"She has never done a really mean thing--"

"It is mean to trouble the teachers," said the princ.i.p.al, quickly. "You must admit that, Miss Belding. They are here to instruct and help you students. They should not be made the b.u.t.t of foolish jokes."

"I suppose that is true, sir. Bobby has been guilty there. But she would never tell an untruth."

"You seem very sure of your school friend, Miss Belding?" he questioned, thoughtfully.

"As sure of her truthfulness as I am of my own, sir," declared Laura, firmly.

Mr. Sharp looked at her for a few moments, tapping the edge of his desk thoughtfully meanwhile. Finally he said:

"Miss Belding, you almost succeed in convincing me against my better judgment. I believe you are wrong, however. I believe Miss Hargrew, frightened by the enormity of her careless act, has slipped in the path of truth for once. But, wait!" he added, holding up his hand. "You may be right; I may be wrong. I am willing, upon your representation, to give the girl another chance. I will wait. Let time pa.s.s. If there is another explanation of the fire-if there _can_ be such a mystery-we will give it time to come to light."

"Oh, Mr. Sharp! You will not suspend her, then?" cried Laura.

"She is very near expulsion, not suspension," said the princ.i.p.al, gravely. "But I promise you to do nothing until the end of the year. If the mystery is not explained before she finishes her soph.o.m.ore year, however, I do not believe we can let her go into the Junior cla.s.s. That is final, Miss Belding.

"Nor can the culprit go scot-free now. None of the good times for her.

She must bear herself well in deportment, too. None of the after-hour athletics for her, Miss Belding. And she will have to walk very circ.u.mspectly to retain her place in the school."

Laura went away from the princ.i.p.al's office, after thanking him warmly, in a much worried state of mind. They needed Bobby Hargrew in the proposed athletics. Part of the girls of Central High were very much interested in rowing. There was a good crew of eight in the soph.o.m.ore cla.s.s, and they had practiced in one of the boys' boats already. And for that eight, Bobby Hargrew was slated to be c.o.xswain.

CHAPTER IX-"THE DAY OF THE TOUCH"

The girls of Central High took hold of the regular physical exercises with renewed eagerness these days. Although this work had always been popular with the few, now the many began to show unwonted interest.

There was "fun" in prospect.

Mrs. Case was a fine physical instructor-the best, indeed, in Centerport. In the beginning she had had to meet much opposition in her work. Dr. Agnew, of the Board of Health, had been her efficient aid in making parents see that the innovation of physical exercises in the school work was a good thing. Now the majority of the girls' parents admitted the advisability and value of gymnasium training. But some missionary work was still to be done in the homes regarding the suggested "after-hour" athletics for girls.

A healthy interest in the sports allowed by the Girls' Branch would aid in keeping the girls themselves from a more questionable use of their spare time. It was much more healthful and much more wise for them to take part in sports and exercises calculated to build up muscle and mind, than to parade the streets in couples, or cliques, or to attend picture shows, or to idle their time through the big stores in emulation of the adult "shopping-fiend."

As boys are made more manly by physical exercise and sports, so girls can be made more womanly by them. A healthy girlhood is the finest preparation obtainable for the higher duties of life. As Dr. Agnew, Nellie's father, was fond of saying: "I don't care how much of a bookworm a girl is, if she swings a pair of two and a half-pound Indian clubs, she'll come out all right!"

The report of the organization committee was adopted at an enthusiastic meeting on the following Sat.u.r.day. Mrs. Case promised that money for equipment of at least one basket-ball court, better swimming facilities, and the preparation of a field for track athletics would be supplied.

The Board of Education would do some of this work. A field on the edge of Lake Luna-right behind the school's swimming pool, and adjoining Colonel Swayne's estate-had been obtained and in a few weeks track athletics could be practised there. A fence was to be built to screen the girls from too much publicity, and the paths for running laid out.

Tennis courts might be established here, too, if the money held out.

