lf an hour."

As the starch making process was being operated in the kitchen, and the
machine was out in the laundry, Louise left the former conference to
attend to the latter requirement.

"Oh my!" shouted Louise, "Come here, it's shooting sparks all over!"

And just as she said, the motor was emitting a series of flashes that
flew around with absolute disregard of aim or purpose.

It took sometime for Cleo to get up courage enough to touch the black
button, and when finally the machine stopped the little group looked
about at the ruin of their hopes.

Then they laughed, and laughed, and roared and laughed, until Julia ran
over to her cottage, fairly kidnapped her own faithful maid, who, to
save further disaster, came to the log cabin and reluctantly finished
the unfortunate wash.

As the girls hung the pretty white garments on the line, they each
decided to make a note of the fact that handkerchiefs and napkins are
never starched, and that starch must first be thoroughly dissolved in
cold water before boiling water is added. Also, that it is very
important to have a spoon in one's hand and begin stirring as the
pouring is begun.

But Margaret-by-the-day proved an interesting game, if it did slip a cog
or two in its development.

CHAPTER V

CAPTAIN DAVE

"I WOULD never have believed that real scouts could have failed so
miserably in a mere washing," complained Grace; "in fact, I am almost
wondering if we should not go into ashes and broadcloth, and ask to be
trained laundresses. It seems to me rather humiliating."

"Ashes and broadcloth," repeated Cleo thoughtfully. "Oh, you mean
sackcloth and ashes. That's in a different department--Con Grazia, also
a different priced goods. But I don't believe we need worry about the
laundry work. Mother thought we were perfectly heroic to undertake the
task, and she was pleased to death to see the lines of sparkling linens
waving welcome to her as she hailed in from the train. Also, she
admitted the same starch mistake we made, that of stiffening
handkerchiefs when she first tried out the process. So perhaps that's a
regular human weakness and not peculiar to raw scouts, rookies, I
suppose I should say."

"I am so glad your mother approved, Cleo. I feel better now. I must
confess I was rather crestfallen after all our noble, heroic,
spectacular stunts. But sufficient unto the day is the trouble thereof,
as some one has remarked. Now Cleo, I want to tell you s