Fantasy Football Challenge - Football Fanatics Library

Fantasy Football Challenge - Library of Books for Football Fanatics

Fantasy Football Challenge presents
Jane Allen Junior

31 of 76

"Just here to your left. But wait until I switch that light." She reached a button and gave the side light its current. Then she stepped back to Jane. "Miss Allen," she began in more subdued voice, "I just wanted to tell you it was I who rang--the fire bell!" "Oh, did you?" said Jane lightly, following the hushed tone of voice, "but where did you think the fire was?" "I knew there was no fire," she confessed, "but I had to do it to cover those other noises." Jane was mystified, but she realized by Sarah's manner that a complete explanation was not possible just then. Here and there a step or a voice threatened the snatched confidence. "Did you hear that scream?" whispered Jane. "Yes, and I--had my room changed to over at the foot of the attic stairs just yesterday, but--but--oh, Miss Allen, it is too dreadful!" she gasped, dropping into a window seat and bursting into tears. "Don't, dear! Don't, Sally!" begged Jane. "You are all unnerved. Tomorrow you can tell me your fears, if you wish," Jane qualified. "But now let us get back to the girls. They will think something dreadful HAS happened to us." "But I can't tell you, Miss Allen. If I did I should have to leave dear old Wellington and this--opportunity means so much to me," and again she sobbed convulsively, while Jane put an affectionate arm around the little stranger. Clapping of hands and calling out foolish warnings from below checked Jane's flow of sympathy, and presently she stumbled back to the recreation room propelling a mountain of blankets and comfortables. "There. Just see what you have done," she charged the students who were instantly struggling for the blankets to the extent of practically disrobing the accommodating Jane. "Leave me my blouse, please do. It's the only real Jersey I possess. But aren't you ashamed to treat juniors this way?" "Dreadfully!" drawled a girl already rolled like a cocoon in a pretty blue "wooley" and coiling up on a rug in the farthest corner. "Jane Alien, you're a perfect lamb, and I hope you'll stay with us forever." "I am sure I have a congestive chill," chattered a fraud of a girl who almost upset Jane in the blanket rush. "Give me the pink one. It's my color," and another tug freed "the pink one" from its company of neatly folded coverlets. "It is a shame," confessed someone else. "Come on upstairs, girls. Let's defy the ghosts. I have always heard they shun a crowd. Where's the crowd? Let's make them shun us." "Second the motion and hurrah!" added Nellie Saunders. "Also we should put a price on that ghost's head--offer a reward for the capture. I'm willing to chip in, although as usual I'm a little short this week." Dozia had been going over the house with Miss Gifford and just then both returned to the recreation room. "Does anyone know where Miss Duncan is--Miss Shirley Duncan?" asked the matron, keeping her pencil at that name on her report pad. Jane started involuntarily at the question. She had been secretly wondering where the rebellious Shirley was during all the excitement. "Oh, yes," spoke up Margie Winters. "She is outside visiting with her folks. She told me this afternoon she had obtained permission." "Not from me," declared Miss Gifford. Then as if fearing complications she added more tactfully, "But of course I might not have been within reach and someone else may have given permission. Will you just step in here, dear?" to Margie. "I want to note what you say of Miss Duncan's absence," and while the reclaimed mutineers were being actually driven up the stairs by Jane, Dozia and the braver element, Miss Gifford was obtaining what clue she might as to Shirley Duncan's whereabouts. Herded successfully to second floor the visiting juniors set about distributing their charges into beds--any beds in any rooms but "under covers" was the order. "I can just about picture the parade trooping into the infirmary tomorrow," said Dozia. "Here, Betty, this solo cot for yours. It is just your cute little size. And those tosies," with a playful thrust at a pair of shivering feet, "I think nervous freshies should wear slippers about their necks at night--like we used to have our mittens on a tape, you know. There," finished the querulous Dozia.

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