9 ACORN of their revelry. It was high time for action. Trent was appointed captain, to take charge of the raid. "If we all go over, it'll only be confusion and nothing will come right, so you eight fellows here come along with me. The rest of you remain here until we return, or rather, be on the corner waiting, ready to help us. Rawson, help me carry this step-ladder." The nine boys started off, Trent in the lead. When they reached the Roland home, all the blinds were drawn, and they were unable to see any of the girls, but they could hear their merry-making which spurred them on to action. "Rave on! We'll give you just five more minutes." Blair shook his fist at the darkened windows. "Now, everyone attention." It was Trent taking charge again. "If one mistake is made, all is lost." The step-ladder was placed stealthily on the back porch. A light was gleaming from the kitchen window. The boys peeped cautiously in. It was a snap. All the "eats" were spread out on the cabinet as if waiting for them. No one was in the kitchen except two little girls, dressed daintily in white. "Even got serving girls," growled Bob. "Never mind, son. We'll take the little serving girls, too. It's too bad to scare 'em, but it's necessary. If we take them, the girls will be more willing to compromise and let us join. Now as soon as Rawson cuts the wires everybody will be running about in confusion because of the sudden darkness. Then's our chance. Take all the eats that you can manage to carry off safely. Bob and I'll manage the serving girls. Everybody ready!" Snap! The house was suddenly all darkness. There was a grand rush in the kitchen. Trent threw his overcoat over one of the struggling little girls and carried her off. Bob was not so lucky in capturing the other, so he snatched a cake instead. In less than five minutes the successful robbers were again before the Trent home. Jack came up panting, half carrying, half dragging the still struggling girl. The big overcoat dropped from her head and hung about her shoulders. She drew it tightly about her. "Oh oh" she was panting as hard as Trent, but it was mostly indignation which caused it. The biting words she wished to say were half smothered in angry sobs. The boys were beginning to feel repentant. "O, Trent, to think you'd do that!" She pushed the tangled curls from her face and sank down on the porch steps. The light fell full upon her face. It was Betty Allison, the vice-president of the Senior class. The boys could only look their amazement. The silence which ensued was oppressive. ACORN 10 "Explanations for such unmanly conduct seem to be in order, Mr. Trent." Betty was regaining her Senior dignity. Everyone tried to explain at the same time, and Betty looked helplessly from one to the other, grasping only a part of the real situation. "You see," finished Trent, "we never dreamed that this was a party where you were to forget your Seniorhood and represent yourselves as you were ten years ago. We just wanted to keep the lunch until you'd consent to let us join the party and we've sent for more, too, so there'll be plenty. We thought you were a serving girl. Go and phone the girls, fellows!" Betty was laughing now. In a few minutes there was a shout. "The girls have compromised! We can go over in half an hour." An electrician was soon working on the broken wires, and in exactly one-half hour the house was blazing with light, the blinds were no longer down, the girls had returned from their trip to Babyland and seemed quite content to play the part of hostess to their self-invited guests. To Youth We stand before a life that is to be, Before the years that hope has pictured fair. The future looms up bright, and there we see A thousand things that call to do and dare. O'erfull of life itself, and filled with zeal, Enthused by Nature's transcendental store Of beauty, ought we not at least to feel That we than older folk are favored more? Yet we must learn on every passing day, From Nature's open book of sacred truth, Those things that help us beat the narrow way, Those things that keep for us this joy of youth. And then, with all that makes a life worth while. May youth not face the future with a smile? PHILLIP SPACE, '15.