The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-09-03
CHAPTER SIX


FLASHLIGHTS reached through
L the darkness. picking out a
fagstone path that wound between
autumn-tinted shrubbery. In the
low-throWn, Pickering light there
shimmered the trailing skirts of
evening gowns and satin-shod
feminine feet.
Five young women Of G~raycastle
College were assembling for a Sc
cret meeting forbidden by dean and
faculty.
"Elainel" came a complaining
whisper, direct at the girl in
front. Elaine Chalmers, look where
you're going! This path doesn't
lead TO the deli"
You're telling us?" replied the
tall girl IN the lead. She looked
back and blinked against the glare
Of a flashlight that covered her
lovely face.
Her eyes were as dark as the
night itself, her hair was a burn
ished gold. shading into brown. Her
skin was fiaWleSs, her lips made"
Like the other girls, she wore an
evening wrap carelesSly thrown over
her dinner dress, yet the yellow vel
vet Of her wrap and the paler yell
low Of her dress seemed to dominate
all those other pastel shades which
surrounded her.
L meant to tell you, Hortense,"
she said. we're not going to the
dell. Emerson's on the lookout.
We're going to the birch grove"
There was an excited murmuc
from the four girls who followed.
HortenSe asked, Can the new girls
find us there?"
I've attended to that, naturally"
answered Elaine. Her voice was
beautifully placed and very inso-
lent. All her personality and her
egotism vibrated through it.
The trail seemed never-ending.
The flagstOnes ceased and five pairs
of dainty shod feet skirted an 18-
hole golf course and followed a mile
of bride path before the birch
grove was reached.
Here they found five other figures
awaiting them, and Elaine turned
her flashlight full into each face
for a relentless inspection. Each was
a girl in her late teens. Each was
breathlesS with excitement. Each
was a beauty in her own right.
20. X" said Elaine's clear voice
briefly. Lay down your lights and
Join hands
THEY obeyed, and the circle of
i 10 was broken only by the fact
that Elaine's right hand retained
her light. We are here" she said
.impressively, ito add five lower
classmen to our circle. This is GUS
tomary. Last year five of is were
taken in by the senior five who
were graduating. In this way the
circle of The Terrible Ten remains
unbroken.
1T is fitting that you newcomers
Pamela, Kathryn, Barbara, Laura
and Janice-should know some
thing about the order you are en-
tering. It's not an ordinary soror-
ity. 1t has no lofty or exalted aims.
1t is. as its founder designated it
seven years ago, "a cult for the con-
quest Of the male 1t is fitting, too,
that you should know something
about this founder, so I shall tell
you what I know, emitting only her
name"
Hortense whispered in her ear,
Get on with it. Elaine! My feet
are killing me-"
Well" said Elaine, The Terrible
Ten was founded by the most beau
tiful girl who V e attended Gray
castle. Though she IA terribly
popular. she made the mistake of
actually falling in love. The man
was some years her senior and he
Tilted her to marry a mere nobody
"a woman almost as old as him.
self who had nothing but brains
to recommend her.
After that III heroine formed
this secret circle by asking nine
cOngenial girls to join her. Their
object was the glorihcation of femi-
nine charm and the annexation OF
male admirers
She paused to sweep her flash
light from face TO face and saw
that the new girls were properly
impressed. This was the very CEN
ter of her little kingdom and she
meant to rule it. And now" she
said. the older five will repeat our
creed, which the incoming members
will say after US"
I was made beautiful" chanted
five soft voices. for the conquest
of the male!" Like an echo the
five new girls repeated the words,
speaking them with a sort of hest
tant awe.
THEN came another amazing as
i sertion. chanted by Elaine and
Hortense and their three asSoci-
ates: 1T is my privilege as a beau
tiful woman to win as many decla-
rations OF love and as many pro-
posals Of marriage as posSiblel"
This was repeated with even
greater intensity by the new girls.
Very good" said Elaine. Now
for our oath: We swear to pursue
our careers of coquetry and mascu-
line conquest to life'S end! Amen"
In the silence that followed the
Of the oath there came a
sound like a football in the dark
ness. but when Elaine swept the
place with her laShlight nothing
was discovered.
She then turned her light on the
watch on her wrist. I've
only this TO say before disbanding,"
she told them. Let us remember
that We are the outstanding beauties
Of the school and that We must
dominate every tea and dance. Let
nc pevor N Interested in StrlSipc