," said Priscilla, as they reached
the study door.

"Here's a note for Patty," said Bonnie Connaught, picking up an envelop
from the table. "Terribly official-looking. Must have come in the
college mail. Open it, Patty, and let's see what you've flunked."

"Dear me!" said Patty, "I thought that was a habit I'd outgrown freshman
year."

They crowded around and read the note over her shoulder. Patty had no
secrets.

THE OBSERVATORY, January 20.
Miss Patty Wyatt.

DEAR MISS WYATT: I am informed that you are the
correspondent for the "Saturday Evening
Post-Despatch," and I take the liberty of calling
your attention to a rather grave error which
occurred in last week's issue. You stated that the
Lick Observatory is in Dublin, Ireland, while, as
is a matter of general information, it is situated
near San Francisco, California. Professor James
Harkner Wallis is not an Irishman; he is an
American. Though he has carried on some very
important investigations, he is the discoverer of
neither the rings of Saturn nor the Milky Way.

Very truly yours,
HOWARD D. PHELPS.

"It's from Professor Phelps--what can he mean?" said the Twin, in
bewilderment.

"Oh, Patty," groaned Priscilla, "you don't mean to say that you actually
believed all that stuff?"

"Of course I believed it. How could I know she was lying?"

"She wasn't lying. Don't use such reckless language."

"I'd like to know what you call it, then?" said Patty, angrily.

"Local color, my dear, just local color. The worm will turn, you know."

"Why didn't you tell me?" wailed Patty.

"Never supposed for a moment you believed her. Thought you were joking
all the time."

"What's the matter, Patty? What have you done?" the others demanded,
divided between a pardonable feeling of curiosity and a sense that they
ought to retire before this domestic tragedy.

"Oh, tell them," said Patty, bitterly. "Tell every one you see. Shout it
from the dome of the observatory. You might as well; it'll be all over
college in a couple of hours."

Priscilla explained, and as she explained the funny side began to strike
her. By the time she had finished they were all--except Patty--r