ing along in company with Edna Wright and Daisy Culver,
two seniors who had been her faithful followers since her advent in
Oakdale.

"Excitement number one," remarked Nora. "The fair Eleanor comes and our
peace of mind departs. I had cherished vain hopes that she wouldn't
favor us with the light of her countenance this year, even though she
did inform Grace of her laudable desire to stay with the seniors for
pure spite."

"Never mind, Nora," said Jessica, "I don't believe she'll worry herself
about us, even though she did make dire threats."

"Remember what I told you last year, girls," said Grace in a tone of
admonition. "Be careful what you do and say whenever she is near. She
despises the Phi Sigma Tau and would revenge herself upon us at the
slightest opportunity. She comes of a race who swear vendettas."

"She better not swear any when I am around," retorted Nora with spirit,
"or she will find that the Irish are equal to the occasion."

"Don't excite yourself needlessly, Nora," laughed Anne. "That splendid
Hibernian energy of yours is worthy of a better cause."

"How provoking!" suddenly exclaimed Grace. "I've left my library book in
the gym. and it's a week overdue now. I shall simply have to go back and
get it. It's only three o'clock," she added, consulting her watch. "Who
will go with me?"

"Of what use is it for all of us to go," complained Nora. "We'll wait
right here for you and you can hurry faster by going alone."

"All right, lazy, unsocial creatures," said Grace good-humoredly. "I'm
off. Be sure you wait."

She hurried in the direction of the High School and in an incredibly
short time was running down the corridor of the wing that led to the
gymnasium. Remembering that she had laid her book on the window sill,
Grace lost no time in securing it, and taking it under her arm waited
toward the door. Suddenly the faint smell of smoke was borne to her
nostrils.

She sniffed the air, then murmured, "I wonder what's burning. The smell
seems to come from over there. Perhaps I'd better look around. It won't
take a second."

She slowly retraced her steps, looking carefully about her. There was no
smoke to be seen. She turned to go, then impelled by some mysterious
influence, her eye traveled to the door of the small room at the left of
the gymnasium.

With a cry of consternation she sped across the floor, flung open the
door and staggered back, choked by a perfect volume of smoke that issued
from