10 ACORN quietly down the stairs, May ran out the front door and quickly down the path to a group of girls. Then she recognized her English teacher and chaperon, Miss Laurence, coming down an opposite walk. Without hesitating one moment, she threw herself upon the grass and began sobbing. "Now, what's the matter, dear?" asked Miss Laurence. "I'm homesick," sobbed May, "and I-I've got a terrible h-head-ache." "Well, never mind. We'll excuse you tonight. Can you get to your room alone, or shall I call Edith?" "Please call Edith. She's such a dear." Miss Laurence disappeared, and before long Edith Carr came smiling down the path. "Can I be of any service to you?" she asked mockingly. Both girls laughed, and then walked quietly up the walk, into the house and to their room, where they discussed plans for the night's fun. To their great astonishment, Miss Laurence came in at 9 o'clock to see how May was. She was greatly surprised to find that the girls had not started to prepare for bed. "Girls, we must have no more of this; three years at this school ought to have taught you that 9 o'clock is bedtime for all of us. I am glad, Edith, that you can cheer May up. I do feel sorry for anyone that is homesick." "Whew!" breathed May when the intruder had gone. "One more of these little calls and we say good-night to the grapes." At exactly 9:30 two girls climbed from their sleeping porch over onto the limb of a large apple tree, and then to the ground. "Now, what do you know about this for luck? If the Madam happened to look out of her window she would see us plain as clay. It seems to me that the moon just shines when we don't want it to." "Well, you ought to be thankful it isn't cold or stormy," returned Edith; "but for the sake of both of us, keep quiet until we meet the kids or we surely will be caught. You know what that would mean expulsion after three years' hard work." "I'll treat, Edith, if you're not getting to be the most pious old wren. Why, during any of our other years you were as game as I. You never thought of getting caught, and, of course, no one found it out. Anyway, just to suit you, I'll keep still tonight. Proceed." Down in the vineyard the two girls waited, straining their ears for sounds of approaching feet. Presently voices were heard. Edith held her hand over May's mouth to keep back an exclamation of delight. However, in the moonlight they could see that the figures were not the ones they were looking for. Who were they? Suppose they ACORN 11 were two ruffians out after grapes, too. Maybe the teachers had found out they were gone and had followed them. What should they dor As the objects neared them they recognized Miss Laurence and a tall man. Both were bare-headed and without coats. Leisurely they strolled along, talking in low, subdued tones. The only words which the girls caught as they passed, "One thing is certain if the Madam knew that I had been out with you one night each week during the past two years, I would lose my position, and my reputation, as well. Then you'd have a heavier load on your shoulders than you have now." It was perhaps ten minutes before the boys appeared. They then hurried to the grapes and began their pleasant work. After some time of this illegitimate merrymaking the girls said. "We had better be getting back." Down a lane one-half mile long the four trudged. Then they crossed the back yards of two large places to avoid meeting anyone they knew. When they reached the school orchard, the boys stopped and waited until they saw a flash of light in the girls' room telling them they were safe. Scarcely had the girls' light been turned off when a knock came to the door. They jumped into bed, clothes on, and May called out sleepily, "Who's there?" "Miss Laurence. Let me in." "Oh, you can open it; it isn't locked." "Land sakes, girls," she cried, as she turned on the light, "how many times have I told you not to go to bed with your hair up?" May popped out from under the bedclothes. Miss Laurence nearly fainted. "Now, you look here, Miss Laurence," May began, "what are you doing up this hour of the night?" "I came to see how you were," she answered. "Yes, I guess you did. Now, I'm about to tell you some news; so prepare. Edith and I have been out swiping grapes with Jack Millan and Ted Matthews. Don't act so shocked; we were in the grape yard when you passed with that guy of yours. You don't need to deny it. We both saw you. We can repeat what you said would happen if the Madam knew you were out. Now. we're in about the same boat. If you tell on us it means expulsion for us. and then we would tell on you. Then something worse would happen. Now. mum's the word. What do you say?" "All right, girls, I'm with you; and say, girls," she added, "let's turn over a new leaf and forget it all." "We're with you," replied Edith.