Noiselessly, Gale closed the door behind her.
Swiftly her glance traveled over the room. Girls' things were strewn about in disorder. Gale smiled to herself with mingled pride and humor. At least her own room and Phyllis' didn't look like this—and this room belonged to Juniors!
Cautiously she bent down and looked under the bed.
Yes, it was here.
She pulled out the black case and snapped back the lid. With nervous fingers she inserted a sheet of paper in the portable typewriter. She typed a few words and tore the sheet out again.
She had just snapped the lid and shoved the case beneath the bed once more when she heard voices.
Marcia was returning!
Gale ran for the closet. There was no time to slip out of the room without being seen. She hid in the depths behind the dresses. The door was open a crack. She could hear—but she could not see what went on in the room.
"Now where did I leave them?" Marcia's voice demanded fretfully.
Another lazy voice belonging to Marcia's roommate inquired:
"Delivering more notes for Professor Lukens?"
"No. It's my Latin notes—here they are! Let's go, we'll be late."
The two girls were gone as quickly and as suddenly as they had come.
Gale lost no time in making her way out of their room. She went downstairs to her room where Valerie was waiting for her.
"Did you get it?" Valerie asked.
Gale sank onto the bed and heaved a sigh of relief.
"I did—and I nearly got caught. Marcia and her roommate came back while I was there."
"Did they see you?"
Gale shook her head and unfolded the sheet of paper.
"I hid in the closet. Now, where is that note?"
"Here." Valerie produced the note which the girls had received under the door.
Carefully the two checked the letters. The letters produced by Marcia's typewriter were even and clear cut. It was evident that the notes had not been produced by the same machine.
Valerie sat back and looked at Gale.
"Well?"
Gale shrugged and folded the papers together.
"Exhibit A is a failure. We'll try some more."
"We got it!" Carol burst in, followed by Janet.
"Is it catching?" Valerie asked.
"Whose is it?" Gale wanted to know.
"The Chemistry Professor's," Carol said proudly.
"And the assistant's," added Janet. "We covered them both. Are we good detectives or are we?"
The check-up of the typing on the last two notes was the same as it had been with Marcia's. None of them were alike and none of them resembled the typing in the mysterious note.
The type of the Chemistry Professor's machine was much larger, while that of his assistant was smaller.
"Shucks," Carol said disgustedly. "We had all that work for nothing."
"Perhaps it wasn't written by any machine here at the college," Valerie said.
Gale nodded.
"True, it might not have been."
"I think it was," Carol said. "There are no visitors on whom we could blame all these mysterious happenings—and certainly the same person is responsible for the notes!"
"We will have to find some more typewriters."
"Tell you what," Janet said, "I've a bright idea. Let's give a party and hold a scavenger hunt. We will make the items for the girls to bring in mostly typewriters. In that way we will have all the typewriters brought to us and we can try them."
"It would immediately make the one person we want suspicious. He could smash his machine then," Carol said. "You will have to have a brighter idea than that."
"My next bright idea is to go and visit Phyllis," Janet said. "All in favor—"
"Aye!"
The vote was unanimous.
The girls descended to the campus. It was while they were passing the East Campus Dormitory where Janet and Carol abided that another Freshman hailed them.
"Hi, Carol, the house mistress wants to see you—and she is angry," the girl added confidentially.
"If it is that little matter of a broken window—" Carol began calmly.
"Broken window?" Gale asked. "In your room?"
Janet giggled.
"I threw a book at Carol. She dodged and it went through the window."
Valerie shook her head sadly.
"A Freshman trick! I am ashamed of you. To think—"
"She wants to see you too," the Freshman said smiling, "about the broken vase in the hall."
"A Freshman trick!" Janet mimicked.
"It was an accident," Valerie said firmly. "I slipped and fell against it. I couldn't help it if the table wiggled and the vase fell off."
"Did it fall or was it pushed?" Carol winked at Janet.
"I suppose I'll have to go in," Valerie sighed.
That left Gale to go on alone to the infirmary to see Phyllis.
That young lady was chafing at the delay in her recovery. It was a week now since the second accident and she wanted to get back to Happiness House and on her feet. She did not like the restrictions placed on her by the Doctor and frankly told her so.
