counting the stars," said the contrite Patty, "and then I
remembered too late, and I turned around suddenly, and it fell off. I am
terribly sorry."

"Never mind," laughed Georgie; "since it turned out well, I'll forgive
you. All the cast and committee," she said, raising her voice, "come up
to my room for food. I'm sorry I can't invite you all," she added to the
girls crowded in the doorway, "but I live in a single."

XIV

The Mystery of the Shadowed Sophomore

"Oh, I say, Bonnie--Bonnie Connaught! Priscilla! Wait a minute," called
a girl from across the links, as the two were strolling homeward one
afternoon, dragging their caddie-bags behind them. They turned and
waited while Bonnie's sophomore cousin, Mildred Connaught, dashed up.
She grasped them excitedly, and at the same time glanced over her
shoulder with the air of a criminal who is being tracked.

"I want to tell you something," she panted. "Come in here where no one
will see us"; and she dived into a clump of pine-trees growing by the
path.

Priscilla and Bonnie followed more leisurely, and dropped down on the
soft needles with an air of amused tolerance.

"Well, Mildred, what's the matter?" Bonnie inquired mildly.

The sophomore lowered her voice to an impressive whisper, although there
was not a person within a hundred yards. "I am being _followed_," she
said solemnly.

"Followed!" exclaimed Bonnie, in amazement. "Are you crazy, child? You
act like a boy who's been reading dime novels."

"Listen, girls. You mustn't tell a soul, because it's a great secret.
We're going to plant the class tree to-night, and I am chairman of the
ceremonies. Everything is ready--the costumes are finished and the plans
all arranged so that the class can get out to the place without being
seen. The freshmen haven't a suspicion that it's going to be to-night.
But they have found out that I'm chairman of the committee, and, if you
please,"--Mildred's eyes grew wide with excitement,--"they've been
_tracking_ me for a week. They have _relays_ of girls appointed to
watch me, and I can't stir without a freshman tagging along behind. When
I went down to order the ice-cream, there was one right at my elbow, and
I had to pretend that I'd come for soda-water. I have simply had to let
the rest of the committee do all of the work, because I was so afraid
the freshmen would find out the time. It was funny at first, but I am
getting nervous. It's horrible to think that you'