CHECK-MATED
Ever since Lily Andrews had taken up her duties as sophomore president
she found a noticeable change in the attitude of certain members of the
class towards her. Foremost among this group were Ruth Henry and Evelyn
Hopkins, who boasted proudly among the other girls of their friendship
with the president. If Ruth harbored any resentment against her
successful rival, she carefully concealed it; and most of her classmates
spoke of her as Lily Andrews' "right-hand man."
Without a doubt, Ruth was a great help to the new officer. Marjorie,
always more interested in athletics and Scout affairs, paid only a
half-hearted attention to Lily's official problems; and Doris Sands was
really tired out and needed a rest. So, in sheer desperation, Lily
sought Ruth, and always found her interested and helpful.
One afternoon when Marjorie was out walking with Alice Endicott, Lily,
with notebook and pencil in hand, hurried over to Ruth's room. She found
her sitting languidly beside her wicker tea-table, playing with the
tea-ball, and carrying on a disconcerted conversation with Evelyn.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to knock, Lily Andrews!" she
exclaimed. "I thought you knew us well enough by this time----"
Lily laughed, nevertheless highly flattered. It is always more or less
of a triumph to conquer a dislike, and Lily felt genuinely pleased at
the change in Ruth's attitude toward her.
"You're awfully good----" she began.
"Not at all!" protested Ruth. "But Evelyn and I are always at home to
our friends!" Then, noticing the notebook, "What's the important
business now, Lil?"
"Oh, it's class stuff again! I want your advice, Ruth."
"It's yours for the asking!" replied the hostess, magnanimously, well
pleased to be so obviously within the "inner circle."
"You really ought to be class president, Ruth. You do more work than I
do, and don't get the credit."
"I don't want credit," lied Ruth; "all I want is our class's good."
"Yes, I know. Well, here is my present trouble. You know, every single
class since the foundation of the school has succeeded in holding their
meeting in spite of the sophomores' attempt at interference. Why can't
we break the spell? What could we possibly do?"
Ruth sat up straight in her chair and half closed her eyes, lost in
contemplation.
"We _will_ break the spell!" she announced, slowly. "I think I have a
new idea!"
"Ruth, you are so clever!" exclaimed Evelyn, who could not keep out of
the conversation. "I almost believe you can do it!"
"Tell us what your plan is!" begged Lily, impatient with even a moment's
unnecessary delay.
"The private detective system--and by that I mean to have each girl in
our class responsible for one or two freshmen, and know where they are
every minute of the day. In that way, all of us would really be on guard
all the time!"
"Wonderful!" cried Lily enthusiastically. "Would it really be possible
to do it?"
"I don't see why not; the struggle lasts only six weeks--nearly two are
gone already. And if everybody will work----"
"That's great, Ruth," interrupted Lily, deciding instantly to adopt the
plan; "I'll post a notice for a meeting this very evening, and we'll put
it up to the class. Then, if everybody approves of the scheme, I want
you to be chairman of the Vigilance Committee--the leader, you know, to
whom the girls would report any suspicions."
Ruth's heart gave a bound of delight: the appointment was just what she
desired. With a little tact and diplomacy, she could make Lily a mere
figure-head, and herself the power behind the throne; in this manner she
could pave the way for her own election to the presidency for junior
year.
But she did not dare to betray to Lily the fact that she was eager for
the office. She even hesitated a moment before she accepted.
"Of course it will mean an awful lot of work, but if you really think I
am capable, Lily, you know I'd do anything for the sake of the class."
"Of course you're capable," reassured the other, "and you must take it.
It will remove a big weight from my mind, too, if you do."
The girls discussed the matter in detail, while Evelyn made tea. Then,
refreshed and encouraged, Lily returned to her own room.
At the class meeting that evening, when Lily announced that Ruth Henry
was chairman of the Vigilance Committee, the general wave of surprise
that spread over the room was apparent. For most of the girls remembered
how ungraciously the latter had treated her the previous year, before
there was any talk of Lily's rising to prominence. But the act only
served to enhance the admiration the girls felt for their president;
they realized anew how magnanimous she was, and how much she valued the
good of the class.
