Marian Cummings, Gertrude Wells, Elsie Wilton and Ruth Denton had been unable to grace the occasion with their presence.

Ruth's inability to attend lay in the fact that she was with her father in Nevada.

This had been a great cross to her chum, Arline Thayer.

The others had also mourned the distance that separated her from them.

But even the absence of these four paled almost into insignificance beside the disappointing knowledge that the fifth missing member, jovial Emma Dean, had not yet appeared.
"She will be here," announced Elfreda positively.