"That's without doubt the reason," said Lucille. "I wish he'd send it up here," sighed Patty. "Do you know any more interesting details about him?" "N--no," said Lucille; "I can't think of any more at present." "He's certainly the most interesting professor I ever heard of," said Patty, "and it's strange I never heard of him before." "There seem to be a good many things you have never heard of," observed Lucille. "Yes," acknowledged Patty; "there are." "Well, Patty," said Priscilla, emerging from the discussion on the other side of the room, "if you're going to dinner with me, you'd better stop fooling with Lucille, and go home and get your work done." "Very well," said Patty, rising with obliging promptitude. "Good-by, girls. Come and see me and I'll give you some fudge that's done. Thank you for the information," she called back to Lucille. * * * * * THE Monday afternoon following, Patty and Priscilla, with two or three other girls, came strolling back from the lake, jingling their skates over their arms. "Come in, girls, and have some hot tea," said Priscilla, as they reached the study door. "Here's a note for Patty," said Bonnie Connaught, picking up an envelop from the table. "Terribly official-looking. Must have come in the college mail. Open it, Patty, and let's see what you've flunked." "Dear me!" said Patty, "I thought that was a habit I'd outgrown freshman year." They crowded around and read the note over her shoulder. Patty had no secrets. THE OBSERVATORY, January 20. Miss Patty Wyatt. DEAR MISS WYATT: I am informed that you are the correspondent for the "Saturday Evening Post-Despatch," and I take the liberty of calling your attention to a rather grave error which occurred in last week's issue. You stated that the Lick Observatory is in Dublin, Ireland, while, as is a matter of general information, it is situated near San Francisco, California. Professor James Harkner Wallis is not an Irishman; he is an American. Though he has carried on some very important investigations, he is the discoverer of neither the rings of Saturn nor the Milky Way. Very truly yours, HOWARD D. PHELPS. "It's from Professor Phelps--what can he mean?" said the Twin, in bewilderment. "Oh, Patty," groaned Priscilla, "you don't mean to say that you actually believed all that stuff?" "Of course I believed it. How could I know she was lying?" "She wasn't lying. Don't use such reckless language." "I'd like to know what you call it, then?" said Patty, angrily. "Local color, my dear, just local color. The worm will turn, you know." "Why didn't you tell me?" wailed Patty. "Never supposed for a moment you believed her. Thought you were joking all the time."