ial distinction and on
account of this Ruth was disappointed. She had hoped that Miss Phillips
would single out the Patrol leaders and place them in a position of
honor above all the others. Marjorie was well known to all the girls at
Miss Martin's because of her brilliant athletic record; Ruth wished the
girls to know that she was equally important. But Miss Phillips never
mentioned them.

As soon as the little celebration was over, the girls took the Scouts
over the school. Miss Martin's seminary was very much like Miss Allen's,
although not so progressive, or of quite so high a standard. More of the
latter's graduates attended colleges; but it was both older and larger
than Miss Martin's.

"You'll find that you never made a mistake in starting a troop,"
remarked Miss Phillips, after she had explained a great many details to
Miss Watson, who was to be Captain. "And it will be lots of fun for the
two schools. I have my plans all ready for this summer, but perhaps next
summer both troops could go to an organized camp together."

"What are we going to do this summer?" asked Ruth, who had overheard
part of the conversation.

"Wait and see!" replied Miss Phillips, mysteriously. "You will know
pretty soon!"

Regarding this almost as a rebuke, Ruth muttered disagreeably,

"Just so we don't waste any more money on thieves, I'll be satisfied,"
and turned away.

Miss Phillips did not overhear the remark, but Marjorie did, and it
brought tears to her eyes.

"Say, Ruth," she remarked, rather tartly, "why don't you win that medal
catching Frieda?"

Ruth shrugged her shoulders.

"I did more than anybody else by finding the canoe," she replied. "I
guess nobody else has a better claim to the medal than I have!"

After an early supper, the Scouts wrapped up warmly again, and climbed
merrily into the sleighs, bound, as they surmised, toward Miss Allen's.
The horses had been fed and rested; the snow on the road was packed
hard; the stars twinkled brightly, and the whole world glistened in the
star-light. But the ride was shorter than before, for after half an hour
the horses turned into a big gate. They were entering the grounds of
Episcopal Academy, the home of the Boy Scouts!

Before they had pulled up to a standstill, the doors were thrown open by
the boys, who were uttering great shouts of welcome. The girls jumped
joyfully to the ground.

"The Girl Scouts don't know what they're here for," laughed Miss
Phillips, w