The Girls of Central High Aiding the Red Cross | Page 5

institutions were rivals to a proper degree in many games
and sports.
How all this had begun and how Laura Belding by her individual

efforts had made possible the Central High's beautiful gymnasium and
athletic field, is told in the first volume of this series, entitled: "The
Girls of Central High; Or, Rivals for All Honors." This story served to
introduce this party of young people who have met in the jewelry store,
as well as a number of other characters, to the reader.
In "The Girls of Central High on Lake Luna; Or, The Crew That Won,"
the enthusiasm in sports among the girls of the five high schools
reaches a high point.
As the three cities in the league are all situated upon the beautiful lake
named above, aquatic games hold a high place in the estimation of the
rival associations in the league. Fun and sports fill this second volume.
"The Girls of Central High at Basket Ball; Or, The Great Gymnasium
Mystery," the third book, tells of several very exciting games in which
the basket-ball team of Central High takes part, and the reader learns,
as well, a good deal more about the individual characters of the girls
themselves and of some very exciting adventures they have.
"The Girls of Central High on the Stage; Or, The Play That Took the
Prize," the fourth volume in the series, is really Jess Morse's story,
although Laura and their other close friends have much to do in the
book and take part in the play which Jess wrote, and which was acted in
the school auditorium. It was proved that Jess Morse had considerable
talent for play writing, and the professional production of her school
play aided the girl and her mother over a most trying financial
experience.
The fifth volume, "The Girls of Central High on Track and Field; Or,
The Champions of the School League," is an all around athletic story in
which rivalries for place in school athletics, excitement and interest of
plot, and stories of character building are woven into a tale calculated
to hold the attention of any reader interested in high school doings.
During the summer previous to the opening of the present story in the
series, these friends spent a most enjoyable time camping on Acorn
Island, and the sixth tale, "The Girls of Central High in Camp; Or, The

Old Professor's Secret," is as full of mystery, adventure, and fun as it
can be. Since the end of the long vacation the Girls of Central High, as
well as the boys who are their friends, had settled down to hard work
both in studies and athletics. Ice had come early this year and already
Lake Luna was frozen near the shore and most of the steamboat traffic
between the lake cities had ceased.
The great pre-holiday Red Cross drive had now enthralled the girls of
Central High, as well as the bulk of Centerport's population. Everybody
wanted to put the city "over the top" with more than its quota
subscribed to the fund.
In the first place, the boys' and girls' athletic associations of Central
High were planning an Ice Carnival to raise funds for the cause, and it
was because of that exhibition that Chet Belding and Lance Darby
wished to get down to the ice that evening and try their own particular
turn, after the shopping expedition that also had been planned.
As it happened, however, neither the shopping nor the skating was
done on this particular Saturday night.
As Bobby Hargrew ran to telephone to the hospital, Short and Long
had grabbed the wrists of his two older and taller boy friends and led
them out of the crowd in a very mysterious way.
"Did you get a good look at that car?" he whispered to Chet and Lance.
"Of course I didn't," said the latter. "It went up the street like the wind.
Didn't it, Chet?"
"That rascal was going some when he turned the corner of Rapidan
Street. I wonder he did not skid again and smash his car to pieces
against the hydrant. Served him right if he had," Chet said.
"There were no chains on his wheels," said Short and Long, in the same
mysterious way.
"You said it," agreed Lance. "What then?"

"There are not many cars in Centerport right now without chains on.
The streets have been icy for more than twenty-four hours."
"Your statement is irrefutable," said Chet, grinning.
"Get it off your chest, Short and Long," begged Lance. "What do you
mean?"
"I mean," said the earnest lad, "that I know a car that was out this
afternoon without chains, and it was a seven-seater Perriton car--just as
this one that knocked down Chet's friend was."
"It was a Perriton, I believe,"