e
girls from Three Towers Hall.

"We'll go back and see what's up," shouted Ferd, and those in the
rowboats lost no time in following the suggestion.

They were still a hundred feet or more from the lake shore when they
saw what had happened. In their eagerness to see the finish of the race
Amanda Peabody and Eliza Dilks had ventured out on a soft bank, holding
to some low bushes for that purpose. Bushes and bank had given way
suddenly, and both girls had gone floundering into the water and mud up
to their waists. Now they had been pulled to safety, and their chums,
seeing that they were not hurt, set up a shout of laughter.

"You are mean things, that's what you are!" cried Amanda, in vexation.

"The meanest ever was!" echoed Eliza.

And then the two dripping figures hurried for the friendly shelter of
the boarding school.

"Gracious, what a happening!" was Vi's comment. And then she added
quickly: "But they deserved it."

"They certainly did," responded Laura. "What a fine thing it would be if
they would leave this school."

CHAPTER XVII

THE QUARREL

There was a secret club among the girls at Three Towers Hall, and only
the students who stood first in their classes could be admitted to the
chosen circle.

Also the girls who were lucky enough to be elected to the "Ghost Club,"
for that was what the society was called, must be popular among their
fellow students. There was an unwritten law that membership in the club
should not exceed fifteen.

Rose Belser was president of the club, while Connie Danvers and several
of the other girls with whom Billie and her chums were on the best of
terms, were fellow members. Caroline Brant had been asked to join but
had refused on the ground that the club took too much time from her
studies. It was a compliment to Caroline that, in spite of her refusal,
the girls--all except Rose Belser--liked her just the same.

Billie and her chums had not been in Three Towers a week before they had
heard of the secret club--no one but the members themselves even knew
the name of it--and had realized how much all the girls longed to be
members of it.

So when one day Connie came to Billie and whispered something in her
ear, it was no wonder that Billie's heart beat a little faster.

But all Connie had really said was: "We want to see you and Laura and Vi
outside near the old maple tree at ten to-night. It's very important.
Don't keep us waiting!"

And Billie, in a voi