n was
working, under an assumed name, as a waitress in a Fifth Avenue tea-room
in New York. But as soon as Miss Smith had collected her facts, and was
reasonably certain that the girl was Frieda Hammer, she disappeared."

"Oh, Lil!" gasped Marjorie, sinking into her seat. She could not even
explain what she meant to the others; only her room-mate realized her
tremendous disappointment.

"Now I have not paid my friend anything so far," continued Miss
Phillips; "but I do not feel like allowing her to go on using so much
time without remuneration, for she has to work to earn her own living.
So I want to know what you wish to do--drop the case?"

Marjorie was on her feet again, instantly.

"No, no, Captain! Please, not that! Can't we use the rest of the fete
money--and add some from the bazaar?"

But Ruth, as usual, opposed the idea.

"I move that we pay Miss Smith for her services, and then dismiss the
matter for once and all. If Frieda Hammer can get work, she certainly
isn't suffering, and there are a good many more worthy channels to which
we can apply our money. In my opinion, she never was any good!"

"Is there a second to Ruth's motion?" asked Captain Phillips.

"I second it!" said Barbara Hill.

"Any discussion?"

Then Lily, aroused to the support of Marjorie rather than of Frieda,
made an appealing speech, telling of the vastness of New York City, and
its great temptations. She mentioned the troop's responsibility toward
Frieda, at least until they could get her back home. She spoke
earnestly, and the girls were greatly impressed. Marjorie cast a
grateful look in her direction as Lily sat down.

The votes were taken, and the "nos" carried the day, probably rather
because Marjorie and Lily were more popular than Ruth and Barbara, than
because of any particular love on the part of the troop for Frieda.
Indeed, most of the girls disliked her heartily, and were angry at her
for stealing Marjorie's canoe; but that was Marjorie's affair, and if
she wanted to search for Frieda, they intended to stand back of her.

The rest of the evening was spent in discussing the Bazaar, and all the
while the girls worked busily with their needles, finishing odds and
ends that had been left till the last minute.

Miss Phillips had begun with the senior Scouts and had given first them,
and then the juniors, charge of the booths. The sophomores, with the
single exception of Marjorie Wilkinson and Lily Andrews, and all of th