"No," said Jess, and went back and unhooked her umbrella from the edge of the counter where she had hung it, and started for the door. A bright-eyed man in a long blue raincoat who had been waited upon by Griff already was just then going out, and he held open the door for her. As she stepped out the girl saw that the rain was no longer falling—merely a mist clung about the street lamps. She did not raise her umbrella, but hurried toward home.
There was enough in her basket for breakfast, at least. She would wait until to-morrow—which was Saturday—before she went to the butcher's. Perhaps something would happen. Perhaps in the morning mail there would be a check for her mother instead of a returned manuscript.
And all the time, while her feet flew homeward, she thought of the prize of two hundred dollars that Mrs. Mabel Kerrick was to offer for the girls of Central High to work for. What was the task? Could it be something that she excelled in?
Jess was almost tempted to wait up until the reception was over and then run to the Belding house and see her chum before Laura went to bed. Laura might know all about it.
Two hundred dollars!
