NORA BECOMES A PRIZE "SUGGESTER"
"The thing to do is to decide just what we want, and then go ahead with
it."
Grace Harlowe energetically addressed her remarks to the members of the
Phi Sigma Tau, who had taken possession of the Harlowe's comfortable
living room.
It was Saturday afternoon, and a special meeting had been called with
the object of discussing the best way to get money for the rebuilding of
the gymnasium, that the fire had completely destroyed, although the
splendid efforts of the firemen had prevented the flames from extending
to the main buildings, and the rain had completed their good work.
Grace had allowed no grass to grow under her feet, but had gone to the
root of the matter the day following the fire, and found that the school
could expect no assistance from the city or the state that year. She had
thereupon racked her usually fertile brain for money-making schemes, but
so far had settled on nothing, so she had called in her friends, and the
Phi Sigma Tau had been in council for the past half hour without having
advanced a single prolific idea.
"Think hard, girls," begged Grace. "We simply must do something that
will make Oakdale sit up and take notice, and incidentally spend their
money."
"We might give a play or a concert," suggested Eva Allen.
"Not original enough to draw the crowd," vetoed Nora O'Malley. "Besides,
the sophomore class has already begun to make plans for a play. While
the other three classes are making plans we ought to go ahead and
astonish the natives. The early stunt catches the cash, you know,"
concluded Nora slangily.
"Well, what would you suggest as a cash-catching stunt?" asked Anne.
"You are generally a prize suggester."
"We might have a bazaar," said Nora after a moment's thought, "with ever
so many different booths. We could have a gypsy camp, and tell fortunes,
and we could have some Spanish dancers, and, oh, lots of things. We
could have it in Assembly Hall and have tents with all these shows going
on."
"Oh, splendid!" cried Grace. "And we could get the High School mandolin
club for an orchestra. If we hurried we could have it week after next,
on Thanksgiving night."
"And we could have a Mystery Auction," interposed Marian Barber eagerly.
"What on earth is a 'Mystery Auction'?" inquired Nora and Jessica in a
breath.
"Why we write notes to every one in Oakdale, asking for some kind of
contribution, anything from a jar of pickles to hand-painted china. Then
all these things are tied up in packages and auctioned off to the
highest bidder. There is a whole lot of money in it, for people often
try to outbid each other, and the fun of the thing is that no one knows
what he or she is bidding on."
"Marian Barber," exclaimed Grace, "that's a positive inspiration! You
clever, clever girl!"
"Oh, don't think for a minute that I originated the idea," said Marian
hastily. "A cousin of mine wrote me about it last winter. They had a
'Mystery Auction' at a bazaar that was held in the town she lives."
"Well it's a brilliant idea at any rate, and I can see us fairly coining
money. Now we must all work with a will and put the affair through in
fine style," responded Grace warmly.
"Oh, girls, the boys will be at home in time for it!" exclaimed Jessica
in rapture.
"Sure enough," said Nora, "and won't I make Hippy work. He'll lose
pounds before his vacation is over. Grace, you must write and ask Tom
Gray to come."
Now that the question of the bazaar was settled, the Phi Sigma Tau went
to work with a will. The services of the majority of the seniors were
enlisted and notes were written to every one in Oakdale who was likely
to feel even a faint interest in the movement. Eva Allen's brother, who
was an artist, made a number of attractive posters and these were tacked
up in public places where they at once attracted attention.
The Oakdale National Guard loaned tents, and public-spirited merchants
willingly loaned draperies, flags, banners, and in fact, almost anything
they were asked for.
As for donations, they fairly poured in, and the girls watched the
growing collection with mingled rapture and despair.
"We'll have to sit up every night this week in order to get all these
things wrapped," sighed Grace, on the Monday afternoon before
Thanksgiving, as she stood resting after a spirited rehearsal of the
dance that she and Miriam Nesbit were to do, and which was to be one of
the features of the gypsy camp.
"And the decorating is only about half done, too," she continued. "Thank
goodness school closed to-day. We'll just have to live here until
Thursday, and work, work, work."
"'Clear the way for progress on the fly,'" sang out a voice behind them,
and the group of startled girls turned to face a stout young man who
charged into their midst with a hop, skip and a jump.
"Hippy!" shrieked Nora in delight. "And David and Reddy, and yes--Tom,
too!"
"'Oh, frabjous day, calloooh, callay,'" cried Hippy shaking hands all
around. "It seems ages since I saw you girls. How well you all look,
only you're not looking at me. These other good-for-nothing fellows are
getting all the attention. Hello, Miriam," he called to Miriam Nesbit,
who ran eagerly across the floor to meet the newcomers. "There's a prize
package for you, too. It's outside the door shaking the snow off its
coat."
Miriam flushed and laughed a little, then hurried over to greet Arnold
Evans, who had just entered the hall.
