“It’s a banquet, I’m sure,” confided Mary Wilson to Landis and Min. “We have our class exercises on Tuesday evening. The time was set for then, but Elizabeth Hobart and some of the others had that changed. They wish to attend our exercises. So it will be Wednesday evening. Elizabeth was writing when I went into the room. Like a flash, she covered the letter; but I saw enough to help us out. The letter was addressed to Achenbach. I saw the word ‘Wednesday.’”
“That settles it; for Nancy Eckdahl was making out a menu in chapel yesterday, and the Middlers who take water-colors are painting place-cards.”
“What had best be done? I’d like to have them send on the banquet and lead the delivery men off somewhere else.”
“But, Mary, that will not be possible. Most of the Middlers know what happened last year. They’ll keep a watch on us, and if they are wise, they’ll send out scouts to meet the caterer at the train,” said Mame Welch.
“They shall not banquet if we take it from them by force!” Then suddenly her face lighted up. “I have it. Landis, you must do this part. You have such a don’t-interfere-with-me manner that Achenbach will do exactly as you wish. Get permission to go into town. Go to Achenbach’s and tell them that the Seniors have discovered where the banquet is to be served, that you have come to give new orders, as the Seniors are determined to appropriate the banquet for themselves.”
There were a dozen Seniors in the room. They all gave their approval to Miss Wilson’s plan. Then they discussed it in detail. The laundry, big and bare, would be an unsuspected place. There were ironing boards and folding tables that would do to serve on.
“And if they are not enough,” exclaimed Mary Wilson, “there’s the floor.”
Landis received her instructions. She was to go into the city the following morning and visit Achenbach, the caterer. She was to be as self-confident as possible. He might have been instructed not to tell anyone where and when his services were ordered. Landis was not to be led off by his assumed ignorance. She was to tell him plainly that she referred to the order sent in by Miss Hobart the day before.
“Just raise your head high and look straight at him,” advised Mary Wilson. “Scare him into it, Landis.”
The following morning, according to plan, Landis, dressed in the trimmest of tailor-made gowns, went to the city. She visited Achenbach’s and did as the girls had directed. As had been expected, the clerk pleaded ignorance of such orders as she mentioned. Landis insisted. The clerk then called the proprietor to verify him. If the order had been received, both proprietor and attendant acted their parts well. Landis could obtain no information from them. Yet, to fulfill her errand, still suspecting that they knew more than they would tell, Landis, just as she was going, left orders to have the banquet served in the laundry. “You may think it rather an odd place, Mr. Achenbach; but the Seniors stole the banquet last year. They will do the same now if the opportunity is given them. They will do all they can to mislead the men you send to serve. Pay no attention to orders after this, but have your men go directly to the laundry. They must go around the back way, of course. One of the class will be watching for you.”