CHAPTER V
NORA BECOMES A PRIZE "SUGGESTER"
"The thing to do is to decide just what we want, and then go ahead withit."
Grace Harlowe energetically addressed her remarks to the members of thePhi Sigma Tau, who had taken possession of the Harlowe's comfortableliving room.
It was Saturday afternoon, and a special meeting had been called withthe object of discussing the best way to get money for the rebuilding ofthe gymnasium, that the fire had completely destroyed, although thesplendid efforts of the firemen had prevented the flames from extendingto 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 theroot of the matter the day following the fire, and found that the schoolcould expect no assistance from the city or the state that year. She hadthereupon racked her usually fertile brain for money-making schemes, butso far had settled on nothing, so she had called in her friends, and thePhi Sigma Tau had been in council for the past half hour without havingadvanced a single prolific idea.
"Think hard, girls," begged Grace. "We simply must do something thatwill make Oakdale sit up and take notice, and incidentally spend theirmoney."
"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. Whilethe other three classes are making plans we ought to go ahead andastonish 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 everso many different booths. We could have a gypsy camp, and tell fortunes,and we could have some Spanish dancers, and, oh, lots of things. Wecould have it in Assembly Hall and have tents with all these shows goingon."
"Oh, splendid!" cried Grace. "And we could get the High School mandolinclub 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 abreath.
"Why we write notes to every one in Oakdale, asking for some kind ofcontribution, anything from a jar of pickles to hand-painted china. Thenall these things are tied up in packages and auctioned off to thehighest bidder. There is a whole lot of money in it, for people oftentry to outbid each other, and the fun of the thing is that no one knowswhat he or she is bidding on."
"Marian Barber," exclaimed Grace, "that's a positive inspiration! Youclever, clever girl!"
"Oh, don't think for a minute that I originated the idea," said Marianhastily. "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 coiningmoney. Now we must all work with a will and put the affair through infine style," responded Grace warmly.
"Oh, girls, the boys will be at home in time for it!" exclaimed Jessicain rapture.
"Sure enough," said Nora, "and won't I make Hippy work. He'll losepounds before his vacation is over. Grace, you must write and ask TomGray to come."
Now that the question of the bazaar was settled, the Phi Sigma Tau wentto work with a will. The services of the majority of the seniors wereenlisted and notes were written to every one in Oakdale who was likelyto feel even a faint interest in the movement. Eva Allen's brother, whowas an artist, made a number of attractive posters and these were tackedup in public places where they at once attracted attention.
The Oakdale National Guard loaned tents, and public-spirited merchantswillingly loaned draperies, flags, banners, and in fact, almost anythingthey were asked for.
As for donations, they fairly poured in, and the girls watched thegrowing collection with mingled rapture and despair.
"We'll have to sit up every night this week in order to get all thesethings wrapped," sighed Grace, on the Monday afternoon beforeThanksgiving, as she stood resting after a spirited rehearsal of thedance that she and Miriam Nesbit were to do, and which was to be one ofthe features of the gypsy camp.
"And the decorating is only about half done, too," she continued. "Thankgoodness school closed to-day. We'll just have to live here untilThursday, 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 whocharged 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 allaround. "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 aregetting all the attention. Hello, Miriam," he called to Miriam Nesbit,who ran eagerly across the floor to meet the newcomers. "There's a prizepackage for you, too. It's outside the door shaking the snow off itscoat."
Miriam flushed and laughed a little, then hurried over to greet ArnoldEvans, 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 beamedon the young men. "You're just in time to go to work, too. We've oodlesof things to wrap for the 'Mystery Auction,' and Hippy you must beauctioneer. You can do it to perfection."
"Tell us all about this affair. I received rather indefinite accounts ofit in the exceedingly brief letters that I have been favored with oflate," said Tom Gray, fixing a reproachful eye upon Grace.
"Please forgive me, Tom," begged Grace, "but really I've been so busy oflate that I just had to cut my letters short. Come on around the hallwith 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, "andremember, that I expect some original suggestions from you boys."
Around the hall they went, stopping before each tent, while the girlsexplained its purpose.
"What's this to be?" asked Tom, as he stopped at one corner of the hallthat was closely curtained. "May I enter?"
"Mercy, no," gasped Grace, catching him by the arm as he was about tomove aside one of the heavy curtains. "That's Eleanor Savelli's ownparticular corner. None of us know what is behind those curtains. Yousee, Eleanor hasn't spoken to any of us since last year. When we firsttalked about having this bazaar we decided to make it a senior classaffair. We didn't care to go to Eleanor and ask her to help, because shehasn't been nice to any of the Phi Sigma Tau, but we asked Miss Tebbsand Miss Kane, two of the teachers who are helping with this, to askEleanor to do something. You know she plays so well, both on the violinand piano, then, too, the greater part of her life has been spentabroad, so she surely must have lots of good ideas.
"When first Miss Tebbs asked her she refused to have anything to do withit. Then she suddenly changed her mind and has been working like abeaver ever since. Miss Tebbs says her booth is beautiful."
"If I'm not mistaken here she comes now," said Tom suddenly. "I neversaw 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 lookingparticularly beautiful, walked haughtily by and disappeared behind theheavy 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 toit."
"Look out for her just the same," advised Tom.
"Where do we jollificate, to-night?" asked Hippy, as Grace and Tomjoined them again.
"Right here," said Nora with decision. "No fudge, no hot chocolate, nocakes,
nothing except work until this bazaar is over, then we'll have aspread that will give you indigestion for a week. Do you solemnlypromise to be good and not tease for things to eat, but be a ready andwilling little toiler?"
"I do," said Hippy, holding up his right hand. "Do you assure me thatthe spread you just mentioned is no myth?"
"I do," said Nora, "also that the indigestion, shall be equallyrealistic."
"Lead me to it," said Hippy. "I swear in this hour that--"
But Hippy never finished his speech, for Eleanor Savelli suddenly dartedinto 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 whathave 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 arespeaking."
"You know perfectly well of what I am speaking," retorted Eleanor. "Imight have expected as much, however."
"I repeat," said Nora firmly, "that we do not know what you mean, and Iam not used to having my word questioned. You will have to explainyourself if you expect to get a definite reply."
"Very well," replied Eleanor, with a toss of her head. "Last night Ispent a great deal of time in arranging the booth over which I have beenasked to preside. On coming here to-day I find that everything has beenrearranged, completely spoiling the effect I had obtained. You and yourfriends are the only ones who have been here this afternoon. It lookslike 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 thegirls alone could settle.
Then Miriam Nesbit stepped forward with all the dignity that she couldsummon to her aid.
"Miss Savelli," she said quietly, "it is absolutely childish andridiculous for you to make the assertions you have. No one of us has theslightest curiosity as to either you or your arrangements. This is notthe first time that you have publicly accused us of meddling. Now I wantyou to understand once and for all that this must cease. You should notjump at conclusions and then vent your rage upon innocent bystanders.
"This much I will say as a matter of information, that we were not theonly ones here this afternoon, as several of your particular friendsspent some time in your booth, and I should advise that you call them toaccount and let us alone. Come on, girls," she said, turning to Graceand her friends, "we mustn't waste any more time."
With this Miriam turned her back squarely upon Eleanor, and withoutgiving 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 leftalone in the middle of the hall, with the unpleasant realization thatfor once she had overshot the mark.
Grace Harlowe's Senior Year at High School Page 5
