t, had tossed it over the heads of the centres
straight across the gymnasium, and Marion Lawrence had it and was
working toward the basket, meanwhile playing the ball back to a red
haired competent-looking girl whose gray eyes twinkled merrily as her
thin, nervous hands closed unerringly and vice-like around the big
sphere. It was in the basket, and the freshmen's faces fell.

"But maybe they've lost something on fouls," suggested Betty hopefully.

"And T. Reed is just splendid," added Helen.

Everybody was watching the gallant little centre now, but she watched
only the ball. Back and forth, up and down the central field she
followed it, slipping and sliding between the other players, now
bringing the ball down with a phenomenal quick spring, now picking it up
from the floor, now catching it on the fly. The sophomore centres were
beginning to understand her methods, but it was all they could do to
frustrate her; they had no effort left for offensive tactics. Generally
because of their superior practice and team play, the sophomores win the
inter-class game, and they do it in the first half, when the frightened
freshmen, overwhelmed by the terrors of their unaccustomed situation,
let the goals mount up so fast that all they can hope to do in the
second half is to lighten their defeat. What business had T. Reed to be
so cool and collected? If she kept on, there was strong likelihood of a
freshman victory. But she was so small, and Cornelia Thompson was
guarding her--Cornelia stuck like a burr, and the "perpetual motion"
elbow had already circumvented T. Reed more than once.

After a long and stubborn battle, the freshmen scored another point. But
in the next round the big sophomore guard repeated her splendid
'crossboard play, and again Marion Lawrence caught the ball.

Ah! Captain Lawrence is down, sliding heavily along the smooth floor;
but in an instant she is up again, brushing the hair out of her eyes
with one hand and making a goal with the other.

"Time!" calls Miss Andrews. "The goals are three to two, fouls not
counted."

The line-men gather to compare notes on those. The teams hurry off to
their rooms, Captain Lawrence limping badly. The first half is finished.

A little shivering sigh of relief swept over the audience. The front row
in the gallery struggled to its feet to rest, the back rows sat down
suddenly for the same purpose.

"Oh, doesn't it feel good to stretch out," said Betty, pulling herself