er active brain.

"Yes, I suppose so. Why?" Mary inquired in turn.

"I was just thinking--but never mind. Don't let me interrupt you, Mary.
Tell us about your daddy."

"Daddy was determined not to let the fever take him, so, sick as he was,
he insisted on going out to sea, but he--didn't come back."

Quick to save Mary from the threatening tears, Grace asked, "What were
they exploring for?"

"Why, for orchids. I thought you knew," replied Mary, rather surprised
at the question.

"No, we didn't know," Cleo said very thoughtfully, "but we guessed those
wonderful orchids must have come from a tropical clime."

"Yes, we brought the bulbs with us, and that's where I still have to say
'secret,' Cleo dear," Mary responded, smiling to assure her friends she
would have told them more of the mystery if she had been free to do so.

"And what is your name, really?" ventured Madaline.

"You may think it very strange, but I am not sure. Daddy used a book
name, out on his exploration trips, and mother's family name was never
mentioned. Grandie had my papers but you see"--and she hesitated quite a
long time, then in a subdued voice she continued--"you see Grandie became
ill, and he forgot. That is one reason why I am so happy his memory is
returning."

"Oh, wouldn't it be lovely if you turned out to be a great lady!"
Madaline rhapsodized, true to form in a girl's love of excitement.

"I wouldn't want to be a great lady!" replied Mary, tossing back her head
disdainfully. "I would rather just be a little girl scout like you!"

"Hurrah! Hurrah! for our new Tenderfoot. Let's put her through an
initiation, girls!" suggested Cleo. "Mary, don't forget where you left
off, and we'll take a recess. Come on. First you must slide down that
pole. Look out for Michael; he has a pail of water he might like to see
you slide into."

Romping and racketing took the place of serious reminiscences for the
time, and if Mary felt inclined to be sorrowful at her revived memories
the True Treds quickly vanquished the gloom foe, until tiring of the very
vigorous exercise, they settled down again for a last word before closing
the meeting.

"Was Reda with you all the time?" Cleo asked Mary when they were finally
quieted to rational speech. Somehow Cleo seemed to sense a solution to
the mystery Mary was so cautiously unfolding.

"She left the island with us. We must have been very near the equator
off of Central America, and when