CHAPTER X--THE JOKE ON HESTER

After all, Centerport was just a big, inland town. It was no metropolis. Especially was the neighborhood of Central High mostly of that comfortable residential quality that is the charm of most old towns. Central High was the new school, East and West Highs being both smaller and much older buildings.

This middle of the city was called "on the hill" and was really much higher than the surrounding flatland where the business section of the city had originally been built. Two railroads ran into the town and its water freighting was considerable.

At the westerly end of beautiful Luna Lake Rocky River flowed into it at Lumberport, another thriving city; at the easterly end of the lake the waters flowed out through Rolling River at Keyport. These smaller cities each supported a good High School, and the rivalry in boys' sports among the five schools of this district had always been keen.

Now it was proposed that the girls should strive for the honor of the schools and it was reported from Lumberport and Keyport that the Girls' Branches had been organized in the high schools of those towns with great enthusiasm. Centerport's East and West schools were slower to respond. Central High usually led the way in most innovations.

The knoll on which Central High and the surrounding residences stood sloped easily toward the shore of the lake. Along the lake shore, although it was in the very heart of the city, lay several fine estates. The city was slowly condemning some of these and turning them into public parks and playgrounds. Here the three high schools had their bathing pavilions, and it was also at this point that Central High had been fortunate in obtaining the field to be devoted to the girls' athletics.

This was a convenient location for all the scholars attending Central High, a breezy piece of ground with a splendid outlook over the lake and to Cavern Island, in its center. Cavern Island was an immensely popular picnic ground, and in the summer season excursion boats that plied the lake made landings at it. But a portion of the island was wild and woody enough to please the most romantic.

Whiffle Street was shaded with great elm trees. Indeed, all that vicinity of Central High was shady and quiet. Almost all the houses on the street had lawns and well-kept gardens. Henry Grimes's house--much more ornate and imposing than the Beldings' home--stood three or four blocks along the street from where Laura and Chet lived.

The nominating committee of the M. O. R.'s appeared in Whiffle Street just about dusk. They had already gathered most of the girls selected for initiation, and quite a column of laughing young people walked, two by two, behind their four sponsors.

They brought forth Josephine Morse from her mother's little cottage at the end of the street--"the poverty end" Jess always called it--and then approached the Belding house. Laura was on the porch, eager enough; she had noticed ere they arrived, however, an unaccountable gathering of freshmen and other girls farther along the street--toward the Grimes house. Bobby was with that crowd, and much laughter came from it.

"I wonder what those children can be up to?" wondered Laura.

But when the head of the procession of candidates for M. O. R. honors appeared, Laura forgot the freshies and Bobby and ran down the walk to join the older girls; Miss Prime had beckoned to her.

"Fall in line, Miss Belding," commanded the senior, and Laura did so.

The procession continued along the street, followed by the laughing comments of the adults who leaned upon the gates, or sat on the porches of the houses it passed. At the Grimes's gate the crowd of freshmen opened solemnly to let the older girls through.

Upon the Grimes's porch stood Hester and Lily. Indeed, Hester ran down the steps when the head of the M. O. R. candidates reached the gate. But the procession kept right on. Neither Miss Prime, nor Mary O'Rourke, or the other two seniors looked Miss Grimes's way.

"Why, I thought you said you were touched, Hessie?" cried Lily, in her high drawl.

There was immense giggling on the part of the freshmen crew outside the gate. But Bobby hushed it by a sharp:

"Attention!"

Silence followed among the crew. Bobby stepped forward, drew a baton be-ribboned like those carried by the nominating committee of the M. O. R. She raised it on high. It was noticeable that most of her companions had bits of paper in their hands; from these papers they proceeded to chant the following:

"Where Bedelia wore her necklace Where the cow had tonsilitis Where the chicken got the hatchet Where the graceful swan's delight is "Oh!

"Where the fat man's collar pinches Where the hangman ties the noose Where the lady wears the boa Where the farmer grabs the goose "Oh! Oh!

"Where Napoleon received it When he fought at Waterloo, In that very same location Little Hester got it, too! "Oh! Oh! Oh-ho-ho!"

The procession of candidates passed on; but they heard, and the whole street heard! And for fear anybody should fail to understand the trick that had been played upon the unfortunate daughter of the wholesale butcher, Bobby cried:

"Notice my baton? Don't you want to be 'touched' with it, too, Lily? Oh, my!"

Hester could not even speak. She ran into the house to escape the laughter. Never had Bobby Hargrew played so cruel a joke. But she had been stung pretty hard by the false testimony Hester had given against her anent the fire at the school; and for once Bobby had not been above "getting square."

But had the girl known what would result from this practical joke of hers--had she for a moment suspected how one of her very best friends would be caused to suffer for _her_ sin, honest Bobby would have gone to Hester Grimes there and then and most humbly begged her pardon.