ere
scattered about. But after two days of steady work a great change took
place. The boys were willing and eager, and inspired by the captain
they toiled until their backs ached. Holes in the roof were patched,
the broken door mended, several chairs were brought from the boys'
homes, and when all was done they were delighted at what they had
accomplished. They now no longer dreaded wet days, for they had a
place to meet where they could carry on their work to their hearts'
content. The captain had two good flags, which he placed upon the
wall, and the boys brought magazine pictures, and tacked them around
the room. In this way the place was made very cosy.

Whyn was delighted with the progress which the scouts made upon their
club-room, which she called "Headquarters." She could see it from her
window, and often she would sit and watch as the boys worked around the
building, cutting down some of the underbrush, and cleaning up the
ground. When their work was done they always came to her room, and
talked over everything with her.

At first some of the boys had been quite shy and diffident in Whyn's
presence. But this soon wore away, and they all became the firmest of
friends. There was nothing the scouts would not do for the invalid
girl, and when they were in doubt about anything it was always to her
they turned to help them out of their difficulty. She knew more about
the scout work than they did, and many were the helpful suggestions she
made.

"You must have scout suits," she told them one day, "and each of you
must earn the money to buy his own. All the scouts do it, and it is
really expected of them. Douglas sold newspapers to buy his, and I
remember the day he brought his suit home. He looked so fine when he
wore it, and we were proud of him."

The scouts liked this idea, and they spent over an hour discussing it,
and how they were to earn the money. Whyn was able to tell the price
of the entire suit, and where it could be bought in the city.

Rod listened to this conversation, but said little. He walked home in
a very thoughtful mood, and the Royals noticed that he was more silent
than usual as he ate his supper. Generally he was bubbling over with
news about the scouts. But now he had nothing to say of what had taken
place that afternoon. Rod was worried over the suit question, as he
had not the slightest idea how he was going to earn the money to buy
his. He could not think of any way