[Illustration: Crouching in the shadows of the shrubbery they waited
while two figures strolled toward them. (Page 59)]
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THE ADVENTURE GIRLS
AT HAPPINESS HOUSE
By
Clair Blank
THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY
Akron, Ohio New York
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Copyright MCMXXXVI
THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY
The Adventure Girls at Happiness House
Made in the United States of America
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CONTENTS
I BRIARHURST
II A RESCUE
III BELL NIGHT
IV TROUBLE AHEAD
V THE HOCKEY GAME
VI A NOTE
VII NO CLUES
VIII MYSTERIOUS STRANGER
IX BAD NEWS
X MISS FIELDS’ VISIT
XI PHYLLIS
XII FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS
XIII STARTLING NEWS
XIV DISCOVERED
XV PHYLLIS’ STORY
XVI THE FIRST LESSON
XVII OMEGA CHI
XVIII CAROL SLIDES
XIX WHITE STAR
XX THE END OF THE TERM
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THE ADVENTURE GIRLS AT HAPPINESS HOUSE
Chapter I
BRIARHURST
With a final chug and screech of brakes the train slid to a halt before
the two story frame building that did duty for a railway station in the
little college town of Briarhurst.
A group of girls proceeded with much hilarity and little speed to
transport themselves and their luggage from the railway coach to the
station platform. From there they viewed the rusty bus that was to
transport them up the hill to the college grounds.
“It will never hold all of us and our luggage,” Carol Carter declared
with firm conviction. “Perhaps we had better walk.”
Janet Gordon looked at the dusty road winding up the hill behind the
station and then at the bus. “You can walk,” she said. “I’ll take a
chance on this antiquated vehicle.”
“Are you the six young ladies goin’ to Briarhurst?”
The girls turned to see a wizened old man approaching from the station.
“If ye are, climb aboard. I’m the bus driver.”
“I’ll wager the bus is even older than he is,” Madge Reynolds murmured
to Valerie Wallace.
“Will the contraption hold together?” Carol wanted to know.
“It’s been a-runnin’ for nigh onto twenty years and ain’t fell apart
yet,” the driver said, climbing into his seat and waiting for the girls
to get aboard.
“That isn’t saying it never will,” Phyllis Elton commented.
After much dickering the girls got into the bus, their luggage for the
most part piled on the roof, and the ancient vehicle with its ancient
driver started with a roar.
“It reminds me of a peanut roaster,” Carol murmured. “The way the
radiator is steaming and the noise it makes.”
“Everything but the peanuts,” agreed Janet. “Which reminds me, I hope
dinner is early.”
“Dinner is at seven,” the driver informed them conversationally.
The bus started the long tedious climb up the hillside and the driver
settled back comfortably in his seat. He was in no hurry.
“I thought Briarhurst was a prosperous college,” Phyllis Elton said to
Gale Howard, “wouldn’t you think they would have a more modern bus? This
thing might scare new students.”
The driver frowned on her with all the disgust possible to his wrinkled
features.
“Lizzie, here, has belonged to the college since she was new. She’s good
enough for you yet. Even the new Dean can’t junk old Lizzie.” He patted
the steering wheel with all the affection and prized possessiveness of a
loving father.
“New Dean?” Gale questioned. “Isn’t Professor Harris the Dean any more?”
“Nope,” the driver said. “Professor Harris resigned an’ this new one
come up here about three weeks ago. She’s been tryin’ to make changes we
old ones don’t like.”
The girls exchanged glances. They had heard so much about Professor
Harris and her rule at Briarhurst. The Dean had been much beloved by the
girls. The prospect of a new régime at the college did not particularly
appeal to them.
“What’s she like—the new Dean?” Janet asked interestedly.
“Young and purty,” the sour old man said grudgingly. “But she got no
business tryin’ to change things that been goin’ on all right for thirty
years. She won’t stay long,” he added darkly.
“Why won’t she stay?” Phyllis wanted to know.
“The old ones don’t like her,” he said firmly.
“By ‘the old ones’ I take it you mean the teachers and other members of
the faculty,” Gale said.
“That’s right,” he agreed.
“What has she done to make them dislike her?” Janet inquired.
The man shook his head. “We don’t aim to make this a modern
institooshun. She has newfangled notions about a new bus and sports for
the young ladies. We old ones ain’t goin’ to stand for it,” he repeated
firmly. Evidently he considered himself an important part of the college
personnel.
“The idea about a new bus is enough to prejudice him,” Carol laughed to
Janet. “Whoops!” She made a wild lunge for her handbag as the bus
navigated a deep rut with a series of protesting groans from the
framework. “However, it is enough to put me on her side. If she wants a
new bus I am for the new Dean!”
The bus halted first in front of the registrar’s office and the girls
were assigned to their prospective quarters. Because of crowded
conditions only Phyllis and Gale were fortunate enough to win a room in
the sorority house of Omega Chi, and this was only through the efforts
of their former High School teacher. The other four girls were assigned
to the dormitory house on the east lawn of the campus. At first the
separation rather put a damper on their spirits.
“You might get into the sorority house next year,” consoled Phyllis.
“As it is,” Janet commented, “we will leave you two to face the dragons
of the sorority by yourselves.”
The next stop of the bus was to let Gale and Phyllis off in front of the
Omega Chi Sorority house. They surveyed their future home interestedly
while standing in the midst of their baggage which the driver had dumped
unceremoniously at their feet. The bus rattled away and the girls
exchanged glances.
“We might as well go in,” Phyllis said finally.
Several girls were on the veranda and these viewed with interest the new
arrivals.
“We might as well,” Gale agreed with a sigh. With a traveling bag in
either hand she followed Phyllis up the steps and into the building that
was to be their home for the next four years.