Voices from the end of the hall near Sally’s room forced their way into the corridor as she glided past, and the unmistakable tone of Shirley Duncan riveted Jane’s attention.

“You’re too silly,” she was insisting, no doubt to little Sally.  “Don’t I give you enough?  Here’s something daddy gave me.  You may have it.  Now do be a good, sensible little girl.”

A pause, perhaps a remonstrance, for the voice took up its cue again.

“Of course you must have plenty of use for it.  Don’t be a goose, Kitten.  You know how much I care about the old moldy college.  But I’m bound to get something for my money.”

Jane was at the lavatory door now but she did not at once enter.  Surely, under the circumstances it was permissible to listen to the unguarded voice of Shirley Duncan.  And she called Sally “Kitten!”

“For mercy’s sake don’t start to howl,” it came again.  “I can stand anything but that.  It is all working beautifully and I guess before I quit I’ll be able to show them that a country girl isn’t such a simp as they imagine.”

“Miss Allen is here tonight,” Jane next heard Sally say, “and you know what that means, Bobbie.”

“As if I care for her,” and a scornful laugh made the meaning clearer.  There were other words but Jane had heard enough.  The mention of her own name seemed to charge her honor, and the belated drink of refreshing water was quickly drawn.

Back in the steamer chair Jane had new cause to ponder.  What was the threat or power Shirley held over little Sally?  And to bribe her with money?  Also the affectionate “Kitten” and “Bobbie”?

The wind was stirring, but everything human now seemed withdrawn from activity around Lenox.  Jane was waiting, listening for what?  The frightened freshmen seemed secure tonight in their dormitories, assured of protection by Jane and Judith, two of the bravest girls in all Wellington.  Also they had been promised a solution of the noise mystery and was not that in itself sufficient alleviative?

The clock in the hall tingled a chime, sweet almost playful music for the elves of midnight and a challenge to baser intruders.  Jane must have dozed when she suddenly became conscious of something—­

Was it a noise?  She listened, alert and all but quivering in anticipation.  There never had been any question of actual danger surrounding the weird happenings, but now that she faced the mystery something very like panic seized her.

Yes—­again!  That was surely something metallic!

“Quick, Judy!” she roused the sleeping girl on the bed.  “Follow me.  There it is—­beginning.”

“Where!  What!” Judith sat up and snatched her robe.

“I’m going to the attic.  I am sure it is up there!” and Jane flew out quietly, in fact noiselessly, into the dimly lighted hall.

A queer rumbling sound came from somewhere.  Jane could not locate it for it seemed shut in, walled up!  It was mechanical yet muffled!