In the bas.e.m.e.nt of the Central High building was a well equipped gymnasium, open to the girls and boys on alternate days. But not many games of skill could be played there. For one thing, the ceiling was not high enough. And the girls-many of them-were eager to learn basket-ball, captain's ball, tennis, and other vigorous sports approved by the Girls'

Branch a.s.sociation.

It was approaching that important day in the school year at Central High when the M. O. R.'s "touched" those girls selected for membership. That certain Friday afternoon was looked forward to by most of the sophs and juniors with much anxiety. The freshmen had no part in it. The faculty did not allow the freshmen to belong to the secret society; but it was something for the sophs and juniors particularly to strive for.

Some of the girls pa.s.sed through the entire four years' course without being chosen for membership in the M. O. R.'s. But a girl who was popular in her cla.s.s, stood well in her studies, was approved by the teachers for her deportment, and displayed wit and skill in anything at all, was quite sure of being chosen in either her third or fourth year; but few soph.o.m.ores were "called." Therefore it was considered a particular honor to become an M. O. R. in the second year at the school.

This Friday afternoon, known as "the day of the touch," all the girls of Central High gathered in the girls' yard. The M. O. R.'s had a modest club house-an old-fashioned three-story, narrow dwelling on the same street as the school, and only a block away-and from that house the committee of nomination marched to the crowded schoolyard.

The committee consisted of four of the seniors who had longest been members of the secret society. They walked through the crowd of girls and with the little be-ribboned baton each carried touched upon the shoulder the girls selected for initiation.

Girls thus indicated were supposed to go home at once and wait for the committee to call for them that evening. Then they would be introduced to the club; but the initiation would come later. There was always something of a novel nature connected with the yearly initiation of candidates.

It was both an honor and a social privilege to be "touched" for the M. O. R.'s. Both Laura Belding and Josephine Morse desired greatly to be among the favored few of the soph.o.m.ores to gain this boon. But n.o.body could prophesy which girls would be chosen.

Of course, the freshmen remained to "see the fun" and swell the crowd.

And such girls as Bobby Hargrew hung about for the same reason, for there was no more chance of Bobby's obtaining the honor of a "touch"

than that she should go sailing around the moon!

As for Laura and her chum, however, their hearts beat high. They _hoped_.

And when Celia Prime came toward them with her baton the chums almost held their breaths. You could not tell by Celia's face whom she intended to touch. She weaved in and out among the girls, many of whom were silent and watchful, others chattering away like magpies. But there was little "fooling" and "carrying-on," although Laura saw that Bobby Hargrew was following Celia very closely and that the perfect gravity of the mischief-maker's countenance was sufficient to warn all who knew her well that there was "something up."

The next moment Laura was startled to feel a touch upon her shoulder-right in the spot where she had been told the baton was always placed. She turned swiftly. Mary O'Rourke had gone past. It was _she_ who had touched Laura instead of Miss Prime.

"Oh, Laura!" whispered Jess in her ear. "I've got it!"

"Got what?" demanded Laura.

"The touch. Celia gave it to me. And you?"

"Miss O'Rourke, I believe," whispered Laura, just as eagerly. "Come on!

let's go home."

"Goody! Oh, I'm so glad!" gasped Jess.

As they went out of the school premises they saw Hester Grimes hurrying out of the other gateway.

"Do you suppose _she_ is chosen, too?" asked Jess, doubtfully.

"I don't know. I saw Celia going toward her. Ah! there's Bobby Hargrew right behind Hester. What's that she's got in her hand-a stick?"

"Hey, Bobby!" shouted Jess.

But Bobby, giving her chums one glance, began to laugh silently, pointing at the unconscious Hester's back, and then ran away, giggling.

"Now, what do you suppose that means?" demanded Jess.

"I really do not know. But Bobby is up to something. I wish she wouldn't act so," said Laura, with a sigh.

CHAPTER X-THE JOKE ON HESTER

After all, Centerport was just a big, inland town. It was no metropolis.