She must become stronger and in better spirits being with
us," Dorothy McClain insisted, clinging to her father's arm as if she
were unwilling to let him go. "I declare it is wonderful to have a
Girl Scout doctor--father!"

Dr. McClain made a sound half pleasure, half displeasure.

"So this is what I have come to after more than a quarter of a century
of hard work, a Girl Scout Doctor! Hope you girls may have no further
need for me. Hard luck about little Kara. Things may turn out better
for her later on. By the way, you and Tory do not know, and perhaps
had best not mention it, but the very log cabin where you are planning
to install Kara is the house where the child was found deserted years
ago."

"But gracious, Dr. McClain!" Tory argued, "I have always been told
that Kara was found in a deserted _farmhouse_. Our evergreen cabin was
never a farmhouse. Mr. Hammond once spoke of finding Kara when I was
with them, and he was not aware that Kara was the child he had
discovered.

"Then Jeremy Hammond does not know a farmhouse when he sees one. The
house was a deserted hut in those days where no one had lived for a
great many years. That is why the mystery was the greater. A bridle
path then led past the door and joined a road that was a short cut
into Westhaven. The path is now overgrown with grass.

"I remember very well, because I came out myself next day to see if
Hammond, who was a young fellow, may have overlooked any method by
which we might trace Kara's history. Save for the piece of paper
pinned to the child's dress and bearing her name no other information
was ever forthcoming. Good-by, here is my car waiting. I'll bring Kara
out myself in a few days. Remember, this is only to be an experiment.
If she is not happier and does not improve we must try something else.
Much depends upon you. 'Be Prepared'."

CHAPTER VI

"THE CHOROS"

In the open space a solitary figure was dancing.

The enclosure was not the circular place where the Girl Scouts held
their councils, but deeper in the woods, although not a great distance
away.

The space was larger. Instead of being surrounded by giant beech trees,
a new grove of young beeches was here growing up to take the places of
older trees that had died or been cut down. Their slender trunks were
high and arched, their branches curved downward. They seemed to stoop,
as young things that have grown too tall for their own strength. The
green of their leaves was