reiterated promises to be good, and all mind Jennie.

"Can you come to my house now?" asked Mary after the luxury of nut
sundaes, purchased with the combined balance of Madaline's and Grace's
cash on hand had been disposed of, and the girls faced the early
afternoon on Bellaire Center.

"I don't know," faltered Cleo. "We didn't ask Jennie."

"But I am so anxious to see if our things are all right," Mary almost
begged. "You needn't be afraid of Reda, I am sure she is gone away."

"How do you know?" Grace asked frankly.

"She would be too frightened to remain at our house after last night.
Besides she often goes to New York with Janos. She gets all my clothes
there."

"Doesn't she take you to see them, or be fitted?" asked the literal
Madaline.

"Oh no, I am not allowed to go on trains. Someone might see me."

Everyone laughed at this, and Mary saw the joke herself. Nevertheless,
she made no attempt to explain why she was not supposed to be seen by
people outside of the little mountain town.

"I am afraid I shall have to go alone, if you girls feel you ought not
to come," she said presently. "I really have to attend to some
important things, and we all left in such a hurry last evening."

"Oh, if you have to go we simply must go with you," Cleo decided
promptly.

"Surely, Captain Cleo," spoke up Grace. "You see, Mary, Cleo is our
captain when we are away from headquarters. Oh, Mary, I do wish you
were a scout, you would just love it."

"I am sure I should, I know it takes a lot of courage, and one must do
many noble deeds to keep up to the pledges. I should just love to know
all about it, and I hope you will tell me some day. Still," and she
shrank a little in that timid self-conscious way, "I don't want you to
take any risks with me, on account of your scout pledge."

"Please don't think that way, Mary," begged Madaline, always ready with
sympathy. "We all just love you, and want to be with you, it has
nothing to do with scouting."

"No, indeed," Grace enthusiastically seconded this opinion. "What we
are doing with you is a positive joy."

"I don't know what would have become of us in Bellaire if we hadn't met
you," Cleo chimed in, serious beyond contention. "Of course, we met a
few girls, but we are so accustomed to adventures and activities. I
guess we require more things to happen than do most girls. Now, Mary,
we will go with you up to the studio, if I can find a boy to take a
mess