by WINIFRED NORLING

CHAPTER VI

MOONLIGHT AND MYSTERY

"Gerry, Meriel, where are you?" called Rosemary, dashing across the grass in search of her friends. "Seen Gerry or Meriel anywhere?" she asked a passing Fourth Former.

"I think Gerry's on the farthest court, but I didn't notice Meriel. Lesley Manton's up there, so they may be watching the game together. Your sister's playing, and she's in stunning form, Ros."

"I know she is, and I'm glad," replied Rosemary, as she darted off. "Oh, here you are!" she panted, flinging herself down on the grass beside a group of Fourth Formers. "I've been hunting all over the place for you."

"Well, we've been here all the afternoon, and it's a very likely place to look for us," said Gerry with a grin. "What on earth's happened, Ros? You look as red as a fire engine with a temperature. Had trouble with the Head?"

"No, just the opposite," Rosemary told her. "The Pasty sent for me to say we could go to Longridge on Mondays about three o'clock. Darling Nanki has offered to give us tea, and we can stay, so long as we are back by half past six. Isn't it scrummy?"

"Rather!" agreed her listeners eagerly.

"Who's to go?" asked Lesley. "I hope I can."

"Yes. You and Gerry, Meriel and Fay, and it was to have been Julia and I, but Julia doesn't want to go. You know what she said at the swimming pool, Fay, and she's sticking to it. Says she hasn't time. It's rather a nuisance. I suppose you can't do anything about it, Meriel?"

"'Fraid not. Once Julia makes up her mind, nothing will alter it. She's very determined."

"She's not only determined," put in Faith, "she's a regular surprise packet. Look at her swimming. She's streets ahead of all of us. That show of diving she put on was good enough for the films. Why, Meriel, what's wrong? You're quite pale. Feel faint?"

"A bit," owned Meriel unwillingly. "It's the sun, I expect. I ought not to have come out without my hat."

"Do you think you ought to go in and rest a bit, Meriel?" asked Rosemary, who had been regarding her chum anxiously. "Matron would let you go up to your dormy and rest."

"I'm all right, thanks," said Meriel, flushing. "Tell us more about Longridge."

"The Pasty says we can go, and she seems quite keen."

"I think you're awfully lucky to have such a chance," murmured Andrea. "Now that my wretched little effort's gone off to Sir Charles Baxter, I can come down to earth and revel in grub and commonplaces again."

"Have you really sent it off?" cried Rosemary excitedly. "Good for you," she went on, as Andrea nodded. "I hope you win something, Drea, for you do deserve it. Oo, I've an idea! I wonder if the Pasty would let Andrea go to Longridge with us instead of Julia. Do you think your people would agree, Drea?"

"Positive!" cried Andrea excitedly. "Do you think it could be arranged?"

"The Glovers wouldn't mind our taking someone instead of Julia, would they, Meriel?" asked Rosemary.

"Of course they won't mind," Meriel answered. "If Andrea wants to come, I'd try and get it fixed with the Pasty, Ros."

"Good. Come on Drea, we'll go and beard the lioness in her den at once, if not sooner."

"Now for a bit of peace and an eyeful of tennis," remarked Gerry, as her two friends hurried off towards the house.

"I say, Fay, I'm too happy to live tonight," burbled Rosemary as they were going up to bed. "Can't we do something to celebrate? Andrea's sent in 'Wavelets' and is going to take a very real interest in butter-making, and we're both to take part in the swimming show. I've an idea it's only my weight that keeps me down."

"Ass!" laughed Faith. "But it is a jolly idea to celebrate. We have been such little plaster saints so far this term, that I'm more than ready to break out. What can we do?"

"Go for a moonlight swim, with me to take care of you," whispered a voice behind them.

"Julia, I didn't know you were there," cried Rosemary. "You quite frightened me for a second. Are you really game for a swim tonight, Julia? I think it's a terrific idea."

"The best ever!" agreed Faith. "Look who suggested it! But could we manage it? If we were caught it would mean a colossal row and we might be stopped from competing in the swimming sports."

