I BRIARHURST II A RESCUE III BELL NIGHT IV TROUBLE AHEAD V THE HOCKEY GAME VI A NOTE VII NO CLUES VIII MYSTERIOUS STRANGER IX BAD NEWS X MISS FIELDS' VISIT XI PHYLLIS XII FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS XIII STARTLING NEWS XIV DISCOVERED XV PHYLLIS' STORY XVI THE FIRST LESSON XVII OMEGA CHI XVIII CAROL SLIDES XIX WHITE STAR XX THE END OF THE TERM
With a final chug and screech of brakes the train slid to a halt beforethe two story frame building that did duty for a railway station in thelittle college town of Briarhurst.
A group of girls proceeded with much hilarity and little speed totransport themselves and their luggage from the railway coach to thestation platform. From there they viewed the rusty bus that was totransport them up the hill to the college grounds.
"It will never hold all of us and our luggage," Carol Carter declaredwith firm conviction. "Perhaps we had better walk."
Janet Gordon looked at the dusty road winding up the hill behind thestation and then at the bus. "You can walk," she said. "I'll take achance on this antiquated vehicle."
"Are you the six young ladies goin' to Briarhurst?"
The girls turned to see a wizened old man approaching from the station."If ye are, climb aboard. I'm the bus driver."
"I'll wager the bus is even older than he is," Madge Reynolds murmuredto Valerie Wallace.
"Will the contraption hold together?" Carol wanted to know.
"It's been a-runnin' for nigh onto twenty years and ain't fell apartyet," the driver said, climbing into his seat and waiting for the girlsto get aboard.
"That isn't saying it never will," Phyllis Elton commented.
After much dickering the girls got into the bus, their luggage for themost part piled on the roof, and the ancient vehicle with its ancientdriver started with a roar.
"It reminds me of a peanut roaster," Carol murmured. "The way theradiator is steaming and the noise it makes."
"Everything but the peanuts," agreed Janet. "Which reminds me, I hopedinner is early."
"Dinner is at seven," the driver informed them conversationally.
The bus started the long tedious climb up the hillside and the driversettled back comfortably in his seat. He was in no hurry.
"I thought Briarhurst was a prosperous college," Phyllis Elton said toGale Howard, "wouldn't you think they would have a more modern bus? Thisthing might scare new students."
The driver frowned on her with all the disgust possible to his wrinkledfeatures.
"Lizzie, here, has belonged to the college since she was new. She's goodenough for you yet. Even the new Dean can't junk old Lizzie." He pattedthe steering wheel with all the affection and prized possessiveness of aloving father.
"New Dean?" Gale questioned. "Isn't Professor Harris the Dean any more?"
"Nope," the driver said. "Professor Harris resigned an' this new onecome up here about three weeks ago. She's been tryin' to make changes weold ones don't like."
The girls exchanged glances. They had heard so much about ProfessorHarris and her rule at Briarhurst. The Dean had been much beloved by thegirls. The prospect of a new regime at the college did not particularlyappeal to them.
"What's she like--the new Dean?" Janet asked interestedly.
"Young and purty," the sour old man said grudgingly. "But she got nobusiness tryin' to change things that been goin' on all right for thirtyyears. She won't stay long," he added darkly.
"Why won't she stay?" Phyllis wanted to know.
"The old ones don't like her," he said firmly.
"By 'the old ones' I take it you mean the teachers and other members ofthe faculty," Gale said.
"That's right," he agreed.
"What has she done to make them dislike her?" Janet inquired.
The man shook his head. "We don't aim to make this a moderninstitooshun. She has newfangled notions about a new bus and sports forthe young ladies. We old ones ain't goin' to stand for it," he repeatedfirmly. Evidently he considered himself an important part of the collegepersonnel.
"The idea about a new bus is enough to prejudice him," Carol laughed toJanet. "Whoops!" She made a wild lunge for her handbag as the busnavigated a deep rut with a series of protesting groans from theframework. "However, it is enough to put me on her side. If she wants anew bus I am for the new Dean!"
The bus halted first in front of the registrar's office and the girlswere assigned to their prospective quarters. Because of crowdedconditions only Phyllis and Gale were fortunate enough to win a room inthe sorority house of Omega Chi, and this was only through the effortsof their former High School teacher. The other four girls were assignedto the dormitory house on the east lawn of the campus. At first theseparation rather put a damper on their spirits.
"You might get into the sorority house next year," consoled Phyllis.
"As it is," Janet commented, "we will leave you two to face the dragonsof the sorority by yourselves."
The next stop of the bus was to let Gale and Phyllis off in front of theOmega Chi Sorority house. They surveyed their future home interestedlywhile standing in the midst of their baggage which the driver had dumpedunceremoniously at their feet. The bus rattled away and the girlsexchanged glances.
"We might as well go in," Phyllis said finally.
Several girls were on the veranda and these viewed with interest the newarrivals.
"We might as well," Gale agreed with a sigh. With a traveling bag ineither hand she followed Phyllis up the steps and into the building thatwas to be their home for the next four years.