CHAPTER XXI-THE TWO JAYS

Alone, Jane pondered seriously over the new aspect her problem had a.s.sumed. Never had so absurd a story gained more prompt impetus-the result, presumably, of well-laid plans, the work of Marian Seaton. In her own generosity Jane would have made allowance even for her proclaimed enemy, but the width and breadth, to say nothing of the depths of this propaganda, were beyond her ken.

"Strange," she reflected, "Marian always makes a confidant of someone who, herself, is unlike our other girls."

This "someone" was just now Dolorez Vincez, the South American girl, obviously much older than her companions at Wellington, and certainly of an entirely different social cast. Dolorez had made things unpleasant for Helen on more than one occasion, although she seemed to avoid openly meeting her. An unseen power operating against her had been most effective.

"I must talk to Judy," Jane decided. "No use my going woozy all alone.

Better have company," she wisely decided.

"That's the worse of an ankle," Judith greeted her chum. "One can't take it along and leave it at home at the same time. There is mine now, perfectly good for limping to the hard-working cla.s.srooms, and utterly useless for hiking, dancing and sprinting. How's the big game coming on? Sit down, dear. I don't need every cus.h.i.+on, and all the chairs."

Jane dropped into the chair indicated by Judith, who still hugged her ankle and "enjoyed" the ill health of its injured condition. As her friends had predicted Judith was the recipient of much fudge, all sorts of books, and even hot-house flowers, purloined from chapel. She had been nursing the foot for some days, and took to it so naturally, Jane feared for a reasonably prompt convalescence.

"Big game is coming along finely, but how is the foot, Judy? Won't be able to play, will you?"

"No, worse luck. But I can Ump or Referee or Coach-anything to be in.

Think of losing that straw ride out to Breslin! And I'll bet a big spread after it! Janey, put me down-quick for a couple of non-combative jobs."

"Of course, Judy, you will be along. And I must report progress on the practice work, but I want to speak of something really serious."

"Spare me!" Judith mocked her words with the usual funny grab at her head. "I am not in a serious mood."

"I don't blame you, if you have emptied all those fudge boxes lately. I should think you would be in a ruminative mood. But Judy, listen. It's about dear little Helen. Something must be done."

"I know what must be done," and Judith was instantly all serious and attentive. "We should have hateful Marian Seaton expelled from this college, as a trouble maker. Did you ever hear of one girl carrying that sort of thing on through three mortal years, without paying for it? I thought last year I sensed reform, but it was only a case of latent or dormant activity. It has broken out now in so many places we can't keep track of them."

"But Judy, we have no grounds to ask for her expulsion. She has not done anything in absolute violation of the rules."

"Exactly it. She always manages to cover her tracks. Well, what is the particular new trouble?"

Jane reviewed Helen's visit, and then told of the appeal made by Clarisse. She included the fact that Helen had promised not to try to leave Wellington, which was one point gained, and one of particular importance.

"The poor little child," sympathized Judith. "To think they have gone after her like that! Would you think girls, claiming to be Americans, could be so cold hearted?"

"I am not sure it is a purely American work, that is, North American,"

said Jane. "I rather suspect Dolorez Vincez is at the bottom of it."

"Oh, that reminds me, Red Head dear. Look out for that Dolorez. She is not what she pretends to be, and she is determined to steal our game from us to-morrow, so that her side will have the big battle with Breslin. I heard her say she would do it. Something about a little trick up her sleeve. And even Marian warned her. It was the other afternoon after practice-just as the girls carried me out. They-Marian and Dolorez-spoke a trifle louder than they thought, where they hid in the corner, sneering as I pa.s.sed."

"I don't see what trick she could play."

"Oh, no, that's just it. We could not see. But watch her every minute, and then the trick may pop out. She's a wonderful player, by the way."

"Marvellous. I never saw a girl with such strength. She is foreign of course. That may account for it."

"Also she is older. That, too, may account for it. It looks to me as if friend Dolorez has had a lot of experience in basketball as well as in-gossip."

