The Mystery of Arnold Hall

ving room, one cool evening late in August, as the doorb

vy yellow hair and big brown eyes were set off to perfection by a green jersey dress. Expecting to see one of the neighbors when the door was op

-e

n he

nd walked slowly into the living room starin

up from the hearth rug where she knelt trying t

delivery le

Mrs. Randall in su

d her daughter, frowni

on't stand staring at it like

nvelope. As she drew out the single sheet it contained, a slip dropped from it o

heck for a tho

yellow paper to read it for herself. "Look

a Randall to spend on a year at

uddenly that Mrs. Randall lost her balanc

horrified masculine voice from

mother. With scarcely more effort than that of her daughter Mrs. Randal

thrust the magic papers into h

d over as if to discover its sender by inspecting it from al

joke of s

st. "I should say not! A messenger

aking his head. "Do you know anything about it, M

tainly do n

much money? Didn't we send Pat here to Brentwood College

aughed Patricia. "Keep your

zled man, sinking heavily into his favorite c

the arm of her father's chair, "that Aunt Be

y. "Of course not. She has all sh

ranard," mused Patricia, recalling her

re to keep an eye on both

m there," laughed Patricia. "Darling Ted

Randall peevishly, "seem to

ir. "You're going to, aren't you?" bending down to look pleadingly into his eyes. "You know I've longe

upted her mother; "you

frowning earnestly. "It must be somebody who knows all abo

of this wonderful gift, it seems to me that since the money has been sent to you for a special purpose, and sent in such

so tantalizing," w

ave a secret, you don't like to ha

-o

be worthy of such a generous gift and wait for

ss the matter with anyone else but us. It's romantic, and your inclination will be to let your new companions in on the

w minutes, then said with a sigh,

d getting into the Sophomore class?" asked her father presently, a

Dean the first thing tomorrow mornin

ew," added Mrs. Randall, almo

g all kinds of unknown adventures, Mr. and Mrs. Ra

go?" inquired Mrs. Randall anxiously

different. And who knows what t

no harm would come to the child," sighed Mrs. Randall, running

students under the direct supervision of the house chaperon and the Dean; and

e heart to deprive her of the f

r room Mrs. Randall paused, grasped his arm and whispered cautiously, with an eye on Pat's door, "I'm willing to give

d Mr. Randall, pushing her gently but firml

n old friends, and finally, packing. So many evenings were taken up with farewell parties that Mr. Randall complained that he never saw h

ll her friends want to entertain for her, and she

onight?" grumbl

rolyn! She's quite disturbed over having Pat go away.

er have been more than good to our girl. Besides, I don't want Pat to be so take

just at first her whole mind will be on G

o evidently had his mind on something else, "that

ious' as Pat says.

s very anxious to sell. If I can drive any kind of a bargain with him, I think I'll do it. Of course don't say anyth

?" inquired Mrs. Randall, knitting very fast on t

ld get Pat one. Never been able to, before, but now I guess we can swing it. It will be a saving, too; for she can drive back and for

ll smiled and leaned

w and look at the bus," propose

aying aside her work and gettin

iled her parents; for there was such an air of suppressed excitement about them that vented itself in signifi

mother, "and get a good rest on the way

dedly. "When I travel I want my eyes wi

fying, but yet something of a strain. Almost all of her crowd had assembled to see her off, bearing gifts of candy, fruit, books, and magazines; her mother had clung to her till the very last minute, and her father had fussed about time tables, porters

the sleeper," she thought, as she tried to stifle another great yawn. "M

to the world about her. After a while, however, a most persistent dream began to disturb her peaceful sleep, a dream about a soft grey kitten whose silky fur she kept stroking, stroking until her hand was tired; but yet sh

nd opened her eyes just in time to see a pair of long legs, the ankles clad i

, horror-stricken. "I do ho