st then, Ben Letts, accompanied by Ezra Longman, met them. The red
head of the squatter girl rose a little higher, the lines growing deeper
about the narrowed lids. To the fisherman she deigned no good-morrow,
nor had she a thought of them after they had passed.

"He air a new squatter," said Ben laconically, turning to look at the
queer pair.

"He air her uncle," added Ezra pompously; "he air here to help her pappy
out of his scrape."

Ben did not answer, but stepped to the tracks with another evil backward
look at Tess and her squatter friend.

* * * * *

Forty or fifty sophomores loafed about the opera-house watching the
caterers buzz to and fro. Tables had been spread inside for several
hundred guests, and the president's chair was decorated with roses and
winter ferns. Three little freshmen and Dan Jordan, surrounded by many
juniors went calmly in to inspect things.

Several underclassmen stood disconsolately inside.

"Be on your guard," whispered Dan, passing them.

The fifty sophomores outside were waiting for something to happen.
Graves would be produced--how, they could not tell. The strangeness of
the actions of Frederick's fraternity brothers made the affair more
unsolvable. Threatening looks were showered upon them as freshman after
freshman, guarded by juniors, filed in. Dan Jordan slouched to the door
of the opera-house, his eyes falling mechanically upon Tessibel Skinner
across the street. He heard her arguing with the man from the cafe about
her fish. Tessibel then crossed to the opera-house.

"Does ye want any fish?" she smiled, showing her white teeth.

"No," replied Jordan. "What have you?... Eels?"

"No, nothin' but bullheads and suckers."

Dan looked about, grinning upon the sophomores.

"There's enough of them here already.... I want some eels--"

The sophomores pretended not to hear. They were not interested in
fishermen, but kept their eyes open for a carriage that would dash in
from the main street with the rescued president within it.

"Sling them eels over here," commanded Tessibel, beckoning to the
slouching squatter across the way. The man with the basket offered the
contents to Dan.

"I'll take what you have, too, girl," said Jordan in a loud voice, "how
much do they weigh?"

"Don't know," replied Tess.

"Take them in and get them weighed," said Swipes, innocently coming to
Dan's side.

"Hey there, you old guy," chuckled Spuddy; "drag y