“Fine,” agreed Nora.  “We used to sing a song in kindergarten when I was very young and foolish that started out, ’We are little builders,’ although at that time I never expected to really become one.”

“Nora,” said Grace severely, “you have all Hippy’s bad traits and some of your own thrown in.”

It was nearing six o’clock before the four friends left the scene of the fire and started for home.  Nora’s prediction of rain proved true, for just as they made their way across the campus the rain began to come down in torrents, wetting them to the skin, but in no respect dampening their joy over the fact that this shower had come just in time to save their High School from further ravage by the flames.

CHAPTER V

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.”