"Oh, boys, you don't know how good it seems to have you all here again,"
said Grace, after the first greetings had been exchanged, as she beamed
on the young men. "You're just in time to go to work, too. We've oodles
of things to wrap for the 'Mystery Auction,' and Hippy you must be
auctioneer. You can do it to perfection."
"Tell us all about this affair. I received rather indefinite accounts of
it in the exceedingly brief letters that I have been favored with of
late," said Tom Gray, fixing a reproachful eye upon Grace.
"Please forgive me, Tom," begged Grace, "but really I've been so busy of
late that I just had to cut my letters short. Come on around the hall
with me, and I'll tell you about all the stunts we've planned. Come on,
everybody," she called, turning to the young people grouped about, "and
remember, that I expect some original suggestions from you boys."
Around the hall they went, stopping before each tent, while the girls
explained its purpose.
"What's this to be?" asked Tom, as he stopped at one corner of the hall
that was closely curtained. "May I enter?"
"Mercy, no," gasped Grace, catching him by the arm as he was about to
move aside one of the heavy curtains. "That's Eleanor Savelli's own
particular corner. None of us know what is behind those curtains. You
see, Eleanor hasn't spoken to any of us since last year. When we first
talked about having this bazaar we decided to make it a senior class
affair. We didn't care to go to Eleanor and ask her to help, because she
hasn't been nice to any of the Phi Sigma Tau, but we asked Miss Tebbs
and Miss Kane, two of the teachers who are helping with this, to ask
Eleanor to do something. You know she plays so well, both on the violin
and piano, then, too, the greater part of her life has been spent
abroad, so she surely must have lots of good ideas.
"When first Miss Tebbs asked her she refused to have anything to do with
it. Then she suddenly changed her mind and has been working like a
beaver ever since. Miss Tebbs says her booth is beautiful."
"If I'm not mistaken here she comes now," said Tom suddenly. "I never
saw her but once before, yet hers is a face not easily forgotten."
"Yes, it is she," replied Grace. "Let us walk on."
Eleanor Savelli, gowned in a tailored suit of blue and looking
particularly beautiful, walked haughtily by and disappeared behind the
heavy green curtain.
"She is certainly a stunning girl!" was Tom's low-voiced exclamation,
"but, oh, what a look she gave you, Grace!"
"Did she?" replied Grace, with an amused smile. "That doesn't worry me.
She has repeated that performance so often that I have grown used to
it."
"Look out for her just the same," advised Tom.
"Where do we jollificate, to-night?" asked Hippy, as Grace and Tom
joined them again.
"Right here," said Nora with decision. "No fudge, no hot chocolate, no
cakes, nothing except work until this bazaar is over, then we'll have a
spread that will give you indigestion for a week. Do you solemnly
promise to be good and not tease for things to eat, but be a ready and
willing little toiler?"
"I do," said Hippy, holding up his right hand. "Do you assure me that
the spread you just mentioned is no myth?"
"I do," said Nora, "also that the indigestion, shall be equally
realistic."
"Lead me to it," said Hippy. "I swear in this hour that--"
But Hippy never finished his speech, for Eleanor Savelli suddenly darted
into the group with flashing eyes and set lips.
"How dared you meddle with my booth during my absence!" she cried,
looking from one to the other of the astonished young people. "And what
have you done with my things!"
There was a brief silence. Then Nora O'Malley spoke very coolly.
"Really, Miss Savelli, we haven't the remotest idea of what you are
speaking."
"You know perfectly well of what I am speaking," retorted Eleanor. "I
might have expected as much, however."
"I repeat," said Nora firmly, "that we do not know what you mean, and I
am not used to having my word questioned. You will have to explain
yourself if you expect to get a definite reply."
"Very well," replied Eleanor, with a toss of her head. "Last night I
spent a great deal of time in arranging the booth over which I have been
asked to preside. On coming here to-day I find that everything has been
rearranged, completely spoiling the effect I had obtained. You and your
friends are the only ones who have been here this afternoon. It looks
like a clear case of spite on your part."
During Eleanor's angry outburst the boys looked decidedly uncomfortable,
then by common consent moved away a little. This was a matter that the
girls alone could settle.
Then Miriam Nesbit stepped forward with all the dignity that she could
summon to her aid.
"Miss Savelli," she said quietly, "it is absolutely childish and
ridiculous for you to make the assertions you have. No one of us has the
slightest curiosity as to either you or your arrangements. This is not
the first time that you have publicly accused us of meddling. Now I want
you to understand once and for all that this must cease. You should not
jump at conclusions and then vent your rage upon innocent bystanders.
"This much I will say as a matter of information, that we were not the
only ones here this afternoon, as several of your particular friends
spent some time in your booth, and I should advise that you call them to
account and let us alone. Come on, girls," she said, turning to Grace
and her friends, "we mustn't waste any more time."
With this Miriam turned her back squarely upon Eleanor, and without
giving her time to reply, walked to the other end of the hall.
The girls were not slow in joining her, and in a moment Eleanor was left
alone in the middle of the hall, with the unpleasant realization that
for once she had overshot the mark.