Page:Conflict (1927).pdf/63

 Already the last bell had begun to ring when Sheilah lifted the cover of Felix Nawn's desk in his study-room on the third floor, and laid the note in plain view, underneath an ink-eraser on his pencil-rack.

But Felix never got that note. There seemed to be a sort of conspiracy working against Sheilah's brave efforts to break off her relations with him. He didn't go to his study-room after Opening Exercises, as was his custom. It was Monday, and on Mondays he went directly to the manual-training building. He didn't go to his study-room even before recess. That was because of the tragedy that took place during the Third Period. He was too stunned to go anywhere then. He just sat where they left him.

The tragedy would never have taken place if Miss Bigelow, one of the Latin teachers, hadn't tripped on a piece of loose rubber on the stairs, and sprained her ankle. Felix was one of the pupils in the class to which she had been hurrying when she fell. Fifteen minutes later it was announced to the waiting class, eagerly hoping for release, that it would join Division A in Latin this morning in Room 12 on the floor below. Miss Marks would conduct the recitation of the combined divisions. Sheilah was in Division A. Felix had never been in