The Orchard Secret Part 29

"Oh, yes, I see," admitted the chief, going back behind his ma.s.sive desk.

"And I'm sorry. I can't help you any. We don't know where this missing young fellow is any more than you do. But don't forget I'll always be here if you need me, and I'll help you all I can."

Arden murmured her thanks, promised to remember, and, bidding him good-bye, left the building. She breathed a sigh of relief.

Standing for a composing moment on the sidewalk in front of police headquarters, Arden looked up and down the quiet street.

"Oh, my heavens!" she suddenly exclaimed. "Here comes Toots Everett!"

And indeed it was. Toots, with her hair freshly finger-waved, was walking briskly in Arden's direction.

Without waiting to greet her, Arden cut across the street and hurried back to the college.

CHAPTER XXII Arden Admits It

The clatter of dishes and the clink of gla.s.ses vied with the chatter of eager young voices as the girls began their evening meal at Cedar Ridge.

The dining room was brightly lighted, and each table, seating twelve students, was fully occupied.

Arden and her friends began pa.s.sing the food among themselves.

"Gold fish again!" announced Jane Randall as the waitress put a large dish of creamed salmon in the center of the table.

"And boiled potatoes and beans," Terry added before that number of the bill of fare was in evidence.

"What do you guess for dessert?" Jane asked Terry. "Library paste or pie?"

Terry considered a moment, during which time Sim, on her left, held a heavy white plate beneath her nose.

"Library paste--always on Tuesday," Sim finished, giving the college slang name to cornstarch pudding of a pale yellow hue. "I could do nicely with some extra food tonight."

"Good idea, Sim," remarked Mary Todd. "What do you say we raid the kitchen later?"

"Fine!" agreed Sim. "We'll get Arden, Terry, Jane, Ethel, you, and me.

That makes a good-sized party."

"You come for us, Mary," Terry suggested. "Knock on our door when you're ready to go, and we'll have a feast."

"All right. It's settled."

It was quite possible in that noisy room to be talking to one girl at the head of the table while the girl at the other end knew nothing of the conversation. So it was very surprising and equally diverting when Elizabeth Kilmore, sitting some distance away from Terry and her chums, announced forcefully:

"Gather round! I have some choice gossip!"

"Let's have it!" begged Sim. "Brighten up our lives a little."

"I got it from an upper-cla.s.s girl who got it from somebody else who had it from some other individual along the grapevine route," said Elizabeth, "that a freshman has been arrested."

"No!" gasped two or three girls in a chorus.

"Never!" murmured others.

"Well, at any rate, she was seen coming out of police headquarters here in town this morning. What do you make of that?" asked the triumphant Elizabeth.

The girls looked at one another smilingly. Such exciting rumors did not often come their way. It was fun to speculate on the fate of such a student caught in the toils of the police. Ah!

Arden, as the echoes of this choice gossip went around the table, maintained a discreet silence. She had not yet told her roommates of her trip to town that morning, but she could readily understand, now, that when they were back in 513 she would have some explaining to do. But, for the time being, she decided to try to change the subject. So she remarked casually:

"It was probably nothing. Lots of people in this town look like college students. See how the natives try to copy our clothes."

"Always belittlin', Arden," remarked Terry. "Can't you let us enjoy the scandal? Heaven knows things have been pretty quiet around here of late."

"If you ask me, more likely it had something to do with a minor traffic violation," Arden continued. "You're all very silly. Please pa.s.s the bread, Terry!"

Terry reached for the bread plate but, at the same time, shot Arden a quick appraising look. Arden took a slice and innocently asked for further plans of the night raid.

"We'll call for you girls in 513 about half-past ten--after lights are out," Jane said.

The others nodded a.s.sent. The dishes continued their barrage of sound, successfully concealing the plans from those not included in them.

As Sim had foretold, at the close of the meal large bowls of "library paste" made their appearance. Arden's particular group decided to forego it and make something else, later, take its place. Forbidden sweets were always more tasty.

When the meal was at an end, the dean, suddenly and somewhat out of the ordinary, signaled for silence by tapping a bell kept for that occasional use at her right hand at the faculty table.

Immediately a hush descended over the noisy room. Miss Anklon arose and stood teeteringly and frostily in her place, having pushed back her chair to make room.

"A story has come to my ears," she began, "to the effect that a student of Cedar Ridge was seen at police headquarters here in town today. It seems incredible to me. However, I wish the girl who has allowed herself to cause such a horrid rumor to circulate to come to me before twenty-four hours pa.s.s and explain herself."

She gave the bell another "ding," and the conversational flood was at once loosed again, but with new import.

So the dean had also heard the rumor. Worse and more of it!

Terry herded Arden and Sim through groups of chattering and surprised girls, at the same time whispering:

"Arden Blake, you know something about this! Come upstairs!"

Arden nodded silently. Sim objected to Terry's bustling about and tried to hold back. But Terry, well versed in the art of telling her friends something without being overheard by others near by, soon had Sim tractable and under control.

Safe in the sanctuary of their room, Terry started in.

"Well, Arden, what did you do this time?"

"Oh, don't be so smart, Terry! I didn't do anything."

But her face flushed.

"What do you know about the college student seen coming out of police headquarters?" demanded Sim. "Come on--come clean, as the detectives say--at least, in books."