Poor Miss Piquilin happens to have the entire membership of these rival clubs in her algebra class, and, since the members of “The Exclusive Three” are not very studious, they often fail in their lessons. The consequence is that while Miss Piquilin is just dear to “The Lucky Thirteen,” she is still Miss Pickle at her sourest to “The Exclusive Three.” It seems that they decided to punish her by playing a practical joke on April Fools’ Day. We found out about it in this way. I went down to the library one evening to get a reference book. I didn’t turn on the light for I knew exactly where the book stood on the shelf. Just as I was reaching for it, I heard whispered voices in the portiere-covered alcove and I recognized Rose Hedge’s voice. She was saying: “We’ll get even with that sour Miss Pickle. She’s in love with Professor Pixley at the Drexel Military Academy. As though he would even look at her!” Then I heard Hattie Drew ask: “How shall we get even, Rose?” I did want to stay and hear the answer, but mother has taught me that it is as wrong to listen to a conversation not intended for my ears as it is to steal something that does not belong to me, and so, having found the book, I left the room without having made my presence known. I told the members of “The Lucky Thirteen” that the girls in “The Exclusive Three” were plotting some April Fool mischief against poor Miss Piquilin and we all decided that it was a mean shame if those spiteful girls succeeded in doing anything to shatter the budding romance. We guessed this and surmised that, but, of course, we had no way of really knowing what those girls planned doing. “Oh dear,” said Betsy Clossen, “I do wish it were not dishonorable to listen. Don’t you think that sometimes the end justifies the means?” “Never!” Kittie Squires said so emphatically that we all jumped. Kittie seldom speaks but when she does, it’s right to the point. “Well, then, what shall we do?” Jennie Clark asked. “Miss Piquilin has been so kind to us, it doesn’t seem right for us not to make an effort to save her romance from being shattered.” “Leave it to me!” Betsy Clossen said. “I’ll find a way.” When Betsy spoke in that tone of voice, we all knew she would accomplish whatever she set out to do. We were curious to know how she would go about it, but it was April the first before we found out. We girls played all of the regulation jokes, the same ones that are played every year. We bought candy that had cotton inside of a delicious chocolate coating; we slipped into each other’s closets and sewed up sleeves, but those things were tame compared to what happened during the two o’clock study hour.