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diff --git a/49098.txt b/49098.txt deleted file mode 100644 index e54c7b4..0000000 --- a/49098.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6549 +0,0 @@ - LARKSPUR - - - - -This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online at -http://www.gutenberg.org/license. If you are not located in the United -States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you are -located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: Larkspur -Author: Jane D. Abbott -Release Date: May 31, 2015 [EBook #49098] -Language: English -Character set encoding: US-ASCII - - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LARKSPUR *** - - - - -Produced by Al Haines. - - - - - - *LARKSPUR* - - - BY - - *JANE D. ABBOTT* - - AUTHOR OF - HAPPY HOUSE, - KEINETH, ETC. - - - - GROSSET & DUNLAP - PUBLISHERS NEW YORK - - Made in the United States of America - - - - - COPYRIGHT, 1919, BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY - - PRINTED IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - - - - - TO THE FLOWERS OF MY OWN - GARDEN I DEDICATE THIS STORY - - - - - *CONTENTS* - -CHAPTER - - I. An October Day - II. The Captain's Story - III. Renee Finds a Home - IV. Gardens - V. First Aid - VI. Eagles and Golden Eaglets - VII. Aunt Pen Plans - VIII. Breadwinners - IX. The New Lodger - X. A Scout's Honor - XI. Young Wings - XII. The Game - XIII. The Christmas Party - XIV. Hill-top - XV. Pat's Pride and Its Fall - XVI. Good Turns - XVII. Angeline - XVIII. For His Country - XIX. A Letter From France - XX. The Lost Baby - XXI. Renee's Box - XXII. Surprises - XXIII. The Best of All - - - - - *LARKSPUR* - - - - *CHAPTER I* - - *AN OCTOBER DAY* - - -On an October day--a sunny day, and except for the yellow leaves that -quivered on rapidly bearing branches, very like spring--Patricia -Everett, from the window of her home, watched an automobile drive out of -sight, carrying her mother and sister away to Florida, and confided to -the empty room that she was the very unhappiest girl in the whole world! - -Conflicting emotions tormented the soul of the little lady. She -disliked very much seeing anyone depart from anywhere without her! -Then, too, so hurried had been the departure that nothing in the shape -of candy, books or toys had been left behind to comfort her! And -saddest of all, at the last moment her mother had decided that she must -not return to Miss Prindle's because of an epidemic of measles! - -The curious quiet that had fallen upon the house after the bustle of -departure added to Patricia's loneliness. With a heart bursting with -pity for herself, she wandered up the stairs to her room--a pretty room, -its windows hung in flowered chintz, a bird singing from a cage hanging -in the sunshine. - -When his little mistress walked into the room Peter Pan trilled more -gayly than before--it was as though he bade her come to the window and -look across the way! - -If she had looked she would have seen in the kitchen window of the -shabby brick house, across the intersecting street, Mrs. Mary Quinn and -her daughter Sheila rocking in one another's arms and laughing like two -children! - -Mrs. Quinn's house was old and shabby, its fences tumbling down; hard -times often knocked at her door, but with it all her smile was always as -bright as the gay geraniums blooming on the spotless sill of the kitchen -window that faced the Everett house. - -Fortune had come to the Quinns that day in the guise of a new lodger. -He had taken the second floor bedroom which stretched across the back of -the house. Because this room was very big and had a queer, rickety -stairway leading to it from the outside of the house, it had never been -rented. But with the other lodgers who lived in the front rooms and the -tiny side bedroom and the parlor, which had been converted into a "light -housekeeping suite," Mrs. Quinn managed to keep her little family most -comfortably and to have a bit left over for such luxuries as the -flowers, a few books, pretty pictures and crisp muslin curtains. - -"Faith, Sheila," she had cried, coming into the kitchen where her -daughter was preparing apples for the oven. "It's just as though Dame -Fortune knew it was your birthday! Now you shall have your music!" - -"Oh, mother!" cried the girl, dropping her paring knife. "How -wonderful!" Then, hesitating: "But maybe I hadn't ought to! That much -each week would make things easier if----" - -But Mrs. Quinn snatched bowl, apples and knife from her daughter's -hands. "Don't let's be worrying over what's ahead, sweetness! We'll -just take what comes! Didn't I have my bit of music when I was a girl -and don't I know the longings that are in you to have things that other -girls have, lassie? It's a good daughter you are to me and it's you -that has always made the hard things easier----" She stopped suddenly -as though something in her throat choked the words. For answer Sheila -caught the rough hands that knew only work now and kissed them. - -Then these two, arms around one another, the bowl tipping dangerously -between them, laughed together as though there had never been a single -hardship in the world. - -"We're two sillies--that's what we are! Now we must be about our work -or the gentleman will come and the room won't be ready!" - -"Who is he, mother?" - -"Sure, child, and I scarcely asked him! His name is Marks and he said -he was employed at the Everett Works. I only thought of you, dearie! -After supper you run over and see Miss Sheehan about the lessons; two a -week--and we'll have a man come to tune up the old piano and we'll just -pull it out here where it will be warm and where I can listen to you!" - -So their work--and there was much for their quick fingers to do before -the room could be put in readiness for the new tenant and the supper -prepared for the younger Quinns, would be made lighter by their happy -plans! - -But Patricia was too miserable to even glance across at the window where -the pink geraniums bloomed. She did not want to think that there was -anyone happy anywhere in the world. - -Sighing deeply she curled herself on her bed, drew from underneath her -pillow her beloved diary and wrote upon its open page: - -"This is such a cruel, sad moment in my life that I must write about it -although it is too bad to put it in my nice diary." (Monthly she and -Angeline Snow, her dearest friend at Miss Prindle's, exchanged diaries.) -"I have been left alone here by a fond but heartless mother and sister -who thinks only of herself and her troubles and my father is here at -home and he is left, too, only of course my father is a man and he has -his business. But the very worst of all because they are afraid of -measles and Cis says my hair will come out and that it will never be -thick like hers anyway though I remember you and I said that we hated -thick hair when it was yellow like hers they will not let me go back to -my dear Prindles and so I am a prisoner in a gilded cage. My Aunt Pen is -coming to live with us while my mother is away and I love her and she -always lets me do everything I want to do but she is not like you or the -other girls at school. And though I have lived here many summers as the -poets say, I have no friends because there are only the children I used -to meet at silly parties and my mother's friends who are polite and -stupid and I shall pine with loneliness. It is all Celia's fault though -mother says she is very ill and that she has worn herself out doing war -work and she looked very pail and interesting and I guess maybe she -worried when Lieut Chauncey Merideth fell out of his airplane but I -guess he'll be more careful next time. You remember I never liked him -though when he comes back from war though he is only in Texas I guess -he'll treat me a little different for he will realise I am almost -fourteen if he comes back in time and does not fall out again. I do -love my mother but she has been most heartless leaving me sad and lonely -and with nothing to do. But as old English Sparrow says there is always -work for idle hands to do and I shall find something so as to write to -you all about it. I am too old to spend my hours repining. I remember -the words of E. Sparrow how we are captains of our souls and I shall -keep saying that in my loneliness. I guess now I will go down and order -the dessert for dinner----" - -This sudden thought so comforted Patricia that she closed her diary -quickly, put it back under the pillow, slipped off the bed and ran -downstairs to the kitchen. - -She found that Melodia, the cook, had already prepared mince tarts for -dinner. They were spread temptingly upon a shelf. Patricia tasted one -and immediately ordered Melodia to make nothing but mince tarts for -dessert during her mother's absence! Perched on a stool Patricia asked -several questions concerning the pleasant odors that came from the big -oven. But Melodia seemed to be very indifferent as to the importance of -her presence in the kitchen; Patricia was glad to remember that she had -promised her mother to carry a report to the Red Cross Headquarters that -very afternoon. So, slipping off her stool she stalked majestically -away. - -Now almost at the same moment that Sheila and Mrs. Quinn were laughing -in their kitchen over their wonderful fortune and lonely Patricia was -cheering her heart by tasting mince tarts, kind-hearted Mrs. Atherton, -the official in charge at the Red Cross Headquarters on this October -day, was wrinkling her pretty brows over an unusual situation. - -Before her, watching her face anxiously, stood a man in the uniform of a -captain of the United States Army. - -"Perhaps I acted too hastily--bringing the child here, to leave on your -hands, but--you can see how it happened; I'd given my word to that boy -to take care of his little sister. If you could have known him! Why, -there wasn't a fellow in my company that wouldn't have given up his life -for him! They didn't need to--he did it first!" Capt. Allan's voice -broke. "I got my orders back to the States and I just had time to go -and find Renee." - -"Wouldn't it have been better if you had left her somewhere in Paris?" - -"You see you don't know the whole story, madam. This Emile LaDue was in -the French uniform but he was sort of an American. And that was my -promise--that I'd bring her back to America--somewhere. He didn't have -time to say anything more--he gave me the address when we were in a -shell hole waiting until it was dark enough to creep over to the enemy -lines. We went out a few seconds afterwards--crawling along on our -stomachs, he one way, I another. I--never saw him again." - -Mrs. Atherton openly wiped her eyes. - -The soldier went on: "I'd keep the little girl--just because I loved -Emile LaDue, but I haven't any folks or any place to leave her and I -have to report back over there! When I'm home for good----" - -"If Mrs. Everett was here I am sure we could arrange something, but she -is out of town." - -It was at that moment that Patricia walked past the open door on her way -from the Secretary's office where she had left her mother's report. -Mrs. Atherton's rather high-pitched voice reached her ear. She stood -quite still. - -"The child would make any home happy--she's a dear little thing! Has -plenty of clothes, I guess, but right now more than anything else she -needs friends and love--quite a bit of that." - -"A baby!" thought Patricia excitedly; "a war orphan!" - -Patricia's mother had already adopted six French orphans; Patricia and -her classmates at school were supporting several Belgian families and -Celia was a godmother to ever so many disabled French soldiers. That -all meant only sending money away just so often, but this was quite -different--the baby was right here! Patricia had no time to think just -what her mother might do in such a case! There was an offended tone in -the man's voice as though he might take his war-orphan and go away and -not come back! So she walked straight into the room. - -"Mrs. Atherton, I will take this child immediately." - -Both Mrs. Atherton and the captain gasped at the sudden appearance of -Patricia. Patricia, seeing doubt in Mrs. Atherton's eyes, turned to the -soldier. - -"My mother is away, but if you will bring the--the baby to my home I -will ask my father, and I know he will let her stay!" - -Mrs. Atherton hurriedly explained. "This is Miss Patricia Everett, the -daughter of the lady of whom I was speaking. Perhaps----" she -hesitated. She was thinking rapidly--something, of course, must be done -with the child! "This might solve our problem--until you return and -wish to make other arrangements." - -"Oh _please_ bring her," cried Patricia in quite her natural manner. "I -can't go back to school because of the measles there and I'd lose my -hair and I am dreadfully lonesome, and I should _love_ a baby! We'll go -home and I'll send Watkins after Daddy and then we'll tell him." - -It sounded so logical that even Mrs. Atherton nodded approvingly. - -"Where is she?" asked Patricia, looking around the room as though some -corner might conceal a bundle that would prove to be the little -war-orphan. - -"I left her outside, in the taxi. I wanted to find out what could be -done." - -"Well, let's hurry!" commanded Patricia, turning toward the door. "I -know Daddy'll say yes, for you see my mother and sister have ever so -many orphans and this will be mine and Daddy's." She was running -eagerly ahead of Capt. Allan out of the door and down the long flight of -steps. - -"Can she walk yet?" she whispered excitedly. - -"I should say so!" he laughed, throwing open the door of the taxicab. - -And within Patricia beheld staring gravely at her from a corner of the -automobile, her small hands clasped tightly in her lap, her pale face -framed by a wealth of golden hair that hung in soft curls over her -shabby coat--not the war-orphan she had pictured, but a little girl of -her own age! - -"Miss Renee LaDue," the Captain said with a sweeping gesture. "And this -young lady----" he hesitated a moment, as though the name Mrs. Atherton -had spoken had slipped his mind. - -Patricia, almost too astonished and too delighted to make a sound, -stammered: - -"I'm Patricia Everett, but please, just call me Pat!" - - - - - *CHAPTER II* - - *THE CAPTAIN'S STORY* - - -Certain that some serious catastrophe must have happened, Thomas Everett -ran up the steps of his house with the speed of a schoolboy. Watkins, -the chauffeur, had found him at his office. - -"Miss Pat, sir, says you are to hurry home at once--that it is awfully -important." He had repeated her exact words and even imitated her -imperative tone. - -When Mr. Everett had anxiously asked him "what had happened," he had -shaken his head and had said: "I don't know, sir, what it is, sir, but -I'm sure it is something because I've never seen Miss Pat so excited!" - -Patricia was awaiting her father in the hall. There were not many things -that she had ever wanted that he had refused her--but then this was very -different and he might say "No!" She greeted him with a violent hug -and, talking so fast that he could not make out one word that she was -saying, she dragged him toward the library door. - -"They're in there, Daddy, and oh, _please_ do let her stay!" she -whispered. - -Within the room Mr. Everett found a tall soldier holding a shy little -girl by the hand. The officer introduced himself with a word or two, -and with the same directness he had used in telling his story to Mrs. -Atherton, he now plunged straight to the point. - -"I have brought this little girl from France. She is one of--those -many--who has lost everyone and everything--through this war!" He was -trying to choose his words carefully so as to spare the little girl as -much as he could. - -Realizing his embarrassment Mr. Everett interrupted him. "Pat, dear, -take the little girl and show her the birds." Patricia, rather -reluctantly led the little stranger off to the small conservatory beyond -the dining-room where, in beautiful cages, many different kinds of birds -sang joyously. - -"Thanks, sir," the officer drew a breath. "Taking care of this small -lady has been the most difficult thing I ever attempted. I'll tell you -the story, sir, so that you can understand. About six months ago a -young French officer was attached to our company. He directed the -scouting. There were six of us picked out to work with him. I was one -of them. We did some mighty ticklish work, sir--for a few weeks there." -Almost involuntarily the man's fingers went to the small cross of honor -he wore on his tunic. "And we fellows get pretty well acquainted, you -know--just lying hours in a shell hole next to another man is like -knowing him for years and years back home. It was like that with this -Emile LaDue and me. I found out that his father and mother had been -born in America--they were both dead, for one night he told me that if -anything happened to him--and there was plenty of chance for something -to happen any minute--it would leave his little sister all alone in the -world. He never talked much about himself--back in the lines he was the -bravest, cheeriest one in the crowd, laughing at every sort of hardship, -but when we'd get out he'd get quiet and I knew what was on his mind. -He'd tell little things at different times. It seems he'd made a -promise to his mother that he'd bring the little girl to America to -live--and he'd kept putting it off, and then the war came along and he -thought it might be too late! That bothered him more than anything -else. The last night I was with him we were hiding in a dirty -hole--four of us--almost covered with mud and water. He and I lay close -together; we could only whisper, for some of the Boche had seen us and -we had to keep low until it was darker. We'd been there for hours, not -more'n just breathing when he whispered suddenly in my ear: 'Allan, I -may not come out of this--and you may. Will you----' You know some of -the boys over there have premonitions and they're pretty nearly always -true and I suppose he had one! I knew what he wanted to say, and he'd -been the bravest and best pal a man could ever find and we'd faced death -a hundred times, side by side, and he'd never flunked once, so I -whispered: 'Don't you worry--just tell me where I can find your little -sister.' He twisted around until he could get a hand into his pocket. -He gave me a card. He said: 'She's all alone in the world! Take her -back to America--I didn't make good! All her life my mother planned -that and when she died I promised to do it!' He tried to tell me -something about a box, but a star shell burst right next to us and we -had to dig down into the mud and we scarcely breathed for fear the Boche -snipers would hear us!" Capt. Allan's voice, halting through the story -as though it hurt him to recall the bitter memories, suddenly broke. - -"Just after that we crawled out--we had to do our job and get back with -the stuff the Colonel wanted to know! We divided up--two of us went one -way and two the other. I got over and through and back to our lines -with the information and I won this"--touching his cross--"and got a -sniper's bullet in the shoulder. I was put out of business then--for -three weeks." He stopped again--it was very hard for him to tell his -tale. Mr. Everett was giving occasional nods of sympathy. - -"When I got back to my company they told me the Jerries had caught -LaDue! He had almost gotten away when he was killed by a hand grenade. -The other man with him was made a prisoner. The boys found LaDue when -they advanced--they buried him out there with a lot of others! That was -always the worst, sir--these good pals that you'd messed with and bunked -with under the same muddy blankets and lived with through hours and -hours of waiting for no one ever knew what--and then--just flesh and -bones out in that desolation and buried--any old place----" He pulled -himself together. "Excuse me, sir--I loved the boy--I'd have liked to -have just said--oh, good luck, old chap--or something like that! Well, -I asked for a furlough to hunt up the little sister and what did they do -but order me back to the States on a special mission to the Intelligence -Department. I had just twenty-four hours to find the child. I had no -trouble, though--she was at the address out in St. Cloud, living with a -queer old couple--the man was a veteran of the Franco-Prussian war and -the wife raises flowers--only no one in France is buying flowers now! I -suppose they were all living on what Emile was sending to them. They -didn't want to let the child go--I think they were truly fond of her, -but when I told them what I had promised Emile they never said another -word. I had to break it to them that he had been killed! I was afraid -of Renee crying and wondering how I'd comfort her and then I wished that -she _would_ cry! She was such a pathetic little thing--all she'd say -was 'He told me it would be for America and France!' I tell you, sir, -even the little ones are as brave as any!" - -"Well, old Susette packed her clothes and I started back with her, -though I hadn't the ghost of an idea where to take her! I haven't a -home or any folks of my own, sir, but I said to myself--there's the Red -Cross, they'll tell me! I had come to this town first, sir, so I just -brought her along with me and--here we are!" He laughed ruefully. "I -guess I didn't think the thing out very much! Over there, you know, -homes are smashed up in a twinkling, and so many kiddies--like this -little one--are left along by the wayside, that you don't stop to think -but just gather 'em in! Our boys can't stand seeing the children -suffer, sir--why, I've watched many a one just turn his whole mess right -over to a bunch of kids--they're so hungry looking." He paused for a -moment. "That's all, sir, and if you can find a place for Renee to live -where she'll be safe and--happy, I'll gladly give half my pay and take -her when I come back!" - -The story of Renee LaDue finished, the officer stood very straight and -looked anxiously at his listener. - -Often during the story Mr. Everett had brushed something suspiciously -like tears from his eyes. He rose quickly now and held out his hand. - -"With what you boys are doing--and giving up--there isn't anything we -who have to stay at home could refuse to do! Renee shall be taken care -of--I promise you that! Nothing must be said about money. When the war -is over and you return--then you shall come and claim her if you wish!" - -The soldier's face beamed with pleasure. - -"Oh, sir, that is splendid! You can't imagine how responsible I feel -about my promise to Emile--or what a fine chap he was!" - -Mr. Everett took a notebook and a pencil from his pocket. - -"Please give me some of the facts concerning this child," he said in a -business-like manner. - -As Capt. Allan repeated them he entered each in the little book. - -"And you know nothing more concerning Emile's family?" - -"Only a little more--back in the hospital I talked with a French surgeon -who had known Emile's father. He said he had been a sculptor--until he -grew blind. I imagine they were very poor. The doctor said that Emile -had been studying, too--in Paris. I remembered he had said something -once to me that had made me think he was just waiting to finish his -studies to keep his promise to his mother--to come to America to live!" - -Thomas Everett shook his head. "Oh, what this war has done! The boy -was doubtless gifted!" He sighed deeply. "When it is possible go to -Paris and, for the child's sake, find out all you can of her family. In -the meantime----" - -But at this point Patricia, too impatient to longer await her father's -decision, burst into the room! - - - - - *CHAPTER III* - - *RENEE FINDS A HOME* - - -At her first introduction in the taxi-cab Patricia had undertaken to -converse with Miss Renee in the stilted French she had learned at Miss -Prindle's. But Renee had answered in perfect English. - -Now, with the singing of the birds to tune their voices to a happy note, -with the pretty flowers bringing a smile to Renee's sad little face, it -was easy to bridge over the formality of "getting acquainted." Renee -exclaimed in delight over the birds and the flowers and Pat rattled on -like a small magpie, though all the while straining her ears to catch a -single word or tone of her father's voice from the library. - -She had her own way--sometimes a rather naughty way--of getting what she -wanted from her family, but this was so different, and she wanted it so -very much that she felt very anxious and uncertain! So after she had -waited what seemed to her a very long time she abruptly led Renee back -to the library. As they entered the room her father held out both -hands. One took one of hers, with the other he drew Renee close to him. - -"My dear little girl, Capt. Allan is going to leave you with us for a -little while! And I have given him my promise that you shall be as safe -and happy as it is possible for us to make you----" He wanted to say a -great deal more to make Renee feel at home but Patricia interrupted him -with a tempestuous hug that almost swept him from his feet. - -"Oh, you dear, dear Daddy!" Then she threw her arms around Renee's -neck. "Oh, I am so happy!" she was crying over and over, as though she -had been the homeless one and Renee had taken her in. - -"Don't forget me, Miss Everett," the soldier put in so comically that -Patricia almost embraced him, too! Instead she shook both his hands -delightedly. As Renee turned to Capt. Allan her lips trembled a little, -for she had learned to love and trust him and already looked upon him as -her guardian. - -"Just you be brave and happy, little sister!" he said softly to her, -"and as soon as I can I will come back!" - -Then he shook hands with each one of them and Renee shyly kissed him. -Mr. Everett went with him to the door. Patricia, knowing how hard the -parting was for her little guest, seized her hand and dragged her toward -a door at the end of the big hall. - -"Let's go and find Melodia! I know something she's got!" - -Only a few moments before Melodia had been telling the butler and the -upstairs maid about "that Miss Pat's giving her orders so comical" and -they were all laughing merrily over it when Miss Pat burst in upon them, -leading Renee by the hand. - -"Melodia, I have a guest only she's going to live with us! Please make -lots of tarts, and can't Renee have just a little one now? Jasper, -carry Miss Renee's trunk to my room--it's in the front hall! Maggie, -please get a cot from the storeroom and put it right next to my bed." -She turned toward the pantry. "I'll take some tarts now, Melodia, for -Miss Renee is hungry! Don't all stand and stare like that, but please -do as I tell you!" She helped herself as she spoke to two of the -juiciest of the tempting tarts. - -"Well, I never!" Jasper and Maggie and Melodia all exclaimed. - -Patricia turned with dignity. "Miss Renee has come from France. She is -a--a----" She was going to say "war-orphan" but suddenly it occurred to -her that that might make Renee unhappy. So she finished: "Her brother -has died for us in France and left her all alone!" Patricia used an -expression she had heard often. "You three and Daddy and me have a debt -to pay--and we are going to pay it!" - -The three servants were deeply impressed by the grandness of Patricia's -words and manner; and, too, Renee's sad little face won their hearts in -an instant. Jasper coughed violently and hurried away to find the -trunk. Melodia wiped her eye with the corner of her apron. - -"The dear little thing! Well, we'll just make you happy and put flesh -on your bones, bless your heart, missy!" - -Patricia, satisfied that she had properly established Renee in the -household, then led her upstairs to her own room. Renee, accustomed to -the tiny chamber under the gable at St. Cloud, exclaimed with admiration -when Patricia opened the door. Already Jasper had put down the queer -old trunk and was busily engaged unfastening its buckles and straps. -Maggie was watching, much disturbed. - -"Miss Pat, I wish your mother was home! I know she wouldn't want me to -bring a cot in here a-cluttering up the tidiness of your room when -there's the blue room and the violet room empty and that room on the -third floor----" - -Alarmed that Maggie might separate them, Patricia exclaimed quickly: "I -don't--_care_! We _won't_ make things untidy! I _want_ her in here!" - -"What's all this about?" interrupted Mr. Everett, coming at that moment -to the door. - -Patricia, Renee, Jasper and Maggie all turned to him. But Patricia, -catching his coat, pulled him to her so that, by reaching on tip-toe, -she could whisper in his ear: - -"You see, Daddy, I want her right in here! Maggie says that it will make -things untidy but we can't let her get homesick or--or unhappy, and she -might if she's left all alone in the blue room or the vi'let room----" -Patricia rubbed her cheek coaxingly against her father's shoulder, then -added solemnly: "I guess _I_ know what it is to be lonesome, for I have -been lots and lots of times--just because everyone was so grownup and I -hadn't anyone to be with like a little sister, and now--please, Daddy, -we will keep the room as neat as can be!" - -Renee's eyes echoed Patricia's pleadings. - -"Well, well, Maggie, we'll have to let them decide things, I guess," he -laughed, "at least until Miss Penelope comes!" - -In all the excitement Patricia had quite forgotten the approaching -arrival of Aunt Pen. - -"Aunty Pen, Aunty Pen," she cried, catching Renee's hands and, swinging -her around. "I'd just clean forgotten she was coming! You'll _love_ -her!" - -Certainly little Renee had not time to be unhappy--each moment seemed to -bring something new! While Patricia was explaining all about Aunty Pen -and why she was coming, and her story had, of course, to include Celia -and even the Lieut. Chauncey Meredith and his fall from his airplane, -Maggie, scolding a little under her breath, was spreading snowy sheets -over a bed-lounge which Patricia had drawn up close to her own little -bed. - -In the next moment, Aunt Pen again forgotten, Patricia was tumbling her -own possessions from one of the drawers of the mahogany chest to make -room for the contents of Renee's little trunk. - -"We'll just share everything," she cried. "We'll have just the same -halves! And let's hang up your dresses now!" - -Poor Renee did not need the generous space of one-half of Patricia's -wardrobe for her shabby dresses--they were only four in number and sadly -worn! But she hung them away proudly, telling Patricia that no one in -France now wore new things! - -"Poor Susette used to spend hours mending my clothes, trying to make -them hold together," laughed Renee, tenderly recalling her good old -friend at St. Cloud. - -"Tell me all about her!" - -So, sitting cross-legged on the floor beside the almost empty trunk, -Renee described Susette and the cottage at St. Cloud and the wonderful -flowers that had used to sell so well before the war, and the school -where she had gone after her mother had died; how she and Emile always -talked in English because her mother had made them promise, and how in -the long, anxious, lonely days after Emile had gone, she had used to -teach simple English words to Susette as they sat together among the -flowers that nobody wanted to buy! - -From the bottom of the trunk Renee drew a box covered with worn leather, -tooled and colored like the binding of a beautiful book. So old was it -that the colors blended and looked all blue and gold and green. Renee -lifted it tenderly, as though it was precious! - -"Oh, how queer and how be-_ut_-iful!" cried Patricia, all admiration and -curiosity. "What do you keep in it?" - -Renee held the box very close to her. - -"I don't know! It was my mother's and now it's Emile's and mine, -or"--she carefully corrected herself--"I suppose it's just mine. But we -don't know what is in it for we never had the key! My mother died -before she could tell Emile where it was! And Emile made me promise -before he went away that I would keep the box and never let anyone open -it!" - -"And you haven't even the teeniest idea what is in it? Didn't you ever -just shake it?" - -"Oh, lots of times!" confessed Renee. "But nothing makes any noise. -And of course I would keep my promise to Emile." - -Patricia rocked back and forth on her heels in joy. - -"Oh, what a _spliffy_ mystery! I can't wait to write to the girls!" -Then she laughed at Renee's bewilderment. "Spliffy is a word we learned -at Miss Prindle's and it means scrumptious or delicious or grand! Don't -you _love_ a mystery? And isn't it the lov-li-est box?" - -"Emile said it must have been made by some Italian master years and -years ago. I have this queer locket, too--it was my mother's," and from -a little bag, wrapped in folds and folds of tissue paper, Renee drew a -curious gold locket. "It is much too big to wear but I am very careful -of it--it is all I have! I pretend that the box and the locket both -once upon a time belonged to some royal prince in Venice! Once, when I -was little, mother took Emile and me to Venice--she had been sick and -she had to go where the sun was warm!" - -Patricia, who had always considered herself an experienced and much -traveled young lady, suddenly felt very small and young compared to -Renee and all that she had done! - -"Is Venice like the pictures--all colors like shells and funny boats and -people singing?" - -But Renee had no chance to answer. The doorbell clanged and in a moment -they heard a cheery voice answering Mr. Everett's greeting. - -"It's Aunt Pen--_come_ on!" cried Patricia, rushing headlong down the -stairs. - - - - - *CHAPTER IV* - - *GARDENS* - - -"I'm certainly very glad you've come, Penelope; my family, which has so -suddenly increased, is going to need a guiding hand!" - -Penelope Everett, called by some a "strong-minded woman" because she -had, since her college days, worn low-heeled shoes, boyish coats, -comfortable hats and simple dresses, was Thomas Everett's favorite -sister. Though many years younger than he, there was a directness about -her, a something in the way she carried her head, poised squarely, that -made him feel he could put anything upon her shoulders. - -She gave a cheery laugh now in response to the seriousness of his -manner. - -Patricia and Renee had long since gone to bed, side by side. Renee had -cuddled down under the soft coverings with a little sigh of content. -Very tired with long days of travel she had dropped off to sleep -quickly, while Patricia's voice, pitched to a low tone, had gone on in -an endless account of "what we'll do to-morrow!" Aunt Pen, tiptoeing in -a little later, had found Patricia's hand clasping Renee's tightly under -the covers. - -She recalled that now as she sat with her brother before the library -fire. - -"Do you know, Thomas, you've done the most wonderful thing in the world -for Pat?" - -Pat's father stared at her. He had thought she meant to praise him for -taking in the lonely little girl from France! - -"Why--what do you mean?" - -"Just this--Pat's going to have something now that she's never had -before--true comradeship!" - -Thomas Everett nodded his head. "That is so! Pat said something queer -to me, about being lonely lots of times!" - -"Of course she's been lonely--often! She's almost a stranger in her own -home! You whisk her from school to the seashore or some such place and -then