d 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