he hungry flames. The wind was
in the wrong direction, and helped to fan the blaze. One of the
gymnasium walls fell in with a terrific crash, almost carrying with it
two firemen who had been playing a stream from the rung of a ladder that
leaned against it. There was a cry of horror from the assembled crowd
that changed to a sigh of relief when it was discovered that the two men
had saved themselves by leaping.

"Oh, if only I were a man," breathed Grace, as she watched the firemen's
efforts to gain control of the situation. "I wouldn't stay here a
moment. I'd be in the thick of the fight."

"Hold her girls, or she'll dash straight over the ropes," said Nora.

"I'd like to," retorted Grace. "It's dreadful to stand here unable to
help and see our dear old gym. go, and perhaps our school, too."

"Well, you turned in the alarm, and that's a whole lot," declared
Jessica stoutly. "If you hadn't seen the blaze when you did things might
be a good deal worse. As it is, I believe they are getting the fire
under control."

"It does look that way," exclaimed Anne. "See, the flames are dying out
over on that side. Oh, if it would only rain and help things along."

"I believe it will rain before night. The clouds look heavy and
threatening," declared Nora, squinting at the sky.

"The weather prophet has come to town," smiled Anne.

For the next hour the girls stood eagerly watching the gallant work of
the firemen. A dense crowd, composed largely of High School boys and
girls, packed the campus, while people blocked the streets outside the
gates. Intense excitement prevailed, and when it became evident that the
main building was safe a mighty cheer went up from the crowd.

"Bless their hearts!" exclaimed Grace. "They are just as fond as we are
of Oakdale High School. But, oh, girls, where are we going to play
basketball!"

The girls looked at each other in dismay.

"What is life without basketball?" said Nora sadly.

"True enough," said Anne, "but even though the gym. is gone we still
have our school. It would be simply terrible to have had it go in our
senior year."

"No doubt the gym. will be rebuilt at once," remarked Jessica.

"I am not so sure of that," replied Grace. "My father belongs to the
common council, and I heard him tell mother the other day that the High
School had been refused an appropriation that they had asked for."

"Oh, well, then, we High School pupils will raise the money ourselves,"
said Nora