ck to their seats in their haste to
examine them. Marjorie found herself calm when her own name was called,
but actually trembling when Alice answered the summons.

Miss Phillips had promised to hike to a certain so-called "haunted
house" in the vicinity, taking a picnic supper,--in celebration of the
new Scouts. The troop had agreed to meet for a moment at the rear of the
assembly room to learn who these girls would be.

But Marjorie did not need to wait for the meeting to know the news from
Alice. The girl's expression of bitter mortification told the story only
too plainly! Marjorie dropped her eyes; she could not bear to see her
cry.

And then an overwhelming feeling of remorse took possession of her.
Perhaps it was her fault! Perhaps, if instead of wasting time and
thoughts upon good-for-nothing Frieda Hammer, she had helped Alice in
her studies, she might now be a Scout! And yet Marjorie was sincere
enough with herself to know that she did not, even now, care so much
about Alice or her success, as she did about Frieda. She realized, too,
that although a week had gone by, she was still hoping that the runaway
would return. Every day she went to the library to read the
advertisements and personals in the newspapers in search of a clue. And
every day, too, she read about the crimes, fearful lest she might
discover Frieda's name, or a description of her, among the accounts.

Bringing her thoughts back with an effort to Alice Endicott and the
Scouts she hurried over, at the dismissal of the assembly, to the place
where the freshman was standing.

"What branch did you fail in, Alice?" she asked, in the most
matter-of-fact tone she could assume. She knew that here in public was
no place for sympathy.

"Chemistry!" answered Alice, with a brave effort to suppress a sob.

"Chemistry?" repeated Marjorie. "But I don't understand--I thought you
made ninety-five in that test!"

"I did; but I cut three afternoon lab periods for hockey!"

Marjorie laughed in relief. "Why, child, you can easily make that up! In
less than a week you'll be a Scout! Is everything else all right?"

"Apparently."

Immensely cheered by Marjorie's words and manner, Alice proclaimed
herself ready to join the Girl Scouts at the other end of the room. Here
they encountered wild hilarity. Everybody was congratulating the new
girls. Mae VanHorn, Florence Evans, Daisy Gravers, and Barbara Hill had
all made the required mark.

Alice, now quite ca