"But about Helen," Jane reverted. "What shall we do? She insists I shall absolutely say not a word to Mrs. Weatherbee, and yet the other girls are all hearing the foolish stuff. First, it was that I had adopted her. Then when that did not do enough mischief, they have it she is demented. That she plays out in the fields at all hours, and also that strange figures, like foreign men, haunt the campus, so that these timid little friends are afraid to go out after dark."

"Yes, I know. Since I have been invalided I have heard all sorts of rumors. I have even had girls come to me and demand that she be asked to leave college. These girls were not really spiteful, but they had been worked up to such a state of fear by the other trouble makers.

Imagine anyone following Helen here!"

"Judith, I never told you what made me change my mind so suddenly about taking the cla.s.s presidency. It was that very afternoon of election, I overheard a conversation that persuaded me. Then, when they carried me off, and I felt if I followed my own sweet will, I would be abandoning you, to that sort of influence-then I gave in."

"Oh, I guessed that, Janey. And strange, I kept thinking all the while that you would. We all wanted you so badly, it did not seem possible we could be so sadly disappointed. But now, that you do hold the power of influence, you see how useful it is. What shall we do about Helen?"

"I can't bear to see the little fres.h.i.+es' fun all spoiled after all their hard work in putting together their great London melodrama," Jane said, "and I do not believe they will have any audience unless I make some announcement about Helen. Yet-she would never consent, I feel sure."

"Then why not do it without her knowledge? It is surely the lesser evil. I will do it, if you feel she might particularly blame you. She never would suspect me of having sense enough to understand."

"Oh, thanks, Judy. But what is to be done I shall do. But to advertise Helen as the special attraction in the face of all this?"

"Exactly. That would make a tremendous. .h.i.t." And Judith fairly blazed under the unfolding plan. "Don't you see, Janey, if we say she will be the star-the artist-the mad hatter or whatever else is her act, and if half of the crowd have heard all these ridiculous rumors, they will want to come to see-how wonderfully she does it."

Once started on the new plan Judith roared on like a car with disabled brakes. She simply could not quiet down. Jane shook her brilliant head all in vain. Judith was wildly enthused. The prospect of such a sensation as the freshman's play with the "real thing" in it, was too good to pa.s.s by.

"And then we will have a wonderful chance to prove what a good little scout Helen really is," she finally decided to reach a period for breath.

"But, Judith. To exploit little Helen. Don't you see how cruel it would be?"

"Why, no, goosey, I do not. I think it would be more cruel to let her go on here, under this cloud, when such a whirlwind will blow it to the four corners, and evaporate it entirely. We have got to help her. You have said that yourself."

"Yes, I know, Judith. But it does seem to me-Oh, dear! Such a foolish snarl. And to think it is making the best little girl in Wellington miserable."

"Not the very best. Here is one pretty good!" And Judith risked the ankle in a loving limp over to Jane. "Lovey girl! I have not the slightest doubt but you will make a glorious halo out of the seeming smoky cloud. I can just about see Helen s.h.i.+ning before this term is over."

"It is good of you to say so, Judith. You are my Guardian Angel, and always have the right sort of cheer in stock. What troubles me most just now is my own weak mind. I cannot make it up. I want to help the freshmen, of course, and I want to help Helen! How to do both with the one stone--"

"It simply is a case of pegging the stone hard enough. The aim is perfect," said Judith metaphorically. "Arrange a meeting as the official sling shot-and-let-it go--"

"Why, Judith! One would think you were on publicity committee."

"Well, sister, if you were shut in here from all the fun, and only allowed out for the drives in forensics you would easily work up into 'high' yourself, and without extra gas either. I am all interested, not to say excited. I am sick and tired of that Marian getting the best end of everything, just because we are too goody-goody to fight her."

"Oh, Judy, it isn't that we are cowards--"

"No, I did not mean that, Jane. I know you would as soon la.s.so a wild cowboy as shoot a basket. But it is all in the way we look at it.

They-the Marians don't."

Jane could not help smiling. Judith was pus.h.i.+ng hard to win her point, and the matter of mere words was inconsequential.

"But Judith, the real trouble is-we don't know ourselves why Helen acts-so queerly--"

"That has nothing to do with this crazy business. She is perfectly sane, and sound as any girl here!" quickly defended Judith.