"The very first thing to do, Robin, is to find out whether those
properties used for boarding houses are for sale. There is no use in
hoping for one little instant that Miss Susanna will ever relent enough
to allow us ground on the campus for any new houses." Marjorie spoke
with finality.
"Queer, isn't it? Hamilton doesn't even own itself." A flickering smile
touched Robin's lips.
"Miss Susanna doesn't consider that she owns the college," Marjorie
explained in defense of her eccentric friend. "Miss Humphrey said Mr.
Brooke Hamilton's will stipulated that she must sanction all building,
improvements or important changes on the campus. The college has free
right to choose everything else."
Not even to Robin Page, her dearest Hamilton friend, outside Wayland
Hall, had Marjorie ever divulged the fact of her friendship with the
last of the Hamiltons. She would have liked to tell Robin, that, only a
week previous, she had taken tea with Miss Susanna and heard again the
old lady's repeated statement that never should Hamilton College receive
even the ghost of a favor from her.
"I wish we knew Miss Susanna Hamilton," sighed Robin. "We could then
have it out with her on the subject at least."
Marjorie, feeling like a criminal, said nothing for a little. The two
seniors had just come from a walk past the boarding houses, the site of
which they hoped to be able to use for the building of the dormitory of
their generous dreams.
"About these boarding houses, Robin," Marjorie began afresh, desirous of
leading her friend away from the subject of Miss Susanna. "Anna Towne's
landlady told her that they were in the hands of a real estate agent in
the town of Hamilton. His name is Mr. Charles Cutler and his office is
on Keene Street. He is the person we must see."
"Since the girls off the campus wouldn't accept our offer, we have six
thousand, two hundred and ten dollars in our treasury," announced Robin.
"We must keep some of that for our regular beneficiary fund; say two
thousand dollars. That gives us a little more than four thousand to pay
down on the property."
"It is only a drop in the bucket," Marjorie said doubtfully. "I suppose
those properties, all together, are worth thirty or forty thousand to
the owner. The question of the money is easily solved. Ronny will
finance the undertaking for us. She is determined to do it. She would
give us the money, but I won't accept it. I think the Hamilton girls now
and to come should take this debt upon themselves and earn the money to
pay it by their own efforts."
"So do I," nodded Robin. "Think what a good time we had getting up the
revue. It was splendid practice for us in many ways. Let the girls who
come after us have something to plan and work for. It will be the best
thing that can happen to them. Besides, giving plays and entertainments
helps to create the right kind of social atmosphere and also brings to
light the talents of the students. I am for being independent and
earning every cent of this money."
"It will keep the Nineteen Travelers busy this year and we'll choose
nineteen more to replace us," Marjorie declared with quiet satisfaction.
The Nineteen Travelers were now a surety. Marjorie had carried out her
spoken resolve to Jerry to call together those students outside Wayland
Hall who had been closest to the Nine Travelers. The original Nine
Travelers had all expressed a desire to enlarge the informal society. It
had therefore been regularly organized as a sorority one evening in
Leila's and Vera's room. The new sorority was now planning to do great
things during their senior year at Hamilton.
"Self-denial last year didn't hurt any of us," Robin gaily pointed out.
"I saved three hundred and two dollars. The other girls saved anywhere
from two to three hundred apiece. Think what it means to our treasury
now!"
"I saved three hundred and seven dollars. I didn't miss it. I haven't a
new suit this fall, and I don't want one. I brought back only two new
frocks. Both of them were presents to me from my father. I won't give up
going to Baretti's. That is my one luxury. I shall save as much as I can
this year, too."
"Wouldn't it be fine if we could make and save enough money this year to
clear the purchase price of these properties?" Robin's eyes sparkled at
the thought.
"We couldn't unless something positively miraculous came our way."
Marjorie shook her head. "It would take all our spare time and more too.
True, we don't have basket ball to think of now, but on the other hand
our subjects are harder. I wish I were as brilliant as Lucy. She had
enough credits to be graduated last June, but she needed another year in
biology and physics. This year she will have those two subjects and
Political Science. That will leave her quite a good deal of time for her
own. What do you suppose she intends to do with it?"
"Tell me, for I am a no-good guesser."
"She is going to be President Matthews' regular secretary. She talked it
over with him one day last week. He made arrangements so that his work
would not interfere with her classes. That was really a concession, but
he told her he had hoped from the first day she worked for him finally
to have her for his secretary. She is so pleased. Her salary is
thirty-five dollars a week. We were all glad for her sake," Marjorie
ended with generous enthusiasm.
Robin expressed equal pleasure in Lucy's rise in fortune. "It is just
one more example of how beautifully everything seems to be working out
for us all at Hamilton," she said happily. "During our freshman year our
lot was full of snags. One by one they have dropped away. Long before
the Sans left college snobbishness was on the wane."
"Phil and Barbara deserve credit for much of that. I never saw a girl
fight harder for democracy than Phil did during her freshie year. She
really turned her class inside out and made them over." Marjorie's
admiration for staunch, independent Phyllis Moore had steadily grown
with time.
"I hear Miss Walbert is at Wayland Hall." Mention of Phil's energetic
stand during her freshman year brought her unworthy opponent to Robin's
thoughts. "Is she as hateful as ever? I never could endure her, and you
know, Marvelous Manager, I am fairly good-natured. Phil had an awful
time over the way she tried to run the freshies."
