tertained, dropped Dave; and only one invited Fidelia.
This was criticism direct; and Dave felt it; for he knew with what frank discussion each group of girls made out their lists. However, the fraternities invited him as usual; and every fraternity invited Fidelia.
She received no mere general "bid" to each of these dances. Prior to the issue of the engraved invitations, at least one member of the fraternity to entertain called on Fidelia and offered himself as her escort. So she went with a different man to each of these dances.
When Delta A entertained three Saturdays after Tau Gamma, Bill Fraser took Fidelia. He had gone to Dave before the invitations were out.
"I suppose you're taking Fidelia," he commented.
"I'm not taking her," Dave replied. "You go ahead, if you want her."
"You bet I do," Bill assured enthusiastically; and then inquired: "Who you taking, Dave?"
"I'm stagging it," Dave said and reddened.
Fraser descended to the living-room and reported: "I'm going to ask Fidelia Netley. Dave's still laying off."
Very consciously Dave was "laying off." If Fidelia had been showing especial liking for any other one man, Dave might have done differently but she was making friends, impartially, with many.
Bill Fraser put his own case fairly for all the rest: "I'm certainly crazy about that girl," he confessed. "But I don't fool myself that I'll ever have a chance, but I bet Dave could sell himself there."
Dave, while "laying off," wondered about that. Fi-