back--to another school! And everything on earth is done for her, -she doesn't have to think of anything for herself, let alone for anyone -else!" - -Pat's father laughed. "Why, I thought we were bringing her up along the -most model lines! But perhaps you have some new fads now!" He liked to -tease Penelope. - -"Poor Pat has been the victim of too many fads already! I tell you, -brother, this war has shown us a whole lot of silly mistakes we were -making in our living!" - -"Before you go one bit further, Penelope dear, do promise to speak in -words of one syllable! I know all about steel but I must admit I'm very -stupid about girls!" - -"Thomas, you're not stupid--you just don't think about them and yet your -two girls are more precious to you than the whole steel market! And -what are you doing with them? Look at Celia--how has she stood the -trials of this wartime? Goodness knows, you've spent enough money on -her to have made a strong woman of her!" - -"But she's young, Pen----" - -"Celia's twenty-one--that's the age they've been drafting the boys to go -and fight for us! She's a few years older than some who have died over -in France. And now she's had a nervous breakdown! Why in the world -should Celia have any nerves at all?" - -"You're right, Pen, but----" - -"This draft we have had in this country has been a wonderful thing; it -has sorted out our manhood. But I'm sorry the women couldn't have had -it, too, I wonder how many would have measured up to the standards, and -why not? Because we older ones make mistakes with the girls--like Pat!" - -Penelope was standing now, very straight, before the fire, her eyes -bright in her earnestness. - -"I tell you we've reached a wonderful day, brother--we can see things as -we never saw them before! Silly old prejudices and habits and notions -have been swept aside. Do you know one thing we've learned? That it is -something even greater than love for one's country that has made men go -out and fight--to victory; it's a love for right and justice! And in -one of John Randolph's books he tells us that it is that love for right -and justice that will make the real brotherhood of men and nations! Who -is going to carry on this ideal as we have found it? Why, our boys and -girls--girls like Pat!" - -"Pen, your eloquence makes me feel as though I had never known the real -meaning of the word duty!" - -"Oh, it isn't half so much--duty, Tom, as it is plain common sense. -I've often thought that raising girls and boys is something like a -garden! If you were planning a garden and wanted to grow something -beautiful--oh, say larkspur, for I don't think any garden is perfect -without it and no flower is harder to get started--wouldn't you want to -know that you were putting in seed that would grow into hardy blossoms, -blooming year after year, keeping your garden lovely and the world -richer for their beauty?" - -Penelope paused long enough to draw a deep breath. - -"There at Miss Prindle's Pat is learning to speak French and Latin and -how to use her hands and feet and walk out of a room properly and a -dinner-table-speaking acquaintance with art and the masters and ancient -history--and that's all very well, but how much will she know of the -problems she must face by and by unless she begins to mingle with the -sort of people that make up this world? And above all else--unless you -build up for her a strong body that will mean a brave heart and a clear -head, what service, I ask you, can she give to her fellowmen and her -country?" - -"You're certainly right, Pen! And now, if you've finished a very good -sermon, let's get down to business. I take it you want to--raise -larkspur! I don't know much about 'em, even in gardens! I've left these -things to the children's mother!" - -Penelope dropped into a chair with a little, ashamed laugh. - -"My sermon does sound as though I was criticizing Caroline dreadfully! -I know she is devoted to the girls. And so am I--and so are you. She's -bringing them up just the way she was brought up!" - -"Well, what shall _we_ do?" asked Pat's father with the tone of a -conspirator. - -"You've started doing right now the very best thing in the -world--bringing that poor little girl into the family! Patricia loves -her already and she'll learn for the first time to consider another -child before herself. She's never had to do it before! Why, to-night I -found her carefully dividing her clothes so that Renee might have just -as many things as she had." - -"Does Renee need clothes? I'll----" - -"Now don't spoil it all by buying new things--let Patricia give up some -of her own! It is making her very happy. Through Renee she is going to -know something of the trials that come to others and she is going to -learn to want to be helpful. She has gone to sleep now holding Renee's -hand." - -Both their minds turned to Renee. - -"A curious tragedy--this, that has brought this child into our circle! -Caroline might have made some other arrangement, but Pat's heart was set -upon keeping her--and she _will_ have her own way!" - -"Pat's mother is too absorbed now in Celia to think much about it and -when she returns Renee will win her love with her little face! What a -story the child's life makes with just what we know! The family must -have been American--evidently exiled; they loved this country, else why -would the mother have made the brother promise to come back? I hope -sometime we will know more about them!" - -"Capt. Allan has promised to look them up as soon as he can!" - -"Captain Allan----" Penelope breathed, her face flaming, then turning -white. When her brother had told her Renee's story, so intent had she -been upon the tragedy of little Renee and the poor Emile that she had -not heeded the name of the American officer. - -"Can it be the same?" she thought now, a wild fluttering at her heart. -Then she sternly admonished herself. "Of course not! Don't be silly! -There are hundreds of Allans and I don't even know that he joined the -army!" - -She said aloud, very calmly: "Love has given to Renee what money -couldn't--she has been well educated, I believe! Her mother taught her, -she says, and after her mother's death she went to a communal school -near St. Cloud. She will help our Pat a great deal!" - -"Yes, I'm very glad we have her with us! And now, Pen, I'll put you in -command--head gardener, or whatever you want to call yourself! Raise -your larkspur--only let a mere father be of what help he can! Things -are pressing pretty hard at the Works--I can't help but fear that the -winter may bring serious problems of unemployment and we must be ready -to solve them! A few weeks will see the end of this war--it is in sight -now! By the way, we are just completing the formula for a new -explosive--more powerful than any the world has ever known! If the -enemy knew it the war would end to-morrow!" - -Penelope shuddered. "Why do we need it?" - -"My dear, that little formula alone, scrap of paper as it is, will be a -safeguard against future wars! The government is sending on experts to -go over the experiments and the formulas. And, if they are satisfied, -it will be my gift--the gift of my men--to our country!" - -Penelope listened with divided attention, her mind not so much upon the -wonders of shot and shell as upon the problems of the two little girls -upstairs. She stared into the crackling flames. - -"Do you think Miss Pat will fall into your plans, sister? Remember she -is sadly spoiled!" - -Pen laughed. "She'll never know we're making plans--wait and see! The -first thing we must do is to make Renee feel that this is home and -then--well, we must fill their days with sunshine--flowers and children -grow better with that, you know! And I promise you, Thomas, that after -a few months--if I'm let alone that long--you'll agree that my hobbies -are commonsense things after all!" - -"You're generally right, sister--I've found that out from long, sad -experience! Grow your larkspur and I'll help! And now I move that we -call the plot finished and go to bed--you've worn me out!" - -With two fingers he tipped her face toward him and kissed her -good-night. Each was very fond of the other--it was this affection that -bound Penelope's heart so closely to her brother's children. - -Long after he had gone she sat alone before the fire, her elbows on her -knees, her chin dropped into the palms of her hands. And as she mused -over her plans, between her and the flames danced pictures of what she -would like to do to help Pat, and now Renee, grow into "hardy blossoms, -blooming year after year, keeping the garden lovely and the world richer -for their beauty!" - - - - - *CHAPTER V* - - *FIRST AID* - - -Renee wakened to find the sun streaming through the pink-flowered -curtains and Patricia sitting bolt upright in bed, staring at her. She -had been dreaming of Susette and Gabriel; she had to rub her eyes once -or twice before she could remember that this was America and her new -home! - -"I thought you'd _never_ wake up! I was just sitting here thinking how -nice it is to have you here. Miss Prindle would never let any of us have -a room-mate. Let's dress fast--there's _so_ much I want to show you! -I'll ring for Maggie." - -As she spoke Patricia sprang from her bed and ran barefooted across the -floor to the bell. With the sunshine and Pat's enthusiasm, the little -homesick feeling that had begun to ache its way into Renee's heart -disappeared in an instant. - -Aunt Pen answered the bell instead of Maggie. - -"Lazy girlies!" she cried cheerily. "I have been waiting an hour to eat -breakfast with you! Melodia has a touch of her "rheumtics" and I've -told Maggie that she may stay downstairs and help her. You and Renee -can put away your things and make your beds." She was throwing back the -bedclothes as she spoke and did not notice the surprise that flashed -across Pat's face. Pat did not guess that this was one of Aunt Pen's -"plans" because she did not know, yet, that Aunt Pen was "planning"; she -had never made a bed in her life, nor had she ever had to hang away her -clothes! But already Renee was neatly tucking into a corner of the -wardrobe her warm, comfy slippers and was hanging her nightgown upon a -hook, so, although Patricia had opened her lips to utter a protest, she -closed them, suddenly ashamed. - -Over their breakfast Aunt Pen and Pat made the plans for the day. It -must be like a holiday to celebrate Renee's coming! She must be taken -about the city and shown every spot of interest. - -"It will seem stupid to you after Paris," declared Pat. - -Renee smiled. "Oh, it couldn't! Paris is beautiful but--this is -America! Always my mother told us stories of America. She loved it and -she wanted us to love it, too! She used to say that America was like a -splendid, growing boy! I think she meant that everything here is young -and over there in France it is so old! But I love France!" The child's -eyes grew dark with feeling. "Only I feel so sorry for France! She's -like poor Susette and her flowers!" - -"It's Susette's cheery, brave soul that you love, my dear--as we love -the cheery, brave soul of France," finished Aunt Pen. - -"Well, maybe France has a soul but does she have pancakes like these?" -put in Pat, for she felt that Renee and Aunt Pen were growing far too -serious for such a glorious morning. - -The day was full of interest for them both; for Patricia, because she -suddenly found a new pride in showing to her little guest the various -things in her home city of which she was justly proud. Then Aunt Pen -gave bits of historical information that added to everything they saw. -Pat had not known that over the stretch of pretty park near her home the -early settlers had once fought with the Indians; that the huge boulder -in the park, shadowed by old elms, marked the grave where some unknown -soldiers, who had given their lives in the war of 1812, were buried. -Aunt Pen also pointed out the street, thronged now with trucks, wagons -and street-cars, that had once been the trail through the forest over -which, when the Indians had burned the village, Patricia's great-great -grandmother had escaped, hidden under sacking and straw in the back of -the old farm wagon, drawn by oxen. - -"Oh, how thrilling!" cried Pat with a little shiver of delight. "What -fun it would be to have to escape now! Only we'd just go in this car -with Watkins driving about fifty miles an hour!" - -Later in the day Patricia begged that she might take Renee again along -the river road, past the old fort that had once leveled its wooden -cannon toward the shore of Canada, past the huge factories with their -countless chimneys belching forth flame and smoke. Aunt Pen had let -them go alone and the ride had been one of endless interest. They were -returning swiftly along the maple-shaded street that led toward home -when the car swerved sideways, Watkins gave a quick laugh, and the air -was pierced by the sharp cry of a dog in pain. - -"Watkins--it was a dog!" cried Patricia. - -"I know it. He'll be more careful next time!" - -Renee had covered her eyes. Pat sprang from her seat and leaned toward -the chauffeur. - -"_Stop!_" she cried so commandingly that he ground on the brake. "I -think you're--you're _awful_ to go on and leave the poor dog!" Tears -threatened her voice. She opened the door and sprang out, followed by -Renee. - -But another little girl had gone to the dog's rescue. Sheila Quinn, -walking homeward from school, had seen the accident. She had run out -into the street and had gathered the dog into her arms. When Pat and -Renee had reached the spot she had laid Mr. Dog upon the grass and was -examining him. - -"Is he dead?" cried Pat and Renee in one voice. - -"Oh, no! See him try to lick my hand! He knows we want to help him! I -guess he's more scared than hurt! Here, it is his leg. See, it is -broken." - -"How can you tell?" asked Pat, filled with admiration at the quick -careful way Sheila had examined their patient. - -"Run your hand gently over his body; see, it doesn't hurt him! But look -at his leg--how it hangs! And watch him, he'll wince if I just move as -though to touch it! We won't hurt you, doggie dear, just keep quiet and -we'll fix you up all nice." - -"What will we do?" asked Pat anxiously. - -"We must put it in a splint and bandage it," promptly answered Sheila, -looking around her as though to find the necessary things. - -"I know--I know! There's the white stuff Aunt Pen got at the Red Cross, -we can use that! She forgot it--it's in the car." - -"That will be just the thing!" - -"Get it, Renee! And here are some sticks--won't they do for splints?" -asked Patricia eagerly. - -"It ought to be something firmer, at least until the bone is set." -Sheila was straightening out the poor little leg with so gentle a touch -that the dog only whimpered. "If you'd let me use your scarf we could -make a sort of pillow----" - -For answer Pat snatched the woolen scarf from her shoulders. Sheila, -rolled it tightly into a firm pillow. Renee had returned with Aunt -Pen's package and she and Patricia commenced tearing it into strips. -Their fingers, eager though they were, made awkward work of it. - -"Let _me_ do it! You hold his leg," exclaimed Sheila. She tore off -strips two inches wide. Then she neatly covered the woolen scarf with a -wider piece. Renee and Pat, deeply concerned, leaned over the dog and -watched. Pat held the injured leg and Renee gently stroked the dog's -head. - -"Isn't he a darling?" cried Pat. "I just _hate_ Watkins for hurting -him!" - -"It wasn't Watkin's fault--he might have saved the dog and had a serious -accident and hurt--you girls! The dog ran out in front of the car! -This will be a lesson to him." - -The splint ready Sheila gently placed it under the dog's leg and -instructed Pat how to hold it in place. She wound the bandage around and -around, careful to avoid the break, but firmly, so as to hold the splint -securely in place. Then she straightened up from her kneeling position -with a long breath. - -"There, now--that will do nicely, until someone can set it!" - -"I think you're wonderful--the way you can do things!" cried Pat, always -generous in her praise. "Where did you ever learn? And oh, I forgot, we -don't know your name and we'd like to----" - -The three girls, grouped about the injured dog who lay very contentedly -with his head pillowed on Renee's lap, presented striking contrasts. -Pat, like a picture in a fashion book in her trim green broadcloth coat -and turban set jauntily on her smooth dark hair, had a frankness and -sunniness in her face that was invariably winning despite a slight -imperiousness of manner; Renee, small for her thirteen years, her -delicate face, framed in golden curls, touched by the shadow of the -sorrows she had known, seemed like a fragile flower. And Sheila Quinn, -a head taller than even Pat, her black hair neatly braided in two tight -pigtails reaching almost to her waist, her face and form showing the -vigor gained from healthy exercise and simple living, had something both -of Patricia's winsomeness, Renee's quiet poise and a happy contentment -all of her own which came from the Quinn philosophy of "just make the -best of everything, sweetness, there's sure to be some sunshine -somewhere!" - -Sheila laughed. "Which question shall I answer first? I'm Sheila -Quinn! I know you are Patricia Everett, but----" she hesitated as she -glanced toward Renee. Patricia added: - -"This is Renee LaDue who has come way from France to live with us!" - -"Oh, how nice!" Sheila glanced with friendly curiosity up and down the -little figure. "And I learned bandaging and all that at the scout -meetings. I was highest in my first-aid test," she concluded proudly. - -"Scouts----" queried Pat. - -"Girl Scouts," explained Sheila. "I belong to Troop Six and it's the -best troop in the city!" - -"Les Eclaireuses!" cried Renee. "There were some in the School of St. -Cloud. I loved them--they used to bring the soldier's coats and socks -to Susette for us to mend! They were like little girl soldiers." - -Again Patricia felt small and insignificant before the greater -experience of Renee and now, Sheila! But her nature was too sunny to -show the moment's sting of pride. Besides, she was immensely curious. - -"What do you have to do to be a Girl Scout?" - -"Why, just want to join! I mean just want to be all that a scout must -be and then put in your name. I wish you'd join Troop Six--it's the -best and everyone just loves Captain Ricky--she's the scout captain." - -"What do you have to want to want to be a scout?" asked Pat. - -Sheila squared her shoulders. "This is what you have to want," and she -repeated with dignity, for she was leader of her patrol and felt the -responsibility of her position, "to do my duty to God and my country, to -help other people at all times, to obey the scout law. There are lots -of laws but they're the kind you just _like_ to obey. Captain Ricky -says the real meaning of scouting for girls like us is service to God -and our country; that it helps each one of us to build strong characters -that anyone can depend upon! And when girls are scouts why, we don't -stop to think that one, maybe, is rich and another poor and one's black -and one's white or one's a Jew and one's a--a Baptist--we're just all -scouts and loyal! Oh, I love it!" - -"Renee, _let's_ be scouts!" cried Pat. "Let's tell Daddy we want to -join Troop Six--it's the best in the city!" - -Mr. Dog, his patience exhausted, had commenced to stir restlessly and -lick his bandaged leg. The three girls exclaimed in dismay: - -"We've forgotten the dog!" - -"What shall we do with him?" - -"I'd better take him home. I am sure my mother can set his leg and then -we'll put it in a stronger splint," said Sheila. - -Pat and Renee could not dispute Sheila's claim to the interesting -patient. - -"Then we'll come over to-morrow to see him. I think he's a nice dog -because he looks just like Miss Prindle's General who has all kinds of -prizes, only dirty!" Patricia motioned to Watkins who, resigned to -waiting, had become more concerned in the afternoon newspaper than in -the fate of the dog. - -He looked a little angry now when Pat explained that they intended to -carry the dog in the automobile to the Quinn home, but there was -something in Pat's face that stilled the protest on his lips. - -Pat exclaimed with delight when she found that Sheila lived in the old -brick house whose windows were in sight of her own. With Renee and now -Sheila, the world that had seemed only the day before to be so lonely, -now seemed full of friends. Sheila did not tell Pat that she had often -watched her come and go from the house that was so like a palace -compared to her own. Sheila knew that there had been just a little envy -in her heart at times and she was ashamed of it. For, after all, not -for worlds would she exchange her dearest mother and the three small -brothers for the wealth of the Everetts! - -"Let's have lots of good times together," Pat called in parting, "and -we'll come over first thing to-morrow to see the dog!" - -So much had Pat and Renee to tell of their day that Mr. Everett quite -forgot an after-dinner engagement he had made with a business -acquaintance. All four of them, Aunt Pen and Daddy, Pat and Renee sat -before the fire. Pat, with a diplomacy not suspected by her innocent -family, led up very carefully to what she wanted "more than anything -else in the world!" That was always the way she put it. She used the -very words now as she told of Troop Six--the best in the whole city! - -"Bless Pat!" cried her father, using Melodia's favorite expression, "_I_ -can't keep up with you! Yesterday it was one thing and to-day it's -another, and it's always what you want more than anything else in the -world!" - -"Yes, Daddy--_this_ is!" - -"A Girl Scout----" he glanced over the children's heads at Penelope and -his brows lifted as much as to say, "Well, this is _your_ garden--what -have you to say?" - -Aunt Pen answered his look. - -"Do you know, Thomas, I think it's just the thing! It will bring the -girls in touch with joys and responsibilities they've not known before!" - -"It makes us build up--oh, something about character!" In her -excitement Pat could not remember Sheila's grand words. "Renee says -that in Paris they are like girl soldiers. And Sheila says we'll love -the girls in the troop; there's Keineth Randolph and Peggy Lee and True -Scott and a lot of others----" - -"I know Mrs. Lee, and if Peggy is like her mother she is a fine girl," -added Aunt Pen. - -"Keineth is John Randolph's girl," put in Pat's father. - -"Then we may?" Pat asked anxiously. - -"You may," laughingly answered Mr. Everett and Aunt Pen in one voice, -covering their ears that they might not be deafened by Pat's boisterous -"hurrah!" - -Upstairs Pat chattered on, although Renee's eyes were almost shut with -sleep. They opened their beds and each laid out her nightgown and -slippers. - -"You know I'm glad Maggie's downstairs now--we ought to take care of -things ourselves; we'll _have_ to, if we make good scouts! Oh, good -gracious!" Pat whirled a stocking in midair. "We'll have to try exams -and I'm always scared to death. But you'll help me, won't you, Renee?" - -And little Renee, her heart overflowing with gratitude, glad to do the -smallest service within her power, answered heartily, though sleepily, -"'Deed I will!" - - - - - *CHAPTER VI* - - *EAGLES AND GOLDEN EAGLETS* - - - "A bun fell on my kitten, - She died where she was sittin'----" - -sang Sheila, holding up for inspection the blouse she had just finished -ironing. - -The front doorbell rang, its rusty tone resounding through the house. - -"Goodness gracious," exclaimed Mrs. Quinn, smoothing out her apron. Few -came to the sombre front door of the old house; somehow instinct seemed -always to lead visitors along the flagged walk to the door leading into -the cheery kitchen. - -Sheila, flying to the door, had guessed in an instant who the callers -were! She led Pat and Renee back through the long hall and the injured -dog, comfortably established in a basket near the stove, set up a -vigorous barking by way of welcome. - -"He's all right, or will be as soon as the break mends, mother says! -This is my mother, Pat," and Patricia turned from the dog to Mrs. Quinn, -who greeted the girls with her cheery smile. - -"The children would have him here and I guess the poor dog is glad -enough to find a home," she explained, nodding toward the basket which -the younger Quinns, with scraps of old carpeting, had made most -comfortable. - -"Mother says he's an Irish terrier, so let's call him Paddy!" And -Paddy, as though he liked and accepted the name, barked and wagged his -stump of a tail and tried to jump out of his basket. - -With little effort to conceal their curiosity Patricia and Renee were -staring about them. Patricia had never seen a kitchen like this before! -She could not tell just what made it so different--it might be the neat -rows of pretty china dishes on the shelves of the open cupboard, or the -shiny tins and pots and pans in the stove corner, or the bright rag rugs -on the spotless floor, or the gay patterned cloth across the table at -the window, or the blooming plants on the sills framed by crisply -ruffled muslin curtains! And Mrs. Quinn, a pink bow at her neck -brightening her faded dress and heightening the color of her thin -cheeks, looked as though she belonged there with the geraniums and the -bright rugs and the spotless dishes! Patricia was thinking that it was -just the sort of a room one felt like staying in--and anyone could feel -sure that--if there was any sunshine anywhere--it would be slanting -across that floor. - -Renee was standing with her hands quaintly clasped. - -"It is like home," she cried. She caught sight of a little wooden stool -and exclaimed: "Oh--like Susette's!" - -Sheila had told Mrs. Quinn that Renee had come way from France. The -motherly woman now drew the child to her and let her tell of Susette and -the cheery kitchen at St. Cloud so that the tiny shadow of homesickness -might pass from her heart. - -Patricia was joyously announcing that her Daddy and Aunt Pen had said -they might join Troop-Six! - -"And I saw Captain Ricky and she told me to bring you girls to-day! -Scout meeting is at three o'clock at Lincoln School," Sheila added. - -"Renee--do you hear that? Goodness, I'm scared! What do we have to do -first?" - -"Form in patrols for inspection. I hope you can come into the Eagle -Patrol with Keineth Randolph and Peggy Lee and myself!" - -Patricia had innumerable questions to ask. She and Renee sat upon the -floor, one on each side of Paddy's basket which had been drawn out into -the middle of the room. Sheila resumed her ironing, explaining that it -must be done before she could do anything else. Mrs. Quinn commenced a -vigorous beating and stirring that promised goodies of some kind, -joining now and then in the merry chatter. This was the beginning of -many such pleasant hours in the kitchen of the old brick house! - -As the girls were going home Patricia said suddenly to Renee, speaking -out of a moment of deep thought: "What was it made it so jolly--there? -I believe it was the piano! Who'd ever think of having a piano in the -kitchen?" - -"No!" declared Renee. "It was the rocking chair and the piece-work -cushions and the stool!" - -At the scout meeting Renee, unused to large groups of children, felt a -wave of shyness grip her. She was grateful for Pat's vivacity--no one -would notice how quiet she was! At first there seemed to be a great -many girls and as though they were all talking at once, but soon she -made out through Sheila's rather offhand introductions that the girl -with the nice eyes and jolly smile was Peggy Lee, that the smaller one -with the golden hair was Keineth Randolph and that these two with the -three girls standing near Pat made up the Eagle patrol. - -Capt. Ricky, who was really Miss Fredericka Grimball, only no one ever -called her anything but Capt. Ricky, greeted warmly the new recruits. -She was a tall young woman, her fine face made beautiful by beauty of -character rather than feature and with a personality that won her girls' -liking and at the same time their respect. - -She whispered to Sheila that she would place Pat and Renee in the Eagle -Patrol! A shout went up in answer which was quieted by Capt. Ricky's -whistle and her command to "fall in!" - -Pat felt delightfully like a soldier as she drew up her slender five -feet of body between Renee and True Scott. But she was an absurdly -awkward soldier as she obeyed the commands and her pride met a sad fall -when upon inspection she had to hold out ink-stained fingers! - -After a brief drill the Captain gave the command to the Color Guard to -form. From the ranks three girls stepped forward and with military -precision brought from its place at one end of the room the Troop flag. -Every scout's hand went instantly to the forehead in salute! Together -they repeated: - - "I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the country - for which it stands; - One nation indivisible, with liberty and justice - for all!" - -Renee could not follow their words, but in a clear, sweet voice she sang -with them the "Star Spangled Banner," and as the words rang out, "Then -conquer we must when our cause it is just," there was an added -brightness in her eyes, for she had come closer than the others to -"war's desolation." - -In Sheila's kitchen the girls had studied the scout laws; they repeated -them now, carefully. To Pat, whose life so far had had few "laws" or -"rules" of any kind, they seemed to mean more, now, as she repeated them -in chorus, and she wondered deep within her heart if she could really -keep them all! But just at that moment she caught a glance and a smile -from Capt. Ricky that put courage in her heart where the faintness had -been! It would be well worth trying! - -A business meeting followed. The business on hand to be discussed -ranged in character from reports on "war savings," "thrift kitchen -work," "city beautiful plans," a "back-to-school" campaign, knitting and -sewing, to a noisy argument over a coming hike. The girls all tried to -talk at once, and but for Capt. Ricky's whistle might have succeeded; -nevertheless, out of the jumble of words Pat and Renee caught the -impression that these merry girls were really doing a great deal of -earnest work as well as play! In these khaki clad youngsters strong -characters were in the building, "that anyone could depend upon" as -Sheila had put it! - -"Sheila, I know something un-us-u-al is going to happen!" whispered -Peggy Lee, leaning across Pat and Renee. The Eagle patrol had grouped -together, sitting cross-legged on the floor. "When Capt. Ricky looks -like that she's got some grand surprise----" - -"Maybe it's an overnight hike! We take our ponchos and blankets and -dog-tents and sleep outdoors!" - -"It's too cold for that now, Ken! Perhaps it's a real party like the -one we had last spring!" - -But none of them had guessed right! Capt. Ricky had a surprise for them -but it was even better than the overnight hike or the "real party!" - -When the business of the meeting was over she stepped before them, her -hands clasped behind her back in a most mysterious manner. She began: - -"Scouts, I have been given a great privilege--and you shall all share it -with me! An honor has come to Troop Six!" She had to wait, then, for a -moment; loud cheers interrupted her! She did not seem in the least -disturbed. "But like all the honors that have come to Troop Six this -has been won through merit, earnest effort and hard work. We may well -be proud of her who has brought us this honor; we can all follow her -example and seek the standard she has attained! We can hail her as a -leader among us! Sheila Quinn, please step forward!" - -A ripple of "oh-h-h" ran through the girls! Sheila's face turned -crimson. Peggy and Keineth excitedly pushed her forward. - -Capt. Ricky's left hand clasped Sheila's and with her right she held up -a glittering badge. - -"Sheila, it is my happy privilege, upon the recommendation of the -National Commissioner, to award to you the Golden Eaglet, the highest -honor that can be won by a Girl Scout!" - -A din of cheering drowned out anything more that Capt. Ricky might have -wanted to say. Peggy and True Scott were capering about like -jumping-jacks. There were shouts of "What's the matter with Sheila! -She's all right," "Three cheers for Troop Six," "Now a tiger for the -Eagle Patrol," and through it all Capt. Ricky stood smiling, clasping -Sheila's hand, and Sheila, the color of a red poppy, looked wildly about -as though seeking some corner that might swallow her up. - -Someone called "speech"; Peggy took it up, then it came from every -corner! Capt. Ricky nodded to Sheila. Sheila swallowed hard to clear -her voice of the tight band that seemed to choke it. - -"I'm awfully glad I won--just for the sake of the Troop! It was hard -work at first but afterwards one thing helped another. I hope you'll -all be Golden Eaglets and I'll help anyone that wants to work for it -and--Oh, I can't say another word!" and poor Sheila made a dash for the -corner where the Eagle patrol awaited her with eager arms. - -There were "eats," then, for it was of course a great occasion, and -Peggy insisted that Sheila must eat six of the raisin cookies that were -served. Pat, feeling now as though she had always belonged to Troop -Six, asked, humbly, "if plain Eagles might not have just five?" and -helped herself as she spoke! - -The girls walked home together, a merry troop! Peggy Lee and Keineth -Randolph turned after a few blocks; as Pat, Renee and Sheila went on Pat -slipped her hand through Sheila's arm. - -She had been deeply impressed by Sheila's modesty of manner. She was -certain if she had been awarded such high honor she would have strutted -like a peacock! - -"Doesn't it feel grand to be a Golden Eaglet?" she asked Sheila -solemnly. - -Sheila hesitated. "I--don't--know! It makes me sort of--scared! I -must live up to it, you see, and sometimes--it's awfully hard!" - -For a few paces the girls walked along in silence. Serious thoughts had -crossed each mind. An honor won was not enough--it must be lived up to! - -Pat, who could not be still for very long, was the first to break the -silence. She gave a merry chuckle. - -"Well, I guess Pat Everett has a long way to go before she can be a -Golden Eaglet! I've got to learn to be just a good scout first and you -can believe that the next time I go to a scout meeting--I'll wash my -hands before I go!" - - - - - *CHAPTER VII* - - *AUNT PEN PLANS* - - -The Everett family was holding a "pow-wow." That was what Pat called -the after-dinner hour when they gathered about the library fire. Renee -thought it quite the jolliest time of the day; almost always Mr. Everett -had so many funny or exciting things to tell and he and Aunt Pen never -shut the girls out of their conversation; when sometimes their talk -became serious and of problems which the girls could not understand, -then either Mr. Everett or Aunt Pen carefully explained. And in turn -Aunt Pen and Pat's father would listen with deep interest to the girls' -account of their day. - -"It's not nearly as jolly when Celia's home," Pat had confided to Renee, -"'cause she always talks and won't pay any attention to me!" Although -Aunt Pen, overhearing her, had laughed and said, with a world of -meaning: "Poor chatterbox!" - -Letters had come