"Your disposition couldn't be improved upon," laughed Marjorie. "Yes,
she is at the Hall. I seldom see her except at a distance. She isn't
there much to meals."
"She has a new car; a limousine. It is black, this time. I have seen her
driving it or rather driving 'at it.' Someone, I forgot who, said Leslie
Cairns was visiting an aunt in Hamilton."
Marjorie showed no surprise. She had already heard of Leslie's
re-appearance. Robin did not continue on the subject of Leslie. Her
observation had been impersonal. Shortly afterward she left Robin, the
two having agreed to call at the real estate agent's office on Wednesday
of the coming week.
Recounting to Jerry the talk between Robin and herself, Jerry asked
abruptly: "Have you girls told anyone you were going to try to get hold
of those properties? That is, anyone outside our own crowd?"
"I can't say it has been kept a secret," Marjorie returned. "At the time
of the show we gave last winter, some of the girls who helped a good
deal, like Ethel Laird and Grace Dearborn, may have mentioned it. For
instance, Grace sold tickets all over the campus. We were talking at
that time about how fine it would be to be able to found a dormitory.
Nothing has been said of late outside our crowd, that I recall. Robin
and I have only started the ball rolling again. Why did you ask,
Jeremiah?"
"I was thinking. If the real estate agent happened to hear you wanted
the properties he might raise the price of them to more than they were
worth. You don't care to be stung, do you?"
"Certainly _not_. The less we have to pay for the site the more money we
shall have to put into the building. Besides, we don't care to be
saddled with any larger debt than we can help. We are going to see him
next Wednesday. The chances are he won't have heard anything about it in
that short space of time--unless he heard last spring." Marjorie frowned
brief anxiety. Then her face cleared. "Oh, it isn't at all likely," she
said. "Robin and I are going to put every minute we can spare into the
work. Thank goodness, we studied hard enough our first three years! We
are sure of getting through this year without having to dig."
"We've had loads of good times, but still we have kept up in all our
subjects," commented Jerry with pardonable pride. "Now, in my sage and
profound seniorship I propose to turn philanthropist and promoter with
you, Marvelous Manager. By the way, I brought up your mail. It's over
there." Jerry indicated a small pile of letters on the top of a
two-shelved wall book-case.
"Thank you." Marjorie made a dive for them. "Six; I am lucky today!" She
hastily sat down in the nearest chair to enjoy them. Reading each as she
opened it, she was slow in coming to the last one of the pile.
"Here's a note from Professor Leonard!" she exclaimed, mystification
written on her pretty features. "He asks me to come to the gymnasium at
four-thirty tomorrow afternoon. He doesn't say anything in the note but
that."
"Basket ball, of course," guessed Jerry.
"But I didn't play on the team last year and he knows it. Oh, I think I
know. Maybe he would like me to umpire or referee a game. No, it can't
be that, for he dropped basket ball after the Sans made so much trouble.
I am sure I can't guess why he wants to see me."
"You'll know after you've seen him," returned Jerry, snickering.
"I have an idea I shall," retorted Marjorie. "That was a brilliant
remark, Jeremiah."
When at four-thirty on the following afternoon Marjorie sought the
physical culture director in the gymnasium, she was somewhat taken aback
by the concise request: "I would like to make you chairman of the senior
sports committee, Miss Dean. I have been urged to resume charge of
college sports by President Matthews. You may recall _why_ I refused to
act as the director of them two years ago. Well, things have changed
here since then. A certain pernicious element has been removed. I am
going to try again, simply to please the doctor. Will you help me? I
have in mind for that committee, you as chairman, Miss Page, Miss
Harding and Miss Hunter. The four of you can arrange a series of basket
ball games. In the spring we will have tennis. Miss Hunter is an expert
player. I want her chiefly on account of her tennis prowess. It will not
take up much of your time. You would probably attend the games held
here, at any rate. Think it over and let me know by tomorrow. I wish to
make a start as soon as possible."
Marjorie listened to the director in silent consternation. She did not
wish to serve on any such committee. It would interfere, to some extent,
in her new plans. On the other hand, she wished very much to help
Professor Leonard. He had made a concession in again resuming
directorship of college sports. Could she do less than aid him? She
aspired to serve her Alma Mater in the best way. Perhaps this work was
as important as building a dormitory. Professor Leonard had said, "Think
it over." Marjorie had already decided.
"I won't wait until tomorrow, Professor Leonard, to decide. I will
accept the honor now. If you wish, I will see the other girls. I think
you can count on them."
"Thank you, Miss Dean. I was sure you wouldn't fail me." The professor's
hand went out impulsively.
Marjorie reflected with a twinge of remorse as she returned the
handshake that she had come very near to failing him.
"You will help me greatly by seeing your friends. I wish you four would
meet me here day after tomorrow at this time. We will then discuss our
plans for the season."
"I'll simply have to make room for committee duties on my programme
somehow," she thought, as she left the gymnasium and cut across the
campus, headed for Silverton Hall. "Robin is in as deeply as I. Still, I
know she wouldn't have refused, under the same circumstances. If I had
dreamed, ever since my freshman year, of such an honor, I'd never have
attained it. Just because I have about twice as much on hand as I can
look after, along comes something else. It's what I should call an
embarrassment of riches."