Four Girls and a Compact | Page 5

to do our several duties hitherto, we feel justified in
resting from the same until such time as we may--er--wish to begin
again.
"Furthermore, resolved: That any or all persons hereunto subscribed,
who fail to keep the letter of this compact, be summarily _dropped!_"
(Signed) "LAURA ANN BYERS."

The paper went the rounds and was soberly signed by each girl in turn.
Loraine, the last, traced three words in her tiny handwriting at the head
of the paper.
"The Wicked Compact!" read Billy over her shoulder, and nodded
agreeingly. "That's a good name for it. Doesn't it make you feel lovely
and shuddery to belong to a Wicked Compact! Oh, you needn't think I
shall go back on the rules and regulations! If somebody gets down on
his knees and implores, 'Which note shall I flat?' I shall turn coldly
away, or else say, 'Suit yourself, my dear!' But, girls, oh girls, I hope
there won't be any pianos in Eldorado!"
"Probably there will be only cabinet organs--don't worry, dear!"
soothed Laura Ann.
* * * * *
The day after the Wicked Compact was drawn up and signed, T.O.
started on her quest for Eldorado. She would have no one escort her to
the station; she would give no intimation of her plans. They were all to
wait as patiently as possible till she came back. It was only because she
had to, poor child, that she accepted the contributions of the others
toward her expenses of travel.
At the station she straightened her short stature to its utmost and
approached the ticket window. She might have been, from her splendid
dignity of manner, six feet instead of five.
"Will you please tell me which road is the cheapest to travel on?" she
asked, clearly, undismayed outwardly, inwardly quailing before the
ticket man's amazement. His curious eyes surveyed her through the
little opening.
"Why--er--well, there's the most competition on the X & Y Road," he
said, slowly. "The rates on that line are about down to the limit--"
"Thank you," the dignified one said, and turned away. She found the
time table of the X & Y Road on the station wall, and studied it

thoughtfully. She had resolved to select the place with the most
promising name. Back at the ticket window she patiently waited her
turn in a little stream of people. The woman ahead of her was
flourishing a dainty, embroidered handkerchief, and she wondered idly
if it had come from her counter at Torrey's. If so, why was it not a little
white flag of truce that gave her a right to say "How do you do?" to the
woman? The Talentless One suddenly felt a little lonely.
"Ticket to Placid Pond, please," she said, when her turn came. The very
sound of the peaceful little name gave her courage. Placid Pond! Placid
Pond! Could any place be more indicative of rest? Then she bethought
her of the Wicked Compact, and felt almost impelled to hand back the
ticket--Placid Pond could not be the right place to be bad in!
But it was too late!
"Two-twenty," the ticket man said, monotonously, and she fumbled in
her lean, little purse. To Placid Pond she would go, and, if there were
barns and cornfields and a blue-painted pump--the thrill of expectancy
ran through her veins, and she forgot the Wicked Compact.
The Talentless One had never glided through green places like this
before, between slow, clear little streams, by country children waving
their hats. She had never seen far, splendid reaches of hills, undulating
softly against the sky. Wonder and delight filled her. She found herself
envying the little, brown children who waved their hats.
"It's pretty, ain't it?" a fresh, old voice said in her ear. When she turned,
it was to look into a fresh, old face behind her.
"Ain't it a pretty world the Lord's made? The 'firmament showeth his
handiwork,' don't it? Where are you going to, deary?"
"A place called Placid Pond," answered the girl, smiling back.
"_No?_ Well, I declare! That's where Emmeline Camp lives that was a
Jones an' spelt out o' my spellin'-book! If you see Emmeline, you tell
her you saw me on the cars. Emmeline and I have always kep' up our

interest in each other. She'll be tickled--you tell her I've learnt that
leaf-stitch at last! She'll understand!"
The thin, old voice tinkled on pleasantly in the Talentless One's ears.
"Come back here an' set with me, deary, an' I'll tell you which house is
Emmeline's, so, if you go past, you'll know it--it's painted green! Did
you ever! But Emmeline was always set on green. She was married in a
green silk, an' we girls said she married a green husband!"
T.O. laughed enjoyingly. She began to feel