from the south that day. They read them over now as -they sat in the "pow-wow." In her letter to Pat's father Mrs. Everett -had told him how glad she was they had taken Renee and how eagerly she -looked forward to knowing the little girl! As Mr. Everett read this Pat -squeezed Renee's hand and Aunt Pen patted the fair head. To Pat her -mother had enclosed a little note. - - -* * * Be a dear good child and help your Aunt Pen by doing whatever she -wishes you to do. Keep your father from being lonely without us, and -remember that sometimes he is very tired when he comes home at night and -likes to have some one read to him! And be very considerate of the -little stranger you have taken into your circle. * * * - - -"Mother needn't worry! I'll just like to do all of those three things, -you'll see!" cried Pat, folding her precious note and tucking it away in -her pocket. - -But Aunt Pen's letter was the one that claimed their deep attention! - - -* * * If everything goes along all right at home--and I know it will -with you there, dear Pen--we may stay until spring. We are very -comfortable, the hotel is quiet and the food is good. Celia seems -brighter and is quite contented. Chauncey is out of danger, too, and in -a short time we may go to the hospital and see him. * * * It was very -hard for me to make up my mind to leave home just now, but I could not -hesitate when I knew that it was for Celia's good. And you, dear girl, -made it easier for me by taking my place. * * * I am worried about Pat's -school. I really don't think she ought to go back to Miss Prindle's at -all--there is so much sickness everywhere, and I simply cannot stand any -more worry. I think I'd rather she stayed right at home. But she ought -to have some work--dear Pen, please plan this out for me! I feel so -helpless way down here! I will leave it all to you, knowing that -whatever you do will be for Pat's good. * * * - - -"Read that last again," broke in Pat's father with a twinkle in his -eyes. Pat was looking rather anxiously at Aunt Pen. - -Penelope read it again and then folded the letter. - -"It's just exactly what I wanted Caroline to say!" - -"But, Daddy, I don't care--now--about not going back to Miss Prindle's, -but I'd hate a tutor or anything like that!" - -"All play and no work----" - -"But I do work! Ask Aunt Pen if I haven't made my bed every morning!" - -"I have some plans," Aunt Pen began slowly, "the girls ought to have -some studies and----" - -"And a tutor, Aunt Pen?" Aunt Pen nodded. "Not that awful Miss -Gray--please, Aunt Pen!" - -"No, not Miss Gray! I think I know someone whom you'll like--or at -least you are very fond of her now!" - -Amused at the real distress in Pat's face her father broke in: - -"Aunt Pen says she has some plans! Her plans are generally very -interesting," with a sidelong glance at his sister, "though I admit that -sometimes she is very heartless! Let's hear them! Then if you don't -like them, why----" - -"Well, then," cried Pat resignedly, "let's hear them!" - -Renee was listening with deep interest. She had never gone to school -except for the three years following her mother's death when she had on -pleasant days gone to the communal school at St. Cloud. Before that her -mother had taught her; she had stored away, too, in her mind valuable -knowledge from the books which had been always about her. Now the -thought of going to an American school filled her with terror! - -Aunt Pen assumed a comically serious air. "I will tell the girls my -plans and they shall decide, for unless they go into the work with all -their hearts it will do them little good! First, each day must be -divided into periods, the first to begin at eight o'clock. Between eight -and nine there will be instruction in household arts"--she could not -resist a sly wink at Pat's father--"that includes making beds without -wrinkles and tidying the corners; of the room, especially behind the -wardrobe where things collect--" - -"Aunt Pen, you are _just_ joking!" - -"No, my dear! I never was more serious in my life! To my thinking -accuracy in such work is as important as accuracy in algebra or -geometry! And I am sure you did not get it at Miss Prindle's!" - -"What then?" cried Pat and her father. - -"An hour of out-of-door exercise in the morning and one in the -afternoon, or at least two hours out-of-doors each day, regardless of -weather!" - -"Oh, I _like that_!" interrupted Pat. - -Aunt Pen continued severely: "And that does not mean riding with -Watkins! That leaves six hours for study, classes and indoor -recreation." - -"Study what?" demanded Pat, still suspicious that there must be -something unpleasant somewhere. - -"Well, different things for each of you. Besides the classes in -bed-making, sweeping and dusting, cooking and home-nursing, I think you -should study Algebra and spelling, Renee may study English and she will -help you with your French, and you will both have Latin. Then in the -evening you may read American history from books selected by your -tutor----" - -"Did ever anyone hear of a school like that?" cried Pat, clapping her -hands. "I love it, Aunt Pen, and I'll work hard--honest! Oh----" her -face fell. "Who will be the tutor?" - -"Where can you find anyone who can make bread and teach Latin -infinitives?" put in Mr. Everett mischievously. - -"Well," Aunt Pen tried to look modest, "how would I do?" - -"You!" cried Pat incredulously, certain now that the whole plan was only -a joke. "You--really, truly?" - -"Really, truly, my dear! I will dearly love to teach you and help you -both!" - -Pat threw both arms about her neck in a strangling hug. "Oh, Aunt Pen, -it will be such fun and I'll really, truly try to learn Latin and I -won't stuff things behind the wardrobe any more--that was my half of the -room, you know! And maybe, with Renee to help me, I can soon speak -French as well as Celia!" - -"And I'll offer a prize for the best loaf of bread that one of my girls -makes!" added Mr. Everett. - -"No, there shall be no prizes in this school! If one of the girls can -do something better than the other then she is going to help the other! -More than all the French and Latin, in the world I want my pupils to -learn unselfishness! And we will keep reports and the reward will come -when Pat and Renee show these reports to Pat's mother." - -"What do you think about it, Mouse?" That was the name Mr. Everett had -given Renee. Her eyes were shining with delight. - -"Oh, I will like it very much! And there is so much I want to learn if -I am to live in America and I will try so hard! I was afraid to go to -school!" she confessed. - -"It is very natural that you should have dreaded it, my dear! After a -little that shyness will wear off and you will find many staunch friends -and playmates." - -"I want to learn to iron as nicely as Sheila can," announced Pat with -her accustomed enthusiasm. "And cook, too--make tarts and things! Why, -Aunt Pen, all that is what we'll need to be second-class scouts!" The -thought suddenly brought concern to her face. "Will we have time, Aunt -Pen, to study for the tenderfoot test? Peggy Lee and Keineth Randolph -are going to teach us to tie knots and, you know," she added hastily, -"that is important! Everybody should be able to tie all sorts of -knots--it's very useful, lots of times!" - -Aunt Pen nodded. "Of course! You shall have a chance to learn all -that!" - -"Peggy says her brother will teach us how to semaphore, too! Oh, we'll -be _so_ busy, Renee! I think I'll write to Angeline all about it!" - -She ran to the spinnet desk across the room and pulled out paper and -pen. Her head was whirling with Aunt Pen's delightful plans! She wrote -furiously for a few moments, with a loud scratching of her point. But -as she wrote into her mind slowly crept a vivid picture of the girls at -Miss Prindle's and of the life there! With the page half written she -stopped. Then she caught up the paper and tore it across, dropping the -pieces one by one into the waste-basket. From the divan before the fire -Aunt Pen was watching her, wondering at the fleeting shadow that had -crossed the brightness of her face. - -"What is it, Pat?" she asked gently. - -Pat hesitated. "Oh--nothing!" There was a note of defiance in her -voice. She did not add that into her heart had suddenly come the -illuminating conviction that the girls she had known at Miss Prindle's -would laugh at Aunt Pen's "school!" - -"There was just so much to write about that I couldn't seem to begin!" - - - - - *CHAPTER VIII* - - *BREADWINNERS* - - -A perplexing problem confronted Pat. Her scout uniform must be bought -out of money she had earned herself. And she had never earned a penny -in her life! - -"I earned my money knitting mittens and selling them and True Scott -crocheted tam-o'-shanters. They were awfully pretty and all the girls -ordered them. Peggy Lee worked on Saturdays in a grocery store--taking -telephone orders," Sheila explained. - -"I can't knit well enough or crochet or do anything," Pat wailed -afterwards, in gloomy consultation with Renee and Sheila. - -Then at Sheila's suggestion the girls studied the "Help Wanted" column -of the newspaper. They spread it out upon the floor and knelt around -it; Renee reading off each advertisement and Sheila and Pat passing upon -its possibilities. After considerable discussion it was decided that on -the next afternoon Pat should go to a certain office address where, as -the advertisement read, any refined lady, young or old, would be told -how to make ten dollars a week, in pleasant occupation, in her spare -hours! - -"That will be just right for me!" Pat declared enthusiastically. "It -won't interfere with 'school.'" - -Aunt Pen's "school" was well started. At first Pat had been inclined to -treat rather lightly the schedule of "household arts," but she realized -very soon that Aunt Pen was in earnest and that she intended to demand -the same thoroughness and accuracy in the simple tasks about the house -that were necessary in the sums in Algebra! At the beginning Pat had -detested what Melodia called "the upstairs work," but under Aunt Pen's -pleasant instruction and with Renee's cheerful company--that little lady -was a true housewife and her hands flew eagerly about her work--Pat -began to feel more interest and to try very hard to do everything just -right! And at the end of the first week Aunt Pen had allowed the girls -to make apple pies which Mr. Everett had declared were better than any -apple pies he had ever tasted! - -"And ten dollars a week!" Pat went on, "I will be rich very soon! Now -we must find something for Renee!" - -"Perhaps I might earn a little arranging flowers in shop windows; often -I helped Colette Voisin, who had a stall at St. Cloud, and I loved it!" - -"Just the thing!" cried Pat, delighted with anything out of the -ordinary. "Most of the flower shops look hideous and they'd probably -pay you well! While I go for my position to-morrow afternoon, you and -Sheila can stop at each one of the florists and offer to trim their -windows!" - -The fortune-seekers spent an excited hour preparing for their adventure. -Aunt Pen had gone out for the afternoon, so they were undisturbed. Pat -insisted upon fastening her hair tightly back from her face so as to -give to herself an appearance of mature severity! At the last moment -she donned a long coat of Aunt Pen's which concealed her own kilted -skirt and then for a finishing touch added Celia's last year's sable -furs! - -"There--I'm sure anyone would take me easily for twenty-one!" she -declared, surveying herself with satisfaction. And to Pat twenty-one -seemed old enough to suit the most exacting employer! - -They had arranged to meet Sheila at her gate. Renee was frightened to -death, and as the three girls trudged on toward the business section of -the city she repeated over and over, after Pat, just what she must say -upon entering each florist's shop! - -"Be sure to tell them that you used to fix that flower stall in France!" -warned Pat as they parted. She waved her hand, calling "good luck," and -walked on with a brave step. Sheila was to stay with Renee because -Renee was not acquainted with the city streets. - -But two hours later it was a crestfallen trio who met--as they had -agreed to do--in Sheila's kitchen. Pat, in spite of her ridiculous -make-up, looked like an unhappy, thwarted child! She had waited over an -hour in a stuffy office, packed in with dozens of other "refined lady" -applicants who had--although Pat would not tell this even to Sheila or -Renee--openly laughed at her! - -"And by the time it was my turn to go in I was so tired waiting that I -got all sort of scared and couldn't say a word," she explained in deep -disgust. "Anyway, it was to sell "Beauty Packages" at people's -houses--things that'd make straight hair curly and remove freckles and -everything else and you had to deposit twenty-five dollars before they'd -even let you begin!" - -"And all the flower shops said they had experts to decorate their -windows--they would not even let me tell of Colette's stall! I think -they thought I was too little," sighed Renee; "often they laughed!" - -"Well," Pat tossed her head, "we just mustn't get discouraged but try, -try again!" - -Renee shuddered. "Oh, I can't--not like that!" she cried vehemently. - -"Would you rather not be a scout?" demanded Pat. "You never get -anything without trying for it and I guess I'm not going to let one -failure discourage me!" In the pleasant shelter of the Quinn kitchen -she felt very brave! But a threat of tears in Renee's eyes softened -her. "Don't worry, Ren, we'll find something! Maybe," she hesitated, -"maybe we'd better consult Aunt Pen!" - -"Oh, I wish you would!" Renee cried eagerly. Pat's adventurous spirit -frightened her a little. - -"I'll think about it and maybe to-morrow----" - -For Pat was not quite sure, in her own mind, just what Aunt Pen might -think of the borrowed coat and Celia's furs! - -By countless little signs Aunt Pen knew that her girls had something on -their minds! Hurrying down to dinner she had caught a glimpse, as she -had passed Pat's door, of her own coat and Celia's furs thrown on Pat's -bed; the girls had been unusually silent during the evening meal and she -had twice intercepted an appealing glance from Renee to Pat which had -drawn a nod of assurance from Pat in answer! Pat's room work the next -morning had been sadly careless and her Latin recitation had found her -abstracted! Aunt Pen was too sensible to force a confidence--she was -sure that it was only a matter of a little time before Pat would bring -to her anything that troubled! - -So she was not surprised when after the morning's work was over Pat came -to her door. - -"Renee and I want to talk to you, Aunt Pen!" she said so seriously that -for a moment Penelope was startled. - -The two stood before her, Pat with her hands clasped behind her as she -had often seen her father stand. - -"You see it's like this, Aunt Pen--Renee and I have got to earn some -money to buy our uniforms! We can't just use allowances! It's about six -dollars and a half apiece! We can't knit well enough to sell things and -Peggy Lee worked in a grocery store, but it was where her mother traded -and they were nice about it! But we--can't--find--any work!" - -"Then you've tried?" - -Pat colored. "Yes--we tried yesterday!" Without going too much into -detail and carefully giving their experience as much dignity as -possible, she recounted the efforts of the afternoon before to find -employment. Aunt Pen was suddenly seized with a violent coughing fit -which left her tearful! - -"I _hope_ you're not laughing," Pat ended with some wrath in her voice. -"I'm sure we're old enough to earn money--_boys_ do at our age! And I -am not in the _least_ discouraged!" - -"That is right, Pat," cried Aunt Pen admiringly. "But perhaps you have -not gone about it the right way! Let's sit down now and go over the -whole thing!" - -Afterwards Pat told Sheila that one thing she always liked about Aunt -Pen was that she treated a person as though that person _knew_ -something! - -And Pat never dreamed that it was not her own mental processes that, -after a few words, arrived at the conclusion that she and Renee must -content themselves with just trying to do what they were qualified to -do! - -"Renee is too young to be employed even for any part of a day in a -store--we have a law that forbids it! And you, Pat, could scarcely sell -enough Beauty Packages in what spare time you have to replace the shoe -leather you'd wear out!" - -"But what _will_ we do?" cried Pat, humble now. - -Aunt Pen thought for a long time. Pat's earnestness was a very precious -thing--she must guard it! - -Suddenly she clapped her hands with the girlishness that made her such -an understanding companion. - -"I have a brilliant idea! You remember the box of apples that came last -week from my farm? We must have at least fifty bushels of them! My -farmer said he was going to take them to market next week. Instead, you -and Renee may go around and take orders! You can sell them for a dollar -and seventy-five cents a bushel--even then it'll be under the grocer's -price--and you will pay the farmer a dollar and a half, which is all -he'd get wholesale, anyway." - -"Then we'll make a quarter a bushel?" - -"Yes. If you sell the whole lot, you'll have twelve dollars and a half -to divide between you, besides lots of exercise and some experience! -And you can take orders for potatoes, too, up to twenty bushels." - -"Oh, great!" cried Pat. She danced around Indian-fashion. "May we -begin this afternoon? And may I take some of the apples that came here -around in a basket to show people?" - -"That is a good idea! I think you'll find it pleasanter than selling -Beauty Packages! Then other ways of earning money may turn up. You -know one thing you can learn, even when you are little girls, that will -help you all through life is to know and grasp opportunities when they -come." - -"I don't know what we'd do without you, Aunt Pen! I'll keep accounts in -a little book, for I love putting down and adding figures. Let's call -ourselves 'LaDue and Everett, Agents.'" - -Renee, whose face reflected her pleasure and approval of the new plan -and her relief that the afternoon need not bring further search for -employment, spoke now, shyly: - -"I want so much to earn some money so as to send a little to Susette and -Gabriel. I have so much here and they may need many things! Do you -think I could sell Christmas cards?" - -"What kind, child?" - -Renee told, then, of the little cards she had painted and sold in St. -Cloud. She ran to her room to bring a few that she had. Penelope -exclaimed with real admiration over them: - -"Why, my dear, they are beautiful! Of course you can sell them! And -you must make more! And dinner cards, too!" - -"Then valentines!" cried Pat. "And I'll sell them, 'cause you see I am -bigger! We can buy your paints and cardboard out of our apple money -and--" - -"What a business woman you have suddenly become!" Aunt Pen declared. - -"We'll need a great big account book and an office----" Pat stopped -suddenly and clapped her hands to her head, a motion which always -indicated that she had an idea! - -"Oh, spliffy! Renee--come on! I've the _best_ plan!" That it was to -be a secret was certain! She caught Renee's two hands and dragged her -from the room, leaving Aunt Pen convulsed with laughter. - -There ensued, then, from the third floor, between the lunch hour and the -afternoon study period, a rumbling like thunder, mingled with pounding -and scraping and bursts of laughter. To add to the mystery Pat rushed -downstairs to return shortly with broom and dustpan and a mob cap over -her dark head. - -Not until the next afternoon was the secret revealed! Then with much -ceremony Pat and Renee escorted Aunt Pen to the third floor. For years -the low-gabled room stretching across the east wing of the house had -served as a sewing room where the Archer sisters had worked stitching -frocks for Celia and Pat and mending the household linen. The Archer -sisters--Pat had always thought they looked like gnomes---were dead now -and Mrs. Everett had the girls' dresses made by a downtown dressmaker. -The room had not been used for a long time. - -Now upon its door had been nailed an imposing and elaborately decorated -sign which read: "_Eagles' Eyrie_." And beneath that, emphasizing its -warning with a skull and crossbones, was another sign: "_No -Admittance_." - -"Three knocks and then a quick one is the signal," explained Pat -mysteriously; "and you and Sheila and Peggy and Keineth and True Scott -are the only ones that will know it--except, of course, Ren and me!" - -Pat was unlocking the door as she spoke. She threw it open proudly. -"This isn't going to be any silly club!" she explained. "Everyone that -comes here must work! That desk over there is mine and Renee has this -table because she can paint on it and the light's good. And that big -table is for the other girls, only we have to keep it against the wall -'cause one leg's off!" - -A few hours' work had utterly transformed the room and had removed all -traces of the patient Archer sisters and their livelihood. The floor, -very dusty in spots, was covered with strips of an old hall carpeting -which, when hardwood floors had been laid, had been stored away. Pat -had also resurrected from the storeroom the antiquated desk and tables -and a dilapidated assortment of chairs. Over one of these, to add a -note of elegance to the room, she had thrown an old Bagdad lounge cover -and across the windows the girls had hung pieces of faded velour, -replaced a few years before in the living rooms below. The air was -heavy with the smell of camphor and dust; the three-legged table had a -pathetically helpless look, a corner of the wall was stained from a leak -in the roof, but to Pat and Renee it was an inspiring retreat! - -"My account books are there in my desk, and I'll have you know, Aunt -Pen, that 'LaDue and Everett' have gotten orders for ten bushels of -apples which wasn't bad for one afternoon's work and for girls, too!" -declared Pat. - -"Oh, that reminds me!" Aunt Pen's voice was as enthusiastic as that of -the junior member of the firm. "I have an order for LaDue and Everett! -Miss Higgins will take twelve of the Christmas cards! I showed her one -this morning. She is going to put them on sale in her tea room. She -may order more! You must decide as to your prices, Renee." - -Renee was too delighted to answer. Pat fairly bubbled with excitement. -She caught Aunt Pen and Renee in a whirling step that almost completely -demolished an ancient chair that lay in her mad path. - -"Hurrah for the Eagles' Eyrie! And won't we just have fun? You, -know"--she quieted suddenly--"the day mother and Celia went away I was -awfully miserable and I wrote the silliest things in my diary! But that -was before I found Renee! And now we've got Sheila and you and our jolly -school and our business and I'm glad's can be they left me home and I -didn't go back to Prindle's!" - -Aunt Pen, for lack of breath and a chair had sunk down upon the floor. -She looked up laughing. - -"I'd hate to have to analyze that sentence of yours, Patsy! But even if -your English is constructed badly your heart is gold and I say--good -luck to you and your Eagles' Eyrie!" - - - - - *CHAPTER IX* - - *THE NEW LODGER* - - -"Whatever in the world are all those whistles blowing for?" asked Pat, -springing from her bed and running to her window. "Something's -happening--I know!" - -The girls listened. The early morning air was filled with incessant -sound; the shriek of sirens, shriller blasts, the heavy tones of boats' -whistles from the harbor, intoning bells. - -"It makes you shiver!" - -"Let's dress quickly!" Pat reached out for a stocking. "Maybe it's -peace!" she declared suddenly. - -"Oh-h!" was all Renee answered, but there was a world of meaning in the -single sound. "Listen! There are more bells! Aren't they beautiful? -Perhaps they are ringing all over the world." - -Downstairs they found everyone wildly excited. Even Jasper, who had not -been over from England for so many years that he had forgotten his -relatives there, was talking volubly to Aunt Pen and passing her sugar -for her boiled egg! - -"What is it, Aunt Pen?" cried Pat and Renee in one voice. - -"My dears--the fighting has stopped--at last!" Mr. Everett answered. He -seemed too moved to say more. - -"I don't know whether I feel more like praying or shouting," laughed -Aunt Pen with two tears rolling down her cheeks. - -From the extra which Jasper had brought in Mr. Everett read to them all -the terms of the armistice to which Germany had agreed. Melodia and -Maggie listened from the door. - -"I feel all queer inside!" announced Pat. - -Renee's breakfast lay before her, untouched. Aunt Pen, seeing the real -distress on the child's face, divined the ache that lay in her heart. -So that when Renee, unable to control herself longer, rushed toward the -door she felt two quick arms fold about her and draw her close to a -friendly shoulder. - -"Dearie, tell us! Don't grieve by yourself!" - -Then poor Renee buried her face; it was several moments before she could -speak. - -"I wish I was--there! Home, I mean--poor Susette is old--and has--only -Gabriel! We worked so hard--we made a flag, Susette and I, and we tried -to make it just like your Stars and Stripes; we put in the thirteen -bars, 'cause I had counted--but not--nearly--enough stars! We'd -promised Emile when peace came--he said that the Germans _would_ be -beaten--we'd hang it from the corner of the roof, 'long side of -Gabriel's old French flag! And"--the head went back against Penelope's -shoulder--"I'm 'fraid Susette--will forget--and it--will not--be there!" - -"She will remember, Renee, because right at this moment I know her heart -and her mind are full of thoughts of you, just as you are homesick for -her and the little cottage!" - -Mr. Everett, who had been deeply moved by Renee's story, interposed some -practical comfort. - -"Renee, will you let me--by way of celebrating this day--send a money -order to Susette in your name? Remember, child, how little we have -suffered as compared to you and Susette and countless others--over -there! You shall write her a little letter to go with it!" - -"Oh, I will _like that_! And then Susette will surely know that I am -with kind, generous friends!" The child's eyes were bright again. "And -I will remind her where we put the flag and she can hang it out, for I -think now there will be flags flying in France for a long time!" - -"This must, of course, be a holiday," declared Aunt Pen. - -"And let's just do things we've never done before," cried Pat. - -At that moment Mr. Everett was called to the telephone. He returned -greatly excited. - -"Burns telephones from the Works that the men are forming a monster -parade! They've got a band and helped themselves to every flag in the -place! The city's gone mad! I must hurry away. Take the girls -downtown! This November eleventh must be a day we will never forget--as -long as we live!" - -And as he hurried off he said to Renee in parting: - -"Have that letter ready, my dear, and I will send the money order home -at noon-time." - -The girls rushed away to put on their wraps. - -"May we stop for Sheila?" called Pat over the banister. - -"Of course!" assented Penelope, glad that Pat wanted to share all her -joys with her friends. - -By the time they reached the downtown section the walks were thronged -with people and the streets had been cleared of traffic for the marching -hosts. The girls found a place on the curb. It seemed to them as though -everyone had gone mad all at once and that they were as mad as anyone -else! At every corner processions were forming, headed by any sort of a -makeshift band and where not even a drum could be commandeered, tin pans -and pails had been pressed into service! And through it all the -incessant, deafening tumult of whistles! - -Everyone was smiling! The sun had burst through the accumulated clouds -of long years of war! - -A group of men and girls from a shipyard marched by. Some of them were -drawing a huckster's wagon they had seized and upon its load of potatoes -and apples and cabbages they had placed a big ship's bell! One of their -number rode on the wagon and with a huge sledge pounded the bell at -regular intervals. They were all carrying flags, big and small, and one -grimy man had a baby in his arms! The crowd on the curb cheered wildly -and the man held the baby high in the air! - -The marchers had to halt and while the man with the bell rested, they -sang the Star Spangled Banner. Others took it up--it was carried down -block after block, a rising wave of sound, a chorus of triumph! Pat and -Sheila and Renee sang lustily and as they sang Pat felt her hand -suddenly caught in a warm, tight clasp! It was her neighbor, a little -bent woman with the dark eyes of the Italian race and a worn shawl over -her head and shoulders. Her eyes were brimming with tears, but through -them she was smiling like the others! Pat was too young to guess the -tragedy of sacrifice that might lie behind those tears, but she was not -too young to sense the common joy and thankfulness and privilege they -shared! So she squeezed the worn fingers and smiled back into the -little old woman's face! - -"Here come the men from the Works!" cried Aunt Pen, standing on tiptoe -to look over the crowd. The shipbuilders had passed on. Along surged -the approaching host, fifteen thousand strong, men and women! They had -stripped the works of flags and carried them now high in the air with -arms that could not tire! The discordant blasts of their band was -heavenly music to their ears! Old men stepped along like boys; -scattered through the lines were hundreds of girls in their working -overalls and caps. - -Renee was puzzled. These men, many of them, did not look like the -Americans she had seen! One of them shouted out in a strange tongue, -but he carried a banner that said "We are for the U.S.A." Perhaps, like -herself, he had come to America for refuge and was giving now of his -strength and loyalty to the mother country he had sought. - -"Can't we march, too, Aunt Pen?" cried Pat. - -Some one from the lines shouted to them to come in! They made a place -in the ranks for them and even the little old woman with the shawl -joined the procession. A voice from behind hailed them and Pat saw her -father marching with his men. - -"Could a day be more wonderful? But I am as hungry as a bear," declared -Pat at luncheon. "And, oh joy, chicken and biscuits! What shall we do -this afternoon, Aunt Pen?" - -"Dear me, Pat, do you think as fast as you talk? For the sake of your -digestion I shall keep the plans for this afternoon a secret until you -are through luncheon! But it is going to be something you'll _just_ -love!" and Aunt Pen imitated perfectly Pat's characteristically -enthusiastic tone. - -"Aunt Pen, I'll choke if you don't tell even a _teeny_ word! Let us -guess!" - -But Aunt Pen was firm, and not until the last crumb of luncheon had been -eaten would she say one word! - -Then: "Your father says we may all go through the Works!" - -"All--Sheila and Keineth and Peggy?" - -"Yes. And we will start in half an hour. That will give Renee a chance -to write her letter to Susette." For Renee had found on her plate an -envelope containing a money order for one hundred dollars! - -Because of the day's celebration the Works were almost deserted and for -the first time in months the great wheels were still and the furnaces -smouldering. Mr. Everett met the girls and took them himself from -building to building, explaining carefully every process of manufacture. -Peggy and Sheila were intent listeners; Keineth, more imaginative than -the others, thought that the wheels were like great giants, harmless now -as they slumbered! And Renee loved the empty, dusty spaces, the -gleaming metals of the engines and dull glow of the furnaces! Pat's -most lasting impression was pride that her father should know so much! - -Sheila became particularly absorbed in the pattern shop. She had -lingered behind the others to examine more closely a series of beltings. -Of an inquiring and inventive mind, she was always deeply interested in -the putting together of any piece of mechanism. Suddenly she realized -that she was alone and hurried out of the building to overtake the -others. They had gone on through a long, enclosed alleyway to the main -shop. She could still hear Mr. Everett's voice. - -As she rushed through the passage she ran headlong into a man who -appeared suddenly from a doorway letting into the passage. He was as -startled as she! "_Du verdamte dumkopf!