CHAPTER XVIII
GETTING INTO HARNESS
Nettie Parsons proved to be a very sweet, quiet girl, when she cameaboard the train at Maxwell. She was rather older than the majority ofgirls who entered Briarwood Hall as "Infants." It seemed that she hadsuffered considerable illness and that had made her backward in herbooks.
"Never mind! She'll be company for Ann Hicks," said Helen. "Won't thatbe fine? Neither of them will feel so badly, then, because they are inthe lower classes."
"We'll get the Sweetbriars to make her feel at home," said Ruth, to herchum. "No hazing this term, girlie! Let's welcome the newcomers likefriends and sisters."
"Sure, my dear," agreed Helen. "We haven't forgotten what they did to_us_, when we first landed at Briarwood Hall."
When the train ran down to the dock where they were to take thesteamboat _Lanawaxa_ for the other side of the lake, there was a crowdof a dozen or more girls in waiting. A welcoming shout greeted Ruth asshe headed the party from the vestibule coach:
"S. B.--Ah-h h! S. B.--Ah-h-h! Sound our battle-cry Near and far! S. B.--All! Briarwood Hall! Sweetbriars, do or die-- This be our battle-cry-- Briarwood Hall! _That's All!_"
Every girl present belonged to the now famous school society, and NettieParsons was interested right away. She wished to know all about it, andhow to join, and of course she was referred to Ruth.
In this way the girl of the Red Mill and the new pupil became betteracquainted, and Ruth found opportunity very soon to ask Nettie about thepearl necklace that her Aunt Rachel had lost some months before.
Meanwhile, the girls, with their hand luggage, trooped down the longdock to the _Lanawaxa's_ boarding-plank. Heavy Stone turned suddenly inthe hot sunshine (for it was a glowing noon) to find two of the smallergirls mincing along in her very footsteps.
"I say! what are you two Infants following me so closely for?" shedemanded.
"Please, Miss," giggled one of them, "mother told me to take Sadie for anice long walk, but to be sure and keep her in the shade!"
This delighted the other girls immensely, for it was not often thatanybody got ahead of the plump girl. She was too good-natured to takeoffense, however, and only grinned at them.
They all crowded aboard and sought seats on the upper deck of thesteamer. Tom had met some of his friends who attended the Seven OaksMilitary Academy, among them big Bob Steele and little Isadore Phelps.
Of course the boys joined the girls, and necessary introductions weremade. Before the _Lanawaxa_ pulled out of the dock, they were all havinggreat fun.
"But how we will miss Madge!" was the general cry of the older girls,for Bobbins' sister no longer attended Briarwood Hall, and her absencewould be felt indeed.
Not being under the immediate eye of his sharp-tongued sister, Bobbinsshowed his preference for Mercy Curtis, and spent a good deal of time atthe lame girl's side. He was so big and she was so slight and delicate,that they made rather an odd-looking pair.
However, Bobbins enjoyed her sharp tongue and withstood her raillery.She called him "Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum" and made believe that she was very muchafraid of him; yet it was noticeable that there was no venom in thesharp speeches the lame girl addressed to her big cavalier--and MercyCurtis could be most unmerciful if she so desired!
Soon they were on the train again, and a short run to the Seven Oaksstation, where the red brick barracks of the Military School frowneddown upon the railroad from the heights above.
"I wouldn't go to school in such an ugly place," declared the girls.
Here is where they separated from their boy friends. A great, ramshacklebus, and another vehicle, were waiting at the end of the platform. Anold man in a long duster stood beside the bus to help the girls in andsee to their baggage. This was "Uncle Noah" Dolliver.
At once The Fox formed the girls into line, and keeping step to themarch, they tramped the length of the platform, singing:
"Uncle Noah, he built an ark-- One wide river to cross! And in it we have many a lark-- One wide river to cross! One wide river! One wide river of Jordan! One wide river! One wide river to cross!
"The Sweetbriars get in, one by one-- One wide river to cross! The last in line is Heavy Stone-- One wide river to cross!"
And the plump girl _was_ the last one to pop into the ancient equipage,filling the very last seat--_tight_!
"Lucky you brought along another wagon, Uncle Noah," said The Fox, asthe remainder of the girls ran to the second vehicle.
Both of the wagons soon started. It was a hot and dusty afternoon andthe girls were really crowded.
"I'm squeezed in so tight I can't think," moaned Helen.
"Ouch!" cried Belle Tingley. "That's my funny-bone you hit, Lluella,with your handbag. Oh! how funny it feels."
"Did you ever know why they call that thing in your elbow the funnybone?" asked Heavy, mighty serious.
"No," said Belle, rubbing the elbow vigorously.
"Why, it's what makes folks 'laugh in their sleeves,'" chuckled theplump girl.
"Oh, dear me! isn't she smart?" groaned Lluella.
"Almost as smart as my Cousin Bill," said The Fox, breaking into theconversation. "He won't be called 'Willie' and he'll answer only to'Bill,' or 'William.'
"'William,' said the teacher one day to him in school, 'spell "ibex."'
"Bill jumps up and begins: 'I-b----'
"'Stop! stop, William!' cries the teacher. 'Where did you learn suchgrammar? Always say, "I am."'
"And do you know," chuckled Mary, "Bill sat down and gave up spellingthe word--and he doesn't know how to spell 'ibex' yet!"
The sun had set, when they got out at the end of the Cedar Walk. Ruth,who had sat beside Nettie Parsons, went with her to the principal'soffice and introduced her to Mrs. Grace Tellingham.
Later Ruth joined her chums in the old West Dormitory. There were twoquartette rooms side by side, in which were hatched most of the fun andgood times that happened at Briarwood Hall. In one were Ruth, Helen,Mercy, and Ann Hicks, the girl from the west. The other had long beenthe room of The Fox, Heavy, Belle Tingley, and Lluella Fairfax.
Ann Hicks, right from Silver Ranch, was on hand to greet Ruth and theothers, she having arrived at Briarwood the day before. She broughtgreetings from her Uncle Bill, Bashful Ike and his Sally.
The crowd quieted down at last. The last guilty shadows stole from roomto room, and finally every girl sought her own bed. Ruth and Helenshared one of the big beds in their room, but they did not go to sleepat once. They could hear the quiet breathing of Mercy and Ann, but thechum's eyes were still wide open.
"That Nettie Parsons is a much nicer girl than I expected," whisperedHelen.
"That is something I want to talk with you about," said Ruth, quickly.
"What?"
"Nettie Parsons. At least, something about her Aunt Rachel."
"Oh! the necklace," laughed Helen. "Are you really interested in it,Ruth?"
"She offered five thousand dollars' reward for it," continued Ruth,breathlessly. "She really did. And the reward still stands."
"Why, Ruthie!" exclaimed Helen, astonished. "Do you mean to say----"
"This is what I mean to say," said Ruth, with energy. "I mean that I'dlove to win that reward. I believe I know what has become of the pearlnecklace. In fact, Helen, I am very sure that I have seen thenecklace."