The Girls of Central High

ure) galloped on to the street corner, shouting "Fire! Fire!" in a

ey indicated upon the box; but it had a glass front. Billy looked wildly about for a stick

r crossed Master Billy's mind. Besides, the importance of having a legitimate reason

e grocery store. Laura Belding stood before it unable, as he had been for the moment when he firs

tissue paper was already burned to a ci

e glass. He pulled out his handkerchief, wrapped it about his knuckles, and splintered the glass

nside. He could hear the alarm bell sound in the station half a

o the store front. They were all quite

!" cried one, shaking the

gone to the ball g

l have to be

k the win

ss than the glass,

id it," said one more reflect

declared the first speaker. "A

rtment? They must have all

lass in this door!" shout

mopping his brow. "There's the wire screen b

e big win

the lock of

t the urgent man would surely have burst in the big plate glass. Just then a man with a helme

nded of Billy Long. "You ra

in front of the grocery store. "You've

ndow-that's quickest!" d

for a blow as the others stood back. But sudd

she cried, darting to

d the awning ropes. In half a minute the heavy awning dropped over the walk and shu

beat all?" cackl

d to the middle of the show-window to ma

you-that's what you've

-a smart little girl," de

just then. From up the street thundered the ladder-truck,

and found Short an

s going to be a hero. You've got me beat, Laura

better, Billy," returned the girl, laughing. "What is

ck the gaff into us," grumbled the short boy. "I've got a page of Virgil

should think you needed extra wo

ork as it is. And he and Mr. Sharp between them threaten to cut me out of the ball team alt

have all got to have good marks, too. Only the girls who stand high can join th

y going in for athle

? It isn't fair for you b

g to start girls' branches

lass matches are forbidden right at the start. The

lways is. Purt Sweet pretty near broke up the

h nicer we can conduct affairs," la

isn't allowed to boss everything? Didn't she and that chum of hers, Lil Pe

happen again," s

y n

will not agree to follow her

play if she can't be

ood naturedly, and a moment late

toward the schoolhouse when she

Laura

aura, eagerly. "I was af

e often did the most ridiculous things quite thoughtlessly. Her mind was of the "wandering" variety. And almost always one could find an ink stain on her finger. This marked her among he

aist as they walked on together. "I just had to come. If yo

riend. "You're just whip

ust

will be f

a party-or even go shopping. And you can't dress up an

ike to pla

of the girls-nor the boys, either-who can beat me at that. I've got

athletic game in wh

e so," admitt

ich to approach school athlet

is

ake, not so much to win every time. That's the way to play the

at the meetin

ss Carr

keep us up in our deportmen

t," observed Laura, seriou

that you never in your life did

on the teachers. I want them to respect me. And father and mother would

u do manage to keep concealed all your superabundance of spirits

op o

h, too," laughed Jess. "Say! did you hear how Bob

would be useless to take her chum t

the impossibility of really creating, or annihilatin

said Laur

t the fact hammered home at last, for she said: 'You absolutely cannot make anything.' And then Bobby spea

g, "Poor Bobby got a black mark for it. Gee

n't she?" said Laur

ee ought to be glad if we can leave her class room in anything but a