ow second-class Scouts, are
eligible. All who went to camp passed the first-aid division of the
examination; they are not required to take that over again. I should,
therefore, advise the following Scouts to get to work:

"Edith Evans, Elsie Lorimer, Emily Rankin, Mary Ridgeway, Frances
Wright, Ethel Todd, Marian Guard, Ada Mearns, Lily Andrews, Ruth Henry,
Doris Sands, Marjorie Wilkinson.

"I wish I could take all twelve," she concluded; "but I suppose it's
more fun because of the competition."

"I'm going to stay up every night, all night!" declared Ruth; "just
studying to pass!"

"So long as you don't kidnap any more children, Ruth, you're all right!"
tantalized Ada, who could never forget Ruth's vain attempt the previous
summer to pass the first-class examination.

Dismissing the subject, Miss Phillips remarked,

"You know, Miss Martin wanted our troop to come over and demonstrate
Scouting early in the fall, but I wouldn't go until we had three
patrols. Then, on account of the rush of Christmas time, we put it off
until after the new year. So--be prepared for a shock--we are going
to-morrow afternoon!"

"To-morrow afternoon!" echoed Ethel. "But Captain----"

"I know, Ethel; I realize I am asking a great deal. But listen to my
reasons:

"First, the date suits Miss Martin; second, it suits Mr. Remington and
the Boy Scouts; and third, it's going to snow."

The girls listened in open-mouthed amazement to these reasons. What
could the Boy Scouts, Mr. Remington, and the condition of the
weather--especially a stormy one--have to do with a trip to Miss
Martin's? But no one uttered a sound; the girls simply waited for an
explanation, for they all thought they had not heard their Captain
correctly.

Miss Phillips evidently enjoyed their consternation, for she made no
attempt to explain.

"Can everybody go?" she asked.

"_Must_ everybody go, Captain?" asked Ethel. "I had another
engagement----"

"Oh, if there is anything you can't break, like a dentist
appointment----"

"No, it's social!"

"Then you must choose for yourself. We should love to have you, but we
can get along without anyone except the three patrol leaders. But I am
pretty sure I can guarantee you a good time."

"I know it will be!" cried Ruth, her eyes dancing with anticipation.
"Don't we just remember how lovely all our Captain's other surprises
turned out to be?"

In the end, Ethel, as well as everybody else, decided to go. The
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