But Ruth, just then, was climbing the Alps, with no thought of her former classmates who stood in such dire need of her. "Tell me once more on what contests you have finally decided." Of course, it was Mary who asked the question; any other girl would have known. "The idea of your not knowing!" "Well, you have changed your minds so often, and I have been so busy with my new experiments, that I do not think it wonderful that I am not posted. Tell me, Dolly." "The faculties limited us to three contests. I felt indignant at the time, for I wanted a dozen, at least, but now I am ready to bow to their superior wisdom. The more contests there are, the more defeats there would be for us." "But how have you finally settled it?" "We have settled and unsettled matters a dozen times, but our last decision is really final; there will be running and jumping, and, last of all, a boat race." "And we do not stand a show?" "Not a ghost of a show for even second place," and Dolly sighed. Being president, she felt as if the honor or disgrace of the college rested on her. Mary broke the silence at last. "I have not gone in for athletics since I have been here, because I don't care for such things, but I can do considerable in the running and jumping line. I can't row at all, and I would be no good there, but if you want me to try and help you out in the other things, I will." "Why, Mary Sutherland, and you never said a word before! But you must be awfully out of practice. Do you actually think that you can save us from total disgrace?" "I don't know what the girls at the other colleges can do, so I am hardly prepared to say how much I can aid you, dear. I am not so fearfully out of practice, either. Every summer I have been kept in trim by my brothers, and really I can beat them both at running and jumping, when I am in good condition." "But that was nearly a year ago, Mary." "I know, but I have been to the gymnasium every night after my experiments. I have done all sorts of running and jumping there just to tire myself out so that I could sleep. No one has ever seen me at that time, and I never thought of your really needing my services. I expect that I have been horribly selfish." "You are just angelic now, for I know that you were planning to do a lot of extra work with Professor Reimer during these last days of college, and you would rather be with him than helping us out of a hole." That was so very true that Mary blushed. She had felt reluctant to even mention her prowess, but a second thought had made her ashamed of her hesitancy. What had not Dolly and these other friends of hers done to make college life pleasant for her during the past four years? Mary herself could not get up much enthusiasm with regard to the athletics. If there were a scientific contest now!