The Weber Literary Journal "To my extreme sorrow and disgust I am forced to report a dastardly offense by certain students of this institution. Last evening, Sunday, as you recall, a number of low, common housebreakers invaded the domestic science rooms and, as is now apparent, held an oyster supper." At these grievous accusations the two girls looked at Miss Bybee and Jack whispered, "Great gobs of excitement! but Miss Bybee must be angry; she always is after an oyster stew, even if her permission is obtained first." The speaker continued, "We feel, as a faculty, that we can easily find out the participants in such an outrage and, mark my word, students, they shall be turned over to the courts for housebreaking. Jacqueline nudged Ilah. "If its the crowd I think it is they'll have a hot time finding out who it was. I shall keep my optics pealed for them this morning on the campus." The students, after assembly, broke into groups on the campus and all were excitedly discussing the offense; but "Jack" knew all these to be innocent. She wisely anticipated that the culprits would repair to the secret "crap-shooting parlor" in the tower rooms. She, apparently very innocent, made her way thither, singly blithely and there surely enough, were seven of the college fellows. Of course they had not seen her "lab" book for she hadn't left it there. So she turned and left, acting thoroughly distressed over her lost book. Knowing "Jack" would listen, Jane Cummings the school busy-body, came to her with the story of Miss Bybee's actions the morning after the disaster. "Golly! You should have seen Bybee. Those 'scoundrels,' as the president calls them, left all their dirty dishes with a sign on the dirtiest ones, 'wet paint.' Isn't it killing? Just feature Bybee in a turmoil with her colorless, sedate self all wrought up; she got mixed up in those dishes and surely looked messy for the first time in her life and when she was about ready to shed tears over her usually spotless kitchen who should come to see her on business but Lon. He always was a cut-up in spite of his bachelorhood and he laughed so oddly when he saw her! Oh, she was a sight! 16 The Weber Literary Journal She looked like the kind that is admired by tired business men." Weeks passed. No trace could be found of the marauders. The labels from the oyster cans even defiied identification in the college town and it seemed that the faculty members must prove themselves poor detectives. But Miss Bybee was colorless no longer. Her experience in the kitchen that morning seemed to have put renewed life into her and a merry twinkle always played in her eye when she noticed a certain group of boys. She couldn't prove "yellow" and give their secret away, yet they must be caught and receive punishment for their misdeeds. How could this be accomplished? She thought of all kinds of wild schemes, but they were immediately dismissed, one after another. One evening about five weeks after the oyster supper, "Jack," while playing tennis with one of the "star boarders" of the "crap-shooting parlor," was summoned to the president's office. Thinking little of the summons she proceeded leisurely to change her shoes and answer it. When she made her appearance in the faculty council hall, a subdued murmur went through the members assembled. Judging that she had intruded she made as if to withdraw, but the president rose and said curtly, "Please step into the inner office." "I suppose I've walked into the jaws of death this time; everything seems formidable; the very air is full of suspense," she thought. "What in the Sam Hill does he want of me, do you suppose?" President Higgs followed her into the office and then as she faced him his eyes pierced her very soul. "Well I hope you had a good time," he thrust at her sneeringly. Panic seized her. Was she being accused of taking part in that outrageous escapade of five weeks ago? Would he force from her the names of the culprits? No. He could expel her first. "Well, why don't you speak? What have you to say?" came from the angry accuser. "Mr. Higgs, I give you my word of honor. I am innocent of 17