With a final chug and screech of brakes, the train slid to a halt before the two-story frame building that served as a railway station in the little college town of Briarhurst.
A group of girls, laughing and moving slowly, began unloading themselves and their luggage from the railway coach onto the platform.
From there, they turned their attention to the rusty bus that was meant to carry them up the hill to the college grounds.
"It will never hold all of us and our luggage," Carol Carter declared with firm conviction. "Perhaps we had better walk."
Janet Gordon looked at the dusty road winding up the hill behind the station, then back at the bus.
"You can walk," she said. "I'll take a chance on this antiquated vehicle."
"Are you the six young ladies goin' to Briarhurst?"
The girls turned to see a wizened old man approaching from the station.
"If ye are, climb aboard. I'm the bus driver."
"I'll wager the bus is even older than he is," Madge Reynolds murmured to Valerie Wallace.
"Will the contraption hold together?" Carol asked.
"It's been a-runnin' for nigh onto twenty years and ain't fell apart yet," the driver said, climbing into his seat and waiting for the girls to get aboard.
"That isn't saying it never will," Phyllis Elton commented.
After some hesitation, the girls climbed into the bus, their luggage mostly piled on the roof. The ancient vehicle, along with its equally ancient driver, started with a roar.
"It reminds me of a peanut roaster," Carol murmured. "The way the radiator is steaming and the noise it makes."
"Everything but the peanuts," Janet replied. "Which reminds me, I hope dinner is early."
"Dinner is at seven," the driver informed them casually.
The bus began the long, tedious climb up the hillside. The driver settled back comfortably in his seat, clearly in no hurry.
"I thought Briarhurst was a prosperous college," Phyllis said to Gale. "Wouldn't you think they would have a more modern bus? This thing might scare new students."
The driver frowned deeply.
"Lizzie here has belonged to the college since she was new. She's good enough for you yet. Even the new Dean can't junk old Lizzie."
He patted the steering wheel with clear affection.
"New Dean?" Gale asked. "Isn't Professor Harris the Dean anymore?"
"Nope," the driver replied. "Professor Harris resigned, and this new one came about three weeks ago. She's been trying to make changes we don't like."
The girls exchanged glances.
They had heard so much about Professor Harris and her rule at Briarhurst. The idea of a new regime didn't sit well with them.
"What's she like—the new Dean?" Janet asked.
"Young and pretty," the driver said grudgingly. "But she got no business trying to change things that have been going on for thirty years. She won't stay long."
"Why won't she stay?" Phyllis asked.
"The old ones don't like her," he said firmly.
"By 'old ones,' you mean the teachers and faculty?" Gale asked.
"That's right."
"What has she done to make them dislike her?" Janet asked.
The man shook his head.
"We don't aim to make this a modern institution. She has new ideas—wants a new bus, sports for the young ladies. We ain't goin' to stand for it."
"The idea about a new bus is enough to convince me," Carol laughed. "Whoops!"
She lunged for her handbag as the bus hit a deep rut, the frame groaning loudly.
"Honestly, I'm already on her side. If she wants a new bus, I support her!"
The bus finally stopped in front of the registrar's office, and the girls were assigned their rooms.
Due to limited space, only Phyllis and Gale secured a room in the Omega Chi sorority house, thanks to their former high school teacher.
The other four girls were assigned to a dormitory on the east lawn.
The separation dampened their spirits slightly.
"You might get into the sorority house next year," Phyllis said.
"As it is," Janet replied, "we'll leave you two to face the dragons alone."
The bus made its next stop in front of the Omega Chi house.
Phyllis and Gale stood surrounded by their luggage, studying their new home.
The bus rattled away, leaving them behind.
"We might as well go in," Phyllis said.
Several girls on the veranda watched them with interest.
"We might as well," Gale agreed with a sigh.
Carrying their bags, they climbed the steps and entered the building that would be their home for the next four years.