Marjorie Dean, College Sophomore | Page 7

refused to do one single
thing they told me to do. It wouldn't have been a specially pleasant
experience to waken suddenly and find the room inhabited by spooks.
Still I wouldn't have been afraid of them. I am glad to be a soph. I am
past the grind and hazing stage. Do tell the girls about Row-ena
Farnham, Jeremiah. You promised them you would."
"And so I will," affably consented Jerry. "I think I'll save it for dessert,

though."
"I think you won't," quickly objected Leila. "Be nice and tell us now.
Dessert is afar off. The sherbet and the salad stand between it."
Having come to a speedy selection of their dinner, immediately they
were seated at table, they were now finishing the toothsome
old-fashioned chicken pot-pie and its palatable accompaniments which
was one of Baretti's most popular specialties.
"All right children, I will humor you," Jerry made gracious concession,
as other protesting voices arose. "Understand this is no news to the
Lookouts here assembled."
"We don't mind hearing it again. We're the pattern of amiability,"
Muriel made light assurance.
"Charmed, to be sure," beamed Ronny.
"I'll take your word for it." Jerry did not appear specially impressed by
such overwhelming forbearance. "To begin with, the Macys spend their
summers at Severn Beach. The Farnhams have a regular castle at
Tanglewood, a resort about ten miles from Severn Beach. It is needless
to say that Row-ena and I do not exchange visits. I am happy to say I
never saw her at Severn Beach. Think what the beach has been spared."
"One afternoon Hal took me to Tanglewood in his sailboat. He went to
see a couple of his chums about arranging for a yacht race. I didn't care
to go with him to the cottage. I knew they didn't want me butting in
while they planned their race. I stayed down on the sands near the boat.
Hal had promised to be back by four o'clock.
"I watched the bathers for a while. There were only a few in the water
that day," Jerry continued. "Finally, I thought I would go up to a large
pavilion at the head of the pier for an ice. I sat in the pavilion eating a
pineapple ice as peacefully as you please. All of a sudden I realized
someone had stopped beside my chair; two someones by the way. One
of them was Row-ena Quarrelena Fightena Scrapena; the other," Jerry

paused impressively, "was our precious hob-goblin, Miss Cairns."
CHAPTER III.
GATHERING CLOUDS.
"Really!" came in surprised exclamation from Vera.
"Hmm! What a congenial pair!" was Helen Trent's placid reception of
the information.
"Like walks with like." Leila's tones vibrated with satirical truth.
"Knaves fall out, but to fall in again."
"I know it," agreed Jerry. "One would naturally suppose that Miss
Cairns would have no use for Row-ena after the net she led her into.
Not a bit of it."
"It must have been a shock, Jeremiah, to look up suddenly and find
yourself in such company." Helen could not repress the ghost of a
chuckle.
"It was. They were lined up for battle. I saw that at a glance. Row-ena
was half laughing; a trick of hers when she is all ready to make a grand
disturbance. Leslie Cairns looked like a Japanese thundercloud. I never
said a word; just sat very straight in my chair. I went on eating my ice
as if I didn't know they were there. Like this."
Jerry gave an imitation of her manner and facial expression on the
occasion she was describing.
"I thought they might give it up as a bad job and go away, but they
stayed. Then Row-ena started in with a regular tirade about Marjorie
and all of us. I can't repeat what she said word for word. Anyway, she
called us all liars. I don't remember what I said, but it must have been
effective. I certainly handed Row-ena my candid opinion of herself.
She saw she was getting the worst of the argument and declared she
wouldn't stay and be so insulted. She started out of the pavilion, calling

Miss Cairns to come along. The fair Leslie wouldn't budge. She told
Row-ena to go on, that she had something to say to me. That was the
first remark she had made. Then she asked me in her slow, drawling
way if I would listen to something she had to say to me. I said I would
not. I had heard too much as it was. I got up and beat it and left her
standing there. I was so sore I forgot to pay for my ice. I had to send
Hal back with the money. As I started away from the pavilion, I saw
Row-ena getting into a dizzy-looking