“Yes, that is the way I feel,” said Jane. “But I have noticed Dolorez runs out a lot after dark, and just when the rest of us are busy at books. I heard her remark a couple of times she was hurrying to catch the mailman, but it seems strange she should so often be late with her letters.” “Yes, and did you notice she does not come back quickly?” Dozia asked significantly. “Oh, well, let us leave Dol to her own troubles. We have enough of our own for this afternoon,” suggested Jane. “I guess we have everything arranged. Judith, your limp is perfectly fetching, just needs a stick and an eyeglass.” “Mean thing! When you sprain your throat I shall offer gum drops,” flashed back Judith. As a basketball team the girls were first-class noise makers, and if there were any other ways of racketing than those operated, Bedlam itself must have held the copyright. For this, the final tryout, the great gym was crowded with spectators, as well as with the units of the various teams. Teams One and Two were to play for place, and that place was to take up the big game with the Breslins—the event of greatest importance in the whole basketball season. The players of most interest were the centers: Jane and Drusilla played center for Team One, and Marian and Dolores occupied the ring for Team Two. Jane was jumping center and Marian her opponent. Little confusion resulted from the application of the new rules, and nothing of spectacular interest occurred until the end of the first half. Then two fouls were called simultaneously—and both on Dolorez Vincez. She had grabbed Minette by the shoulders just as Minette was making a goal, and the next foul came on top of that, called on the same Dolorez, who executed another particularly rough play in which Jane went to the floor. For a moment after this accident there was a standstill—then taking advantage of the foul called, Drusilla caged the ball making the second point, and winning the goal Jane had tried for. “That was a trick,” whispered Judith to Isobel Talmadge, a referee. “I saw her deliberately put her foot out.” “I have my eye on that lady,” answered Isobel. “That is not the only trick she has tried this afternoon.” With a tie at the first half the interest waxed to a seething point, and the whistle blew for the last twenty minutes. Every girl seemed in such fine form and exercised such agility that a grand climax was promised when the tie should be broken. Happy, smiling, good natured and expectant, both teams made a picture the faculty of Wellington had cause to take pride in, and whichever of these teams would win out as first, the second surely would hold a place of high standing. From the lofts, and over the rails, the older girls were unconsciously climbing to dangerous edges, in the utter disregard of roped-in limits for spectators, and more than one grad and undergrad had taken and offered such innocent bets as flowers and fudge on the possible winner of the second half.