"Lights-out bell rang twenty minutes ago."
"Perhaps we can use the front door instead of the window this time," suggested Phyllis.
Gale and her friend cautiously descended to the campus and took a deep breath of relief.
They had escaped the dormitory without being detected—but getting back in would be another matter entirely.
They hurried across the dark campus, keeping to the shadows.
Almost at the sorority house door, they stopped abruptly.
Crouching behind shrubbery, they waited as two figures approached.
The figures stopped directly in front of them.
One was speaking—and Gale and Phyllis instantly recognized the Dean's voice.
"But don't you see—that candy was meant for me. If Miss Horton became ill eating it—"
The doctor nodded gravely.
"You had a narrow escape. You don't know who sent it to you?"
They walked on.
The girls exchanged a shocked glance.
When the coast was clear, they slipped into Happiness House through the rear door they had left unlocked.
Soon they were safely back in their room.
Phyllis smiled in the darkness.
"I guess your hunch was correct."
"Mmm," Gale murmured, lying back and staring into the dark.
"Do you suppose they were talking about her secretary?" she said slowly. "If so, she became ill after eating candy originally meant for the Dean."
"Poisoned?" Phyllis whispered.
"I don't know."
Gale turned slightly toward her.
"Do you remember Janet saying one of the Chemistry teachers was sending candy to the Dean?"
"Say—" Phyllis sat up sharply.
"Chemistry professor, acid, poisoned candy—they all fit together."
"We're not even sure the candy was poisoned," Gale replied quietly. "But it does seem connected."
"However, there are four Chemistry professors," she added.
"The question is which one threw the acid and poisoned the candy," Phyllis said.
She yawned.
"I'm afraid the puzzle will have to wait until morning. This detective is getting sleepy."
Gale wanted to stay awake and think.
But exhaustion won.
And for the moment, the mystery was left unsolved.
Weeks passed.
And it would be many before the strange happenings at Briarhurst were understood.
Later…
"Surprise!"
Phyllis's voice rang out cheerfully.
Gale stared in shock.
Phyllis was back in their room in Sunshine Alley—though she had not been there that morning.
Doctor Norcot stood nearby, smiling.
Adele Stevens was on the other side of the bed.
"Phyl!" Gale stammered. "Why—how—oh, I'm so glad to see you!"
"She wouldn't give me a moment's peace until I allowed her to return," Doctor Norcot explained with a smile.
"I'll get well twice as fast here," Phyllis declared. "I already feel a hundred percent better."
"Sunshine Alley will cure her," Adele laughed.
When they left, Gale sat beside Phyllis and hugged her tightly.
"I'm so glad you're back. I was starting to talk to myself."
"Tell me everything that happened," Phyllis demanded at once. "Who did what and why?"
"Well," Gale laughed, "we had a pretty difficult Biology exam today—but I don't know why."
"I suppose it was to test your brilliance," Phyllis teased.
"Gale! Guess what!" she added excitedly. "Monday I start classes again. I'll be on crutches, but at least I won't be stuck in one room anymore."
"That's wonderful!" Gale said.
"We'll have a celebration. I'll invite Janet and Carol—this time they can climb our trellis."
"I'll make fudge," she added.
"Wait—you're overwhelming me," Phyllis laughed. "I was only gone a little while!"
"I know how lonely it was here," Gale said softly. "I almost moved to the infirmary just to keep you company."
"That makes two of us," Phyllis smiled.
Later, Phyllis mentioned casually:
"I hear the Dean has begun construction on the stables for the horses we'll have in spring."
"Riding will be fun," Gale said. "Remember Arizona?"
"We'll have fun if we can stay on the horses," Phyllis giggled.
"Ricky has been giving us lessons," Gale added.
"Without horses?"
"With chairs and pillows," Gale explained.
"But a real horse will be harder to control than furniture."
"Rightly spoken," Ricky said suddenly, stepping into the room.
"Phyllis! You're back! Hey, Glory—look who's here!"
Sunshine Alley quickly filled with excited voices as girls rushed to welcome Phyllis home.
She had been deeply missed.
That night…
A secret meeting of the Adventure Girls was held.
Valerie, Madge, Janet, and Carol slipped in quietly.
A small hidden light under a tilted wastebasket gave just enough glow for the gathering.
"Has anyone heard anything more about the Dean?" Phyllis asked.
Silence followed.
Then Janet spoke.
"I overheard something strange in French class."
"What?" Gale leaned forward.
"Two teachers were talking. One said:
'Then the President hasn't yet discovered who took the money from the fund?'"
"And?" Carol asked lazily.
"The other said 'No.' Then they saw me and walked away."
"You scared them off," Carol teased.
"What do you think it means?" Madge asked.
Janet folded her arms.
"By simple deduction, there is a thief on campus."
"Did you think of that all by yourself?" Carol mocked.
"Someone stole money from school funds?" Gale repeated slowly.
"This is getting worse."
"Why not call the police?" Carol suggested.
"And ruin the college reputation?" Janet shot back. "That would be a scandal."
"It's better than things disappearing," Carol insisted.
"No student belongings have been touched," Valerie said carefully.
"It seems to involve the college—and the Dean."
"I wonder who is behind it all," Phyllis murmured.
The room fell into thoughtful silence.
And the mystery deepened.