_" he snarled, under his breath, -hurrying on. Sheila stood motionless. - -"That was _German_!" she thought. She turned quickly. The man was -disappearing at the end of the passage. And in a flash she recognized -him as her mother's new lodger! - -Pat's voice came to her from the other direction. - -"Shei-la! Come along!" - -A multitude of thoughts were whirling in Sheila's head! She did not -hear one word of the light chatter about her, for the exploring party -had ended now in Mr. Everett's office. That man had certainly cursed in -German and there had been an evil look in his face; she had frightened -him so that he had lost control of himself for an instant! And what -could he have been doing there--like that--when all the other men were -off celebrating? - -Down deep in her heart a voice told her that she ought to tell Mr. -Everett immediately! But another voice warned her that that would -surely mean the man would be discharged and her mother would lose her -lodger! The back room would be empty again--and the music! She had -begun her lessons and Miss Sheehan had said she "was learning quickly!" -It had been a precious dream come true-- - -She listened to the second voice--it was very coaxing! "Perhaps he is a -German who has become a loyal citizen of the United States," it told -her, and that sounded very reasonable! She had startled him and he had -spoken in the old, forgotten language! And the evil look she had caught -in his eyes might have been imagined--for she had been startled, too! -Besides, had the fighting not ended this very day? What harm could an -enemy do now! If she told Mr. Everett and he laughed she would feel -very foolish! Mr. Everett was placing them in the automobile and -instructing Watkins to take them to Huyler's where they would have -chocolate and cakes to end the great day. She could not tell him now! - -But the doubt in her heart made her sweets taste bitter, and while the -others chattered merrily Sheila sat silent and absorbed. She had -listened within herself to the pleasanter voice, but in her ears still -rang that muttered "_Du verdamte dumkopf_," and she was haunted by the -gleam of evil eyes. - - - - - *CHAPTER X* - - *A SCOUT'S HONOR* - - -That night Sheila dreamed all the great wheels she had seen in the -Everett Works were rolling down the street after her and, though she ran -as fast as she could, they advanced more quickly and came nearer and -nearer; then they began to roar and to wave arms of hot metal towards -her! The nearest reached out and caught at her with fiery fingers and -just as she felt them close about her, she wakened! - -Paddy was barking furiously, running from her bed to the door and back, -as though to implore her to come! - -Her fingers clutched at the bedclothes--with terrified eyes she peered -into the darkness of the room! It had been a dream--she was safe in her -bed! - -"Woof! Woof!" growled Paddy. - -Sheila crept out of bed, scolding Paddy in whispers, that she might not -waken her mother who slept in the next room. Barefooted she stole down -the stairs to the kitchen, Paddy leaping on ahead of her. The kitchen -was dark; it was a moment or two before Sheila's eyes could make out the -familiar objects. Paddy growled and barked again! A sound outside -startled Sheila so that she had to clap her hand over her mouth to still -a scream! Then she realized it was the lodger going up the outside -stairway! Each step creaked under his foot; she heard the door above -close and a key turn in the lock! - -But Paddy was not satisfied! He did not bark again, for Sheila had -soundly rapped his nose, but he ran to the window, and placing his -fore-paws on the sill, looked out and whined. Sheila, following him, -peeped through the curtains. A light snow had covered the ground in the -small backyard; it was still falling. Not an object was visible except -the bare lilac bush in the sorrier. - -"I s'pose it's a cat--you bad dog!" Sheila muttered crossly. "Come -right upstairs, now, and be quiet!" So the two scampered back to -Sheila's room and Sheila cuddled down under the bedclothes, pulling them -well up over her face. Paddy jumped upon the bed and laid down very -close to her feet and, though Sheila knew this was against the Quinn -rules, she was grateful for his company and did not drive him away! - -In the morning Sheila was not her cheerful self; she helped prepare the -breakfast, clear it away and get the three small brothers ready for -school in an abstracted manner. Her mother watched her start off -herself with an anxious heart. - -"Land o' goodness, what's got into my sweetness this morning?" she -thought. "Never mind--if it's anything wrong she'll be telling her -mother!" - -Which was exactly what, at noon-time, Sheila ran all the way home from -school to do. Not for a moment longer could she bear the self-reproach -and doubt that was tormenting her! And her mother gave her the counsel -she expected! - -"You go just as straight to Mr. Everett as you can, dearie! And don't -worry!" - -Sheila found the Everett family in a state of intense excitement. She -needed only to glance once at Mr. Everett's stern face to know that -something terrible had happened! And with incredible instinct, born of -remorse, something within her told her what it was! She stood quite -still and looked from one face to another down the length of the table -upon which the day's luncheon had been spread. - -"Oh, Sheila, somebody has stolen some dreadfully important formulas from -the Works----" began Pat. - -"No--no--no!" cried Sheila, as though her protest must stop the truth! -Then she realized that they were staring at her in amazement! She -clutched the back of a chair and tried to speak but not a sound would -come. - -"It is true," explained Mr. Everett in a tired voice. "It must have -been the work of a very clever band of spies! All three copies of the -formula have been taken! Each one had been put in a place we considered -absolutely safe! We had just completed them and were ready to turn them -over for the examination of the government experts!" - -"And think of it, Sheila, Daddy says that it was for an explosive so -dreadfully powerful that just having the formula and knowing how to make -it would help prevent wars! Isn't that what he said, Aunt Pen?" Pat -was greatly excited. - -"To keep the secret in our country will certainly help to prevent future -wars! There is no doubt but that the theft is the work of German -agents," Mr. Everett answered. "And I did not know that we had a man we -could not trust!" - -Then Sheila swallowed hard. As she began to speak she felt as though -her voice was coming from a great way off--that it did not belong to her -at all! Everything in the room began to whirl around her excepting Mr. -Everett. - -In broken words she told her little story. And at the end she burst -out, tears choking her voice: "I just hate myself for not having told -you right then and there!" - -It seemed to Sheila that long minutes of silence followed her outburst -and as though every face in the room was turned upon her in -condemnation. Her own eyes were fixed on the rug at her feet. But -presently Mr. Everett's voice answered with a hopeful ring it had not -had before and, gaining courage, Sheila looked up to find Aunt Pen -nodding in approval and Pat regarding her with open envy. - -"My dear girl," exclaimed Mr. Everett, "I believe you've given us an -important clue! I'll call up the secret service detectives and will ask -you to repeat your story to them--if you will wait!" He quickly left -the room as he spoke. - -"Sheila Quinn, you're just like a real detective! Isn't it grand and -exciting? I'd never have thought a thing about that awful man!" Pat -cried. - -And Aunt Pen was solicitous that Sheila should have some hot luncheon -immediately! - -From that moment on everything happened with exciting rapidity. Sheila -repeated her story to the two detectives who came at Mr. Everett's call. -It was too late to return to school, so, hurrying home, she went grimly -about various little household tasks, constantly listening for a knock -at the door, starting at every sound! - -"Do you know, Sheila," her mother whispered, "I'm as nervous as can be! -I'm sure I heard Mr. Marx go upstairs the front way! He's never done -that before! I believe he just doesn't want a body to know he's in the -house! Hark!" Holding hands tightly they listened; a soft pad-pad -overhead made them certain someone was moving about in the room above. - -"I wish they'd hurry and come and arrest him," Sheila groaned. And -scarcely had the words left her lips when the front doorbell gave out -its rusty clang. - -Mrs. Quinn met three men at the door who briefly explained that they -came with a warrant for the arrest of one Mr. John Marx who they thought -might be found in her house. With a nodding of the head that set awry -all sorts of little gray curls, Mrs. Quinn made it known that she was -very certain the gentleman was at that moment right up in her back room! -She started up the stairs with two of the men while the third lingered -uncertainly in the hall below. - -"Quick--come and watch these stairs outside," cried Sheila running to -him. She led him back to the kitchen. They reached there just in time -to hear the outside door above close quietly and quick steps on the -rickety stairs. Not quick enough, though, for as Mr. John Marx opened -the door at the foot of the stairs he faced the muzzle of a revolver! - -Sheila, frightened and unnerved, shrank to a corner of the kitchen. She -heard quick, angry voices, a sharp command, a click of metal as of a -lock snapping shut! Her mother and the two other officers had come into -the kitchen. Then the one man and his prisoner went away and the others -returned to the room above to search its contents. - -"Dear me, I feel almost as though we'd done something ourselves," sighed -Mrs. Quinn, worn out with excitement. "And he was a nice appearing man, -too, with always a pleasant word when he brought me the----" she -stopped. For the first time it came to her that she had lost her -lodger! - -And as though the same thought tormented Sheila the girl dropped her -work and went to the old piano. It had been tuned and polished and Mrs. -Quinn had draped a linen and lace square over one end of it. Sheila sat -down and slowly, with a lingering touch, ran her fingers up and down the -scale. Then she rose abruptly and closed the cover over the keys with a -resolute bang. - -"It's not half the punishment I deserve--but I did want to learn!" and -bursting into tears she, rushed off to her room to fight out by herself -the disappointment she must face. - -And as though the day had not brought enough to "just clean tucker one -out," as poor Mrs. Quinn put it, that evening, after the boys had gone -to bed, Mr. Everett and Pat came to the door! Mrs. Quinn's hospitable -soul was greatly distressed that she could not invite her guest into the -parlor--occupied now by old Mr. Judkins at twenty-five dollars a -month--but Mr. Everett declared that he could not ask for a more -comfortable chair than the old rocker nor for a more cosy room! With -his usual tact he made Mrs. Quinn feel that they were old acquaintances. - -He told them--keeping Pat's voice out of the story with difficulty--how -the arrest of John Marx had led to the rounding up of the entire band; -how they had been quickly proven to be Germans and paid agents of the -German government and how--although as yet the formulas had not been -found and their whereabouts remained a deep mystery, it must be only a -short time before they _would_ be discovered, as some of the best secret -service men in the United States were working on the case! - -Mr. Everett's face looked worn and worried. Nevertheless he spoke -cheerfully, as though to relieve Sheila's concern. - -"And now, my dear," he concluded, "you have helped us so much in this -matter I want you to tell me frankly--is there not some way in which I -can show my appreciation? Is there not something you want to do? Girls -like you and my Pat here have so many air castles and I would like----" - -"Oh, _please_ stop!" Sheila sprang to her feet, her face burning. "I -just can't _bear_ it! If I had done what I knew, right then, I _ought_ -to do--and told you, there at the Works--they might have been -stopped--in time! But I didn't! I waited! The only way I can bear -thinking about it is knowing that--I'm being punished!" Her shame-faced -glance went from the piano to her mother's face. "So please don't say -anything to me about----" she stopped, held by a sudden thought, and -drew from the pocket of her blouse a small, flat package of tissue -paper. With trembling fingers she unwrapped it and held up to view her -badge of the Golden Eagle. - -"I didn't live up to it! I didn't keep my Scout's honor! Mr. Everett, -please, will you take it and keep it for me--until the formulas are -found? I cannot wear it!" - -There was no doubting the resolution in Sheila's face. The man marveled -at the courage with which this mere girl inflicted upon herself the -punishment she thought she deserved! In spite of a half-smothered -exclamation from Pat, he took the badge, carefully re-wrapped it, and -put it away in his pocket. - -"Sheila, you are evidently determined not to forget this lesson! Many -of us make mistakes often by hesitating to heed the voice of our -conscience, but I know one girl that isn't going to let it happen -again!" He patted her affectionately upon her shoulder. "I don't -know," he added, enigmatically, "but that this all may not be worth more -than the formulas--for us all!" - -Then he shook Mrs. Quinn's hand warmly in parting. - -"I congratulate you, madam." And though Mrs. Quinn was too flustered to -know what in the world for, nevertheless she beamed with pleased pride! - - - - - *CHAPTER XI* - - *YOUNG WINGS* - - -"Tat! Tat! Tat! T-tat!" - -The mystic door of the Eagles' Eyrie opened wide enough to admit Peggy -Lee and Keineth Randolph. - -All sorts of greetings assailed them. "Hello, Eagles!" "We were afraid -you wouldn't come!" "A half-holiday and such a storm," regretfully from -Pat. - -"We'd come through flood and fire!" cried Peggy, with magnificent -expression. "We are the bearers of good tidings!" - -"What? What? What?" came at once from three throats. - -"The Wasps have challenged us to another game, and if we don't beat the -pigskin right off of 'em--I'll resign as captain of the team!" - -"Peg--you talk more and more like Billy!" - -"Garrett, if you please," and Peggy struck a fine pose! "Now that he -has come into the dignity of long trousers, my dear brother desires to -be called Garrett! Billy is far too childish for him and William would -confuse him with his respected father who is also my dear daddy----" - -"Well, Garrett, then," Keineth laughed, "only I heard you promise your -mother you would not use any more slang!" - -"So I did, and I am trying, and what I really mean is that if my dear -little Yellowbirds do not play an exquisitely nice game and defeat the -Wasps I shall be prostrated with chagrin and shall send in my----" - -"Oh, for goodness sake, Peg!" they begged. - -Peggy now became very earnest. The Wasps, Troop Nine's basketball team, -was the only scout team that Troop Six had not been able to beat. Now -the Yellowbirds were going to have another chance! For the next two -weeks they must practice as they had never practiced before! They -_must_ uphold the honor of Troop Six! - -Pat's face, as she listened to the plans, wore a wistful look. She -wanted so much to make the Troop team! No one of the scrubs worked -harder at practice! And Peggy had told her, too, that she was beginning -to play a good game. Of course it was wicked to wish that anything -might happen to any of the valiant Yellowbirds, however-- - -Renee interrupted the plans of the young athletes by abruptly pushing -back the one sound chair in the room which she had been occupying. - -"It's too dark to work!" she declared, shutting her paint box. - -"Let's just sit around and talk," suggested Pat "I feel lazy! Anyway, -Ren, you work too hard! I heard Aunt Pen say so." - -Against the windows of the Eyrie the storm beat relentlessly--rain and -hail; gusts of wind, sounding like witches' voices around the gable. -The girls stretched out on the floor. Sheila shut the book she had been -reading. Pat pulled Keineth's head into her lap that she might "play," -as she called it, with the bright curls escaping from the band that held -them back. - -"You'd almost think there were fairies around! Listen!" Keineth held up -her hand. "It makes me think of a story poor Tante used to tell me -about the kind fairies who came to whisper to the princess what she -should do when she had been shut in the tower of the castle by the -wicked prince. Tante used to try and make me understand how one could -learn something from all those fairy tales--the wicked prince was our -own selfish natures, the beautiful princess was, of course, our bestest -selves that we'd shut away in the prison tower and the fairy voices that -whispered and sang 'round the tower were the voices of Opportunity! -But, dear me, I used to think it was more fun just to believe that the -princess was a real princess!" - -"I wish a fairy would come right now and tell me what _would_ rhyme with -"long" besides "song!" sighed Pat. - -"And _I_ wish a fairy would just guide my fingers for me," put in little -Renee from her corner. - -"Let's all tell what we want to be," cried Peggy. "I've always said I -was going to be an actress! I was in a play once and did awfully well! -But Barbara met Ethel Barrymore when she visited college and she told -the girls that only a few of the women who go on the stage are really -happy or become famous! I don't believe Barb told her about me but Barb -got the idea that she sort of--meant me! And Billy--or Garrett--says my -feet are too big, anyway, and I guess he's right! So now I'm trying to -decide whether to be a chemist or a doctor! I love to fuss with the -cunning little dishes and mix up all sorts of things, and if I don't -blow myself up Dad says I'll be all right. But I'd like to be a doctor, -too!" Poor Peggy's forehead wrinkled in a deep frown over the -perplexing problem of her future. - -"My father says that after four more years of school he will take me -abroad to study my music from great masters! And I will learn to play -and to write beautiful music!" said Keineth softly, looking as though -off in the shadows of the room she could see her dearest dreams come -true. - -"Your turn, Ren!" - -Renee blushed under the serious glances turned toward her. "I've wanted -ever since I was a little girl, to make things out of clay and marble, -like my father used to make--and Emile. Emile had promised to teach me -when I was older. My mother could never bear to see the clay and tools -around, it made her very sad, I think because it made her think of my -poor father. One summer mother and Emile and I went to the sea, and -when we'd sit on the beach Emile would help me make rabbits and cats and -birds out of the wet sand. I love to draw and paint, but when I am -older I shall learn to carve, too!" - -"Now, Sheila!" - -Sheila laughed. "Goodness, girls, I've never had a moment to make nice -dreams like yours! I _did_ want to learn to play the piano----" she -stopped short; the hurt of disappointment and the smart of remorse had -not healed in her heart. "But I never could have earned any money--with -it! I just want to hurry through school as fast as I can so that I do -something that will help the boys and mother along! They'll want, -maybe, to go to college! I think I'd like sometime to be a nurse! I'm -awfully big and strong, you see, and mother has taught me a lot of -sensible things!" - -"You be a nurse and I'll be a doctor!" exclaimed Peggy. - -"We've all told but you, Pat!" - -"What are you going to be?" - -Pat looked around the circle of earnest faces. It was a moment of noble -thoughts, of precious confidences! - -"Girls, I'll tell you all a secret if you'll _promise_ not to tell!" - -"We'll promise!" - -"Cross your hearts?" - -"Cross our hearts and on our scout's honor." - -"Well"--Pat hitched along to the center of the circle--"I'm going to be -a poet! And I'm writing a ballad--_right now_," she mysteriously tapped -her pocket from which protruded a long pencil and a corner of paper. -"And it's about Aunt Pen!" - -"Aunt Pen!" cried Renee. - -"Yes--_that's_ the secret! You think she's happy but she has a secret -sorrow and _I found it out_!" - -"Oh, tell us! What is it? _Do_ hurry, Pat!" - -Pat's voice dropped to a fittingly sorrowful note. "It was a -disappointed love, I think! That silly malady even attacked poor Aunt -Pen, though she isn't like lots of people and doesn't go round with a -broken heart within her bosom and sighing and weeping like they do in -stories! I guessed it when she asked me so many questions about Captain -Allan, Renee's guardian, you know, and she looked so funny and red when -she was asking them just like I do when I'm saying one thing but really -wanting to say another! Then she wanted to see a letter he had written -to Renee and Renee brought it, and I watched her face _and then I knew_! -It turned fiery red and then white and she did the _queerest_ thing--she -_kissed_ that letter, real quick--just a plain letter he'd written to -Renee! I couldn't believe my eyes that it was Aunt Pen! She _knew_ I -saw her and she began to laugh and then to sort of cry! She told us -that she was _sure_ it was a Mr. Allan she had known her senior year in -college! I begged her to tell more but she just said 'there isn't any -more to tell!' and we couldn't get another word out of her! Of course -Aunt Pen has a right to hide her own secret sorrow away but she can't -stop my putting it into a ballad! Only I can't think of anything to -rhyme with 'long'--except 'song' and I've used that!" - -"Go right through the alphabet, Pat! Bong, cong, dong----" - -"Now _don't_ you girls tell a _soul_ that I'm going to be a poet!" Pat -admonished. - -Peggy sprang to her feet. "Girls--let's make a solemn pledge to stick -to our ambitions and not let a single thing stop us! And we'll help one -another!" - -"We must have a pass-word! Let's have it 'Steadfast!'" - -"We ought to have a motto, too!" - -"I know a Latin one, 'Labor omnia vincit!' How's that?" - -"Spliffy! Now to do this right, girls, we must have a ceremony! Stand -up--in a circle! Hold hands--thumbs in--like this! Now all say the -motto together! What was it, Keineth?" - -Keineth repeated, "Labor omnia vincit!" and the girls said it with her. - -"Now, altogether--'Steadfast'--so we'll get used to it!" - -"Steadfast!" in hissing whispers. - -Sheila was so thrilled that she was moved to oratory! "Girls, I know -some day we're all going to be _great_! I just _feel_ it! And we'll -look back to this afternoon in our youth and say----" - -"Steadfast!" giggled Peggy. - -"Tat! Tat! Tat! Tat!" - -"Sh-h! It's Aunt Pen!" - -Aunt Pen, deserted below, had blackened her face and put on her head a -bright yellow turban, to look as nearly as possible like Aunt Jemima of -pancake fame! Now on a huge tray she bore a plate of doughnuts and a -pitcher of cider. A noisy greeting welcomed her into the Eyrie! - -That night Renee was wakened by Pat's insistent call in her ear. The -lights were burning and Pat was standing over her, tragedy written in -every line of her face. Alarmed, Renee sat bolt upright, her eyes wide. - -"Sh-h! Don't be frightened! It's just--I've _lost_ my ballad!" - -Renee thought she must be dreaming--or was Pat stark crazy? - -"I couldn't sleep and I was thinking I'd change that 'long' for 'carry,' -'cause there'r so many words rhyme with that--and I looked in my pocket -and it was gone!" - -Renee was aghast at the seriousness of the loss! Putting on their -slippers they stole down the stairs and made a thorough search. But -they could find no trace of the missing ballad! At last Renee persuaded -the disconsolate Pat to go back to bed. - -"Well, I'll _just_ have to write it again!" she sighed, digging her -tired head into the pillow. "Maybe this time I'll write it in prose -'cause it's _such_ a bother making words rhyme! Only, poets are _so_ -much nicer than just authors, don't you think so, Renee? Renee----" - -But for the first time Renee failed to meet her friend with sympathetic -understanding--she soundly sleeping! - - - - - *CHAPTER XII* - - *THE GAME* - - -"Renee! Aunt Pen! Guess!" Pat climbed the stairs two steps at a time. - -"I'd guess that you had been running every inch of the way home," -laughed Aunt Pen, for Pat's cheeks were scarlet from the outdoor air and -her hair was tumbling down about her ears. - -"I should say I had! Such _good_ luck! Or"--she attempted to correct -herself--"of course it isn't exactly _good_ luck, only--True Scott -sprained her ankle and I'm to play guard in the game tomorrow!" - -"Oh, Pat, I'm so glad! I _know_ you'll win!" and Renee looked as though -she believed that the Yellowbirds needed only Pat as one of their guards -to rout the Wasps in an overwhelming defeat! - -"I'm glad you've been chosen to substitute, for you have practiced so -faithfully," declared Aunt Pen. "It is hard on True, though!" - -"Peggy says that maybe it's a kind Providence that sprained her ankle, -'cause True didn't play as well in the last game! Of course, as Peg -says, when you're captain of a team you can't let friendship make a -_bit_ of difference! And she says if I play all right in this game she -thinks I'll be put on the team! You can just know I'm going to _try_ my -best!" - -Aunt Pen had decided that Renee was not strong enough as yet for the -basketball practice. Sometimes she went with Pat to the gymnasium, -carefully keeping out of the way of the players but watching with -interest Pat's progress in the game; more often she spent the hours when -Pat was at practice, in painting, working out new designs for her cards, -reading or walking with Aunt Pen. Each day found the little girl -happier, more contented in her new home and more passionately devoted to -her new friends who had brought into her life a wealth of affection and -interests she had never dreamed could exist. Day by day Aunt Pen saw -the fragile body develop into girlish strength and the timid spirit gain -in courage and confidence. The shadow of her sorrows would never -completely leave her, but it had helped in moulding and maturing the -young mind and strengthening it to meet whatever the future held for -her. - -Aunt Pen had found a fascination in Renee's quiet company. - -"One gets the impression that never a word passes her lips quickly! -Sometimes she makes me feel ashamed of my impulsiveness!" Penelope told -her brother one evening. They had been talking of her work with the -girls. Mr. Everett had asked: - -"Well--is our larkspur budding?" - -Aunt Pen, taking his question very seriously, had answered modestly: "I -don't know about the Latin and Algebra but I _do_ know that Pat is a -healthier, happier girl than she has ever been before, and we may feel -very proud of Renee when we turn her over to Captain Allan!" - -Pat was not there to see the color flood Aunt Pen's face as she said -these last words. - -"We ought to hear from him soon! I hope he has been able to find out -more concerning the child. I do not like to question her too closely--I -can see that it makes her unhappy and homesick." - -Penelope would have liked to have asked her brother more concerning -Renee's guardian but he began to talk of something else. Often, as she -and Renee sat or walked together, she allowed to creep into her thoughts -a rosy day-dream of that time when the officer would come to claim his -ward! - -Pat upset her entire family with her preparations for the all-important -game! She must have her dinner early in order that a sufficient time -for proper digestion might elapse before her bed hour! As authority on -this point she quoted rules which seemed to have been laid down by their -tyrannical captain. She must have eggs, too; for her supper, and could -not dream of eating the steam pudding, rich with dates and raisins, -which Melodia had prepared. It would surely lie heavily in her stomach, -make her restless all night and stupid and sluggish the next day! A -nice custard--Pat detested custards--she must have! - -Then for ten minutes early the next morning the chandeliers of the house -rattled in their brackets and the pictures danced on the walls--not an -earthquake, only Pat, guard of the Yellowbirds, "just loosening her -muscles" in a process of gymnastics that included everything she had -ever heard of! - -As the hour of the game approached the gymnasium of the Lincoln School -was a-flutter with color and noisy with life. Enthusiastic rooters from -Troop Nine, gaily decked with the green, gold and black colors of the -Wasps, were packed solidly against one side of the room. Equally -brilliant and boisterous were the upholders of the Yellowbirds! As they -sang their troop songs they waved small yellow flags and strands of -ribbon. - -An older girl from Troop Nine acted as umpire and Captain Ricky as -referee. Peggy's face was a comical mixture of sternness and entreaty -as she whispered a few last commands to her team. Pat, outwardly proud -and calm, was inwardly quaking! What if she should fail at any moment! -As the game began she was seized with a terrible giddiness--the room -swam about her, she saw only a ridiculous composite of eyes and noses -and mouths and color against the dancing walls! Her feet were heavy -like lead and a long way from her! - -Afterwards Pat could not have told at what time or why this curious -sensation left her! She only knew that suddenly everything cleared and -she felt that the only thing in the whole wide world that mattered was -keeping the alert forward, whom she was guarding, from throwing a -basket! And the faces and colors that had whirled a moment before faded -and left these two alone, in deadly combat! - -The cheering that had been constant suddenly ceased; the circle of -spectators sat with bated breath while the ball passed backward and -forward, now a basket thrown for the Wasps, in another moment one for -the Yellowbirds. Occasionally a particularly good play would bring -forth a loud shout only to have it hushed immediately in the suspense of -watching. Renee and Aunt Pen sat side by side. Aunt Pen had played -basketball in her college days; now she watched eagerly, admiring the -splendid guarding of the Wasps as generously as Peggy's swift center -work. Renee just sat very still, saying over and over to herself: -"Oh--oh--oh!" with her eyes fastened upon Pat's every move! - -At the end of the first half the score stood twenty-four to twenty-six -in favor of the Wasps. Peggy had a whispered word with Keineth who was -playing forward. Her guard was a girl a head taller than she; a little -overwhelmed by this Keineth had been slow in one or two of her plays! - -The second half went on with quick, even play, that now and then drew -forth shouts of approval from the spectators. The Yellowbirds scored -four baskets only to have the Wasps, with brilliant team work, recover -their lead with four baskets! The Wasps' center shot the ball with a -low throw to her forward. As she caught it the linekeeper sharply -pounded the floor with an Indian club. "Over the line," the referee -declared. "Yellowbirds have an unguarded throw!" Patricia was given -the ball. Renee shut her eyes--she could not watch! But she knew when -Aunt Pen sprang to her feet that her Pat had not failed. With a -movement quick as lightning she had passed the ball to the other guard -who in turn had shot it back to center! And while Aunt Pen was still on -her feet Peggy had thrown it to Keineth who, with a low, lithe movement -of her body, ducked the wildly waving arms of her guard and threw a -basket! - -"A tie! _Now_ for the test!" whispered Aunt Pen, clutching Renee's hand -so hard that it hurt. - -For the next few minutes the ball passed swiftly backward and forward, -the guards and forwards leaped and ran! Each player, keyed to the -utmost effort, was everywhere at once, arms waving, eyes alert to the -slightest advantage or weakness in defense! A dreadful stillness held -the room broken only by the occasional low, sharp exclamations--like -pistol shots--of the players. Peggy's face was pale; again and again -Keineth eluded her guard only to find her, in a second, again towering -before her! - -The ball passed toward the Wasps' basket; Patricia caught it and threw -it toward the center; Sheila, playing side-center, with a swift leap, -gripped it and threw it to Keineth. But Keineth's guard sent it -hurtling back to the Wasps' center! While the spectators, conscious -that this was the last and crucial moment, rose to their feet in a body, -the Wasps' forward caught it and, swift as lightning, threw it backward -over her head straight down through the basket! The referee's whistle -ended the game--the Wasps had won! - -It was always customary, following the Troop games, to have a spread for -the contesting teams. Almost always the players laid aside immediately -all joy of victory, sting of defeat and bitterness of contest and threw -themselves heart and soul into a general frolic! But this afternoon the -atmosphere was charged with resentment! While the triumphant Wasps -gathered noisily in their corner the Yellowbirds sulked in another part -of the room. Captain Ricky and her assistants had gone to prepare the -goodies. There was no one to check the rapidly rising tide of complaint -and criticism! - -"She _did_ only have one hand on the ball--I could swear now!" "The line -watchers _weren't_ fair, I _saw_ her foot go over!" and "She just shoved -me!" "Who'd _ever_ expect her to throw over her head!" and "I _saw_ that -center walk _three whole steps_ with the ball and the umpire _never_ -called a foul!" The mutterings grew louder and the word "cheat" -penetrated to the corner. - -Captain Ricky, coming into the room, heard it, too. She guessed in a -moment, by the expression of the girls' faces, what had been happening! -She drew them close about her. - -"_Girls! Girls!_" They had never heard just that tone in their -captain's voice. "What is this spirit you are showing! I have _always_ -been so proud of you--so _sure_ of you! And I was very proud to-day! -You played a brilliant game! You were only defeated because the other -team played even a better game! If each one of you feels that she -played her very best, then there is not a complaint that can be made! -You were outplayed--and just because you are the good players you have -shown yourselves to be--why, you should be quick and generous in your -praise of the better work of the other team! I am disappointed, my -scouts! I want you to remember always that I'd lots rather have you -good losers--if you've done your best--than winners! If you will learn -that it will help you years from now when you are playing more serious -and difficult games than basket-ball! And it will teach you to turn -defeat into a real blessing!" - -The Yellowbirds had stood with drooping plumage while their leader -spoke. Each one was ashamed. Peggy was the first to speak. Throwing -back her dark head she stalked across the room to where Cora Simmons, -who had played center for the Wasps, stood in a group of Troop Nine -scouts. - -"I'm _just_ ashamed of myself!" she cried, "'cause I didn't shake hands -with you the moment the game was over and tell you how well you played!" -There was no questioning the sincere ring in Peggy's voice. - -The other Yellowbirds followed her example, and soon there was a babble -of voices going over in most friendly discussion the crucial moments of -the game. Now the defeated players were determined that there should be -no stint to their praise of the work of the Troop Nine girls! - -"Let's have a cheer-ring!" cried Peggy, and immediately each Yellowbird -caught a Wasp by the shoulder and formed a close circle. The room rang -with their cheers; Troop Six cheered for Troop Nine and Troop Nine -cheered for Troop Six, and then, they all cheered for the Girl Scouts! - -Pat, wanting to free her soul before her whole world of whatever guilt -might lie between it and Captain Ricky's approval, loudly clapped her -hands and demanded that they all listen while she confessed to them that -she was sure she had once even pinched the forward she was guarding and -that "she had been a perfect _peach_ not to tell!" - -Pat's declaration caused peals of laughter which quickly burst into -shouts of delight when Captain Ricky's lieutenant called loudly from the -doorway, "_Eats!