"I forgot all about it—it is the last of this month, isn't it?" asked Zan, turning to Jane.
"Huh, huh! Now try and guess what Elena and I are making," smiled Jane, exultantly.
Many were the wild guesses made but not one came near the reality. So, Elena, taking pity, told the others.
Zan looked amazed at the lovely plan and immediately turned to Hilda and said, "We can't afford to let them get the best of us—now let's try and think of something novel, too!"
Many, many ideas were suggested only to be refused by one or the other. Suddenly, Hilda noticed the bead-trimming she was sewing on her costume. It gave her an inspiration.
"Zan, let's build her a bead-loom and after it is sand-papered smooth we will decorate it with pyrography work!"
"Great! But, Hilda, who's got any pyrography tools?" asked Zan.
"I have a complete set at home, Zan—let's write a note to mother and have them expressed down at once!" cried Elena.
So the letter was written and sent down to the box before the Guide returned. From that time on there seemed to be much pleasant secrecy among the girls but Miss Miller never dreamed it concerned her birthday, though convinced it boded no ill.
When the Guide joined the circle of busy workers on the Bluff, she said, "I never saw a place where there were so many bees! I have been watching a swarm over by the buckwheat field and an idea came to me. What do you say to our using some of the money in our treasury for bee-hives?"