Jane Allen, Junior Part 17

"No, yes, that is I knew her just before we came," replied the girl, very much confused and plainly embarra.s.sed.

"I have noticed you seem to be friends," Jane pressed.

"Yes, sort of. But I do not agree with her in her att.i.tude toward college life," replied Sarah hurriedly--markedly so. She was trying to shift the subject, Jane saw that plainly.

"It's good of you to plead for her," commented Jane, "but you see, my dear, juniors are quite grown up and are expected to uphold the college traditions. We really can't consider an individual where a college principle is concerned." Jane had her eye on Madison and was shifting to move that way. The freshman laid a detaining hand on her arm.

"If you could just--be persuaded to wait until after mid-year," she said, "perhaps then--things might look differently."

"But Sally, you know I saw you run out of that prohibited beauty shop, and you must know we Wellingtons in good standing do not patronize that place!"

This accusation startled Sarah. She dropped Jane's arm and all but gasped: "When did you see me there?"

"The day of that absurd police business when my friend Miss Stearns was so humiliated," Jane said severely.

"Oh, Miss Allen," and tears welled into Sarah's eyes. "I can't explain, and I am so miserable. Perhaps--perhaps I should not try--"

Tears choked the wretched girl, and Jane relented at sight of her misery.

"Really, Sally," she changed her tone, "I do feel awfully sorry to see a freshman in distress, and I am sure I do not want to add to it. I won't go to the office now, if that will make you feel better, but I simply must do all I can to solve the mystery of the horrible night noises at Lenox. Here come the girls from their hike; dry your eyes and try to look pleasant."

Jane did not relish yielding; she had pa.s.sed that childish stage, when "to give in" seemed n.o.ble; it was now a question of expediency, which was best? Should she go on and unburden her own conscience just because she had decided to do so, or should she follow the pleadings of this girl without having an intelligent reason?

Something stronger than psycho-a.n.a.lysis (Jane's new field of study) forced her to look deeply into the tear-stained blue eyes of Sarah Howland, and that same mystic power, older and surer than theory, compelled Jane to reply:

"All right, Sally. I'll wait a while. It's all very queer but even queer things are sometimes reasonable," and she threw an affectionate arm about the little freshman as she turned her back on the judicial office in the big, gray stone building.

CHAPTER XV

THE PICKET AND THE SPOOK

Not going to bed at all, Janey?" queried Judith, letting her hair fall over her shoulders and shaking her head like a happy care-free Collie. "This bed is too inviting to slight that way. I never knew that old spooky Lenox was so gorgeously equipped." Judith was testing the comforts of the big double bed in the guest chamber of Lenox Hall, the same that welcomed Jane and Dozia on the night previous.

"I am not going to run the risk of missing anything," Jane answered from her place in the big cushioned steamer chair. "This is very comfortable and I am all dressed ready to dive after the least suspicious sound. Besides, I'm not a bit sleepy--gone past my sleep, as Aunt Mary would say."

"I don't want to desert you," volunteered Judith, "and it doesn't seem just the thing for me to turn into this downy bed while you sit there like a sentinel. But truth to tell I am shamefully human and just counting on thirty winks before the ghost walks. Be sure to call me at the very first hint. Of course you will want to bag him personally, Jane, but I'll be glad to help you pull the draw string."

It was drawing close to the tainted hour, and Jane sat there wondering how one single day could seem as long as that just past.

She had no idea of admitting what part actual fatigue can play in one's perspective, neither would she have owned to nerves as the cause of her unnatural wakefulness; nevertheless these were both factors in her almost painful alertness.

"At least now I have a chance to think," she temporized, "and I wish I could solve the mystery of Sally Howland's peculiar connection with Shirley Duncan."

They were so unlike, so foreign in disposition and character; not relatives, and Sally even disclaimed any previous acquaintance with the country girl. Then Sally's attempt to forestall the midnight noises by taking the shunned room at the very foot of the dreaded attic stairs--what could that mean?

Jane pondered feebly, and feeling just the least bit drowsy she left her place in the steamer chair to get a drink of water in the lavatory. It would not do to actually fall asleep "at the switch."

Voices from the end of the hall near Sally's room forced their way into the corridor as she glided past, and the unmistakable tone of Shirley Duncan riveted Jane's attention.

"You're too silly," she was insisting, no doubt to little Sally.

"Don't I give you enough? Here's something daddy gave me. You may have it. Now do be a good, sensible little girl."

A pause, perhaps a remonstrance, for the voice took up its cue again.

"Of course you must have plenty of use for it. Don't be a goose, Kitten. You know how much I care about the old moldy college. But I'm bound to get something for my money."

Jane was at the lavatory door now but she did not at once enter.

Surely, under the circ.u.mstances it was permissible to listen to the unguarded voice of Shirley Duncan. And she called Sally "Kitten!"

"For mercy's sake don't start to howl," it came again. "I can stand anything but that. It is all working beautifully and I guess before I quit I'll be able to show them that a country girl isn't such a simp as they imagine."

"Miss Allen is here tonight," Jane next heard Sally say, "and you know what that means, Bobbie."

"As if I care for her," and a scornful laugh made the meaning clearer. There were other words but Jane had heard enough. The mention of her own name seemed to charge her honor, and the belated drink of refreshing water was quickly drawn.

Back in the steamer chair Jane had new cause to ponder. What was the threat or power Shirley held over little Sally? And to bribe her with money? Also the affectionate "Kitten" and "Bobbie"?

The wind was stirring, but everything human now seemed withdrawn from activity around Lenox. Jane was waiting, listening for what?

The frightened freshmen seemed secure tonight in their dormitories, a.s.sured of protection by Jane and Judith, two of the bravest girls in all Wellington. Also they had been promised a solution of the noise mystery and was not that in itself sufficient alleviative?

The clock in the hall tingled a chime, sweet almost playful music for the elves of midnight and a challenge to baser intruders. Jane must have dozed when she suddenly became conscious of something--

Was it a noise? She listened, alert and all but quivering in antic.i.p.ation. There never had been any question of actual danger surrounding the weird happenings, but now that she faced the mystery something very like panic seized her.

Yes--again! That was surely something metallic!

"Quick, Judy!" she roused the sleeping girl on the bed. "Follow me.

There it is--beginning."

"Where! What!" Judith sat up and s.n.a.t.c.hed her robe.

"I'm going to the attic. I am sure it is up there!" and Jane flew out quietly, in fact noiselessly, into the dimly lighted hall.

A queer rumbling sound came from somewhere. Jane could not locate it for it seemed shut in, walled up! It was mechanical yet m.u.f.fled!

Judith reached Jane as she stood listening.

"Where is it?" she whispered.

"I--can't tell," Jane replied. "Pa.s.s around the turn into the linen room. We can reach the stairs that way."

"Not--going up alone!" breathed Judith.

"Why not? It's some lark of the girls, you may be sure, and I'm going to find out what it is now."

"But it's dark," cautioned Judith.