ve known
the officers would have found it out. Sure enough, they did! The little
rascals were all drunk on champagne, and the girls had to be sent to
their hotels in carriages. The kids received a great beating, let me
tell you. They are all in bed, in the cupola prison rooms, trying to get
over big heads."

Teola wanted to smile, to be happy, but the smiles refused to come. Dan
turned the subject.

"Haven't they gathered a deal of money for Skinner?"

Teola nodded, and presently responded,

"Yes, and father thinks it is so strange. Mrs. Hall and Professor Young
were at the bottom of the plan. They think the Skinner girl is a great
marvel. I, too, think she is beautiful--and so does Frederick."

"She has a lot of courage," mused Dan, thinking of the girl who had
rescued the class president from the hands of his enemies. Teola knew
nothing of this episode, for Frederick had asked him to be silent upon
it.

"Your father does not wish the man liberated?" The question in Dan's
voice brought a flush to Teola's pale face.

"No; he thinks the tribe is a menace to the town, and he is sure the man
is guilty. They do tell dreadful things of them, and I can't help but
believe some of the tales, although I feel sorry for the girl. But her
coming to the toffy pull that night made a great deal of trouble for
brother and me."

"So I supposed. But I love you, Teola, for the manner in which you
treated her."

Teola straightened herself from her lover's arms, and was about to
speak. She would tell him, then, tell him her secret--tell all the fears
that weighed upon her heart, as if they were loaded with lead. He would
comfort, and tell her not to worry--cheer her, until she could smile
again and be happy.

* * * * *

Shorts, Swipes and Spuddy had broken the laws of the fraternity. Rather
than suffer the disgrace of leaving it, they had elected a severe
punishment.

"I'd rather be cut to pieces, boys," Swipes hiccoughed, turning upon the
grave seniors, "than let my mother know what a beast I've been. Go ahead
and lick!"

Afterward, the three little freshmen slunk to the rooms in the top of
the Society house, which were kept ready for young men whom the officers
reprimanded. They had been ordered to bed for three days, and were
thankful that the punishment had been no worse than it was.

Swipes demanded a cigarette.

"Go to sleep," ordered Shorts. "It was all your fault in the beginning,