At the "Cranium" Fraternity, Dan Jordan was closeted with three little freshmen. Swipes looked downcast.
"I want to do something to help," he wailed; "I feel as if it were all my fault that the parson is gone. We can't have any fun without him. It's tedious, too, being cooped up here not being able to go anywhere for fear of being taken ourselves."
Dan cleared his throat preparatory to speaking.
"If you fellows won't peach," said he in an eager undertone, "I'll tell you something and you can help."
"What?"
"We'll have Graves if you will all do as I tell you."
"Watch me," cried Swipes, turning a somersault. When he was in the most harrowing position, Brown gave him a swift kick.
"Give him one for me, Shorts," whispered Spuddy, but Swipes was on his feet again, ready to listen.
There was a general hurrah when Jordan in subdued tones had outlined the plan.
"Where are Graves' evening clothes," demanded Dillon; "we must smuggle them into the opera-house some way."
"They'll be there all right," replied Jordan; "they've gone in with the caterer's stuff. You'd better send your own best togs in a barrel or the sophomores will see to it that you won't have them when you want them.... Now mind, mum's the word."
The fishermen of squatter's row did not recognize the stranger who slouched along by the side of Tessibel, the night of the freshman banquet. She was on her way to the city with her fish. One after another women poked frowsy heads from the hut windows at the barking of their dogs. But Tess went steadily on, not even heeding her companion who hurried his footsteps to keep close to her.
"Ye sells yer fish for a shillin' a pound," said she after a few minutes' walk.
The man nodded. Once only did he raise his eyes. They were passing a dingy-looking empty house, with a large broken window.
Just then, Ben Letts, accompanied by Ezra Longman, met them. The red head of the squatter girl rose a little higher, the lines growing deeper about the narrowed lids. To the fisherman she deigned no good-morrow, nor had she a thought of them after they had passed.
"He air a new squatter," said Ben laconically, turning to look at the queer pair.
"He air her uncle," added Ezra pompously; "he air here to help her pappy out of his scrape."