“Gentlemen,” went on Hippy, “you here behold an animal of splendid parts.  He is pasture-fed and as gentle as a lamb, never kicks—­”

The strange animal here kicked out one of his hind legs so wildly that David was obliged to hold on with both arms to keep from falling off.

“He has a happy, sunny nature, ladies.  Is there any one present who would like to try his gait?  Ten cents a ride.”

The horse crossed his front legs and sat down on his haunches with an air of patient endurance.  There were roars of laughter and no one enjoyed the fun more than Miss Thompson.

“I declare, Hippy, I should like to have a ride on the back of that animal!” she exclaimed, producing ten cents.

David leaped to the ground and gallantly assisted the principal to mount, while Hippy whispered something into the ear of the horse.

The animal trotted gently up to one end of the room and back, depositing Miss Thompson safely on her feet.

Miriam Nesbit then took a trial ride and no bucking bronco ever exhibited such traits of character as did that battered-looking quadruped.  Miriam was obliged to jump down amid the cheers of the company.  Many people rode that night, and rides went up to twenty-five and even fifty cents, until finally the poor, tired animal lay flat on the floor in an attitude of complete exhaustion.  Then Hippy undid several hooks and eyes along the imaginary line which divided Lightning in half, and there came forth, very warm and fatigued, Tom Gray and Reddy Brooks.

On the whole the bazaar was proving an unqualified success.  People entered into the spirit of the thing and spent their money without a murmur.

Eleanor’s confetti proved a drawing card, and young people and old wandered about, bestowing handfuls of it upon their friends whenever a good opportunity presented itself.

Long before the fair was over Grace and Anne retired to one end of the gypsy encampment to begin counting the proceeds of their labors.  The girls in charge of the various booths turned in their money almost as rapidly as they made it, and by the time the crowd had begun to thin the girls had arrived at a tolerably correct estimate of what the bazaar had netted them.

“Is it possible that I have counted correctly, Anne!” exclaimed Grace to her friend, who was helping to sort small silver into various piles.

“I don’t know,” said Anne, “it looks like a lot of money.  How much does it all come to?”

“Roughly speaking, nearly five hundred dollars.  Just think of that.”

“Splendid!” cried Anne, clasping her hands joyfully.  “But what shall we put it in?”

“I shall put it in this iron box of father’s.  You see, it has a combination lock and he loaned it to me to-night just for this purpose.  As soon as the rest of the money is in I’ll lock it and he will take charge of it.  Will you go and find him?”

Anne departed and Grace began to deposit the money in the box, smiling to herself at the success of their undertaking.