Ruth presented her plan so effectively that it was immediately approved
and adopted. Each girl was allowed to select her own freshman, for, as
Ruth remarked, if the sophomores chose their particular friends there
would be less cause for suspicion. She herself picked out two
charges--Esther Taylor and Florence Evans--both girls of unusual energy.
Marjorie Wilkinson naturally selected Alice Endicott. Each sophomore was
equipped with a whistle which she was instructed to blow if necessary,
unless she happened to be inside of the dormitory building. And since,
according to Miss Allen's rules, it was forbidden to hold the meeting
before the rising bell in the morning, or after the supper bell in the
evening, the difficulty of the problem was reduced fifty per cent.
The freshmen, in the meantime, were striving to formulate some definite
plan for concerted action. But with no officers to assume responsibility
or give directions, and with no opportunity for general discussion,
there seemed to be little hope of their getting together. However, as in
all cases heretofore, they relied upon the resourcefulness and hesitance
of the junior president.
The holder of that office was Ethel Todd, one of the very cleverest of
the Girl Scouts. Exceptionally capable, she usually accomplished what
she set out to do. When she learned that Ruth Henry was chairman of the
Vigilance Committee she was more determined than ever to check-mate any
plans the other might make. Taking matters in her own hands, she
arranged for a thorough consultation with Florence Evans and Mildred
Cavin, whom she considered class leaders.
"Ruth Henry has some clever scheme," she informed them, "you can just
depend on that. But I mean to beat her, no matter how perfect her system
is," she added. She had never forgiven Ruth for the contemptible manner
in which she had treated Marjorie the previous year, and she could not
resist the temptation to do everything in her power to get even.
So she set about to discover the sophomore's plan, and to outwit the
girls if she could. She watched Ruth's movements closely, and saw her
follow Esther Taylor to the library the following afternoon, remain
there as long as the freshman did, and come out again a few seconds
afterward, dogging her footsteps to the hockey field. This same
occurrence took place the day after; at the same time she perceived that
Lily Andrews seemed always close on the trail of Mildred Cavin, and
Marjorie of Alice Endicott. Ethel retired to her own room to think over
this in quiet.
What could it all mean? Did Ruth and Lily and Marjorie think that the
other freshmen could not hold a meeting without these few girls--that
they, leaders though they were, were indispensable? She glanced out of
the window and saw Daisy Gravers walking down the path to the gate; a
few steps behind her came Doris Sands, apparently unconcerned about
things in general, but every now and then glancing at Daisy, and then
looking hastily toward the dormitory. Then, in a flash, the system was
disclosed to the junior President!
"PRIVATE DETECTIVE SYSTEM!" she exclaimed aloud, jumping suddenly to her
feet. "Each freshman shadowed by a soph!"
She hit upon a brilliant, yet simple, plan. She would beat Ruth by
_cleanliness_! Accordingly, she wrote forty notes to forty freshmen,
telling them to wear kimonas, carry soap and towels, and be in the
shower-bath compartment on the third floor at one minute after seven the
following day. If the sophomores were up early enough to notice the
freshmen's absences, they would not suspect anything unusual in such a
proceeding.
The next morning was a dark one, and, much to her annoyance, Ruth
overslept by ten minutes. Jumping up suddenly, she hastily put on her
bathrobe, and, passing along the hall by way of Esther Taylor's and
Florence Evans' rooms, made her way toward the shower. She did not hear
any stir as she went by the freshmen's doors, but being late, she
hurried on. A moment later, she reached the shower-bath compartment.
As she was just about to enter, the swinging door was abruptly flung
open, and a noisy crowd of girls, in kimonas and bath-robes, almost
knocked her over. They were freshmen, and they were all tremendously
happy over something; in a flash, she read the news of their victory.
She did not even need Mildred Cavin's announcement: "Florence Evans is
freshman president!" to confirm her fears.
The hot blood rushed to Ruth's face as she caught sight of Ethel Todd's
triumphantly gleaming eyes. Dejected, defeated, she disappeared into the
shower to drown her disappointment in cold water.
For, in her own imagination, she saw the junior presidency fading from
her grasp!