“It is too long a story to tell in a moment,” Jane replied very seriously, “but you must believe me, when I say, I cannot run.” Judith bit her red lips until her wonderful teeth threatened to take root outside of their limits. She was saying yes, just as emphatically as Jane was saying no. The two heads were all but wagging, and each wigwagged a very different meaning. “You still feel all that old stuff about being a Westerner and having had squabbles during your fresh year,” blurted Judith. “You know, perfectly well, Jane Allen, all the whole college admires you, and you won’t let us have our way. Now, do you call that fair play?” “Well, Judith, I have to think of—other things. You may imagine every one likes me, but I have a perfectly good pair of working ears and I have not wadded them up for the last few days. From what I have unwillingly heard, I can judge of what I didn’t hear,” and Jane smiled that old-time determined Allen smile, the pride of her father. Could he have seen her now he would have openly rejoiced. Jane assumed a distinctive attitude. It proclaimed “No Compromise.” “Perhaps, if I skip along, you two may fight it out in comfort,” suggested Minette. “I’ll away—and—see—some—folks,” she finished enigmatically. But Judith had the interpretive key. CHAPTER XIV—BAFFLING STRATEGY “Shh! Ssh! Careful!” “Keep back, Ted. They’ll see your feet!” “No bigger than yours!” “Hush there, you two rowdies. Do you want to have us all captured?” “Larry is pinching me!” “Never saw such babies. We will run you all home, if you don’t behave. I wish I had the other line to lead. They would—obey.” “Hush, kids. We’ll be expelled. But isn’t it too funny?” “Might be for you, but I’m choked. If I don’t get this mask off soon I’ll collapse and you’ll have a real funeral.” Titters and gasps, muffled giggles and escaping “S-sish!” like a steam valve leaking noise, the sophs and their co-workers among the freshmen were crowding around Oak Hall for the all-absorbing election. As usual on this occasion the freshies were in a panic of fun. They knew nothing of the agony of being captured by the juniors, and the masked line with the perfect disguise of gym uniform, and the head winders, found more ways of giving expression to forbidden mirth than even their giggling reputation credited them with. “The Babes,” ever fractious, were simply exasperating to-night, and Judith, with her scouts, more than once threatened to drive them home to bed at the very next whimper. Directly back of Oak Hall the plotters plotted. They were to assemble there, rush into the hall at a given signal, and put the election over before the other contingent gained their bearings. “All counted?” whispered Judith. “Yes,” replied Dozia Dalton, “and some to spare.” “Sure they’re ours?” cautioned Judith again. “They had the grip,” replied Dozia. “And the pass word?” “I didn’t try it.” “We have to—spies could defeat us.”