, of course, Ruth had cast hers in her
favor--but where had she obtained the other five? Ruth forgot to reckon
on the fact that a number of girls outside of the Scout troop were more
or less jealous of their successful rivals, and would vote for Evelyn
simply because she was not a Girl Scout.

"I'll fix that," thought Ruth; "I'll just vote for myself this time!"

Ruth smiled confidently as the judge again returned with her decision,
she was so sure of victory. Now she was glad she had not made the office
before; it would be so much more honor to be sophomore president!

"I have the honor to declare that our next president will be Lily
Andrews!" announced the girl briefly, and resumed her seat.

And, amid shouts and applause, the meeting broke up, for the hour of
nine had struck.

Ruth Henry was defeated again, but not wholly so; for Marjorie's plan
for befriending homesick freshmen had been put aside, and her chance of
becoming president lost. But--her rival's candidate had won!

CHAPTER III

MARJORIE'S FRESHMAN

If Marjorie was disappointed at the failure of her plan, she was
tremendously elated over her room-mate's election to the class
presidency. Lily Andrews was not a girl who was naturally popular like
Doris Sands, or Marjorie herself. She had fought valiantly for
everything she had achieved, and her triumph, therefore, was all the
more precious.

For an instant, while the vote was being taken, Ruth had thought of the
Lily Andrews that had first appeared at Miss Allen's--extravagantly
overdressed, noticeably fat, and crude in every respect. She had smiled
confidently at the picture, scorning the idea that such a girl could
ever stand a chance against her.

But Ruth had not counted on the fairness of the girls at Miss Allen's:
they thought of their new president, not as she had been, but as she was
now; and because Lily had put aside her extravagant taste, had
resolutely trained herself down by self-denial, and had even done
creditably in athletics, she was greatly admired. Besides this, Lily
Andrews was genuine--and so loyal! Moreover, all the girls, even those
who were not Scouts and therefore knew nothing about Ruth's disgraceful
trick against Marjorie the previous year, often had cause to doubt the
former's sincerity.

Lily herself was too much overcome with surprise to realize it all at
once. She walked out of the room with Marjorie's arm around her, still
under the impression that she mu