Doctor Norcot merely smiled and told her to be good.
Gale told Phyllis all the news of the campus and only when it was nearing dinner time did she leave.
When she closed the door to Phyllis' room behind her she noticed the Doctor standing in the hall. She beckoned to Gale and the Freshman followed the physician to her office.
There Gale sat in the chair facing the Doctor across her desk.
"Is anything the matter?" Gale asked when she noted the tenseness of the Doctor's expression and the frown on the usually smiling features.
The latter nodded gloomily.
"There is—a great deal."
"Has anything happened to the Dean?" Gale asked, the mystery still uppermost in her mind.
"No," the Doctor said, getting up and pacing to the window. "No, she is quite safe."
"Then it is Phyllis," Gale said with quiet conviction. "What is it? Tell me!"
Doctor Norcot came across and leaned against the corner of the desk at Gale's side.
"What sort of a woman is Miss Elton's aunt?"
Gale was taken somewhat by surprise.
"She… isn't exactly pleasant," she said at last quite frankly. "Cold—aloof—stern. Why?"
"Has she money?" Doctor Norcot asked next.
Gale was more astounded than ever.
"I—I don't know," she said finally. "She keeps a big house—but not lavishly. She is sending Phyllis to college. I suppose she must have."
"Does she love her niece? I mean, would she do anything for Phyllis?"
Gale sat back in her chair and looked squarely at the Doctor.
"I don't understand, Doctor. Why don't you ask Phyllis these things? Why do you want to know?"
"Because—" Doctor Norcot laid her hand gently on Gale's shoulder, "because unless your friend has an operation she will never walk again—not as other girls."
"Oh!"
Gale shrank at the picture presented to her.
Phyllis—helpless. Phyllis never to run or dance or play again.
"But isn't there something we can do? I'll do anything!" she cried. "Anything!"
"An operation will cost money. Unless she has it—"
"Unless she has it," Gale echoed faintly.
"How much would you charge for the operation, Doctor?"
"Oh, I wouldn't perform it," the Doctor said. "I'm not a surgeon. But we would have to get a good one—the best in the East. Otherwise she hasn't a chance."
"Have—have you told her?"
"No—quite frankly, I haven't the heart."
"She is so brave," Gale said simply. "It is horrible to think—"
"I had to tell you," the Doctor said. "Between us perhaps we can think of something to do."
Gale passed a dazed hand across her eyes.
"I can't think of anything right now."
"It has been a shock. We will talk about it again tomorrow."
Gale rose slowly.
"Do you think we should tell Phyllis yet?"
Doctor Norcot smiled gently.
"Suppose we wait a little while. There is no use to frighten her. When we tell her we might be able to promise her recovery later."
Gale walked across the campus in a daze.
Phyllis… the girl who had always been so active, so brave… now facing something far worse.
It would take all her courage.
Gale had no hope that Miss Fields would help. Phyllis' aunt was not the kind to sacrifice for others.
If she refused…
Phyllis would suffer.
The injustice burned inside Gale.
She must do something.
But what?
She had no money.
None of them did.
They were helpless.
Instead of returning to the sorority house, Gale walked toward the village. The long walk steadied her.
At the railway station she sent a telegram to Marchton asking Miss Fields to come at once.
Then she walked back slowly.
Dinner was in progress when she returned.
She didn't go in.
Instead, she went upstairs, threw herself onto the bed—and cried.
All her tears were for Phyllis.
"Aren't you hungry?" Ricky demanded, bursting in.
Then she stopped.
"Gale… what's wrong?"
Gale sat up, wiping her face.
"Nothing."
"Don't tell me you failed Biology!"
"Nothing so simple," Gale said.
"Simple? Biology is anything but simple!" Ricky groaned, then softened. "Tell me."
Slowly, Gale told her everything.
"We gotta do something," Ricky said, her voice thick. "Does Phyllis know?"
Gale shook her head.
"We don't want her to—yet."
"Then don't tell the others," Ricky said wisely. "Someone might slip."
Gale nodded.
"I've already sent for her aunt."
"Come eat," Ricky said gently.
"I'm not hungry."
"Neither am I," Ricky sighed. "But we have to eat something. Tomorrow won't wait."