SUSAN’S SILVER LINK

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20266, 7 August 1937, Page 21 (Supplement)

SUSAN’S SILVER LINK

BY JOCELYN OLIVER.

Things had been pretty slaok at Thlstleburgh for some weeks. 44 A marked Improvement in the moral sense of the school," one of the mistresses had been heard to oall it, when commenting on the phenomenon to Cupid—Miss Cubit, the Head mistress. But Cupid, who had not chosen the school motto—‘‘Never be caught napping ” —for nothing, only smiled grimly. Perhaps the cause was to be sought in the weather, which that summer had become something more than the usual conversational opening—something really to talk about, something you could not help talking about; day after day of torrid, tropical heat, with a white-hot sun flaming in a sky where even a wisp of cloud would have' seemed the loveliest of creations. There was not much surplus vitality for ragging, when every movement,’ except the evening dash to the swimming pool by the river, was an effort almost Intolerable. Or perhaps It was that wheta Susan bad been made a prefect, Ailing a sudden vacancy soon after the beginning of term, the school had lost Its rarest Jester, the’ author of many a unique rag, and no one had yet oome forward to All her place. Or perhaps—but whatever the reason, life had become, as Felicity put it, 44 one long yawn." “ It Is pretty deadly," Susan admitted, with a candour which was J natural to her, but which her official position allowed her to air only in the privacy of the study she shared with Felicity. 44 In all the years I’ve been here, I’ve never known the' place with so little snap about it. No one has even put a beetle in Mademoiselle riens’ desk for nearly a month. Livhg in a morgue would be about as imusing. All the same. It’s no good ixpectlng me to do anything about it." Felicity sighed. *‘ No, I suppose not," she agreed. Many of the mistress had been surprised when Miss Cubit’s choice fell upon Susan for the vacant prefectship —Susan, the known perpetrator of some of the most outrageous rags of recent years—when the priority had seemed so obviously to belong to the prim, the' right-minded, the studious Veronica Jacobs. But Cupid felt that she had made no mistake. She knew that Veronica was probably the most unpopular girl In the school, whereas Susan's influence was Immeasurable; If that Influence could only be made to run into useful channels, might not the move he the killing of a whole covey of birds with one stone? Cupid prided herself upon her knowledge of girls’ characters, and she had had other high-spirited pupils through her hands before now—she | knew that the type was one generally j to be relied upon. When offering Susan the post, she had stressed the ' hardships it necessarily entailed—not 1 only the rigid observance of school 1 rules oneself, but the enforcement of those rules on others with whom, only : the day before, one had been cheer- ! fully breaking them. 44 it is a position of trust.’’ she’ had reiterated, and she had watched the obvious struggle if cost. Pusan to take 11 on. But she had taken it on. and Cupid had felt that the trust would not prove to have been placed in vain. "No. I suppose not.” Felicity re- j peaterl wistfully. Poor Felicity! Fol- j lowing Susan’s lead these days was T»ot nearly ns amusing ns it nna once been. Tlie next morning a delighted school awoke to flnd that a cool little breeze had sprung up during the night, and was romping with t lie sleeves of Cupid’s gown, which some one had draped round the weathercock on Hie clock tower. Above it. perched on the back of the cock's j comb, was her cap

To have put them there must have meant an arduous climb, and a promenade along the leads of which any tight-rope-walker might have been reasonably proud; but the enterprise Justified whatever hazard It had cost to achieve. The cock swung gently to and fro in the breeze, the sleeves of the gown flapped, and the' cap wobbled ludicrously—oh, it was a most diverting spectacle I “ Pre'tty good I” was Susan’s comment, as she and Felicity strolled up arm-in-arm. “ I hope I don’t flnd out who did it; I should hate to have to nip such superb talent In the bud." Cal * a mos fc disgraceful exhibition!" said a voice behind them, and there was Veronica Jacobs, blinking up at the cap and gown with pale’, humourless eyes. Always inolined to be nervy, she seemed this morning more than usually on edge. 44 1 must say, I don’t know what you prefects are thinking of to let such things happen, she’ added, with a malicious glance at Susan. ‘ Well, if you must you must," Susan allowed patiently. She did not wish to argue the point. Since the affair of the’ vacant prefectship, relations between them, never very good had been distinctly strained. By sneers and innuendo—never by direct challenge—Veronica made It clear that B^e had been robbed ( though," as Susan exclaimed to Feiioty, 44 she must realise how little I wanted the beastly thing!’’) “Who do you think did it?" Veronica pursued. She was moving restlessly from one foot to the other, and clasping and unclasping her hands. 1 hen, without waiting for an answer, she swept on: 44 Of course’ it was ono of the Juniors. It must have been one of the juniors. No one else would do such a wicked, senseless thing. You do think so, don’t you You do think tiiat one of the Juniors must have done It?" “I dare' sav,” Susan agreed. “I can’t see. myself, though, that there’s any need to get too ‘‘liet’’ up about it. I think it’s funny.” “Oh!” cried Veronica. "You think it’s funny? Yes, you would I You would think it funny. Well then, let me tell you, I consider you entirely responsible for it! Oh!” as Susan shook her head, 44 perhaps you didn't actually do it, yourself. But you’re responsible for its having been done, all the same. Oh. yes you are You think it’s funny when rules are broken—that’s your attitude, and every one knows it. All the juniors know it. They think they can do anything. break any rule they, like, and that you’ll smile and think it funny! ‘°h. Susan I’ they say: 4 she used to do that sort of thing herself. She won’t take any notice. She’ll think it funny.’ ’’ Such a tirade was too much to ig- \ nore. Susan was about to annihilate her opponent with a barbed riposte or two (and as an artist in repartee, her reputation at Thlstleburgh was by no means negligible), when she noticed how tired and ill Veronica was looking. There were dark circles under eyes which twitched and twitched, and cheeks which, always pale, were now quite colourless. "I say.” she asked, startled, "are you feeling rotten?" -No.” snapped Veronica. 44 r m not.” "Well. I only asked," sold Susan. * Aou re" looking rotlen." “ That's right—tell me I'm uslv. now!" cried Veronica. “Just because you happen to be' rather nicelnoking yourself!" and before Susan ha,l lime lo reply to this astounding accusation, she had flounced off into the crowd. (To bo continued.)