"You do get ghastly ideas, Fay," snorted Rosemary. "Who'll be up at midnight to see us? It's a heavenly moon at the moment, and the nights are so hot. I must, must, MUST have a swim, as Julia suggests."

"Shut up, you ass!" warned Faith. "Don't broadcast any more, oir we'll give ourselves away before we even begin to twiddle our toes in the water."

"That means you'll come?" asked Rosemary eagerly. "Of, Fay, you are a sport. We'll not tell anyone else, in case we're caught. Let it be only us three, shall we?"

"Is your swimming pool locked at night?" asked Julia anxiously. "If so, how do we get in?"

"I'll get the key," promised Rosemary. "It always hangs on a nail in the Staff Room, next to the gym key. She did get it and very shortly was back in the dormitory. "None of the staff uses the room much in the evenings."

"You have been quick. No luck?" asked Faith anxiously.

"Swift and successful," panted Rosemary, holding out the key for inspection.

"Are you quite sure no one saw you?" questioned Julia.

"Positive, but we'd best shut up now, unless you want to include Drea," warned Rosemary. "I think I can hear her coming back from the bathroom. I'll wake you about half past eleven. Put your swimsuits on un

der your pyjamas, and have your macks ready where you can find them in the dark. Then we can be quiet and quick. I'll put the key in my mack pocket now. I'm glad we've got the small four dormy, or we couldn't have wangled this. Won't the others be green when we tell them tomorrow?"

"Tell us what?" asked Andrea, hurrying in. "If you want a decent bath, Julia, you'd better hurry," she went on, without waiting for an answer. "It's none too hot, and if you're not quick Lesley Manton will race you to it."

"She won't," laughed Julia, and she sped out of the room.

Just before half past eleven Rosemary slipped softly out of bed and tole out into the corridor. Everything was very quiet. Nodding her head with satisfaction,  she crept back to Julia's cubicle and waked her. Julia roused easily and did not seem alarmed. Faith was more difficult. She grunted and growled. When at last she did open her eyes, she demanded to know what Rosemary meant by waking her.

"Shut up, you idiot," admonished Rosemary. "Do you want to wake the house and stop our swim?"

Instantly Faith was out of bed and dragging off her pyjamas. It was only a few minutes before the trio were stealing along the corridor to the end bathroom. Rosemary suggested that they should unlock the door, which was always kept fastened at night, and use the fire escape to reach the grounds.

A few minutes later they were inside the swimming baths.

"Mind my mack, Fay," cried Rosemary. "There are apples and biscuits in the pockets. I thought we might feel hungry after swimming."

"You're quite a brainy dud sometimes," cried Faith approvingly. "I adore apples after a dip."

"i wish there were a twelve- or fifteen-foot diving board here," remarked Julia, as the three girls walked towards the deep end. "Eight feet is so tame."

"It's not for us, you conceited popinjay," teased Faith. "Ros and I feel quite elevated enough when we're eight feet above the water."

"Don't spar, you two," ordered Rosemary. "We've come here to practise, not to gas. You going in first, Julia?"

"If you like," came the ready answer, and before another word could be spoken, Julia was in the water.

"Is it cold?" asked Faith.

"could anything be cold with a temperature of one hundred in the shade?" scoffed Rosemary. "Bags I next in."

For twenty minutes the three girls dived and swam, putting in steady practice and thoroughly enjoying it. Then Rosemary called a halt.

"Let's have a rest now," she suggested, "and have the apples. I feel I've done enough."

"So have I," agreed Faith. "What about you, Julia?"

"I don't think I'd ever grow tired of swimming," came the laughing answer.; "but I'll have an apple, please!"

"It is hot," remarked Faith, as Rosemary returned with the apples and biscuits. "Fancy being able to sit her in the moonlight, dripping wet and not feel cold."

"I feel more sleepy than anything," declared Rosemary with a yawn. "I thought the diving would wake me up, but it hasn't. At least, it did while I was actually doing it, but now I could fall asleep sitting here."