_" And the afternoon ended with the happiness and -contentment found in good fellowship! - - - - - *CHAPTER XIII* - - *THE CHRISTMAS PARTY* - - -Christmas was drawing near with all its promise of joy. And the world -wrapped for so long in the gloom of war, took on a new gladness; weeks -before the holiday, doors and windows were hung with holly, stores -spread out a fascinating array of giftwares; a new light shone in -smiling faces as though "Peace on earth" was ringing through the souls -of the people! - -Pat's head was bursting with plans for the blessed holiday. It must be -a different Christmas from any Renee had ever known! For days they had -busied themselves preparing the box that had gone to St. Cloud--a dress -for Susette and some aprons that Renee herself had made, tobacco for -Gabriel and warm slippers and shoes for them both; sugar, coffee, and -canned goods and dried fruits until Renee was sure Susette's neat -shelves would groan under their weight. And in a heart-shaped silver -frame a picture of Renee! - -Pat declared that they must have a Christmas tree, for Renee had never -had one! And even though they were quite grown-up they must also hang -up their stockings! Aunt Pen and Daddy promised to hang theirs, too, so -that Pat and Renee spent many an afternoon in secret shopping tours, -returning with mysterious packages which were carefully hidden away in -the Eyrie. - -Then a letter from the south, whose usual cheery tone was tinged with a -little homesickness, made Mr. Everett decide to join his wife for the -holiday season. At first Pat rebelled stormily, lamenting that his going -would spoil everything; then for days she sulked like a naughty child -until Aunt Pen came to the rescue! From spending the afternoon with -Peggy Lee's mother, Aunt Pen returned, with a "secret!" - -"What is it, Aunt Pen? _Can_ we know?" the girls asked eagerly. - -"Yes, you will be _in_ the "secret!" It's a--_real_ Christmas party! -And it will be different from any you've ever heard of before! I'll -tell you the plans we discussed and then we'll get your father's -permission. I know when you hear all about it you'll smile again, Miss -Pat, and declare that this _is_ going to be the best Christmas you've -ever had--even with Daddy away!" - -"Will the party be here?" asked Pat, recalling on the instant some very -lovely parties given for her sister which she, because she was too -little to go downstairs, had had to watch over the stair banister. - -"No, I don't believe the house would be big enough for this one," and -Penelope laughed at the mystified expression on Pat's face. - -Then Aunt Pen unfolded the plans she and Mrs. Lee had made. The girls -of the Troop would be the hostesses of this party and the guests would -be the men, women and children in the neighborhood of the Works. There -must, of course, be a tree, and the girls could arrange tableaux and -then everyone could sing and dance! And there would be sandwiches and -coffee and ice cream and cake and a gift for each one. - -Gradually into Pat's face crept a deep interest so that when the last -small detail had been explained the smile that Aunt Pen had prophesied -came back once more. It would be a _wonderful_ party, and could they -begin planning the tableaux right away and couldn't they run over this -very minute and tell Sheila? - -So that Mr. Everett's going made scarcely a break in the exciting -preparations, the rehearsals, the arranging of costumes, the planning of -the party "supper" and the gifts for the guests. In desperation Aunt -Pen declared that the holidays might as well begin at once as it was -impossible to hold Pat down to any lessons! And Renee, too, was working -feverishly, completing a rush order for Christmas cards that had come to -"LaDue and Everett" from Miss Higgin's tea room! - -On Christmas Eve the Eyrie was emptied of the treasures it had held, the -stockings hanging over the library fireplace were filled and little -piles of tissue paper packages of all sizes were made for Jasper, -Melodia and Maggie. The rooms were filled with a spicy odor of hemlock; -holly hung over window and door. - -"Oh, isn't it fun?" laughed Pat, stepping back to survey the bulging -stockings. "Can you _guess_ what's in anything, Ren? And don't you -wish you were little again and really truly believed in Santa Claus?" - -"Susette used to tell me stories of the real St. Nicholas--she said he -was the patron saint of children!" - -"Well, _I_ like to think of him as a jolly old fellow driving his -reindeers faster'n Watkins can drive the car--and lots of jingling -bells! I think about it and then I can most hear them!" - -Renee had gone to one of the windows at the end of the room to peer out -into the darkness. Snow had fallen which dulled the sounds of the city -to a musical tone not unlike distant bells of the good Santa. Suddenly -she called to Pat: - -"Come and look--over at Sheila's!" - -There on the strip of lawn before the old brick house was a Christmas -tree, hung with tinsel and twinkling with lighted candles that swayed -and blinked in the darkness. - -That was Mrs. Quinn's merry Christmas! She and the children had hung -ropes of tinsel, red and gold balls, sparkling hearts and rings and -little candles out on the old spruce that grew in the corner of the -yard. - -"To give to any poor body going by that maybe hasn't any Christmas just -a bit of the brightness!" she had explained. - -Renee, watching from between the library curtains, thought it very -beautiful! It was like a fairy tree, placed there in the darkness by -spirit hands, breathing from its fragrant brightness a joy that all -could share! Even at that moment they could see a bent old man, leading -a little boy by the hand, lingering to stare at the twinkling lights! - -Many years before this the Everett Works had been moved from the modest -factory not far from the Everett home, where it had had its beginning, -to the great pile of steel and concrete buildings distantly removed from -the business center of the city. Immediately there sprang up on the -stretches of fields intervening between the smoky walls of the new plant -and the quiet shaded streets where the Lees and the Everetts and the -Randolphs lived, a community of small, shapeless houses, one exactly -like the other, divided by half-paved streets with their rows of sickly -infant elms and maples; with muddy backyards barricaded by miles and -miles of clothes-line, and thousands of window-panes blackened by the -incessant rain of soot from the belching chimneys. Though the suburb had -the beautiful name of Riverview, suggestive of cool breezes and open -spaces, it was always and more fittingly known as "The Neighborhood." - -To the hundreds of little dingy homes had come men, women and children -from every land of the globe--here Liberty offered them asylum and the -Everett Works an honest living. In the center of the community the -Works had erected a splendid schoolhouse and had presented it to the -city. Although its outer walls were soon stained and blackened like the -rows of houses, its interior was as fresh and attractive as clean paint, -pictures and many growing plants could make it! Here the children of -the foreign-speaking parents were taught to be true Americans. And in -its big assembly room, whose windows looked out over the rows and rows -of railroad tracks with their solid wall of motionless freight cars, to -the river and open fields beyond, the girls of Troop Six held their -Christmas party. - -Even before the last holly wreath had been fastened in place the guests -began to come--whole families at a time, in holiday attire that to Pat -made them look like pictures in some fairy-tales; old men and old women, -younger men with hands still grimy from their work, younger women with -tired faces and babies in their arms; some eager, some a little shy, all -smiling. - -Pat, peeping out from behind the curtain, declared that there were -hundreds there and that they were talking in every language -known--except Latin! But when some one at the piano began to play -"America," in some way or other the strange words melted into a common -tongue--the high treble of the children carrying the song along! - -A hush fell on the audience when the curtains of the stage slowly parted -to show the first of the tableaux. Briefly John Randolph, Keineth's -father, told in Polish the story of the landing of the Pilgrims on "the -stern and rockbound coast" while on the stage the Pilgrims, with -painfully suppressed laughter, struggled to keep the _Mayflower_, made -out of old canvas and chairs, from falling to pieces! - -The next picture showed the early colonists making treaties with the -Indians. Sheila, grave and dignified in Puritan collar and hat, was -holding out strings of gay beads to an Indian chief, resplendent in -paint and feathers, who carried over his arm the hides that the -colonists needed. Then in simple words Mr. Randolph explained how the -first purchases of land in the United States came about. - -Peggy made an impressive George Washington at Valley Forge, while -Garrett Lee and some of his friends sat about a smouldering camp-fire. -Again she appeared with Betsey Ross, who was stitching on the first -American flag, which part Keineth played. But Washington's dignified -manner was sadly spoiled when his wig suddenly slipped to one side, so -that poor Betsey had to bite her lips very hard to keep from giggling at -his rakish appearance! Nevertheless the audience--especially the -children who recognized in the picture a favorite school story--clapped -loudly with genuine enthusiasm. - -The last tableau, everyone declared, was the best of all! Captain Ricky -was America, standing in white robes against a big American flag, her -arms outstretched to the eager pilgrims who approached her! And these -were dressed in the national costumes of almost every country on the -globe; some had approached, apparently, with brave step, heads high and -shoulders straight, others had come wearily; some were old and some were -young; many had been carrying heavy burdens which they had cast aside. -And from the wrists of each hung the broken links of the shackles that -had bound them! - -The tableau told its own story! For a moment there was a hushed -silence, then a mighty applause shook the room. And Captain Ricky, as -though she indeed embodied the gracious spirit of America, smiled back -from the stage at the men and women who, like the pilgrims in the -picture, had come to this land of freedom! - -After this tableau the curtains at the back of the stage were drawn -back, displaying a beautiful Christmas tree, trimmed only by the many -lights half-concealed in its branches and by a huge, gleaming star at -its top. Some of the scouts at one corner of the stage began a simple -Christmas carol--the guests took it up, humming where they could not -speak the words. A group of young men broke into a Polish song; other -songs followed--songs that these people had brought with them across the -sea. - -"They are more beautiful than ours!" cried Keineth to her father. - -Then, under Captain Ricky's direction, the trimming of the tree began. -This was a surprise even to the girls of the Troop, who sat with bright -eyes watching. For each one in the room who had had a son, a brother, a -husband or a father in the service of the country, was given a silver -star to hang upon the branches of the tree. One by one they went up--at -first shyly, then proudly; bent old men with uncertain step, young -wives, blushing, with children tugging at their skirts; old women, -scarcely understanding it all but eager to hang their symbol, until the -tree was a-twinkle with the gleaming stars! - -From long tables in one of the classrooms adjoining steaming, fragrant -coffee in big cups and turkey and chicken sandwiches were served, then -ice cream and cake. Everyone talked at once--the children ran round in -complete abandonment to the joy of the moment; some of the guests, too -excited to eat, had already begun the dancing! - -And Mrs. Lee and Aunt Pen were busy distributing among them all the -small silk American flags which were the gifts of the evening! - -"It's the _best_ party _ever_," Pat stopped long enough in a whirling -dance to whisper to Aunt Pen. - -"Where's Renee?" Aunt Pen answered. - -After a moment's search she found her alone behind the big tree. She -was fastening upon one of the branches her silver star! Tears dampened -her cheeks. - -"Oh--_my dear_!" cried Aunt Pen. Over her swept the realization of what -Renee had given that "peace might come upon this world!" She caught the -small hand and held it. - -"Not _there_," she whispered, "but _here_!" and taking the star she hung -it close to the big Star at the top. - -"He gave his Son for us, too," she added softly. - - - - - *CHAPTER XIV* - - *HILL-TOP* - - -"Picnics," explained Peggy, with a conviction born of experience, "are -just as much fun in the winter as they are in the summer, 'specially -when they are at Hill-top!" - -For the four days following Christmas snow had fallen steadily. Each -moment of the holiday time had been filled with out-of-door fun: now -Mrs. Lee had suggested that--as a sort of climax--the Eagle Patrol have -a picnic at Hill-top! - -Pat had never heard of a picnic in the middle of the winter! - -But Peggy's enthusiasm was contagious! Hilltop--Pat had never been -there--was a very old farmhouse ten miles from the city, back in the -hills near Camp Wichita, where Captain Ricky took her girls in the -summer-time. It belonged to an old man and his wife who had been -friends of Mrs. Lee's father. During the winter months they preferred to -move into a more sheltered cottage nearer the barns. The house--a short -walk from the lake on which the young people skated in the winter and -canoed in the summer--had great square rooms and many of them, warmed by -fire-places like caverns that consumed whole logs at a time. Often Mrs. -Lee, who found real recreation in such little excursions with her young -people--had taken the girls and boys there for week-end picnics! - -"Mother says we may stay three whole days this time! We can skate and -coast and have all kinds of fun! Garrett has a new bob that he made and -he says he'll bet anything it can beat all the others." - -"Do the boys go, too?" broke in Pat. - -"Oh, yes, mother likes to have them go! They help a lot, you see, and -she says it wouldn't be nearly as much fun if they weren't along. Jim -Archer and Bob Slocum and Ted Scott and maybe Wynne Meade will go--and -Garrett! They're _sort_ of fun!" for Peggy read disappointment in Pat's -face. - -"_I_ think boys are a nuisance!" - -Sheila came promptly to the defense. "Perhaps--sometimes! But brothers -are nice!" - -Pat's experience had been limited to the bashful young brothers, -miserable with too much scrubbing and stiff collars, who had -occasionally visited the other girls at school. - -Peggy thought it a decided waste of time to be bothering over such a -point when there was so much to plan and do! So, with a conviction -intended to end the discussion, she said: "Well, they carry the logs and -the water and go out and open the house and I guess we'll find them -mighty useful!" - -And, indeed, Pat _was_ to find one of the boys more than useful before -the picnic was over! - -A few hours' well-organized activity put everything in readiness for the -house-party. Garrett Lee appointed himself chief of the commissary and -flew tirelessly between his home and the grocery store until he had -assembled enough cans of soup, bacon, weiners and other eatables -peculiar to scouts' appetites to feed a regiment! Sheila and Mrs. Lee, -after a brief consultation, added to the equipment many little -necessities that Garrett in his masculine ignorance had overlooked. Two -of the other girls collected the necessary kitchen utensils and a simple -first-aid kit. Loaded down with all these and with extra blankets and -the bobs, the boys and Mrs. Lee went on out to Hill-top a day in advance -to open the house and prepare it for the others. - -Pat, inspired by the activities of the others and not having been -pressed into troop service, busied herself by packing and repacking -almost every garment that she and Renee possessed! - -"Patsy, dear, you _won't_ need all those things," Aunt Pen had laughed, -pointing to the bulging suitcase. - -Pat admitted this. "Well, it's fun packing 'em and I just had to do -something," she confessed. - -The next day eight merry girls boarded the funny little train that -puffed off slowly toward the hills. To Renee the picnic was the most -exciting of adventures! She had seen little snow--never in her life -anything like the great piles, snowy white, through which the train was -snorting its way! She had never had on a pair of skates in her life, -nor had she ever coasted down a hill! And as Peggy told of Garrett's -new bob, "Madcap," and its lightning speed, she shivered with an ecstasy -of fear and wondered--if they made her ride on it--what it would feel -like to fly over the snow and whether she might not just die outright of -terror! - -The boys, in rollicking spirits and muffled to the tips of their noses, -met them at the station; together they trudged back through the snow to -the farmhouse. Logs were crackling merrily in the big fireplaces and a -table had been spread ready for an early supper. The girls fell to -unpacking the equipment and spreading their blankets over the funny old -beds and the cots which had been brought up from the nearby camp. -Sheila, who had been appointed officer-in-charge, promptly, in -accordance with the custom of scout outings, posted in a conspicuous -place, the "standing rules." - -"Oh, they're the kind of rules any good scout'll keep," Peggy exclaimed -to Pat, who was regarding the slip of paper in amazement with a look on -her face that said plainly "this is the funniest picnic I ever knew!" -"Come on and find the others!" - -For supper they ate many baked potatoes and weiners and hot biscuits, -which Mrs. Lee had mixed and baked by magic--"just to have a nice -beginning!" At the table the boys announced the schedule for the -skating and coasting races which they had planned for the next day and -fell to arguing with friendly violence over the speed of their different -bobs! Garrett then insisted that the four who had grabbed the last of -the biscuits should make up the Kitchen Police, whose duty it would be -to clear away the supper dishes! And to the accompaniment of a mighty -rattle of china plates and cups the others gathered around the blazing -fire and sang. - -Pat and Renee slept together in a huge four-posted bed. Gradually the -big house had grown very quiet. "Isn't it fun?" Pat giggled into -Renee's ear. "I've never been in the country in the winter-time before! -And doesn't it feel _queer_ sleeping without sheets?" Then she sighed. -"I wish I could skate well!" She was thinking of the races planned for -the morrow. Renee was apprehensive, too. "Do you suppose they'll make -me go down on one of those dreadful bobs?" and she shuddered at the very -thought! - -Poor Pat, her pride--cropping up now and then--was her besetting sin! -And the next morning, when she should have been gloriously happy, it -mastered her! She _hated_ the races, because she was always lagging -along in the rear! She declared to herself that the boys were silly, -tiresome stupids, because they made _such_ a fuss when Peggy beat them -all in a race down the lake and back! Finally, disgusted, she took off -the hateful skates and joined Renee near the bank. - -"I think they're _stupid_," she grumbled, digging her heel into the ice -and not explaining whether she meant the boys, or the skates or the -races! - -The coasting in the afternoon comforted her a little! Jim Archer let -her steer his "Gypsy!" They beat Garrett's "Madcap" and Pat secretly -rejoiced at Garrett's chagrin! - -Renee, from the top of the long hill, had watched the flight of the bobs -with trembling fascination. - -"Come along on Madcap," Garrett had called out. The three girls on it -waved entreatingly to her. She had not the courage to refuse! White -with terror she slipped in between Garrett and Peggy. The others shouted -wildly as the bob began to move slowly down the hill but poor Renee's -breath caught in her throat. As it went faster and faster she hid her -face against Garrett's wooly back. - -"Hang on!" cried Peggy behind her. Renee was certain they were flying! -But just as she felt she _must_ die with terror a wild "hurrah" went up, -she opened her eyes--they were sliding over the ice at the bottom of the -hill and the Madcap had won! - -And to Renee's utter amazement she wanted to go down again--_right -away_! - -Afterwards Garrett let her steer the bob, and although they ended in a -snowdrift and were almost buried in the soft snow, it did not in any way -dampen her enthusiasm over the new sport she had learned! - -"Oh, it was _wonderful_!" she exclaimed to Pat as they walked with the -others toward Hill-top. "I thought I'd be so frightened and I wasn't!" - -"Jim Archer's bob is much the best," Pat answered in such a disagreeable -voice that Renee looked at her in hurt astonishment! How _could_ there -be enough difference in two bobs to make Pat speak to her in that tone! - -However, hot oyster soup and pancakes scattered for a time the little -cloud that threatened and through the meal Pat's voice was as merry as -the merriest. After supper, leaving the Kitchen Police to their sad lot, -the others again donned caps, sweaters and mittens and fell to building -in front of the old farmhouse door two great snow forts, between which, -in the morning, a mighty battle would be waged! - -And Jim Archer, one of the self-appointed generals, asked Pat--before he -asked any of the others--to be on his side! - -This was balm to Pat's hurt vanity. Perhaps she couldn't skate as well -as the others, but she guessed Jim Archer knew she could throw a -snowball as straight and as hard as any boy! Anyway, Garrett Lee was -too conceited! So that night, as she slept cuddled down in the big -four-posted bed, she dreamed that she stood alone on the frosty -breastwork of the fort she had helped build and by an onslaught of -snowballs, thrown with unerring aim, drove Garrett Lee and his army to -complete and ignominious surrender! - -Poor Pat--the next day was to bring to her pride a sad fall! - - - - - *CHAPTER XV* - - *PAT'S PRIDE AND ITS FALL* - - -The next morning a bright sun peeped up over the hills touching field -and lake, trees and house-tops with a frost of diamonds. At an early -hour hungry boys and girls were demanding their breakfast "quick" and -were hurling orders over the banister at the sleepy Kitchen Police, -toiling below. - -The snow-ball fight ended in a complete rout of Garrett's army, which -put Pat in high spirits, and, although it had not been quite like her -dream of the night before, Jim Archer _had_ said to her, to her secret -joy: - -"Say, you throw as good as a boy!" - -The remainder of the morning was spent playing hockey and coasting; the -boys allowing the girls to race the bobs down the hill. Renee, quite by -herself, steered the beautiful Madcap twice to victory! Perhaps never in -her life had she felt so keenly alive or so happy! She stood looking -over the little lake and the surrounding hills and drawing in long -breaths of the frosty air. Its keenness made her cheeks and fingertips -tingle, put a ringing note in the youthful voices around her and an -added brightness into happy eyes! - -"Let's all just skate this afternoon--no races or anything like that!" -declared Peggy at luncheon and the suggestion met with instant approval. - -"Oh, _don't_ you wish we were just coming? Did you ever know days to go -by so fast?" lamented one of the others. - -"This hasn't gone by yet! To-night we're going to toast marshmallows!" -put in Bob Slocum. - -"And have a good sing! We always end a picnic that way!" explained -Peggy to Pat. - -"And breakfast bright and early to-morrow, so that we will be all packed -in time for the----" - -"Lightning mail train!" Garrett added to his mother's injunction. - -Mrs. Lee was never happier than when she was with her "boys and girls!" -She loved each and every one of them as though they had all been hers -from babyhood. She watched them now as they trooped away toward the -lake, skates jingling over their arms. Something within her quivered -with pardonable pride as her eyes rested for a moment on Garrett's manly -young figure striding on ahead of the others. And when Peggy's voice, -always boyishly loud, reached her ears as she shouted back to one of the -other girls, her mother shook her head and laughed: "Oh, Peggy child, -what a tomboy!" - -For Pat the skating was much more fun, now, when there were no races! -More accustomed to her skates she managed to get over the ice in better -and easier fashion than she had on the day before. She was pleasantly -conscious, too, that she made a rather pretty picture in her scarlet -sweater and tam-o'-shanter--several of the girls had declared that they -were going to immediately make red tams. - -"Let's have a turn, Pat!" and Garrett Lee extended two warmly mittened -hands in genial invitation. So Pat linked her arms with his and -together they flew over the glittering stretch. With her balance -supported by Garrett's strong grasp she skated easily; as they sped -along down the length of the lake the wind whipped her breath and sent -the blood bounding through her veins! - -At the end of the lake they stopped "to take in air," as Garrett put it. - -"Let's skate down there," cried Pat, pointing to the Inlet just beyond. -There a narrow gorge, cutting deeply through the hillsides, let into the -lake. Garrett knew that, because of its steep banks, its changing depths -of water and strong eddies, the ice there was very unsafe. - -"Oh, no, it's dangerous there! We never go into the Inlet, even in the -summer! That's a rule!" - -Poor Pat--she fancied Garrett was treating her like a little child! So -she answered with a toss of her head: - -"I haven't bothered to read the rules! I'm not afraid--if you are!" and -she turned toward the Inlet. - -"Pat--don't! It _isn't_ safe--honest!" - -The more earnest and concerned Garrett grew the more headstrong Pat! -She started toward the Inlet, calling over her shoulder: "Oh, you're -just a 'fraidy-cat'!" - -Garrett watched her for a moment. There was no doubting her intention! -He started after her and at the mouth of the Inlet overtook her. - -"Pat," he begged, "mother'll be angry! I tell you it's one of the -rules!" - -But Pat simply shrugged her shoulders. - -"_Dare_ you to come with me, little boy!" she laughed teasingly. The -Inlet, its banks rising steeply on each side, filled with dancing -shadows made by the sun through the bare branches meeting overhead, -looked very inviting! Thrilled with a sense of adventure, Pat skated -with short strokes into the narrow opening. - -Garrett had no choice but to follow her! Deeply alarmed, he again -begged her to turn back! Now she pretended not to hear him! - -But in a few moments she suddenly screamed and wildly waved her arms! -At a bend in the narrow gorge the ice had cracked under her weight! - -"Garrett!" she cried, turning. - -"_Go on! Keep moving!_" he shouted. But Pat, terror-stricken, stood -still, stretching out her arms imploringly. Garrett reached her just as -the ice with a sharp crackle broke into pieces, dropping them both into -the water. - -Its iciness for a moment stunned Pat. Then she slowly realized that -Garrett was supporting her with one arm and begging her to cling to the -thin edge of the ice, to which he was holding with his other hand. His -steady voice gave her courage! She tried to say something but her teeth -only chattered together. - -"We'll get out all right!" Garrett said, hopefully. "Hold on as lightly -as you can!" - -"Oh, don't let go of me--don't let go of me!" implored Pat, wanting to -cry. - -"I won't! Keep up your nerve!" And Garrett strengthened his hold under -Pat's arm. He looked about him. From a tree growing out of the bank -stretched a bare limb just a little way out of reach. - -"We'll work along slowly until you can reach that branch! Take it easy, -Pat!" - -He began moving his grasp on the edge of the ice, slowly, cautiously, -for sometimes it cracked, sending terror to Pat's soul! She recalled -hearing someone tell how very deep the water was in the Inlet! And it -was _so_ black and cold! - -"Come on! We'll make it!" he called out cheerily. They drew nearer and -nearer the branch; soon Pat could reach it. - -"Now let go of the ice and grab it! I'll hold you!" - -"Oh no, no!" implored Pat, clinging tighter. - -"You've _got_ to, Pat! It's our only chance!" Summoning all the -strength he had in his fine young body he lifted her as he spoke! The -effort made great veins swell on his forehead. With a gasp of terror -she caught and clung with both arms to the branch. - -"Get your legs around it, too," directed Garrett. "Now work yourself -along! _Hurry_, Pat!" - -Stung into effort Pat with feverish haste did as he told her. Securing -her hold on the branch by locking her strong legs about it she gradually -swung around until she was astride it. Then it was but a moment's work -to edge along to the bank. Grasping the strong roots of the undergrowth -she pulled herself to the top. She wanted dreadfully then to throw -herself down upon the ground and cry, but a sharp noise below made her -turn suddenly. - -Garrett had attempted to lift himself upon the branch. Strained by -Pat's weight, under his it snapped off, dropping him back into the -water. - -"Garrett!" screamed Pat. In agony she watched for his head to reappear -at the surface of the water. As he came up he again caught the edge of -the ice, but his face was gray and drawn as though by sharp pain and his -breath came and went in short gasps. She called him vainly over and over -but he could not seem to muster enough strength to answer! She fancied, -in her terror, that his fingers were slipping in their hold of the ice. - -It was _her_ turn to direct! - -"Garrett, move down! See, the tree's across the ice! Maybe it'll hold! -Oh, Garrett, _try_!" - -With a slow, cramped movement he worked along the edge of the rapidly -enlarging hole until he could grasp the broken branch which stretched -now across the dark water, one end firmly held in a crack of the ice -where it had buckled near the bank. Strengthened by desperation, Garrett -managed to crawl along it until he reached the bank. As, numbed by -exposure, he struggled to lift himself up the steep side of the gorge, -clinging for support, as Pat had done, to roots and branches, repeatedly -slipping back, it seemed to Pat as though he could not make it! At last -her own frantic hands dragged him over the top to safety, only to have -him drop in an unconscious heap at her feet! - -All Pat knew was that whatever she had to do she must do quickly! -Loosening the straps of her skates she threw them from her! Then she -attempted to lift him. He was too heavy--she could not stagger a step -with his weight in her arms. So as gently as she could she dragged him -over the soft snow to a higher point of open ground from which she could -see the lake and the skaters and the farmhouse! - -"Girls! Girls! Jim!" she called frantically. They could not hear--only -the echo of her own voice answered. - -"What _will_ I do?" she cried. She tore off her bright tam-o'-shanter -and waved it high in the air! Suddenly she saw one of the girls detach -herself! from a group of skaters and wave back! - -An inspiration seized Pat! The semaphore code she had learned! Oh, -could she remember it quickly enough? And poor Garrett himself had -taught her! Snatching off her sweater she waved that in one hand and her -tam in the other and slowly signaled: - -"Accident--bring bobs--blankets--quick!" - -It seemed to Pat as though they would _never_ answer! She waved her -message again--more slowly! Then one of the boys waved back: "Coming." - -_Now_ Pat began to cry--tears that left cold streaks on her own cheeks -and splashed in a warm shower on Garrett's face as she knelt over him. -He slowly opened his eyes and whispered, "All right, Pat?" Then, as -though very tired, he closed them again and lapsed back into -unconsciousness. - -There was no more merriment at Hill-top! The boys brought Garrett, -wrapped in blankets, on one of the bobs to the door of the farmhouse -where his mother, warned of the accident, awaited him. No one would let -poor Pat tell her story--there was too much to be done! While Mrs. Lee -and Sheila cared for Garrett, the girls gave Pat a hot bath and a -vigorous rub and put her to bed. And Jim Archer flew to the nearest -telephone to summon a doctor and nurse from the city. - -Garrett was very, very ill! Weakened by the exposure and strain he -quickly developed pneumonia. The doctor would not let him be moved, he -must remain at Hill-top! Mrs. Lee, brave with all her anxiety, begged -the boys and girls to go back to the city quietly, not to worry, but to -hope for Garrett's quick recovery! Sheila and Jim Archer she kept with -her to help her. At the earliest possible moment came Mr. Lee with a -trained nurse. - -Pat, none the worse for her icy bath of the day before, lingered behind -the others and miserably begged for a parting word with Mrs. Lee. - -"It was _all_ my fault," she whispered, bursting into tears. "I called -him a fraidy-cat and went on, just so's he'd follow----" - -Though Mrs. Lee took the girl in her arms, her face was very grave. But -she guessed the suffering in Pat's heart, so she spoke kindly. - -"Child, I am glad he _didn't_ leave you! You must help us fight for him -now and--well, he just _must_ get well!" For a moment she could not -keep her own tears back; then she resolutely wiped them away as much as -to say, "_this_ isn't fighting!" - -Anxious days followed. Every morning and every evening Jim Archer -telephoned to the Everett home from Hill-top a report of Garrett's -condition. Sometimes there would be a word of encouragement--then he -would be a degree worse! Pat, pale as a ghost, scarcely speaking to -anyone, trembling at every sound, in spite of all Aunt Pen's and Renee's -efforts, refused to be cheered or comforted! She spent almost all her -time in the Eyrie with the door locked. - -"I'm downright worried!" Aunt Pen said to Pat's father, who fortunately -had returned in the midst of the trouble and anxiety. "_Whatever_ does -the child do in that room all by herself?" - -No one would ever know! In the most shadowy corner of the Eyrie Pat had -crept and there she had found strength to bear the suspense! Kneeling -before one of the old broken chairs, she repeated over and over a little -prayer she had made: - -"Please God, make Garrett well! He was so brave and I was so wicked! -I'm the one you ought to punish! Please make him well and I'll never, -never be wicked again!" - -Sometimes she would vary the wording of her little prayer and once, -thinking that perhaps her clumsy sentences might not reach the Father's -ear, she carried a prayer-book to the Eyrie and slowly, with great -emphasis, repeated the prayer for the sick that she had often heard in -church. - -Going downstairs from one of these vigils in the Eyrie she heard -Sheila's voice. Her heart stopped beating with an instant's fear! She -rushed into the room where Sheila was talking to Aunt Pen and her Daddy. - -"He is----" She could not make herself ask the question. - -Sheila turned. Her tired face was bright with joy. "Garrett's better! -He will get well! We didn't telephone because I wanted to tell you! I -had to come home, for mother needed me." - -"Really, truly?" Pat could scarcely believe that the black shadow was -lifted from her. Sheila nodded laughingly. - -"Really, truly! The doctor says he has a wonderful constitution! And -we're all so glad, because we love Mrs. Lee so much!" - -With quivering lips Pat turned and threw herself into her father's arms. -There was so much she wanted to tell--of her silly vanity, her wicked -recklessness, her leading another into danger, but the words would not -come! - -"I'll always remember--how he looked--up on the bank!" she shuddered, -her face hidden against her father's coat. "I asked God to make him -well and He did, and I guess I'll remember never--to be--wicked again!" -And as though he understood how truly repentant poor Pat was, her dear -Daddy patted her shoulder and held her very close. - - - - - *CHAPTER XVI* - - *GOOD TURNS* - - -The winter days passed quickly in the Everett household. Each moment -was filled with work or play. And so delightfully intermingled was the -play with the work that the girls found themselves tackling their Latin -verbs with the same zest they threw into their outdoor recreation. - -In spite of the holidays and the suspense of Garrett Lee's illness the -routine of Aunt Pen's "school" had been renewed with little difficulty. -Pat, who always before had been very indifferent to the report system -followed at Miss Prindle's, suddenly developed