CHAPTER III

FIRST IMPRESSIONS


"Overton! Overton!" was the call that echoed through the car. After
handing down the hats of her friends, Grace reached to the rack above
her head for her broad brimmed panama hat. Obeying a sudden kindly
impulse, she carefully deposited J. Elfreda's hat in the sleeping girl's
lap, touched her on the shoulder and said, "Wake up, Miss Briggs. We are
nearing Overton."

J. Elfreda sleepily opened her eyes at the gentle touch, saying
drowsily, "Let me know when the train stops." Then closed her eyes
again.

Miriam shrugged her shoulders with a gesture that signified, "Let her
alone. Don't bother with her."

At that moment the train stopped with a jolt that caused the sleeper to
awake in earnest. She looked stupidly about, yawned repeatedly, then
catching a glimpse of a number of girls on the station platform, clad in
white and light colored gowns, she became galvanized into action, and
pinning on her hat began quickly to gather up her luggage. "Good-bye,"
she said indifferently. "I'll probably see you later." Then, rapidly
elbowing her way down the aisle she disappeared through the open door,
leaving the chums to make their way more slowly out of the car. As they
stepped from the car to the station platform Grace caught sight of her
at the far end of the station in conversation with a tall auburn-haired
girl and a short dark one. A moment later she saw the three walk off