"I shouldn't advise it," laughed Faith. "The Pasty might not be pleased with us if we were found here in the morning, even if we were only sleeping. Rouse yourself, Ros, my love, or it will be Julia's and my unpleasant duty to chuck you into the water."

Faith sprang to her feet as though to carry out her threat, but Rosemary was quicker.

"Catch me first," she taunted, "and then give me time to put my cap on or I'll get my mop wet. It would never dry by the morning and might give us away."

"Don't make such a row, you donkeys," cried Julia. "You'll wake the whole house if you kick up such a din. Sound carries in the silence of the night."

"True, oh Queen," mocked Rosemary, but she sat down again, and Faith followed suit.

For a moment no one spoke; then Rosemary paused, listening, her apple in mid-air.

"Did you hear a noise?" she whispered.

"Look!" cried Julia in a hoarse whisper. "Look at the end window. There's someone there. It's a man. I can see his shadow and his eyes."

"So can I," murmured Faith. "Do you think he can see us?"

"hardly, but it's up to us to do something," gasped Rsoemary. "It must be a burglar. Put on your macks and follow me."

In a few seconds the trio were at the door. It opened inwards, and as Rosemary was gently pulling it open a man's voice broke the silence.

"Is anyone there?" it asked.

""It's - it's not a burglar, it's the bulldozer!" gasped Rosemary. "You did give us a scare, General dear. Whatever are you doing here?"

"I might well ask you the same question," replied the General seriously. "Why are you wandering about the grounds after midnight?"

"We haven't beem," Rosemary answered. "We came straight here to practise swimming and diving. We were just having a rest when we saw you peeping in through the window."

"I think you are mistaken," the General frowned. "I have not looked in through any window. I stayed late talking to Miss Cornish - we are both keen coin-collectors, you know - and when I left I thought I saw a figure skulking about round here. I di dnot want to worry your Headmistress, and so I came to investigate and found --"

"US," cut in Faith with a giggle. "You thought we were burglars, and we thought you were one, so we're quits."

"If you didn't peer in through that end window, who did?" questioned Julia, with a frown.

"That is what I want to know, young lady. It would seem that someone else is abroad tonight, too, and up to no good, I fear, if he peeps through windows and skulks in the shadows."

"Can we help you hunt for him?" asked Rosemary eagerly. "I'd love to catch a burglar."

"And be caught yourself," observed the General drily. "Miss Cornish might ask more awkward questions than I have done, and mete out well-deserved punishment that you would not welcome."

"Aren't you going to tell about us?" Faith asked incredulously.

"We've a code in the British Army as strong as any in a girls' school," came the quiet answer. "I don't condone your conduct, but it is your business to confess or not, as you wish. The only thing I intend to do is extract a promise from you that this kind of thing won't happen again. Have I your word on it?"

"Yes," came the reluctant answers.

"Hadn't we better set off after the burglar?" asked Julia. "If we don't hurry we'll be too late. Lock the door, Ros, or we may have to chase him round and round the swimming pool."

"You'll do nothing of the sort," barked the General. "You'll go straight back to bed or I'll know the reason why."

In spite of herself, Rosemary laughed.

"I adore your parade style," she gurgled. "Do you remember the day of ourmeeting and the way you tried to be grown-up when you barked at us, and how it all ended in laughter?"

"I remember perfectly, but it isn't ending in laughter tonight." The General's tone was serious, and even Rosemary realised that he meant to be obeyed. "Can you get in without rousing everybody?" he asked.

"Yes, thanks. We've left the door of the bathroom at the top of the fire escape unlocked," Rosemary explained. "We'll get going, since you don't want our help. Good night, and good hunting."

"Good night, and no bad colds, I hope," came the quick answer. "I expect the fellow we saw is miles away by now. Seeing you and then me must have scared him. Girls' schools aren't usually so active at midnight. I'll have a look round before I leave the grounds."

"Wish we could wait and see the capture," sighed Julia. "It would have been so thrilling."

"Good night," was all the General said in answer to this, and taking the hint, the trieo ran back to their dormitory, which they reached without further mishap.

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