Of course, the freshmen remained to “see the fun” and swell the crowd. And such girls as Bobby Hargrew hung about for the same reason, for there was no more chance of Bobby’s obtaining the honor of a “touch” than that she should go sailing around the moon!
As for Laura and her chum, however, their hearts beat high. They hoped.
And when Celia Prime came toward them with her baton the chums almost held their breaths. You could not tell by Celia’s face whom she intended to touch. She weaved in and out among the girls, many of whom were silent and watchful, others chattering away like magpies. But there was little “fooling” and “carrying-on,” although Laura saw that Bobby Hargrew was following Celia very closely and that the perfect gravity of the mischief-maker’s countenance was sufficient to warn all who knew her well that there was “something up.”
The next moment Laura was startled to feel a touch upon her shoulder—right in the spot where she had been told the baton was always placed. She turned swiftly. Mary O’Rourke had gone past. It was she who had touched Laura instead of Miss Prime.
“Oh, Laura!” whispered Jess in her ear. “I’ve got it!”
“Got what?” demanded Laura.
“The touch. Celia gave it to me. And you?”
“Miss O’Rourke, I believe,” whispered Laura, just as eagerly. “Come on! let’s go home.”
“Goody! Oh, I’m so glad!” gasped Jess.
As they went out of the school premises they saw Hester Grimes hurrying out of the other gateway.