e of revenge. Nothing seemed feasible, however. The sophomores were
so well up in tricks that it would be difficult to deceive them.

"Suppose," Grace proposed suddenly, aloud, "we ask David Nesbit's advice
to-morrow night, when we go to the flying machine exhibition."

After that she dismissed the subject from her mind for the time being.

CHAPTER V

ANNE HAS A SECRET

On the night of the flying machine exhibition, the four chums, for Anne
had now been formally adopted by Grace and her friends, arrived somewhat
early at the great arched doorway leading into the gymnasium.

They were all somewhat excited over this new experience. There had been
many balloon ascensions at the State Fair, and once a dirigible airship
had sailed over the town of Oakdale. But to see a real flying machine
with all its grace and elegance and lightness was like stepping onto
another planet where progress had advanced much faster than it had on
this.

At least, so thought Anne as she followed her friends into the building.
There was a sound of puffing and churning, during which David arrived in
a cloud of smoke on his motor cycle.

"I mean to learn to ride one of those queer machines," exclaimed Grace
from the doorway, never dreaming what an important part that very
machine was one day to play in the history of Oakdale.

"All right, you're welcome to," replied David, jumping off as he stopped
the motor. "Come over to the campus to-morrow afternoon, and I'll give
you your first lesson."

"Is that really an invitation?" asked Grace. "For I shall accept it, if
it is."

"It certainly is," answered the young man, "and I shall expect you to
make a very excellent prize pupil, not like Reddy Brooks, who tumbled
off and smashed his nose because he suddenly forgot how to manage the
brakes."

A few other people gathered in the roomy gymnasium to see the
exhibition, but the girls could see that it was a very exclusive company
they had been invited to join. There were, in fact, no other girls,
except Miriam Nesbit, who came late with her mother, a handsome, quiet
woman to whom her son David bore a marked resemblance.

Grace and her friends spoke to Mrs. Nesbit cordially, while Miriam bowed
coldly and confined all her attentions to Miss Leece, the unpopular
teacher of mathematics. Miriam ignored Anne entirely.

"And now, ladies, if you will all be seated, the show will begin,"
announced David, leading them to the spectators' benches