A MEAN TRICK
If the teacher in charge had not been so deeply engrossed in
conversation with Miss Romaine, Doris Maybel and Gladys Holt could
never have reached their places at table without detection and
subsequent reproof for tardiness.
As it was, they were very nearly caught. The culprits afterward
declared with a good deal of indignation that it was certainly not
Kate Speed's fault that they were not, for at the moment when, having
slipped as silently as ghosts down the long room, they pulled back
their chairs at table, thinking to have reached their goal at last and
in safety, Kate Speed gave a loud cough that instantly attracted Miss
Tully's attention to table three.
If the teacher had been alone neither girl could have escaped her keen
gray eyes.
But Miss Romaine instantly claimed her attention again and the culprits
sank thankfully into their places.
Across the table their glances challenged Kate Speed angrily. Others
were looking at Kate, a disgusted question in their eyes.
Lily Darrow, her face red, sat with eyes fixed on her plate.
Kate Speed met the unfriendly glances turned in her direction with a
toss of her head and a faint, disdainful smile on her lips.
"People who are late deserve to be shown up," she was heard to say in a
loud stage whisper to Lily Darrow.
Doris Maybel seemed about to fling a wrathful reply across the table,
but a vigorous stamp of Jessie's foot on hers beneath the table warned
her to be cautious.
Miss Tully, in the act of seating herself at the table, glanced in
their direction.
Silence fell upon table three and each girl stared innocently
platewards.
Miss Tully took her seat and, though the teacher's back was still very
rigid, the rest of the room seemed to relax. As the soup was brought
in, conversation recommenced, a low-toned and guarded conversation, to
be sure--for though the girls were encouraged to talk at meals, no loud
laughter or conversation was allowed--at any rate, not with Miss Tully
presiding over the room.
Nan and Sadie and Jo set to with a will upon the tempting dishes. They
had not tasted food since the rather early lunch on the train, and
they were very hungry.
"I only wish we had come to Laurel Hall in time for dinner instead of
supper," Nan said in a low tone to Sadie. "I could do with a six course
meal right now."
"This looks pretty good to me," returned Sadie, as the empty soup
dishes were removed and platters of cold meat were passed around the
table, along with tea biscuits.
A generous plate of egg salad was put at each girl's place with a glass
of rich creamy milk. For dessert there was layer cake and homemade
cookies and cup custard.
"We won't starve to death, that's one sure thing," said Jo, as she
helped herself for the second time to meat and looked hungrily at the
egg salad.
After dinner the chums wandered out into the beautiful grounds of
Laurel Hall. Their new friends went with them, to "show them the
sights."
"Though we can't stay out very long," Jessie said regretfully. "The
rule is, every one in rooms by eight o'clock, lights out by nine. And
with winter coming on and the days getting so short we hardly have any
time at all after supper."
To the three Woodford girls the grounds about Laurel Hall were even
more beautiful than they had imagined them.
The Hall was set in the midst of a considerable property. There were
not many trees, for a great number of these had been sacrificed for
the sake of the lawn that stretched like a piece of green velvet from
the road almost to the borders of the lake. What trees there were were
grand old patriarchs, tremendous in girth, heavy branches sweeping
upward toward the sky.
About three of these beautiful old trees rustic benches had been
fashioned, and these seats were almost always occupied by groups of
laughing girls.
The shadows were falling thickly as a number of the girls made their
way down to the boathouse on the shores of the lake. The water was only
a shimmer of gray against a darker background.
The towering mountain that had seemed only picturesque in the brilliant
glare of the afternoon sun now rose dark and mysterious against the
shadowy sky.
Sight of the boathouse reminded the girls of the mysterious happenings
connected with it.
"We aren't going inside, are we?" asked Sadie a shade nervously.
Doris Maybel laughed.
"Not a chance! It's strictly against the rules to enter the boathouse
after dark."
Jo chuckled.
"For once we can enjoy obeying a rule!" she said.
As the Woodford chums and their new friends came nearer to the
boathouse that loomed like a dark blot against the landscape, they were
astonished and a bit startled to hear voices.
The fact that they were voices was little. The fact that they were
men's voices was much.
The girls paused and looked at each other, uncertain whether to advance
or retreat. Curiosity urged them on. Caution advised retreat.
"The thieves!" murmured Sadie uneasily. "I think we'd better get out of
here!"
But Jo caught her arm.
"Wait a minute!" she cried. "Listen!"