he social atmosphere that there
used to be. Here comes our good old chauffeur, Leila Greatheart. She
has been obliging and unselfish enough with us all to deserve a carload
of May baskets. How many are you going to hang, Jeremiah?"

"About a dozen, more or less," Jerry replied indefinitely. "I'll see how
expert I shall be at making them."

"I'm going to make Leila a green one and fill it with pistachio bars and
green and white candies. On top I'll put a green and gold lace pin I
bought yesterday in Hamilton. I'll make Vera a pale pink one and fill it
with French bon-bons. I shall give her a very beautiful string of coral
beads that Captain gave me long ago. Vera and Leila have both been so
dear about taking us around in their cars, I want to make them special
presents. The other baskets I shall just fill with candy or flowers."

"We'll have to make a trip to the florist's late on May-day afternoon or
our posies won't be fresh to put in the baskets. I shall buy some little
fancy baskets if I can find them. My own handiwork may not turn out very
well." Jerry had prudently decided to be on the safe side.

Filled with the goodwill attending the pretty spring-time custom, it was
a merry band of shoppers that invaded the Hamilton stores in search of
materials for baskets. Crepe paper, ribbon, fancy silk and bright
artificial wreaths and boutennieres shown in the millinery windows were
purchased in profusion. Dainty baskets were not so easy to obtain. The
girls finally found the sizes and shapes they desired at the florist's
where they placed their order for May-day blossoms. The confectionery
they decided to leave until the day before the basket hanging, so that
it would be perfectly fresh. "Don't insult your friends by handing 'em
stale candy," was Jerry's advice.

For four evenings following the first shopping trip, a round of gaieties
went on in one or another of the basket-makers' rooms. Under their
clever fingers the May-time tributes were fashioned rapidly and well.
Even Jerry found she could do amazing wonders with crepe paper ribbon
and pasteboard, once she had "got the hang of the thing."

The hardest problem which confronted the givers was how to hang their
offerings and slip away before the recipient opened her door and nabbed
the stealthy donor. As there was only one door knob to each door, the
gift baskets must perforce be set in a row before it. Each girl had
private dark intent of smashing the ten-thirty r