deep concern and pride in -the reports that Aunt Pen carefully prepared at the end of each week to -show Daddy and then tucked away in the spinnet desk to wait mother's -return. She was improving in her Latin and her French; she could write -a letter now with only one or two misspelled words; she tackled the -difficult problems in Algebra in a fine fighting spirit, and with great -pride--after many mortifying failures--was able to set before her father -three beautifully browned loaves of bread! - -Daddy had declared that such triumph must have its reward and had -carried them all--pupils and teacher--off to the theatre to see -"Penrod." - -The Eaglets still gathered in the Eyrie. How much nearer each was -coming to her ambitions no one of them could tell--that they were still -steadfastly true to their pledge to help one another was certain; -unconsciously perhaps, they did it by the strength of their friendship. - -"LaDue and Everett" had developed a thriving business. Pat, quite all -by herself, had gone to Brown Brothers, the leading bookstore in the -city, and had sought and obtained an order for hand-painted valentines. -This had given her courage to approach Miss Higgins and a nearby -Gift-shop. Very proudly she presented the three orders to the senior -member of the firm. - -"There, I guess _that'll_ make us work!" - -At first Renee was aghast at the amount of work, but with Pat to help -her and by steady application--although Aunt Pen was firm in her command -that the work must not interfere with the outdoor play--she was able to -complete the orders by the first of February. And so beautifully had -the little valentines been made that Brown Brothers immediately ordered -ten dozen dinner cards! - -The rush of business set Pat at the company's books which had gotten -into such a muddle that they had to be taken to Daddy to be straightened -out. Pat's figures were like a Chinese puzzle running up and down the -pages of her imposing ledger. Poor Mr. Everett had a knotty problem -putting them into proper shape and Pat had a lesson in accounting! - -Altogether, after all expenses had been paid, there was left to the -account of the youthful firm a sum of eighteen dollars and fifty cents. -Two-thirds of this, Pat declared, must be Renee's, because the -responsibility of the work fell upon her--"though I'll just say it isn't -any fun getting up your nerve to go in and ask for an order! They -always treat you like a kid!" she explained, indignantly. - -There were many demands upon their earnings. The scout uniforms had been -bought; the girls each pledged six dollars to the Victory Army; there -was the Red Cross, too, and the French Babies and the Vacation Fund for -the tots at home--innumerable other good causes, worthy of their help. - -"It makes me feel so grown-up to sign my name to all these pledges and -things and pay for it out of my _very_ own money!" And Pat assumed a -comically mature air. - -Pat was a real "Yellowbird" now and Renee was a "scrub." The girls had -joined a swimming class, too; Pat, having spent many summers at the -seashore was like a fish in the water, and helped Renee, who had to -overcome a physical terror at the very thought of slipping over into the -tank! - -Early in February Garrett Lee was brought back to the city from -Hill-top. Pat, with Aunt Pen, had immediately gone to see him and his -mother. Mrs. Lee's kind welcome drove away the fear that had teen in -Pat's heart; impulsively she threw her arms about Mrs. Lee's neck and, -because Mrs. Lee could always see straight into the hearts of her boys -and girls, she knew what prompted the caress and gave an affectionate -hug in return. - -"Garrett doesn't want one single word ever said about it all," she -whispered in Pat's ear. - -After that Pat went almost daily to the Lee house--sometimes with a -book, or a basket of fruit or some home-made candy. At first she was a -little shy in her friendly devotion, but after a while, so truly -grateful did Garrett seem for her company and the things she brought to -relieve the monotony of his convalescence, she simply rang the bell and -ran straight up to his room. When these frequent visits interfered with -lessons Aunt Pen said not a word, for she knew Pat was trying to make up -in some small way for the harm she had wrought! - -As Garrett grew stronger the young people deserted the Eyrie for the -pleasant Lee living-room. "It does him more good than a trip to -Florida!" his mother declared, looking with satisfaction at her patient. -And the boys and girls were learning thoughtfulness and considerateness. -When Peggy, of her own will, suddenly lowered her voice, and Jim Archer, -without a word, shoved a pillow back of Garrett's head as he sat on the -old divan, Mrs. Lee had thought--hard as it had been--Garrett's illness -had brought some good. - -Pat had never known before the wholesomeness of jolly comradeship with a -large circle of boys and girls; she found it now in these pleasant -gatherings at the Lees. Bob Slocum and Peggy could think of so many -games; Jim Archer--all in one afternoon--had composed, staged, and -produced a melodrama, "Heinie the Hun," although, because Pat could not -control her giggling, the irate author-manager had made her play the -drum to mark the dramatic climaxes. There were endless and lively -discussions over everything under sun and earth; jolly songs with Mrs. -Lee at the piano, and always some careful eye to notice when Garrett -showed signs of fatigue. - -And to Pat the best of all was when Garrett, one afternoon, had confided -to her that he was planning an airship with a new kind of stabilizer; -showed her his drawings and explained how, for days since his illness, -he had been studying a housefly which he had caught and imprisoned in -the old fish bowl. Pat wanted very much to tell the others what great -things Garrett was going to do but he had made her promise on her -scout's honor to keep his secret, so she carried it faithfully locked -away in her heart, proud that Garrett should have honored her with his -confidence after the unhappy accident at Hill-top! - -"We're _pals_--just's if I was a boy," she said to herself. - -As the weeks slipped by Renee, to Aunt Pen's delight, was rapidly -developing a fascinating and forceful personality. With so many true -friends and playmates the shyness had gradually disappeared from her -manner; contrasted with Pat's dynamic spirits Renee would always seem -quiet, but her will was strong and often, in her gentle way, she was a -leader among the young people. With a character that had been moulded -and guarded by a simple life, she had in her a rare beauty and purity of -thought that seemed to shine in her pretty face and clear eyes. -Happiness and healthy living were dispelling the shadows from her young -life; she could talk of Susette and the old cottage without a quivering -of the lips; she often drew for Pat, as though she enjoyed it, a vivid -description of how splendid Emile had looked in his uniform as he had -marched away with the others--a rose she had given him stuck jauntily in -his belt! - -The cessation of the fighting and the approaching peace had brought many -problems. Wounded men were coming home, employment was uncertain, -living expenses soaring higher and higher; actual want stalked in many -homes. And to add to it all a terrible epidemic had raged through the -city, leaving in its wake untold misery and suffering. - -There was serious work for everyone to do. There were countless ways in -which the Girl Scouts helped. "Good turns," they called it and they -held themselves always ready for the command of any organization, never -counting one moment of sacrifice, tireless and faithful. - -"What do you think now?" Pat burst in upon her family from a special -meeting of the troop. "The Scouts are going to adopt families!" - -This astonishing announcement caused Mr. Everett to throw up his hands -in mock dismay. - -"Good gracious, Pat, black or white?" - -"I'm really very serious, Daddy, and Mrs. Townsend from the Red Cross -says we can make it a beautiful work! One family is assigned to each of -us. We give as much time as we can spare and do everything we -can--amuse the children, take 'em out, make things easier for the -mothers so's they can rest and get strong again! You see these are -families that have been sick. Mine is Mrs. K-a-s-u-b-o-w-s-k-i," she -read from a card. - -Pat had, in her way, expressed the scout orders. To each of the older -scouts had been assigned a family that had suffered from the epidemic. -Each girl was to work under the direction of the District Nurse and in -cooeperation with the Red Cross. She was to give brief reports of each -visit. And knowing that these girls could, in the homes to which they -were sent, win trust where older women often met suspicion and -unfriendliness, the Red Cross hoped to build up through their services, -a sympathy and understanding that would benefit everyone and draw more -closely the bonds of common interest. - -In her youthful mind Pat did not sense any such vision; she only knew -that her scout orders directed her to go and do all she could for a -family whose name she simply could not pronounce; that her card stated -that there was a Rosa, aged seven, a Josef, age six, a Stephanie, aged -three and a baby Peter; that everyone of them had been desperately ill, -including the father and mother; that only within the last two or three -weeks had the father been able to go back to work and that upon the poor -mother, still weak from the ravages of fever, had fallen the burden of -making the meagre savings tide them over. - -Pat called them all her "Kewpies." Her first two visits left her -discouraged, the children were dirty and quarrelsome, the mother -unfriendly. But, gradually, armed with picture books and toys, Pat won -the liking of the little ones; at the next visit she gave them cakes of -soap which Renee had carved to resemble dogs and pigs and promised them -more if they would use these "all up"; warm sunshine permitted a long -walk and outdoor play and Mrs. Kewpie, gratefully realizing that for an -hour she was absolutely without chick or child, caught a much-needed -moment of rest! - -Renee had not been given a family by the Red Cross. At first she was -disappointed, then, wholeheartedly, she fell to helping Pat. Aunt Pen -and Daddy, too, were deeply interested. Almost every evening the -"Kewpies" were discussed at the "pow-wow." Aunt Pen was aghast that -Mrs. Kewpie could speak only a word or two of English! - -"How can she be expected to bring up good American citizens--let alone -be one herself?" she asked heatedly. - -Through Rosa Pat learned that poor Mrs. Kewpie would really like to talk -and read English. Her husband had learned it at his shop, the older -children were learning it at school; less and less they were talking the -only language she had ever known! She felt, with the quick instinct of -her mother's heart, that they were growing away from her into a world of -interests where she could not follow. No one had ever offered to teach -her this new, strange tongue! She was afraid of the teachers in Rosa's -school! She misunderstood and resented the approaches of the few -English-speaking women she had met; proud herself, she had thought them -patronizing and officious! But Pat was just a girl! - -So Pat, quite unconsciously, began making a good American citizen out of -Mrs. Kewpie. She found that the picture books she brought the children -interested the mother, too--not because of the pictures alone but -because the mother could make out, through them, the meaning of the -words beneath them. When Pat told of this at home Aunt Pen thought of -the beautiful plan of making for Mrs. Kewpie a primer out of pictures. -Every evening, for a week, the entire Everett family worked -industriously with scissors and paste, compiling what Aunt Pen -laughingly called: "Everett's First Lessons in the American Language." - -"She'll know all about this country of ours when she's graduated from -_this_ book," declared Mr. Everett, proudly smoothing down a colored -picture of the Capitol at Washington. - -"And for everything I teach her in English I'm going to ask her to teach -me a word in Polish! It's such a funny looking language and then it -_sounds_ like music! They have lots of awfully exciting stories in -their history--Keineth Randolph told us some that her father had told -her! And in the next book, let's have pictures of flowers and mountains -and water and things like the country, 'cause I guess poor Mrs. Kewpie -thinks there _aren't_ such things!" - -Prompted by this thought on her next visit Pat carried to the Kewpie -kitchen a pink geranium plant. Then she conceived the idea of making the -untidy kitchen look as much like Mrs. Quinn's as possible! So interested -did she grow in her work that for two afternoons she completely forgot -basketball practice, thereby bringing down upon her head the fury of the -Captain of the Yellowbirds! - -And when Baby Peter fell sick with some digestive disorder, Pat, with -the help of the District Nurse, was able to persuade Mrs. Kewpie that a -daily bath would reduce the slight fever and to substitute the sweet, -fresh milk that the nurse had brought in the place of the coffee she was -accustomed to feed the baby. - -Now Renee, to her delight, was given an opportunity to share the "good -turns." - -One afternoon Mrs. Lee, always an angel of kindness and of wide charity, -had sought Renee's help. She explained to Renee, as they walked along -together, that this was a "case" of her own, and that she was taking her -to this house because she thought she might bring a little sunshine into -a very lonely life there. - -"Poor Mrs. Forrester is very cross and very queer, my dear! No one ever -goes to see her now and she lives all alone with a servant almost as old -as she is! I thought that if you would go there once in awhile and read -to her you might help her pass the long hours." - -Mrs. Lee did not add that she hoped the child's quiet, sympathetic -manner might waken some tenderness in a heart as cold and dead as stone. - -Mrs. Forrester lived in a very old house in an out-of-the-way street. -Standing almost concealed by trees and overgrown shrubbery, it looked -like some forgotten corner of the big, growing city. The door creaked -on its hinges as the untidy old servant grudgingly opened it just far -enough to permit them to enter. The rooms were dark, dusty and -absolutely bare of any furnishings except a few worn chairs. Not a -picture, not a book, not one spot of color was to be seen! There were -no curtains at the windows and the cracked dingy-brown shades had been -pulled close to the sill as though to forbid one tiny gleam of sunlight -filtering through. - -Renee thought it the most horrid house she had ever seen and wondered -how Mrs. Lee could step into it so cheerfully! - -But always tender with old people, she immediately felt sorry for the -queer old woman propped up against a pile of pillows in a great, ugly -bed. - -"It isn't that she's so very old--or sick! I believe she just _won't_ -stir! Mrs. Lee says she has had a very unhappy life," Renee explained -at home. Now Mrs. Forrester and the ugly old stone house shared the -interest of the pow-wow. - -Another time Renee told, with much amusement, how she had insisted upon -raising the shade at the bedroom window so that Mrs. Forrester might see -how spring-like the sun made everything look and how the old lady had -promptly hopped out of bed and had pulled it down with such a snap that -it fell to the floor! - -"But she just _had_ to go back to bed and leave it there and I went on -reading's though nothing had happened and I know she really loved the -sunshine because she lay there as quiet as could be, staring at the -window!" - -But one afternoon Renee returned, deeply excited, with a secret that she -kept for Pat's ears and the seclusion of the Eyrie. - -"I was reading something awfully stupid for I thought she might go to -sleep and I know she wasn't listening at all, and finally I heard her -say, "If I could find my baby--I'd be ready to die!" Now I wasn't -reading a _thing_ about dying or a baby and she frightened me -dreadfully! I suppose she had forgotten I was there. Then when I went -on reading she said it again--real plain! Now, Pat, isn't that -exciting? Where _do_ you suppose her baby is and _how'd_ she ever lose -it?" - -None of Pat's experiences could equal this for mystery! Pat stared at -Renee and Renee stared back; in the quiet of the Eyrie they thought up -all sorts of explanations and stories--tragic, all of them! Pat fairly -shivered with delight. - -"Aren't you _lucky_, Renee--to have such a spliffy mystery! It's just -_spooky_! I'm going to write a story about that! You get her to talk -more--read a lot about babies and listen hard! And talk to that old -Crosspatch, maybe she'll tell you something. That's the way they always -do in detective stories. Something dreadful _must_ have happened to make -her live like that, in that ugly old house! Oh, rapture, I _know_ I'm -going to be famous! This goes way ahead of Aunt Pen's story! Of -course," she added, hastily, "I don't know _all_ Aunt Pen's secret -sorrow yet and she doesn't stay in bed and act queer! I think I'll call -this "The Lost Baby!" - -So that evening, armed with several newly-sharpened pencils and much of -Daddy's writing paper, Pat began her first chapter. However, its -progress met with a serious setback when Aunt Pen laid in her hands a -letter from Angeline Snow. Pat opened it eagerly; she had not heard -from any of her old schoolmates at Miss Prindle's for a long time. - -She read it quickly. Miss Angeline, in a few breezy sentences, informed -Pat that she would come immediately to make her a visit! - -"... You were _such_ a dear to ask me (Pat read that twice, -thoughtfully)--and the doctor says I need a teeny rest. Mama is in -California and of course I cannot go to her! But we'll have a perfectly -sweet time together and I'm just dying to see you again. We've missed -you dreadfully here! I have _bushels_ to tell you--just you. (About the -girls and things--you'll _die_ when you hear it all!) I'll come on the -Empire on Thursday, so please meet me. I have a stunning new hat, henna -and turquoise blue and a feather you'll want to _eat_. Bye-bye, your -Angeline." - -So intent was Pat upon examining the gold crest on the paper that she -did not see the curious look that flashed over Aunt Pen's face. - -"Good gracious," she exclaimed, suddenly, "that's to-morrow!" - -"Yes," Aunt Pen answered quietly, "and we must do everything we can to -make her visit pleasant!" - - - - - *CHAPTER XVII* - - *ANGELINE* - - -At a first glimpse, from the crown of her glossy black head to the -patent tip of her smart little shoe, Angeline Snow, arriving the day -following, was like a stranger to Pat! - -Pat had left her at the close of that last term of school, after parting -embraces and repeated pledges of undying friendship, a girl, long of leg -and short of skirt like herself; now she beheld a fascinating young -creature whose slim body was robed in a dress of the most stylish fabric -and cut, its clinging skirts reaching quite to the tops of the little -patent leather shoes, and the hair that Pat had always loved to braid -and unbraid was pinned in curious puffs and waves close to the small -head. - -However, in the transformation, Angeline had lost none of the -fascination that had made of Pat, in the old days at Miss Prindle's, a -sort of adoring slave. She was amazingly pretty, her black hair made -her white skin dazzling, the faintest of rose-pink flushed her cheeks -and the tip of her pointed chin; her eyes set deep under long black -lashes were as blue as a June sky; her mouth alone marred the perfection -of her face--when the lips were not twisted into an affected smile, -acquired after faithful study before the mirror, they glaringly betrayed -the girl's little weaknesses. - -There might well be some doubt in anyone's mind as to why a doctor had -prescribed a rest for the young lady! From the moment when, clasping -her Pekinese under her arm and followed by a porter with two huge shiny -leather suitcases she stepped down from the train, she fairly bubbled -with spirits! - -Quickly Pat fell under the old charm! Because Renee had developed a -light attack of influenza which confined her to her bed and kept Aunt -Pen in close attendance, lessons were suspended and the two girls were -left very much to themselves. At Aunt Pen's suggestion Pat moved into -Celia's room, which adjoined the room assigned to Angeline. A door -opened from one to another and every night and morning Pat crept in -under Angeline's covers for a little while and listened breathlessly -while Angeline told the "secrets" of the school. Almost always there -was a box of chocolates under Angeline's pillow so that at regular -intervals the stories were interrupted while the two girls munched on -the candies. - -"The very most exciting thing of all--and don't you _dare_ breathe it to -a soul"--and Angeline sat bolt upright and clasped her arms about her -knees--"is the _awful_ scrape that Jule Kale and I got into and that's -_really_ why I'm here!" - -Jule Kale had been a Junior when Pat had been at Miss Prindle's. Pat -remembered her as a daring young lady whose adventures had more than -once thrilled her and the other girls in the school. - -"You know she'd been writing to a French soldier for over a year, even -after Prin said we couldn't and what _do_ you think! He _came_ to New -York! He was the handsomest thing--the girls were all crazy about him, -when we described him! He wrote to Jule right away and asked her to -meet him at the Waldorf and she went real often and took me with her. I -used to take a book and pretend to read, but I watched every minute so's -I could tell the other girls. Once he bought me some chocolate, too, -when Jule told why I was sitting there. He said there were some more -Frenchmen coming over and he'd introduce them to us! Oh, the girls were -_wild_ with excitement! Then one afternoon Jule went to a tea-room and -danced with him and she didn't take me and some one saw her there and -told Prin and Jule was awfully scared, 'cause you remember Prin had told -her that the next scrape she was in she'd have to leave the school! And -what does Jule do but tell Prin that he was her _cousin_ who had been in -the French flying service! And Prin _insisted_ that she invite him up -to school for dinner like we always do our relatives and have him give a -talk about the war and Jule had the _worst_ time explaining how he had -to go away and couldn't come! And we knew all the while that Prin was -sniffing around the way she does for more information so Jule thought -I'd better go away for awhile so's she couldn't question me! I pretended -to faint one day--I can do it awfully well now--and Prin never said a -word when I told her I wanted to come here for a visit. But wasn't that -all exciting and wouldn't it be _funny_ if some day Jule married the -French soldier? His name is Henri Dupres. Only Jule says his teeth are -all filled with gold and he shows 'em _all_ the time as if he was proud -of them!" - -Contrasted to these exciting revelations Pat felt that the telling of -her little experiences--the happy school with Aunt Pen, the Eyrie and -its secrets, the jolly hours at the Lee's, the basketball games, the -Scout work and play, would be stupid to Angeline! - -Aunt Pen had bade Pat do everything she could to entertain her guest; -Pat found that Angeline was easily entertained. Indeed, the young lady -never failed to indicate with daring frankness just what she wanted to -do and what she did _not_ want to do. And to Pat's dismay none of -Angeline's desires included any of the other girls! Angeline stated -very plainly that she considered Peggy "stupid," Keineth "a kid," and -Sheila--"downright common." - -"Why, do you mean she lives in that tumble-down house and her mother -keeps _lodgers_?" she had asked with scorn. - -Pat had opened her lips to answer and then closed them quickly. -Something within her told her that nothing she could say would win -Angeline's approval of Sheila--she, too, months ago, when she was at -Miss Prindle's, might have thought the same thing! - -Angeline, with pretty condescension, found Renee interesting. "Poor -little refugee!" she said when Pat told Renee's story. - -The two girls divided their time in the moving-picture theatres, the -chocolate shops and the stores. Angeline never tired of hanging over -counters and showcases; because she was smartly dressed and possessed a -fund of information as to styles, she commanded respect and attention -from the clerks. Each day Pat grew more and more envious and impressed -by Angeline's "grown-upness." - -Under Angeline's influence Pat began to feel ashamed of her own simple -garments and to contrast them unhappily with the finery Angeline spread -out over the bed for her inspection. She turned the henna and turquoise -creation over and over while Angeline told that it had cost twenty-five -whole dollars! "That's more than Renee and I earned all winter," Pat -thought. And Angeline put into her hands a pair of pumps, gleefully -remarking that "they were sixteen and I got them for twelve--_wasn't_ -that a great bargain?" - -In her rude way, which Angeline considered pretty frankness, she made -Pat understand, too, that she was "simply amazed" to find that Pat lived -in such a plain old house! - -"Of course it's nice and roomy and all that--and a long time ago it must -have been fashionable, but you just _ought_ to see Brenda Chisholm's -father's new house on the Drive--why, it's like a _palace_!" She -enlarged, then, upon its grandeur until Pat felt deep chagrin that her -father had preferred to live on in the old homestead rather than to move -into a newer part of the city. - -Pat knew that she loved the old library with its deep fireplace and the -rows of book shelves reaching to the ceiling and the long, deep windows -overlooking the slope of lawn between her house and Sheila's, the old -paintings on the walls and the softly colored rugs; she knew that her -own room, over the library, held all her memories of nursery days; that -she loved the way the morning sun, streaming in through the little -conservatory where the birds sang among the flowers, turned to gold the -dark oak panels of the dining-room. However, it must seem shabby to -Angeline after she had visited Brenda's new home! She looked at the more -modern houses they were passing, great piles of stone and marble -surrounded by well-kept lawns, and resolved to urge her Daddy to move -immediately! - -One morning, a week after Angelina's arrival, the girls found themselves -with nothing to do. Aunt Pen had taken Renee out for a walk in the -Park. The sun was shining warmly, buds were appearing on the lilac -bushes, everywhere was the hint of spring. Aunt Pen had declared she had -heard an oriole, she and Renee had started in search of the songster's -nest. Pat had watched them depart with a little longing in her heart -and a hurt that they had not even asked her and Angeline to go with -them! Yet she knew how Angeline would have scoffed at the suggestion of -a walk in the Park! - -Angeline now was arranging and rearranging her hair before the mirror. -Pat was crossly wishing she'd stop--she'd been fussing there for ages! -"What'll we do?" she asked, as Renee's and Aunt Pen's figures -disappeared up the street. - -"Oh, let's go out somewhere for lunch. Then we can shop. You know, I -think it's a _shame_ your aunt doesn't buy you some decent things! If -_I_ were you I'd just go and get them myself! My goodness, you're too -old to be dressed like a little kid. How the girls at school will laugh -when I tell them!" - -Pat's face flushed crimson. Angeline went on in her persuasive voice; -"If you don't just show your independence _sometime_ they'll go on -treating you like a child! Of course it's none of my business, but -you're my dearest friend and I _do_ feel sorry for you! And I can help -you pick out--oh, just a few things!" - -Pat gave her head a little toss! "Shall we walk or ride?" she asked, -mutely yielding to Angeline's tempting. - -"Oh, dear me, ride, of course! I couldn't walk a _block_ in those -heels!" and Angeline extended one of the bargain pumps for a loving -inspection. - -It was necessary, before they started forth, for Pat to open her -treasure box in the Eyrie and take from it the crisp six dollar bills -which she had ready for her Victory pledge, due on April first. This, -with her week's allowance, seemed a great deal of money and would surely -meet the expenses of their outing. - -As they whirled along the street toward the shopping section of the city -Pat caught Angeline's gay mood. With a little thrill she told herself -that they were embarked upon an adventure! At Angeline's suggestion -they lunched at a fashionable restaurant, always thronged at the -noon-hour. Emboldened by Angeline's composed manner, Pat gradually lost -her own awkward consciousness and enjoyed to the fullest the gay bustle -and confusion, the clatter of china, the music rising discordantly above -the endless chatter at the tables. - -"_This_ is more like what we girls do at school," declared Angeline, -dipping her pink finger-tips into the glass bowl before her. "And now -let's go to the stores and find some things for you!" - -Under Angeline's direction this was an absorbing process. She recalled -a love of a taffeta dress they had seen in a window. Of course it could -be charged--everyone must know who Miss Everett was! Fortunately for the -success of their shopping they found a clerk who had often sold dresses -to both Mrs. Everett and Celia. Anxious to make a sale, she assured Pat -that the dress would look beautiful on her! She shook out its flounces -temptingly as she said it. Angeline added that the flame-colored -chiffon collar was "chic--everyone's wearing them in New York!" Pat was -promptly thrilled with a mental picture of herself in the stylish gown! - -"Of course your aunt will look cross for a moment," Angeline whispered, -"but it's really none of her business is it? I know _my_ mother likes -to have _me_ look after myself!" - -So Pat bought the dress, gave the address, and carried it away with her -in a box. They then made other purchases; a silk and lace petticoat -that Angeline declared a "love," some chiffon ties, a velvet bag with a -jeweled top, a vanity case and a box of face powder. - -"What _fun_!" cried Angeline, seizing some of the precious packages. -"Now I tell you what let's do! Let's stop at that Madame Ranier's place -and let her curl your hair and do it up! Then you'll look just peachy! -_All_ the girls are wearing their hair up now--truly, Pat! Why, you'd -be ridiculous in New York!" - -They found Madame Ranier's and Pat spent an uncomfortable hour before -the mirror while a yellow-haired young woman curled her pretty hair with -long, hot irons. Angeline hovered over them both, giving suggestions -from time to time and exclaiming over the transformation. The hairpins -hurt cruelly and Pat had a feeling that she could never move her head -again; however, in spite of all this, she was secretly satisfied, as was -Angeline and Madame and the young woman, that the result was most -becoming and that she looked quite "grown-up!" - -Then Angeline caught her arm. "Now, silly, just stand still _one_ -moment and I'll have you looking _really_ like something," and to -complete her afternoon's work, she dabbed at Pat's nose with the tiny -powder puff she carried in her bag. - -As they marched forth Pat tried to assume an airiness of manner she did -not feel. Between their luncheon and Madame Ranier she had spent almost -all of her money; the purchases she had had charged began to trouble her -soul. Angeline stopped suddenly at Brown's window--she saw a book there -that she declared she must have! All the girls were reading it! She -ran in without another word and Pat could do nothing but follow her. -The book, "All on a Summer's Day," was purchased and Pat paid for it out -of what remained of her money. - -"Prin said we younger girls couldn't read it, but guess she can't say -anything to me now!" - -"Now to wind up this jolly day, Pat--_I'll_ treat," Angeline said, -edging toward a chocolate shop. - -As they sat down at one of the little tables Pat saw across the room -Garrett and Peggy Lee and Keineth Randolph. Her first thought was to -join them but something in their faces stopped her. In that moment's -exchange of glances, though the girls had nodded pleasantly enough, Pat -read surprise, disgust, and outright amusement! - -A deep crimson dyed her face, in funny contrast to the powdery whiteness -of her nose. Trying to assume an indifferent air she turned her back on -the others and devoted herself to Angeline; her pride and satisfaction -had fled, though, leaving her deeply hurt, not so much because of the -girls' suppressed ridicule as by the thought that they had not invited -her and Angeline to join them. - -Then Garrett added the last drop to her humiliation! As they trooped -out, giving a passing smile to Pat and her guest, Garrett slyly poked -Pat in the back and, leaning over, whispered: "Where'd you lose your -ears, Miss Everett?" Involuntarily Pat clapped her hands to the curly -puffs that were pinned carefully over her ears and threw Garrett a -wrathful look! - -But her adventure was ending most dismally! Reaching home she threw her -boxes and bags and the book on her bed and fiercely shook out the -miserable hairpins! For ten minutes she brushed the offending curls and -then braided them into a tight pigtail. If Aunt Pen noticed the work of -Madame Ranier's young woman, or the daub of powder still decorating the -bridge of Pat's nose, she said nothing; neither did she question Pat -concerning her absence at luncheon. She and Renee were in high good -humor, they had had a happy afternoon and Renee was herself again. - -"Pat, dear, don't you think--Renee is all better now--we might have some -sort of a party in honor of Angeline?" - -Angeline's expressive face brightened. She was always prettily -agreeable when with the family. She clapped her hands to express her -delight. - -"Let's have a dinner dance," she cried; then--"oh, how _dreadful_ of me -to speak right out--like that!" and she affected deep embarrassment. - -"I had in mind a picnic at Hill-top on Saturday. The roads are open and -we can all motor out, have lunch and then go to the sugar camp. The sap -is running well, Mrs. Lee says." - -Aunt Pen kept her eyes on her knitting and did not see the blank look of -astonishment that crossed Angeline's face. Pat had exclaimed eagerly -over the suggestion: - -"I've never seen a sugar camp, have you, Renee?" - -"Then I will tell Mrs. Lee that we will all go, Sheila and Peggy and -Keineth, and Garrett may ask some of the boys. Garrett can drive their -car too." - -The next morning Angeline stayed locked in her room until after eleven -o'clock. Then, hearing Pat in the adjoining room, she suddenly threw -open the door and appeared fully dressed, even to the henna hat. To -Pat's exclamation of astonishment she answered: - -"I'm going back on the Empire! Will you tell Watkins? Now _don't_ be a -silly and make a fuss, Pat--just tell your aunt that I had a telegram! -Jule wrote that everything was smoothed over and that I was missing some -fun! So you _don't_ think I'm going to stay any longer in _this_ dead -hole!" She snuggled her face in the Pekinese. "You've been a _dear_ to -keep me, Pat, but, you poor child, couldn't you see I was just bored to -_death_? And a sugar-party! Oh, la, la--_won't_ the girls laugh? Why, -I wouldn't be seen _dead_ at one!" - -Slowly Pat stiffened until she stood as though made of stone. Her lips -tried to frame the tumult of wrath that raged within her, but she only -managed to say lamely: "I'll tell Watkins--if you've really--got to go!" - -So Angeline and her dog and her bags of finery departed and ten minutes -later, the rage in Pat's soul bursting all bounds, she presented herself -at Aunt Pen's door, her arms filled with the hateful purchases of the -day before, her face red with the effort to choke back her tears. - -Aunt Pen had just come in. So she was amazed when Pat burst out: "She's -gone and I'm glad of it! I just _hate_ her! She said we were stupid and -that Sheila was common--and she was--bored to death and we--we weren't -fashionable--and--and she wouldn't be seen _dead_ at a sugar-party! As -if anyone wanted her, anyway!" - -"Pat, dear, one thing at a time! Who's gone? Angeline?" - -Pat dumped her boxes on the floor and sitting like a little girl on Aunt -Pen's lap told of Angeline's dramatic departure. She could not see the -smile that stole over Aunt Pen's face; she could not know that the -sugar-party had been planned to bring about just what had happened! -Wise Aunt Pen had decided that Pat had had just about as much of -Angeline's company as was good for her! She listened to the tale of the -shopping, glanced at each purchase, then patted the hair that was still -curly. - -"Poor Patsy, what a time you've had!" - -"But I hate her, Aunt Pen, and I hate myself for ever having let her say -Sheila was common! Dear old Sheila!" - -"Well, dear, you've learned something in values--all around! Sheila, -even though her life is a continual sacrifice of all the pleasures and -luxuries most girls have, is a finer girl and a more worth-while friend -than poor Angeline--and I think the _next_ time you'll stand up for her, -won't you, my dear? Now, for the book--_that's_ the place for that," -aiming it at the waste-basket, "and if you want some novels I'll find -you some that are more thrilling and better brain-food. Your -curls"--she fondled the dark head--"they _are_ pretty, Pat--it's too bad -we aren't all born with curly hair and there's no particular harm in -having it curled, only--it does take _so_ much time that could be spent -in some much better way! And after a few years you can do up these -braids and be a young lady, but for awhile longer we want our Pat a girl -that can romp and play and get all the joy that youth alone offers!" - -"Oh, Aunt Pen, you make me feel as if I'd been so silly! But what on -_earth_ will I do with all these things!" and Pat kicked at the -offending boxes. - -"Well," Aunt Pen glanced appraisingly over the spilled contents. "You -can give the bag to Melodia and the vanity case to Maggie and we'll just -go back with the other things and ask the store manager to exchange them -for--what do you say to shoes for all the Kewpies?" - -"Oh, joy! For Easter! Oh, you're _such_ a comfort, Aunt Pen!" - -"Seriously, Pat, do you feel that you really need a dress? Perhaps I -have neglected you!" - -"Oh, gracious no, I don't want to fuss with any more clothes! That's -all Angeline talked about! Let's take this truck back right after -luncheon!" - -"Pat, dear, just a moment," Aunt Pen still had a little sermon tucked -away in her mind. "You mustn't hate Angeline--when you think all this -over you'll realize she has taught you a valuable lesson--perhaps you, -too, have given her something in return! Each one of us has within us -much that we give all unknowingly to others, that helps them. Think how -much little Renee has taught you with her unselfish companionship and -Sheila, who is so brave and cheerful and honest, and Peggy and all the -others! And you must think that you, too, in turn, through your -friendship, give them something of what is good in you! Can you -understand what I mean? So let Angeline go away with grateful thoughts -in your heart--she is silly now but some day she may outgrow all that -and be a fine girl!" - -Pat's face reflected Aunt Pen's seriousness. "I just ought to feel -sorry for her 'cause she hasn't a mother and a daddy and an Aunt Pen -like I have! But, oh, I don't want to ever look another piece of -chocolate candy in the face again! And I'm as broke as broke can be and -have spent even my Victory money and I'll have to draw more from 'LaDue -and Everett' to meet my pledge and save all this month to pay it back," -with a groan. "But, Aunt Pen, will we have the sugar-camp picnic just -the same?" - -"We surely will," smiled Aunt Pen, folding the dress back into its box, -"and a good time, too!" - -So Pat quickly forgot Angeline's insults, her abused stomach and her -empty pocketbook in a happy anticipation of the day in the woods at -Hill-top with the boys and girls who were her "really worth-while -friends." - - - - - *CHAPTER XVIII* - - *FOR HIS COUNTRY* - - -"Paddy! Pad-dy Quinn! You get _right straight_ out of there!" The cry -came from Sheila. Returning from school she had spied, as she turned -into her walk, Paddy digging among her mother's precious tulips. - -Sheila threw her books inside the kitchen door, taking pains to notice -that the room was empty, and then went back to punish the culprit. -Paddy lay crouched on the ground watching her with bright eyes and -wagging his stub of a tail in a way that was anything but repentant! - -Perhaps the only thing that Mrs. Quinn loved more than Paddy, except of -course her Sheila and her Denny and her Matt and her Dare, were the -bulbs that grew each spring in the little border bed along the old -fence. Her tulips always put their tiny green leaves up through the -earth long before any other tulips; they were always bigger and brighter -and seemed almost human, the way they nodded on their silvery green -stalks and leaned toward one another as though repeating, like old -gossips the stories the robins sang over their heads. Each fall Mrs. -Quinn carefully covered them over and each spring, at the first feel of -warmth in the sunshine, she watched daily for the tiny green tips, as a -mother might watch for the return of a long absent son. - -The children shared her interest, too--they could not be her children if -they did not love the flowers and birds and sunshine that made their -living joyous! The fairy stories she had taught them in their babyhood, -as she had rocked them in her loving arms, had made the familiar things -about them have a magic of their own; the old clock in the corner was -not ugly because elves lived in it by day and pranced from its old case -at night; a fairy princess had her fairy-palace in the nearby tree tops, -a prince hid in the wood box, the nodding posies that always budded and -grew wherever Mrs. Quinn lived, were the souls of sprites and at night -danced about under the star-light; the dew that could be found on the -blades of grass in the early morning were the jewels that they dropped -in their haste to flee back to hiding from the approaching dawn! - -Trouble had been a frequent visitor in this magic household but the only -mark it ever left was an added line in the corner of Mrs. Quinn's -smiling lips, made by long night struggles over the dilapidated book -which contained the family accounts. Even when left a widow with four -children to bring up, she did not lose one bit of the optimism that, -years before, had made the whole world her Denny's and hers for the -conquering! Her Denny had been taken from her before any one of the -dreams they had dreamed had come true; still, for her, he lived on in -her Sheila and the three small boys who had red hair and blue eyes like -the father, and she still dreamed the old dreams for them. "There was -no cloud so dark but that it had its bright lining somewhere" was the -brave philosophy with which she directed her household, and the meals -that were often frugal she made cheery with some loving nonsense. The -sacrifices Sheila had to make as she grew older were nothing because she -knew her mother made them, too, and there was comfort in the sense of -sharing. The summer before Mrs. Quinn had taken the old brick house, -fashionable in its day, comfortable now, even in its shabbiness, and had -rented its rooms to lodgers. With careful economy this slender income -would keep them comfortable until the day, to which Sheila always looked -forward, when she herself could earn money and give to the boys the -advantages of education that she would not ask for herself. To her her -own little ambitions were as nothing compared to the big things that -must be done for the boys so that they would grow into great men! - -Paddy had become, immediately upon his adoption, a favored member of the -family. He had privileges, too, and these increased as he willed -because, from the mother down, not one of them could speak crossly to -what little Dare called "the orphing dog." He slept in a box near the -stove when he was not stretched across the foot of one of the boy's -beds; he ate from a plate under the chair in the corner, a spot of his -own choosing, from which he could watch the course of the family meal -and ask for a second helping when he wished. He shared the rise and -fall of the family fortunes--a bit of liver when the rest had chicken, a -good bone on a holiday, a new collar when Matt found, on the walk before -the house, a crisp five-dollar bill that had no owner. - -Though, as a dog--especially an "orphing" dog Paddy measured in good -manners up to the average, he had occasionally, during the winter, -fallen into deep disgrace. Time and again he had been found digging -vigorously in the back yard. Both Mrs. Quinn and Sheila had protested -violently! The bulbs were there and, too, it was Sheila's precious -war-garden--the best in the troop! Paddy had been punished--severely -for the Quinns; in spite of this he was found again and again at his -mischief. - -"Oh, dear, he'll ruin everything," Sheila had cried, eying the havoc -Paddy had worked. The more the snow melted from the ground the more -determined Paddy seemed to dig his way straight through to China! - -Then Mrs. Quinn had made the ultimatum! The children heard it with -worried faces; Paddy listened, disturbed, from the stove behind which, -after a chastisement, he had taken refuge. - -"If we find him at it _once more_ he'll go straight to the pound! I'm -_not going_ to have my bulbs ruined!" And Mrs. Quinn had turned -resolutely away from the dismay and grief she saw in four young faces. - -Sheila knew that her mother had meant what she said. That was why, on -this day, she had peeped into the kitchen before she went back to Paddy. -If no one had seen him then he might have just one more chance! - -"You're a _bad, bad_ dog!" she said, advancing threateningly upon the -culprit. - -But Paddy barked protestingly. His whole manner seemed to say: "I'm -through now. See what I've found!" And between his paws he held a -small tin tube, badly discolored from long contact with the earth. - -As Sheila leaned over he jumped upon her, then pawed the ground where -the tube lay. - -"What have you got? Don't you dare bury that in the tulip bed!" But he -barked so hard in protest that Sheila gingerly picked up his treasure. - -Under her fingers it came apart and from it dropped three folded slips -of paper. - -"For goodness sake!" cried Sheila, almost frightened. She smoothed them -out; except for a slightly mouldy smell they were in good condition and -the writing upon them could be easily read. - -They were the lost formulas! - -"_Mother! Mother! Mother!_" With one bound Sheila was in the house -confronting her mother who had come up from the cellar, panting with -alarm. - -"_Paddy's found 'em! Paddy's found 'em!_" And she threw her arms about -her mother's neck in a hug that swept the two of them straight into the -big rocker! - -"Sheila Quinn, are you _loony_? What _have_ you got? And _do_ stop -that dog's barking!" - -"Oh, mumsey, it's the lost formulas--they were buried in the tulip bed! -_That's_ what Paddy's been digging for--all this time!" - -The two spread the papers out on the table and read them over and over. - -"Don't they sound _dreadful_! Just's if they'd explode all by -themselves!" whispered Sheila, recalling what Mr. Everett had said about -the formulas. - -So giving Paddy a warm hug by way of tribute Sheila put the formulas -back in the tin tube and started forth to find Mr. Everett, to tell him -the whole story. All through the winter the loss of the formulas had -worried Mr. Everett. His experts had been working over the experiments -again and in time would, of course, have made new formulas; it was the -fear, however, that some other government already possessed the secret -that had troubled, not only the officials of the Everett Works, but the -United States government as well. So that when Sheila, with Aunt Pen, -Pat and Renee, burst into the office with the wonderful news, Mr. -Everett felt as though a great load was rolling off his shoulders! - -A curious gathering inspected the dirty tube and listened to the story; -Mr. Everett and his staff, some secret service men, two chemists from -the experimental laboratory, in their long white coats, some workmen who -were passing the door and had been attracted by the exclamations--and -the girls. Mr. Everett questioned Sheila closely. She recalled that -Paddy had--all winter long--barked a great deal at night, so much so -that after awhile the family grew accustomed to it and did not notice -it. - -"Marx buried it--intending to go later and dig it up! The man was smart -enough to know that if they'd been found on his possession nothing could -have saved him. It was a lucky thing they kept him locked up so long! -Your dog has done good work, Miss Sheila!" - -Mr. Everett then, turning the tube over and over in his hands, said to -one of the others in a low tone: - -"After all--perhaps the best service we could do for our country and the -world would be to bury it again--where it would lie forever and ever!" - -That night, for the second time, Mr. Everett, with Pat, came to the -Quinn kitchen. But this time he was accompanied by Aunt Pen and Renee, -too. They made a very loud noise at the doorstep, as though dragging to -the door some heavy object. Mr. Everett insisted that the three small -Quinns must stay up and to make it certain drew little Dare to his knee. - -"We're going to have a regular ceremony," declared Pat so solemnly that -Mrs. Quinn nervously fell to lighting more gas jets and Sheila sent Matt -off to the sink to wash the jam from his face. - -"We must decorate Mr. Paddy Quinn for distinguished service," Pat -finished. So the boys with shouts dragged Paddy from his basket--for -Paddy believed in an early bed-hour--and set him in the centre of the -merry circle. Thereupon Mr. Everett produced a handsome collar -decorated with a red, white and blue bow and allowed Dare to fasten it -about the shaggy neck. Everyone laughed at the comical picture Paddy -made in his gay decoration! Then a knock came at the door and in trooped -Peggy and Keineth, trying to look as though they had not known what had -been happening! - -Mr. Everett rose with much seriousness. "And now that everyone is here -I want to present _another_ badge of honor, that has been left in my -keeping!" Sheila guessed what was coming! She threw one wildly happy -look toward her mother and then stood quite still, blushing. Mr. -Everett drew from his pocket the flat tissue-paper package, unwrapped -it, and held up the badge of the Golden Eaglet. - -"It gives me profound pleasure to return this to Miss Sheila Quinn! May -she always keep and give to others, too, her sense of a true scout's -honor! It is one of the strongest weapons we can carry!" - -His voice was so earnest and the eyes he fixed on Sheila so full of -sincere respect and admiration that the laughter in the room suddenly -died. As Pat said afterwards: "It was just as though Sheila was a -knight and was starting out on some crusade!" And Mrs. Quinn, who knew -something of the weapons one needed to fight the battles of life, choked -down a catch in her throat and Aunt Pen whispered something under her -breath with a look that was like a caress for Sheila! - -Then the girls opened the door and revealed a tub of ice cream on the -threshold; while two of them were lifting it out of the ice Pat brought -in and opened a big box full of dewy-wet pink roses. - -Keineth went to the piano and played so that "the fairies danced," and -then everyone sang--Dare, holding tightly to one of Mr. Everett's hands, -almost splitting his throat in his effort to express his joy! - -"_Such_ an evening!" said Mrs. Quinn as she closed the door behind the -last guest. "And who'd have ever thought of it at six o'clock and you, -Matty, with your elbow out of your sleeve! Well, well, I guess _those_ -good folks don't mind a thing like that!" - -"_Mother--look!_" Sheila had gone to the roses and had leaned over them -to whisper good-night into the fragrant petals. And there, hidden among -the leaves, she had found a small envelope addressed to "Miss Sheila -Quinn." - -She opened it quickly. "Oh, _Mumsey_!" she cried. For before her -amazed eyes she unfolded a check for two hundred dollars! - -And with it was just one short line. - -"As a small token of appreciation for Paddy's services I present this to -his mistress, begging her to do with it whatever she wants most in the -world." - -"Mumsey--the music!" Sheila ran to the piano, which had been scarcely -touched during the long winter. With ecstatic fingers she ran up and -down the scale. - -And Mrs. Quinn, watching her girl with happy, misty eyes, seeing in the -young face a look of the father who had gone on, and the glow of the -rosy dreams she had used to dream in her own girlhood, thought it the -most beautiful music in the world! - - - - - *CHAPTER XIX* - - *A LETTER FROM FRANCE* - - -"A letter for you, Miss Renee!" and Jasper laid down at Renee's elbow a -square, bluish envelope with a foreign postmark. - -From time to time Renee and Mr. Everett had received cards from Renee's -guardian--but this was a fat envelope! Aunt Pen reached eagerly for it -and turned it over and over in her fingers. Whereupon Pat nodded to -Renee, as much as to say: "The plot thickens! The mystery clears!" - -"What fun to have it come on a nasty, rainy day like this!" she declared -aloud. "Let's take it to the Eyrie and read it very slowly so's to make -it last a _long_ time!" - -"Renee may want to read her own letter by herself, Pat," laughed Aunt -Pen, looking as happy as though the letter had come straight to her. - -"Oh, _no_, please! Let's do what Pat says! And _you_ read it, aloud, -Aunt Pen!" - -So the fat envelope was carried to the Eyrie and Aunt Pen sat down in -the one sound chair while Pat and Renee stretched out on the floor at -her feet. And as Aunt Pen began to read no one minded the rain beating -in torrents against the Eyrie windows! - -"My dear little girl and all her good friends, the Everetts," the letter -began. "Because I am confined by an inconsiderate doctor to a very -small bed in a very big room in what, in the sixteenth century, used to -be a monastery and is now one of the best of the American base -hospitals--though I wish the window was bigger so it could let in a -little more sunshine to warm these ancient walls--I have time at last to -write to you a real letter. Since I returned from God's country I have -been continually on the jump. I got back to the boys just in time to -fire one last shot at the Jerrys, though it was a waste of good honest -steel, for they were running faster than even a bullet could go. After -the armistice they sent us almost directly up to the Rhine. Somehow, -now that I've got the time to write, and a fairly good pen, I can't seem -to find the words that will describe to you just how we men felt when we -knew we were there--at the old Rhine--the way we'd talked and sung about -back in the training camp. Things were not tedious--not for a -moment--and we were as busy as ever and constantly on the alert that -Jerry didn't slip anything over us. And then just when I was getting -used to the eternal rain and mud and the Germanness of everything--and -good honest, sheets, too, on a regular old grandmother's feather bed--I -was ordered back with a detachment to Le Mans. - -"And now, Renee, I must tell you a little story. It is about a poor -French soldier I found in one of the many small villages not far from -Valenciennes. We were going back in lorries, one had broken down and -that held us up for a couple of hours. Some of us were prowling around -for souvenirs. (By the way I am sending a German helmet to you by mail. -Turn it upside down, fill it with earth and plant flowers in it--that'll -redeem it.) To go back to my story--I happened upon a very old man -digging in a strip of a back yard that looked the way one of our streets -home look when they're paving it and putting sewers through--it was back -of what had been a cottage only the roof and two of the walls were gone. -I asked him for a drink and he took me to the one room that was whole to -give me some of the wine which--he told me proudly--he had hidden months -before, and there I found his very old wife and a young French soldier. -The Frenchman would not talk to me at all, just stared and shrank away -as though he was frightened. I shall never forget how the poor fellow -looked, a bag of bones, hollowed eyes that burned in his white face and -an empty sleeve. The old man told me the boy's story, then, and with -the knowledge of French I have picked up I was able to put it together. -He had been released from a German prison, he had had to walk back with -other French prisoners, but because he had had his arm amputated in the -prison and had had a long run of fever and was half starved he had not -been able to keep up with the others and had dropped behind. The old -peasant had found him lying by the road, raving in delirium. There had -been a nasty wound on his forehead, too, as though back in the prison -camp some Jerry had struck him over the head. The old couple had taken -him in and for weeks and weeks had nursed him as best they could, -keeping him alive with their precious wine. His fever had gone, the -wound had healed, his strength had begun to slowly return, but he could -not remember one single thing of what had happened nor tell who he -was--that blow had wiped everything out of his mind! He was like a -little child. But the shock of seeing me started something working in -his brain; he stared and stared, after a little he got up his courage to -feel of my face and of my uniform--and then of his own uniform--or the -rags and tatters of what had been a good French uniform, and I think at -that moment blessed memory began to return! - -"To make a long story short I just took him along on the lorry to Paris -and put him in a hospital there under expert care and now he's as sane -as he ever was and says he can remember the German doctor who struck him -and wants to go back and find him! But I told him that a higher Justice -was going to settle all those scores and that he was going back to -America with me--when I go. That is why I am telling you the story; I -know your kind little heart that is part French will find pity and -affection for this poor fellow who has suffered so much that little -girls like you might go on living happy safe lives in a good world, and -you will be kind to him when I bring him home with me. - -"Home--Renee, it seems so funny for me to think of a home! I used to -dream of having one but I have found out some dreams don't come true, -and since then I've just wandered from one country to another building -bridges and railroads and such things. But I feel tired now and I think -when I go back I'll fix over an old house I own in a little town up in -the Adirondack mountains, and we'll go there and we'll be happy, or at -least I promise I'll see that you are happy. And we'll keep the French -soldier I've adopted as long as he will stay, won't we? - -"When I was in Paris I went down and spent a whole day with Susette and -Gabriel. They are well, Gabriel's rheumatism is better, and he declares -it is the slippers you sent him--he wears them all the time. They are -happy getting their garden ready, and the florists in Paris are placing -more orders for violets than before the war. Prosperity shines in every -wrinkle in Susette's face. She pointed out to me where she has hung the -Stars and Stripes alongside of the Tri-color and told me that I must -tell you. Your picture was in a place of honor on the shelf under the -Madonna and there was over it a tiny wreath of waxed snowdrops which -Susette says she made herself. I looked at the picture and I said to -myself: 'Bill Allan, that big girl with the very nice eyes is your ward, -given into your care by the bravest lad you ever knew--see that you live -up to the charge with the best that's in you!' That was the vow I made -in front of your picture, Renee. - -"Some day when we've saved enough money we'll go back and visit Susette. -But she's happy, Renee--the way we're all happy over here--the fighting -is over! - -"You and I can never thank the Everetts for all they have done for us. -I bless the Fate that brought that very lively Miss Pat into the Red -Cross office for I'll admit right at that moment I didn't know what to -do with you! I think that in a few weeks I'll be sent back to America -and then I will try to tell them how grateful we are..." - -The letter concluded with a brief description of the hospital and its -beautiful, cloistered grounds where, long before, monks had found rest -from the world's strife. But not one of the three listened; Aunt Pen's -thoughts, even while her lips went on framing the words of the letter, -were back, repeating over and over--"I used to dream of having a home -but I found out some dreams can't come true!" and, as she finished and -folded the letter, her eyes, staring out over the wet housetops, saw -vividly again the college campus and the old stone bench under a -spreading elm where she and another had talked about that very house in -the Adirondacks! - -"It _is_ my Will!" she murmured almost aloud. But for once Pat was too -concerned with her own worry to notice her Aunt Pen's absorption! - -"I think it's just _mean_ in him to say he's coming over here and take -Renee away to some old place--we _won't_ let her go!" she exploded. - -A little dread of this same thing was disturbing Renee! Though she had -in the long trip across the sea learned to respect and trust her new -guardian, and, because Emile had placed her under his care, would always -feel a strong loyalty for him, she shrank a little from the thought of -leaving these kind friends and going to a strange home. Aunt Pen, -coming with an effort back from her own dreams, read what was passing in -both Pat's and Renee's minds. - -"Let's not worry, girlies! I know everything is going to turn out just -the way that will make everyone happy--when Capt. Allan returns!" - -Now Pat suddenly grew suspicious! - -"You speak _just as though_ you knew something we didn't know, Penelope -Everett! What _is_ it? _Did_ you know Renee's guardian before? You've -_got_ to tell us every thing!" And Pat, a vision in her mind of romance -and mystery unfolded at last, knelt before Aunt Pen and rested her -elbows upon Aunt Pen's knees with an air that said: "I'm ready now to -hear the whole story!" - -But Aunt Pen's face, rosy red, did not suggest the secret sorrow that -Pat had liked to imagine! She laughingly pushed Pat away. - -"What an old teaser you are! Yes, this _is_ the same Will Allan I knew! -He used to tell me, sometimes, of the old house in the mountains which -an aunt had left him. Then he went to South America to build a bridge -or something! There's nothing more to tell!" - -Pat was visibly disappointed. - -"Well, anyway, will you promise to keep him from separating Ren and me?" -she begged. - -Aunt Pen slipped the letter back into its envelope. - -"I'll promise to do my best to keep him from--separating you--very far! -If he remembers me," she added with sudden alarm! Such a thought had -not occurred to her! Now it brought a tiny droop in the corner of her -lips. "Anyway, Pat, much as we love Renee we must not forget that Capt. -Allan has the first claim, though I am sure he will be anxious to do -whatever will make her the most happy! He may let Renee decide." - -"Oh, that would be _dreadful_!" cried Renee. - -But the thought satisfied Pat. She stood up with sudden resolution. -"Well, then, _I'm_ going to begin right now teasing Renee _every minute_ -to choose us! I'm glad the letter came! Everything was so dull and now -it's exciting again! And that poor Frenchman--let's go over to Peggy's, -Ren, and tell her all about him! As if we minded rain, anyway!" - - - - - *CHAPTER XX* - - *THE LOST BABY* - - -"Ren, you look as though you'd stepped out of a picture book!" - -Renee did, indeed! With odds and ends from the scrap-bag and the -store-room upstairs she and Pat had put together an Alsatian costume. -Pat, perched cross-legged in the middle of the bed with a book on -Historical Costumes stretched across her knees, proclaimed her -satisfaction with their handiwork while Renee turned and turned before -the long mirror, stopping to spread out the full short skirt or perk up -the enormous bow that adorned her head. - -Keineth Randolph was going to give a party. It was to be a costume -party; there was to be dancing as well as games; all the boys and girls -of the Randolph's acquaintance had been invited. They always loved to -go to the Randolph's home; the house, though small, seemed to have been -built for the sole purpose of giving young people room for a good time; -John Randolph, himself, could be as young as the youngest and Keineth, -always good-humored, was a hospitable little hostess. Add real -musicians, tucked off on the landing of the stair, a table in the corner -of the dining-room laden with goodies dear to young folks, witches and -goblins, lords and ladies of past kingdoms, monks, fairies, clowns and -elves to make merry--well, "it will be one grand party!" Pat had -declared. - -She herself had been torn in mind as to what she wanted to be. She -pictured herself as Jeanne d'Arc, glorious in silver armor and lance in -hand; she considered Mary, Queen of Scots; then her romantic fancy -favored Cinderella! But learning from Peggy that Garrett was going as -the brave Powhatan, the Indian Chief, she promptly decided to tease -Garrett by appearing as Pocahontas! Aunt Pen was shopping at that very -moment trying to find the gayest feather duster in the city with which -to decorate her. - -"Pat, I'll wear my locket!" cried Renee, turning from the mirror. - -She ran to her drawer as she spoke and drew from it the little case. -Pat watched her approvingly as she fastened the bright red band about -her throat. It added a piquant spot of color to the quaint costume and -the curious old locket looked as though it might have been fashioned by -some old artisan for a royal lady in the days when feudal lords reigned -over France! - -"It's _perfect_!" Pat gave a leap over the low footboard of her bed to -examine more closely Renee's entire appearance. - -"You're going to be the best thing there," she declared conclusively. -"I know everyone will be crazy over you! _Won't_ it be fun? I can't -wait until Thursday comes! Only then it'll be over so soon!" And Pat -sighed deeply, as millions of others have sighed over the rapid flight -of time! - -Maggie tapped at the door. - -"There's a queer old woman downstairs a-asking for you, Miss Renee!" - -"For me?" Renee turned, startled. Then a sudden thought enlightened -her. "It must be Elsbeth!" - -She ran quickly down the stairs to the door followed by Pat. It was -Elsbeth, the queer old servant who lived with Mrs. Forrester. At sight -of Renee she turned a face white with distress. - -"Oh, Miss Renny, Miss Renny, she's took again! Mis' Lee sent me to fetch -you! You must come!" - -"What do you mean, Elsbeth--Mrs. Forrester? I'll go with you at once!" - -"I think that's _mean_, Renee! We were going to plan my costume--you -_know_ it!" protested Pat. - -"Oh, _Pat_!" Renee's voice pleaded from the depths of the hall closet -where she was hunting for her warm coat. "Oh, Pat--you wouldn't want me -not to go! The poor thing!" - -Pat was a little ashamed; however she did not want to show it--she cast -an accusing look at old Elsbeth as though she was to blame. - -"Well, I don't believe I'd leave you for any of the Kewpies, but I'll -get along somehow!" and assuming the air of a martyr she started slowly -back up the stairs. - -"I'll get back as quickly as I can, truly, Patsy, so wait for me!" Pat -paused in her ascent. "You're never going in _that_ costume, are you?" - -Renee had completely forgotten what she had on! However, she only -laughed and buttoned the coat up closely about her throat. - -"Oh, it won't make any difference! I'm ready, Elsbeth--let's hurry!" - -"She was took last night with one of her spells and cried and wouldn't -take her powders! And to-day she's still like she was dead," the old -servant explained to Renee as they almost ran through the streets. They -made a curious pair--the young girl's scarlet skirts swinging out below -the coat, the gilded cardboard with which she had covered her slippers -flopping about her ankles and the ends of the big black bow peeping out -from under the soft hat she had clapped upon her head; Elsbeth, hobbling -in her effort to keep up with the younger feet, her loosened ends of -stringy gray hair flying in every direction, and her hands rolled in the -apron she tried vainly to conceal under the short, shabby jacket she -wore. - -"The Lord sent Mis' Lee," she gasped, panting for breath, "and she -sez--go fetch Miss Renny! An' I come!" - -"She'll be better, I know, with Mrs. Lee there! Don't worry, Elsbeth," -and Renee, heedless of the panting breath beside her, quickened her pace -so that in a very few minutes she was tapping at the door. - -Mrs. Lee opened it and drew Renee into the dingy parlor. She went to -one of the windows and raised the shade to the very top, letting in a -flood of warm sunshine. Then she whispered to Renee: - -"The doctor is with her now. It is the first time since I have known -her that we could get her to see a doctor! Take off your coat, my dear! -Oh----" she stared for a moment, puzzled, then laughed: "you were trying -on your costume for Keineth's party! You are a picture, my dear!" She -hesitated, as though something in Renee's face suddenly held her -attention. - -"Just for a moment you made me think of someone, but I can't tell who! -Perhaps it is that you so thoroughly look the part of a little Maid of -Alsace! I thought, while we were waiting, I might tell you a little -more of poor Mrs. Forrester's story. Then you will understand why she -suffers as she does! She was not always alone as she is now--she once -had a beautiful young daughter----" - -"Oh," broke in Renee, excitedly, "was that the lost baby?" - -"Yes, though she was twenty years old! Now the mother always thinks of -her as a baby." - -"Did she die?" - -"No--to Mrs. Forrester then it was worse than