Iowa," and in the lower left-hand corner was a suggestive drawing of a
Skull and Crossbones. The eyes of the mischievous twins twinkled with
delight when they saw it, and they carried it to the barn for prompt
perusal. It read as follows:

"Miss Constance Starr humbly and respectfully craves admittance into
the Ancient and Honorable Organization of Skull and Crossbones."


The twins pondered long on a fitting reply, and the next afternoon the
postman brought a letter for Connie, waiting impatiently for it. She
had approached the twins about it at noon that day.

"Did you get my application?" she had whispered nervously.

But the twins had stared her out of countenance, and Connie realized
that she had committed a serious breach of secret society etiquette.

But here was the letter! Her fingers trembled as she opened it. It
was decorated lavishly with skulls and crossbones, splashed with red
ink, supposedly blood, and written in the same suggestive color.

"Skull and Crossbones has heard the plea of Miss Constance Starr. If
she present herself at the Parsonage Haymow this evening, at eight
o'clock, she shall learn the will of the Society regarding her
petition."


Connie was jubilant! In a flash, she saw herself admitted to the
mysterious Barnyard Order, and began working out a name for her own