The Orchard Secret

  CHAPTER XXII Arden Admits It

  The clatter of dishes and the clink of glasses vied with the chatter ofeager young voices as the girls began their evening meal at Cedar Ridge.The dining room was brightly lighted, and each table, seating twelvestudents, was fully occupied.

  Arden and her friends began passing the food among themselves.

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

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

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

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

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

  "Good idea, Sim," remarked Mary Todd. "What do you say we raid thekitchen 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'reready 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 thehead of the table while the girl at the other end knew nothing of theconversation. So it was very surprising and equally diverting whenElizabeth 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-class girl who got it from somebody else who hadit 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 herein town this morning. What do you make of that?" asked the triumphantElizabeth.

  The girls looked at one another smilingly. Such exciting rumors did notoften come their way. It was fun to speculate on the fate of such astudent 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 hertrip to town that morning, but she could readily understand, now, thatwhen they were back in 513 she would have some explaining to do. But, forthe time being, she decided to try to change the subject. So she remarkedcasually:

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

  "Always belittlin', Arden," remarked Terry. "Can't you let us enjoy thescandal? 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 trafficviolation," Arden continued. "You're all very silly. Please pass thebread, Terry!"

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

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

  The others nodded assent. 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 "librarypaste" made their appearance. Arden's particular group decided to foregoit and make something else, later, take its place. Forbidden sweets werealways more tasty.

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

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

  "A story has come to my ears," she began, "to the effect that a studentof Cedar Ridge was seen at police headquarters here in town today. Itseems incredible to me. However, I wish the girl who has allowed herselfto cause such a horrid rumor to circulate to come to me beforetwenty-four hours pass and explain herself."

  She gave the bell another "ding," and the conversational flood was atonce 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 surprisedgirls, 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 triedto hold back. But Terry, well versed in the art of telling her friendssomething without being overheard by others near by, soon had Simtractable 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 policeheadquarters?" demanded Sim. "Come on--come clean, as the detectivessay--at least, in books."

  "I know all about it!" calmly replied Arden. "I am that girl!" sheannounced in her best stage manner. "I'll tell you all about it," and shedid.

  "Are you going to Tiddy?" Sim wanted to know.

  "I think not--little one," drawled Arden, still calmly but with firmdecision, as her friends could tell by the look in her eyes. When Ardenmade up her mind, it was made up. "It would be useless to explain," shecontinued. "Besides, I really didn't do anything."

  "Well, if you're found out, it might just as well be murder--we'll all besent home," Terry decided.

  "You're right, Terry," Sim agreed. "We ought all to leave for home beforewe suffer the ignominy of being sent."

  "Not tonight, at least," Arden temporized. "I may as well be hanged for asheep as a lamb. I say let's wait until something really happens.Besides, I think it will be lots of fun to raid the kitchen."

  "Do you think Tiddy has any real evidence?" asked Sim.

  "Let's try to guess what we shall find to eat in the raid," said Ardendemurely.

  "My dear roommate," laughed Terry, "you are, without doubt, a peer in theart of changing subjects. But I do agree with you about the raid. We mustall wear tennis shoes and carry flashlights."

  "Let's get our work done quickly, then," proposed Sim, "and wait, withwhat patience we may, for Jane," and she swept her chums a bow in herlatest amateur dramatic role.

  With unusual willingness, the three girls began to open their books, lookfor pencils and paper, and soon the room was in silence as they laboredat their lessons for next day.