Arriving at the field the four girls followed the crowd, which for the most part made for a long, low building at one end of the field.

“Where are they going?” asked Grace.

“For ice cream, of course,” replied a young woman who stood near enough to overhear Grace’s question.

“Oh, I want some ice cream,” piped up Elfreda.

“Very well, my child, you shall have it,” said Miriam in a grave, motherly tone.

The young woman who had answered Grace’s question glanced at Miriam with twinkling eyes.  Then she smiled broadly.  That smile warmed Grace’s heart.

“Won’t you come with us?” she asked.

“Thank you, I believe I will,” she replied.  “I think I have the advantage.  I know you are Miss Harlowe, but you don’t know me.  My name is Gertrude Wells, and I am a freshman, too.  Now, suppose you introduce your little friends, and we’ll go over to the club restaurant.  I was waiting for my chum, but she has evidently deserted me.”

Grace decided that she liked Miss Wells better than any other freshman she had met.  She had a dry, humorous way of saying things that kept them all in a gale of laughter.  Elfreda, too, seemed especially interested in her, and exerted herself to please.  After their second ice all around they strolled over to where the manager of the college athletics association was marshaling the candidates for the try out.  Grace and Miriam hurried off to the training quarters at one end of the field to put on their gymnasium suits.

The girls who wished to play were formed into teams and tried out against one another and the most promising of the players ordered to step off to one side after having lined up for play three times.  It was after four o’clock when Grace and Miriam were called to the field.  The long wait had made Grace rather nervous.  Miriam, however, was cool and self-possessed, and played with snap and vigor.

“I don’t know what ails me,” said Grace despairingly, as she and Miriam stood waiting for the next line up.  “I didn’t play my best.  I tried to, but I couldn’t.”

“You’re nervous,” rejoined Miriam.  “Just make yourself believe you are back in the gym at home and you can show them some star playing.”

“I will,” promised Grace.  “See if I don’t.”

It was after five o’clock before the last ambitious freshman had been given a chance to display her basketball prowess or lack of it.  Grace had made good her word and forgetting her nervousness had played with the old-time dash and skill that had won fame for her in her high-school days.  Her playing had elicited cries of approval from those watching and she had the satisfaction of hearing, “You play an excellent game, Miss Harlowe,” from the manager.  Miriam, after her third trial, also received her full measure of applause, and flushed and happy the two girls clasped hands delightedly when they received word that they were to report for practice at four o’clock Monday afternoon.  As they were leaving the field to go to the training shed Gertrude Wells hurried toward them.  “Miss Harlowe,” she called, “please wait a minute.”