From the time the Harlowe House girls became a self-governing body the question of putting money in the treasury had been continually agitated.
One way and another had been suggested, but it was not until the Christmas holidays that the inspiration had come in the shape of a most toothsome batch of caramels which Louise Sampson had descended into the kitchen and made, one snowy, blustery evening when the club had assembled in the living-room for a social session.

The caramels were a signal success, and when Cecil Ferris eyed one of the delicious brown squares lovingly before popping it into her mouth, then asked reflectively, "Why couldn't we make caramels and sell them to the Overton girls ?" the idea was hailed with cries of "Great," "A good idea." "We could easily sell pounds of them." With one accord they had besieged Louise Sampson with curious questions as to how she had made the caramels and the cost of the ingredients.
Louise had laughingly refused to tell her recipe.
After talking things over Louise had sworn Cecil, Mary Reynolds and one other girl to secrecy, imparted the precious recipe to them, and on the next Saturday afternoon they had made their first candy.

A gay little poster, drawn by one of the girls, advertised their wares.

It was tacked to one side of the college bulletin board, and by nine o'clock on Saturday night the last caramel had gone its destined way, while the success-crowned merchants counted their money and lamented because they had not made half enough caramels.

From then on, caramel-making occupied the spare moments of Louise and her faithful band and the "Harlowe House Caramels" rapidly gained favor.