crastination Boggs, Nan Sherwood, Bess Harley, and several other dwellers on this corridor stood well up in their

ng through her nose. "Dr. Beulah has been away-has not arrived home yet-and we unfor

ura," drawled Amelia Boggs, "even

istic tendencies. I feel 'em,

el," scoffed Bess. "If I had

nce within me is from merely what I ate. Why, I feel that I might lea

ssage to the boath

ing at one of her watches, "if we are going to d

interrupted Laura. "

at," giggled Bess, "with all th

went on Amelia, "cu

sten, girls!" she cried. "'Cu

ting old chestnuts lik

not a recitation, I'd have you k

suddenly seeing that Laura really ha

"What is our greatest trial-our most implacab

pp," sig

n flowery fashion. "The bete noire of the girls of Lakeview Hall is th

sked Nan, finally

o the tower this forenoon and unhooked and hid the bell-clap

d to join in the peal of laughter that the oth

ke!" excla

a Boggs, who, after all, possessed a fund of caution. "Mr

. Cupp will find some other way of making it known that retiring hour has arriv

that lumberman's slang of 'sawney' for 'greenh

ly opened yet. Don't make us delve into the past for th

cial reason. She had liked the girl from the West, Rhoda Hammond, at first sight.

e newcomer because she believed she could influence the more thoughtl

off her bed, where she had been perching. "We wa

h to get together the

Laura

estern young person much, after all?" she said.

id Amelia. "I thin

n't say that

e. I'd like to take her for a good l

ous Rhoda has got too much money

Ranch she comes from

ink! A real c

farm. What's the difference whether you ha

a few minutes as the girls dressed Amelia in an old pillow-slip with eye-holes burned in it, and placed in her hand the staff of a bro

n and be Mistress of Ceremonies. They were abo

ne?" demanded Bess. "S

nd on her, and

ndering gaze, a suit of paint-stained overalls, jumper and all, that evidently by

aired girl. "You never know what may happen,

, Laura!" gasped Nan,

say? I bet she rides astride, and these old overalls will rem

the teachers and so spoil the fun altogether. Finally, however, Amelia Boggs got

d Bess; but Amelia led the procession the full length of the hall

ute," cried a smal

turning the knob that the door was unlocked. She flung it open

hat do you want

hat. Her bag was open on the couch, but it seemed to contain no kimono, and the W

gazing in wonder at the tall fig

be-sepulchral voice. "The sawney is all prepared to don her costume. Hith

," said Laura jovi

a from Rawhide Sp

jumper to the surprised new gi

t refuses 'em!" hisse

Nan. "That means 'here lies'-

erean English most awfully mixed

e wrong gender, any

of Ceremonies. "Silence in the ran

in, shaking the painter's suit be

will call to your aid all these, my faithful follow

rial," said Rhoda. "But if you insist,

tern, isn't it, Laura

folk say

o learn," said Rhoda

n the jumper. Her bare arms and shoulders were brown and firm. Nan thought Rhoda's figure was

rling boy!" whispered

f them-meant to make the newcomer fe

aid Laura drawlingly. "I tell you she is a regular cowgir

," replied the We

ooded Amelia. The latter cleared

place. Meekness becomes you lambkins when you firs

da. "Do you know, I don't l

laimed Laura, who had caught up a towel an

declared Rh

ive and bandage her eyes at once," and she

the Western girl. But she did so

against it. I

ated Rhoda

urely. Of course she might have torn the bandage off, for her hands