the
platform. Certainly this Dean girl was awfully good style, she
reflected.

"What did mamma's precious pet want with you?" For the first time, since
acknowledging an introduction to Elizabeth, Leslie Cairns had
condescended to address her.

"Nothing, except to return this. She carried it and forgot to give it to
me when I shook her. I am glad she didn't wait and bring it over to
Alston Terrace. I don't care much for that type of girl. She's priggish
and goody-goody, isn't she?" Miss Walbert promptly took her cue from
Leslie.

While the babyish-looking freshman regarded Leslie with a perfectly
innocent expression, there was lurking malice in her wide blue eyes. She
had not liked the dignity Marjorie had shown when returning her
property. It rankled in her petty soul. With the gratitude of the
proverbial serpent, she was quite ready to sting the hand which had
befriended her.

"I'll say she is," returned Leslie. "I can't endure the sight of her and
she knows it. You noticed she did not stay long. Lucky you knew Joan and
Harriet. I'd be sorry for you if you had been roped in by that crowd of
muffs." She laughed disagreeably.

"It would take more than that crowd of muffs, as you call them, to rope
me in," boasted the other girl. "I saw at once they were not the kind
that make good pals. Not enough to them, you know. Besides, I prefer not
to be too friendly with a stranger until I know her social position."

Leslie Cairns regarded her meditatively, then held out her hand. "Shake
hands on that," she invited. "You seem to have some sense. I hope you
will stick to what you have said. If you do, you may count yourself a
friend of mine. You will find, after you have been at Hamilton a while,
that my friendship amounts to a good deal."

"Oh, I am _sure_ of that," emphasized the freshman. She was not sure at
all. What she had shrewdly taken stock of was the cut and material of
the English tweed sports suit Leslie was wearing. It was a marvel of
expense. It was conspicuous, even among the smart traveling suits of her
companions. So were her sports hat and English ties. Leslie's assured
manner also impressed her. She decided that this exceedingly ugly but
very "swagger" girl must be a person of importance at Hamilton.

Unmistakable gratification looked out from Leslie Cairns'
roughly-chiseled features at the freshman's flattering response. Like
the majority of the unworthy, she craved flattery. Since she had been
denie