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218 "Probably not," agreed Tom, and then the dance came to an end in a crash of melody. There was applause for an encore, and once more the strains were taken up, and the youths and maidens were treading the misty mazes of the waltz.

The custom prevailed at these fraternal society affairs of the lads taking their partners' dance programmes and filling the cards for them. This was usually done in advance, and insured a girl plenty of dancers with partners of whom her escort approved. For he would only put down, or allow their owners to, the names of his own friends. It was a sort of "clearing-house" of dances, and the lads lobbied among themselves, and "split" numbers with each other at their own sweet will, in order to "fill in."

"I've got to get one more partner for you," remarked Tom, when the second half of the waltz had come to an end. "I'll be back in a moment, and leading Ruth over to where her friends were seated, Tom scurried off toward some of his chums, in order to impress one of them into service for his fair partner. There was one vacant waltz on her card, and Tom himself had been booked for that number with Miss Tyler.

"I want one for Miss Clinton," called the pitcher, as he slid into the group of his chums.

"Put me down!" exclaimed Jerry Jackson