k we could make a very creditable
report to headquarters on such a pretense."

"Oh, that is clear enough," insisted Cleo. "It is just this way. We were
confronted by this fire-bug thing, directly we struck the place, and its
evidence has been piling up ever since. Every few nights a fire breaks
out--and no one is able to discover the culprit."

"And that note we found was a challenge. It was written for who ever
might pick it up, and we happened to be the 'whoevers'" said Louise. "So
it plainly seems like our duty to run down the Weasle."

"But just why would you think the writer was on the island?" asked
Helen, who, having come down late was not entirely familiar with all the
details of the situation.

"We haven't any positive reason for that supposition," admitted
Margaret; "but things point that way, and we must run down that clue
first. Besides, it is very strange how every one warns us to keep away
from Luna Land. It makes it fascinating, to say the least."

"Almost a good reason for going," remarked Mary. "And now girls, will
you come over to the hotel this evening, if you are free from other
engagements? We are going to have a children's entertainment in the ball
room, and I would love to have every one come."

"But our dresses?" asked Grace. "What should we wear?"

"It's a novelty thing, and you can wear whatever you please," answered
Mary.

"How about all going as a troop? We would advertise the scouts, and it's
lovely and cool now after that shower."

"Oh, that would be splendid!" enthused Mary. "Since all the war work has
moved off the earth nothing seems to have really taken the uniform's
place. And as you say, it will be wonderfully cool to-night."

"And another positive advantage to uniform is that one can't out-do the
other in togs. I love that," declared Helen, "although we all have
pretty party dresses."

So the True Treds scattered, keen with the anticipation of novelty night
at the Colonade.

It is safe to guess that in the short time intervening there was much
activity in each scout's home, in the matter of pressing uniforms, for
even "going as a troop" would mean public inspection. Yet this amount of
work was comparatively small compared with what might have been their
task had dancing dresses been demanded.

Into the gold and white ball-room of the Colonade the True Treds were
ushered with quite an imposing ceremony a few hours later; and if Grace
and Cleo wanted to giggle, the pomp