pers the two girls to whom
she had behaved so rudely on that occasion did not appear from her
manner, which was all sweetness now. She continued her social discourse
thus:

"I really wish society did not demand so much of our time, and I'm sure
my sister feels the same way about it. There's nothing we'd like better
than to become Camp Fire Girls and live close to nature, you know, just
the way you girls live. Truly it must be delightful. But when you
become an integral figure in society (she really said integral), you are
regarded as indispensable, and society won't let go of you."

None of the Camp Fire Girls attempted to reply to this speech. Their
plan was to bring about an appearance of friendship between them and the
Grahams in order that they might associate with the family that had
custody of the little boy in whose interests they were working. Any
attempt on their part, they felt, to discuss "society" from the point of
view of the Graham girls must result in a betrayal of their utter lack
of sympathy with this "social indispensability" of such helpless society
victims.

"We'd like, however, to do something for you in your unfortunate
situation," Addie Graham continued with a gush of seeming friendliness.
"I'm sure my brother James--he's 16 years old--would be glad to assist
you in any way he can. I'm going to send him down here, if you say the
word, to help you extend that rope around your swimming place. He's a
very handy boy, and it would be much better for you to let him do the
work than to perform such a laborious task yourselves."

"Thank you ever so much," returned Miss Ladd with a warmth that seemed
to indicate acceptance of the offer. The truth was that anything which
tended to increase friendly relations between them and the Grahams was
acceptable.

"I'll send him around today," the older Graham girl promised. "We must
hurry back now for breakfast. We were just out for an early morning
constitutional, you know."

"Come and see us any time you wish," Miss Ladd urged. "You'll always be
welcome. We haven't made the acquaintance of anybody around here yet.
Come over and help us eat one of our constitutional luncheons, or
suppers. We have real picnics every day, the jolliest kind of
times--except when the ghost walks. Maybe you can help us catch the
ghost, also."

"Maybe we can," said Addie. "Well, good-by. You girls come and see us,
too."

"Thank you," was the acknowledgment uttered by several of