death. The two of them -seemed to have been quite alone in the world; the mother cared for -nothing but the little girl. Every luxury that money could buy she -heaped upon her with a lavish hand. One might think that the child -would have been dreadfully spoiled but those who knew them say she was -sweet and gentle, pretty as a flower. When she was a little older the -mother took her away--she must have the best schooling that money could -obtain. They traveled a great deal, too. And all the while, as the -young girl grew toward womanhood, the proud mother was building plans -for the wonderful future her child must have! I do not know of just -what greatness she dreamed--whether it was of some Duchess Somebody or -even a prince's title--I only know that she held money and high social -position as the greatest gifts with which a Kindly Providence could -endow her flower and lost sight of what makes real happiness in this -world! - -"It sounds like a fairy tale, my dear! While the proud mother was -dreaming her golden dreams, the young girl met and fell in love with a -poor artist--a boy, for he was only twenty-two, whose family was quite -unknown and who had nothing in the wide world but a profound belief in -his own great talent. The young girl went proudly and joyously with him -to the mother to tell of their happiness. The mother would only believe -that the boy was an adventurer--a fortune seeker; she saw an end to the -plans of her whole lifetime, an obscure future for the girl she had so -carefully educated. She sent the young man away and forbade his -communicating in any way with her daughter. For weeks the girl pleaded -vainly, the mother would not listen; in a fury of disappointment she -even locked her for days in her room, thinking to break the young will! -But there is an old saying that true love will find a way--the day came -when the young girl slipped away, joined her lover and a few hours later -returned to tell the mother that they had been married. Then it was -that anger and baffled pride drove out all love and justice from the -mother's heart; heaping curses upon the frightened girl she drove her -from her, bidding her never cross her path again! The girl and boy went -away and from that day to this the unhappy woman has never laid eyes -upon them. Her rage brought about a spell not unlike what she is having -now; for days and days she lay in her bed refusing to let anyone near -her. Then, finally, as the weeks grew into months, slowly into her -heart crept the realization of what she had done. Remorse began eating -at her soul. She tried vainly to find some trace of the daughter; with -only Elsbeth she wandered for month after month over every country of -the globe, seeking everywhere! She spent almost a fortune on her -search. But there was never a sign. It was as if the world had -swallowed them. And, finally, broken by her sorrow, unhappy and -discouraged, without any friends and with only a little of her former -wealth left, she came back to this city and to this old house. It looked -then just the way it does now. She threw out anything in it that might -make it even a little cheerful and then settled down to die! But life, -cruelly enough, has hung on and on! I have learned her story from -things she has told me; for some strange reason she has seemed to want -to confide in me. And Elsbeth, too, has sometimes softened a little and -talked about the old days! That is her sad story, my dear! I know, -now, how tender you will always be with her and I have often thought -that perhaps you may remind her--a little--of the--lost baby, because -you are young and like a flower, too!" - -Two bright spots of color burned in Renee's cheeks. To herself she was -saying: "_Wait_ until I tell Pat!" The thrill of the secret of the lost -baby held her more than any sympathy for the old lady; perhaps deep in -her heart some sense of justice told her that the proud mother had had -just the punishment she deserved. - -Mrs. Lee had turned toward the door. "The doctor is going! Wait here, -Renee, until I call you. He may have some directions to give." - -Renee looked about the room. What a horrible place! Even the gold of -the sunlight dimmed to a cold lustre as it lay across the dusty surface -of the shabby furniture! Everything was so unspeakably ugly and so -still! She suddenly felt very lonely. A moment's wild impulse tempted -her to run back to Pat as fast as her feet could fly! They had been -having such fun fixing the costumes; the pink-curtained room had been so -cheery, Peter Pan had been singing so lustily--why should she stay here? - -Except for the low murmur of voices from the hall where Mrs. Lee was -talking to the doctor, the only sound to break the awful stillness was -the loud ticking of old Elsbeth's clock in the kitchen. It had a -mournfully resentful tick as much as to say to its unhappy listeners: -"No matter how wretched you feel, I go on--I go on--I go on!" - -The door going into the room where Mrs. Forrester lay was closed. As -she thought of crossing its threshold little Renee shuddered. A fear -she could not explain gripped her! After all, she was only a little -girl; she had never seen anyone suffer--except Gabriel when he was -tortured with his rheumatism; she had never seen anyone die--her own -dear mother had seemed to just go to sleep! And what if Mrs. Forrester -should die? If she wanted to go back home, surely Mrs. Lee would let -her go! - -And then, as she waited, bits of the story Mrs. Lee had told her flashed -back across her thoughts and held her. Now her sympathy was not so much -for the girl bride as for the poor, lonely mother, wandering -broken-hearted, over the world! - -"The poor thing!" she said aloud, and then jumped at the sound of her -own voice. - -A door closed behind the doctor; Mrs. Lee came into the room. - -"She is quiet now. The doctor says there is no danger. It is all her -nerves. Only--women her age can't indulge in hysterics without serious -results! What a picture you are in all this gloom, child! It's a -strange coincidence that you should have had this dress on! Perhaps it -will rouse her." - -Somehow, now, Renee did not feel a bit like asking to go home. She was -not even very much afraid. With Mrs. Lee she stepped softly down the -dim hall toward the closed door. - -"Anything, Renee, that will make her forget herself will help her," -whispered Mrs. Lee. "Tell her about Keineth's party--anything!" They -walked into the room. The doctor had raised one of the cracked shades -so that the sun was slanting in. Mrs. Lee had put some extra pillows -under the patient's head; she was half-sitting, a pathetically little -figure in the great ugly bed. Her face was turned toward the wall. She -lay perfectly still; Renee might have thought that, like her mother, she -was sleeping, except that her thin fingers twitched at the edge of the -bedspread. - -"I have brought Renee," Mrs. Lee said softly. - -There was no answer. - -"Perhaps you would like to have her stay with you for a little while!" - -"Oh--go away--_all_ of you!" came pettishly. "Can't you let an old woman -die in peace? Will it ever come?" she moaned into her pillow. - -Renee felt so indignant that anyone should be praying like this to die -that she stepped to the side of the bed. - -"But the doctor says you are _not_ going to die," she answered quickly, -with a stubborn note in her sweet voice. - -The moment she had spoken she was very frightened but she could not have -said anything that would have so quickly roused the old lady. It roused -her because it angered her; she jerked her head around. However, what -she might have retorted in answer was checked by her utter amazement at -seeing the strange, quaint little figure by her bedside. - -"Who are you?" she demanded angrily. "Who let you in here?" - -The child stepped closer. "I'm Renee!" she answered gently. - -"You that little Renee? Come here!" Mrs. Forrester commanded stretching -out a thin hand. - -Renee stepped close to the head of the bed and leaned over. Mrs. -Forrester touched her cheek and her hair. - -"So it is! So it is!" and her voice softened. Then a gleam of sunlight -from the unshaded window struck across the curious old locket. Suddenly -the sick woman sat bolt upright in bed and clutched with both hands at -the red band. - -"_That--that----_" she screamed. "Where did you get it?" She tore at -the velvet band until it hurt Renee cruelly. Her voice rose to a -shriek. "_It is hers! My baby!_" - -As her fingers fumbled over the face of the locket a part of it suddenly -opened and from a hiding place within dropped a tiny gold key! The old -lady cried loudly and held it up. - -"_I knew it! I knew it!_" Then she sank back among the pillows, turned -slowly to Renee and whispered hoarsely: - -"But who are you?" - - - - - *CHAPTER XXI* - - *RENEE'S BOX* - - -"Who are you?" - -Of course they all thought Mrs. Forrester was having a spell! Renee was -terribly frightened--the more so because now one of the thin hands was -gripping her arm so that it hurt. - -Elsbeth, more wild and disheveled than ever, pushed at Renee and leaned -over the bed, a tumbler in one hand, some powders in the other. - -"Mis' Forrester! _Please_, Mis' Forrester!" she pleaded, tears running -down her wrinkled cheeks. - -But Mrs. Forrester struck angrily at the hand holding the powders and -sent them in a tiny cloud of dust all over the covers. - -"Go away, you old fool!" she cried, "can't you see I've found my baby? -No one else anywhere in the world had a locket like that!" - -Mrs. Lee suddenly remembered who it was that Renee had looked like! It -was the faded picture Elsbeth had once shown her of the young daughter -of Mrs. Forrester! She stepped forward now and answered for Renee. - -"She is Renee LaDue, but I think--I believe--she _must_ be your -grandchild!" - -Mrs. Forrester was sitting bolt upright and the pillows had fallen all -about her. Two bright spots of red burned on her cheeks and her eyes, -as they stared through and through Renee, were alight with life. She -was a different creature from the one who had lain limply on the ugly -bed, her face turned toward the wall! Only her voice still sounded weak -and shrill. - -"Your mother--answer, child!" - -Then, more than anything else in the world, Renee wanted to run away! -But the hand on her arm held her tight. And, too, who was this old lady -who had known that the key was in the locket when she and Emile had not -known it? - -"My mother's name was Amy----" - -"My baby!" Now the old lady sank back among the pillows; she commenced -to sob--dry, heart-breaking sobs, "My baby! You are her little girl! I -have found her!" - -And then a strange thing happened! For suddenly Renee lost all her fear -and over her swept a joy that she had found someone--someone to really, -truly belong to! So very shyly she reached out and took one of the thin -hands in her own. - -Mrs. Lee gently told the old woman as much of Renee as she knew; how the -mother had died five years before, how she had made the brother promise -to some day bring the little girl back to America to live, how the -brother had given his life for France, the country of his mother's -adoption, and an American officer had fulfilled the promise. As she -listened Mrs. Forrester kept her eyes fastened on Renee's face and Renee -held tightly to the trembling hand. - -When Mrs. Lee had finished Mrs. Forrester lay still for a long time. -Then she said softly: "God has been good to a wicked old woman because -my flower had gone to Heaven and pleaded for me! I am forgiven." And -she closed her eyes as though at last a peace of soul had come upon her! - -"Is--is the key--a key to a box?" Renee asked. - -Her grandmother roused suddenly. - -"Yes--yes! A leather box--have you got it? My grandmother gave it to my -darling--with the locket--when she was fifteen." - -"My mother gave it to Emile just before--she died! She never told him -about the key but she made him promise to let no one break it open. And -of course we never would!" - -"Shall I go and get it?" asked Mrs. Lee. She felt that for a little -while it might be better to leave the old lady and the child alone. -Renee made a move as though to go, too, but Mrs. Lee motioned her back. - -"Aunt Pen will tell me where I can find it! You stay here, my dear," -and she hurried away. - -Elsbeth had been watching the unusual happenings with a suspicious, -jealous eye. She loved her strange old mistress better than anything on -earth; she resented these strangers usurping her place! - -"Missus had best lay down now and keep quiet," she said, coming forward -with an authoritative air. "If ye'll jes' take a powder----" But she -got no further; Mrs. Forrester burst into a laugh! And Elsbeth was so -startled that her knees knocked together, for, not for many years, had -she heard her mistress laugh--and such a laugh! - -"Elsbeth, stupid, can't you see I'm a well woman? That I am happy again? -None of your powders any more! Go about your business--ransack your -pantry and find some food for my pretty one here! My flower--my baby!" -And with a look that transformed her thin face she lifted her arms and -closed them about little Renee. - -"Tell me," she whispered, as though it must be a secret between them, -"was she ever unhappy?" - -Renee answered very slowly because she was thinking very hard. She -tried to make the mother know that her own dear mother had been always -cheerful, always singing and telling beautiful stories and playing with -her among the flowers--and was only unhappy when Emile brought out the -father's tools. - -"That was because he had been blind, and I heard her tell Emile once -that his heart had broken because he could not do his work! For a long -time she guided his fingers for him! She herself used to take the -things they made to Paris to sell, and, when she couldn't sell them, she -and Susette used to hide them so he couldn't know--Susette told me all -that! I think we were very, very poor, but my mother always seemed -happy. She used to sew sometimes, until she was very tired. We never -had anything but the flowers to play with and the games she used to make -up. And she always talked of the time when she would bring us both to -America! 'It was my country and it must be yours,' she used to tell us -over and over!" - -"Did she--did she--ever tell you--about me?" - -Renee hesitated. She knew that what she must say would hurt the old -lady deeply. But before she could speak Mrs. Forrester answered -herself. - -"Of course she would not! I had forbidden it!" and in her voice was the -bitterness of remorse. - -Then Renee told her of the cottage at St. Cloud where, since as far back -as she could remember, they had lived with Susette and Gabriel. She -told, too, of Emile and the days when he had gone to Paris to study with -an old sculptor, and how bravely he had gone away to war with a company -from St. Cloud! - -Mrs. Forrester pushed Renee's hair back and looked intently at her. - -"I can see it now! You are like her--a little! But your eyes are -like--your father's." - -There were voices in the hall and in a moment Mrs. Lee and Aunt Pen -walked into the room. Aunt Pen was greatly excited and came straight to -Renee. - -"I am so glad, my dear," she whispered. - -But no one had eyes for anything but the queer old box which Mrs. Lee -had placed upon the bed. - -"How old it looks," sighed Mrs. Forrester, caressing for a moment the -worn leather. Her fingers trembled so that she could not hold the tiny -key and it was Renee who fitted it into the lock and turned it. It -turned slowly and the lid fell back, revealing packages of papers and -letters, tied neatly together. - -Although not knowing exactly what she had always imagined was in the -box, Renee was vaguely disappointed! But Mrs. Forrester fell to eagerly -sorting over the packages. Lying loose among them was a folded sheet, -addressed to herself. - -"Her writing!" she cried, holding it close to her eyes. "Read it for -me--I cannot." - -"Dearest of mothers," Renee read. The writing showed that the letter -had been written under stress of deep emotion. "It was only because he -needed me so much, for the doctors had told him his eyesight was slowly -going, that I could hurt you by acting against your wishes. And -sometime you may know that I have always loved you dearly and that I -forgive you as I pray you will forgive me." - -"Oh, my darling," and a flood of tears dropped on the sheet of paper. -"It is as though she was speaking to me!" she whispered, kissing the -lines. And indeed a great stillness held the room as though each of -those in it felt, too, the spirit of Renee's young mother among them! - -Mrs. Forrester, her eyes still dim with tears, spread out the other -papers and she and Mrs. Lee and Aunt Pen fell to examining them, while -Renee watched, feeling as though it was all a dream. - -They found an old journal whose contents explained how John LaDue, who -before his marriage with Amy Forrester had been John Tellers, had gone -with his young bride to Paris where they had taken the name of LaDue. -Living as they did in simple obscurity, and because John Tellers had -been born and brought up among the French-speaking people of New -Orleans, it was very easy for them to pass as a young French sculptor -and his wife. And the friends they made were other young artists, -struggling along like themselves, who could know nothing about the -proud, unhappy woman who was traveling all over the world, seeking her -daughter! - -The journal stopped abruptly at the record of Renee's birth. Renee -remembered Susette telling her that it was when she had been a tiny baby -that her father had become totally blind and they had moved to St. Cloud -that he might have the benefit of the pure air and the sunshine. - -Aunt Pen discovered a package of papers that proved to be United States -government bonds. They had been given to Renee's mother on her -twentieth birthday, six months before her marriage. They had not been -touched. Penelope exclaimed: - -"A small fortune! And they are Renee's!" - -Many thoughts were shaping in poor Renee's sadly bewildered little head. -She had now, what Peggy always called "folks"--a grandmother and -Elsbeth; even though it was an ugly old house she'd have a real, real -home all of her own! She would _not_ have to go to the mountain place -with her guardian and the strange French soldier! And yet that -disturbed her a little. Emile had, in a way, given her into the -guardian's keeping and not to a strange old woman! So, even though -belonging to so many, Renee felt torn and unhappy. And she looked -almost scornfully at the packet which Aunt Pen held up as though -precious--how _could_ just plain papers like that be a fortune! - -Mrs. Forrester, who looked less and less like a sick woman, commenced to -slowly gather up the papers and place them back neatly in the leather -box. When she shut down the lid she turned to Renee. - -"I thank God that He has shown me His mercy! I have not deserved to find -my darling. But I have been punished! No one knows how I have -suffered! And maybe, even now, I am not fit to have you. I am an ugly -old woman who has cast everything beautiful out of her life! Perhaps I -have no right to keep you! You have good friends--go back to them, only -keep in your heart a kind thought for an old woman----" - -"Oh, I'll _stay_--I'd rather!" and Renee was quite startled that she -could decide so quickly. - -"You mean it? Oh, my baby--my pretty flower!" Then a sudden resolution -lighted the old woman's face. "It will be as though that motherhood I -sacrificed by my wicked pride was given back to me! Oh, I _know_ how -wicked and wrong I was and how I wanted for my precious one only the -things that my own pride clamored for! But you shall not stay now--my -pretty flower would wither and fade in these ugly walls. I am well, -again--and Elsbeth and I will clean out this place! It shall be made -bright and pretty for my little one! You must go now, back with your -good friends, then after a little----" - -Every one thought that was best. Elsbeth came in with a tray of -sandwiches and some cocoa. Every one was hungry because the dinner hour -was long past and, in the excitement, had been forgotten. And as they -ate, Mrs. Forrester, like a new creature, began energetically to give -Elsbeth orders as to what she must do on the morrow to begin the work of -transforming the ugly old house into a beautiful home for her "pretty -flower." - -Then, one by one, they said good-night to Mrs. Forrester, and Renee, -leaning over, kissed her and whispered shyly: - -"Good-night, grandmother! Very soon I will come back--to stay." - - - - - *CHAPTER XXII* - - *SURPRISES* - - -"Dinner is served, Miss Pat!" - -"Why, Aunt Pen and Renee are not here," cried Pat, looking up from a -book. - -"Miss Everett said that dinner should not wait! It is a quarter past -seven." - -"But my father----" - -"Mr. Everett is dining out." - -"Well, I never!" Pat threw down her book crossly. Drawing herself to -her full height, she stalked down the length of the room on into the -dining-room, where, at the end of the long table, alight with the -sparkle of silver, glass and china, one lonely place had been set. - -She wanted very much to throw a plate at Jasper who was biting his lip -to keep from laughing at her aggrieved air. Instead she tossed her head -higher and, in her haughtiest manner, ordered: - -"Jasper, will you see at once what Melodia has made for dessert and, -_whatever_ it is, tell her that I want two extra big helpings!" - -"_So there!_" she muttered to his retreating back and felt much better! - -Pat had really had a very bad afternoon. She had not liked one bit -having Renee rush away in the midst of all their fun fixing their -costumes! She had helped Renee and Renee had left her to fix her own. -She had felt decidedly aggrieved. Of course she was sorry for the sick -old lady, but didn't Renee love her more than anyone else? Or didn't -she? - -When a little girl begins to ponder in such a fashion she can soon work -herself into a sad state of blues. That was what Pat did! So that when -Aunt Pen returned with a feather duster made of the biggest, brightest -feathers that had ever grown to grace a young Indian princess, Pat -didn't care whether or not she even went to Keineth's party! - -Then the climax of her unhappiness was reached after Mrs. Lee rushed in -with the story of the locket and the key. Aunt Pen and Pat had listened -with eyes wide with astonishment. - -"Oh, it's _just_ like a fairy story!" Pat had cried. - -"Dear Renee! It will mean a home of her own for the child! I will get -the box at once." - -Pat was startled--a home of Renee's own! She had felt that they might -coax the soldier-guardian to leave Renee with them forever and ever, but -here was a new and much stronger claim! A real grandmother--even if it -was a terrible old lady who had had a mystery! - -Aunt Pen came back wearing her coat and hat. Pat jumped to her feet. - -"Wait for me, Aunt Pen!" - -"No, no, my dear! Too many of us may embarrass Mrs. Forrester! You -must stay here." - -"As if _I_ hadn't found Renee in the first place," thought Pat -resentfully as they went away. - -Even the thought that the mystery of the "lost baby" had been -solved--and solved in such an amazing way, brought no comfort--rather a -sense of envy! All the others had had _such_ exciting things happen to -them! Sheila had had the lost formulas. And now Renee had the -excitement of finding a grandmother! Nothing at all ever happened to -her! To console herself she scornfully tore to bits the first four -chapters of her story. She'd never try to be a famous author--she'd -just grow up and do silly things like Celia always did--they were fun, -anyway! And Aunt Pen and Renee, when they realized that she was never, -never going to write any more stories, would feel _very_ sorry! - -That was Pat's state of mind when she sat down to eat her lonely dinner. - -Then the doorbell rang. Pat heard a man's voice talking to Jasper. She -heard Jasper step toward the library. She was immensely curious--for -even a very unhappy person can be curious! Daddy was not at home--it -was too early in the evening for callers--who could it be? She pushed -her chair back and tip-toed toward the hall. - -An hour later Aunt Pen and Renee, returning home, were met at the door -by a wildly-excited Pat. Her blues had disappeared like magic--the -expression of her face, every motion of her body indicated that she had -a secret! She held her fingers to her lips to forbid a sound. Then -seizing them both by the elbows she whispered into their amazed ears: - -"Oh, the _bestest, grandest_ surprise you ever, _ever_ knew!" And Pat -danced up and down and giggled deep in her throat to make them know that -grandmothers and lost babies were as nothing compared to the surprise -she had for them within the house! - -"Pat Everett, are you _crazy_?" whispered Aunt Pen back. "Aren't you -going to let us in?" - -"Of course!" answered Pat with importance. "You may walk in and go at -_once_ into the library! But you must shut your eyes _tight_ and promise -not to peek until I count----" - -"It's your mother!" declared Penelope, eagerly. - -"Nopey--it's a bigger surprise than that! No fair guessing, only you -couldn't anyway! Now come in and shut your eyes!" - -So they had to do just what Pat told them to do! And Pat, happier than -she had ever been in her life, dancing rather than stepping, led them -into the library. She had no chance to count--a sudden, quick -exclamation made them both open their eyes! - -For some one had said: "Pen--Everett!" But Renee's sharp cry drowned -out the sound. She saw, standing a little behind Capt. Allan, thin in -his shabby French uniform, the empty sleeve pinned to his tunic, -Emile--her beloved Emile! - -In an instant she was in the tight clasp of his arm--they were both -crying--poor little Renee's heart could stand no more! And as she clung -to him her fingers were feeling across his face and through his hair and -over the cloth of his uniform as though to tell her it was _not_ a dream -but _true_! - -Pat was so happy for Renee that she found her own eyes wet and turned -away to keep back the tears. And there was Aunt Pen, the color of a red -poppy, slipping out of Capt. Allan's arm! - -"I might have known, Miss Pat, that you and I were old friends--because -I used to think I had a sort of solid claim on this aunt of yours--only -I didn't know she was your aunt!" - -With a triumphant look Pat tried to tell Aunt Pen that she had guessed -it all a long time ago but Aunt Pen, as radiant as a school girl, was -beaming upon Capt. Allan and Capt. Allan was shaking Pat's hands as -though he had to do something violent. - -Then Aunt Pen went to Renee and kissed Emile--for, in spite of the deep -lines that his suffering had carved on his face--he looked like a boy! - -"It is just as though God was working miracles," she whispered to Renee. - -There was so much to tell that no one knew just where to begin! They -all knew, now, that Capt. Allan's French soldier, whom he had found in -the old peasant's cottage, was Emile. Then Emile, still holding Renee -in the circle of his arm as though he could not bear to let her go for -one little moment, told how he and the private who had been left by the -scouting party, had had to separate in order to get back to their line. - -"I had a presentiment that I was going to be killed--I gave him my -wallet with all my papers and the sketches I had made. That was why -they thought it was I who had been killed!" - -No one wanted to spoil the joy of the evening by asking Emile to tell of -his experiences in the German prison. It was enough that he was there -with Renee once more--in America! Everyone's eyes were very bright and -every now and then everyone was very still, as though the happiness was -too great to be spoken in mere words! - -Then Mr. Everett came in and the surprise was a surprise all over again, -and Pat, because it had been her surprise, was allowed to tell him all -about it. He shook hands very warmly with Capt. Allan and Emile, and -laid his arm tenderly over the boy's shoulder as though to express -things he could not say! - -They laughed at Capt. Allan because they caught him so often staring at -Renee! - -"What _have_ you done to her? It's hard to believe she's the same -little girl I picked up at St. Cloud!" - -"It's Penelope's work," answered Mr. Everett; "she's been doing some -experimenting!" - -Renee, indeed, was a different child. She had grown taller, sturdier, -her face had lost its delicacy of line and color; now she had, too, in -her step and look the spirit and vigor that only healthy, happy living -can give. - -Suddenly Aunt Pen exclaimed: "Goodness me, Renee, we've forgotten to -tell about----" - -"_The Lost Baby!_" cried Pat - -So there were new surprises all around! It seemed more like a fairy -story than ever--to find, in a few hours, a grandmother and a brother! -Emile was deeply interested; he listened gravely. He knew perhaps more -of his mother's sacrifices and hardships than Renee had known; for a -moment, deep in his heart, he found it hard to feel kindly toward the -proud woman who had made his mother unhappy. Then as Aunt Pen described -her lonely life in the old house, the dreary days shut in with her grief -and her remorse, just as Renee had, he felt a wave of tenderness. - -"She is going to begin right away making the old house bright and pretty -and nice to live in! And think how happy she'll be to know Emile has -come back!" cried Renee. - -"Well, it looks as though _I_ was the one who had lost out all around," -broke in Capt. Allan, although he did not look one bit unhappy as he -said it. In fact, his eyes were fastened on Aunt Pen's face with a sort -of eager questioning in them that kept the blushes coming and going on -her cheeks. "I thought I had gotten together a nice little family! -However, I shall go on with my plan of fixing up that old place in the -mountains and maybe, sometime, I can induce my ward and her brother and -her grandmother to make a poor, lonely ex-guardian a visit!" - -"And me!" put in Pat, eagerly, for she was certain he was in earnest. - -"And me!" laughed Aunt Pen with a look that seemed to flash back an -answer to Capt. Allan. - -"I think you girlies had better go to bed!" Mr. Everett had noticed -that Renee's eyes were looking very tired. She had had a most exciting -day. And on the morrow she must go again to the grandmother's with -Emile. - -Pat consented to go to bed only when Capt. Allan and Emile promised to -spend the night with them! - -She and Renee whispered together for a long time. Pat must hear just -how Renee felt the moment she knew the cross old lady was her _very own_ -grandmother! - -"I don't believe she'll be cross when she's happy," confided Renee. -"She laughed and it sounded real jolly! And even Elsbeth looked -different after that." - -And wasn't it _wonderful_ to have a brother come back? - -"I don't mind his losing his arm," Renee whispered, "for I love him so -much I want to do things for him and now he'll have to let me!" - -Long after Renee had fallen asleep Pat lay wide awake. There was so -much to think about she was sure she could not ever shut her eyes again. -And she could hear the steady murmur of voices downstairs--she wished -she knew what they were talking about! Then a queer little disturbing -thought commenced to eat at her heart. Renee, alone in the world, had -been very close to her. She had seemed to feel that, because she had -found Renee, Renee belonged to her--was something even closer than a -friend or a sister! And now Renee had suddenly acquired a family and a -home! As the tiny thought grew bigger and bigger and into a real Fear -she sat up very straight and leaning across to Renee's bed, shook her -violently. - -"Ren! Ren!" and her voice rang tragically. "Promise me, on your scout's -honor, that you'll _always_ love me more'n--everybody--except Emile!" - -Renee thought she was dreaming but she promised sleepily. - -"Of course--I'll love you--more'n everybody--'cept Emile--on my scout's -honor!" and just as, on that other night, months before, when Aunt Pen -had tip-toed into their room to see that the little stranger was -comfortable, they fell asleep, clasping hands. - - - - - *CHAPTER XXIII* - - *THE BEST OF ALL* - - -To Pat it seemed as though everything exciting was happening at once! -For the next morning's mail brought a letter from Mother saying that she -and Celia would start north in a day or two. - -Pat and Renee had wakened very early. The first thought in each mind -was to know if it was all true--that Emile had come back--or was it a -dream? - -Outside of their window a friendly robin was trilling a gay song as -though the joy of the spring-time was bursting his proud little throat. -Through the window the sun shone with added brightness and warmth and -delicious earthy smells greeted the girls. - -"Oh, isn't it just _grand_ to be alive? Let's dress fast and be the -first ones down!" And Pat, because the sun and the birds and the spring -freshness made her very happy, also burst into a gay snatch of song. -Aunt Pen and Capt. Allan were late for breakfast. When the others had -almost finished they came in from a brisk walk through the park, with -red cheeks and amazing appetites. - -Aunt Pen, dropping into the chair next to Pat, slipped a roll of paper -into her hand and whispered: - -"There's something that belongs to you, Patsy! I'm ashamed that I didn't -return it before. But now you can write the last verse!" - -Pat, immensely curious, peeped at the paper. It was the lost ballad! -And what _did_ Aunt Pen mean about the last verse? Both Aunt Pen and -Capt. Allan were looking at her with eyes full of laughter. Pat felt her -color creeping to her eyebrows and crushed the innocent verses in her -hand. But Aunt Pen checked her rising indignation. - -"Patsy, dear, I found 'The Secret Sorrow' on the floor of the library -one night after we had had a pow-wow. I recognized the heroine--by a -guilty conscience, I guess--my hair is not exactly 'of raven hue' or my -eyes 'pellucid blue'! But I loved it, my dear, and I tucked it away, -for I couldn't bear to have you write the sad ending that was coming! -_What_ if you had made her thrust a steel dagger into her breast! Or -have had her leap from one of those mighty crags over which the knight, -her brother hunted!" - -Capt. Allan had been furiously scribbling some words on the back of an -envelope. Now he looked up, very seriously. - -"Will you forgive Aunt Pen if I write the last verse for you?" he asked, -and then, not waiting for an answer, read with dramatic emphasis: - - "Back came the lover, wise and bold, - To snatch his lady, grown cross and old, - To a mountain cave he'll carry his prey, - And there they'll be happy for ever and aye!" - -Everyone laughed at Pat's disgust. - -"_I_ think that's very silly and Aunt Pen _isn't_ cross and old a bit -and----" she stopped suddenly. "Do you mean that's _true_?" she -demanded. - -It was Aunt Pen now who grew very red. But she nodded and turned toward -her brother. - -"_We_ have a surprise! A long time ago Will and I were engaged--my last -year in college! Then we let foolish things come between us and we have -lost a good many years of happiness, but----" - -"Now we're going to make up for it!" put in Capt. Allan. "And I won't -be lonely in that place in the mountains, after all!" - -"Oh, Aunt Pen, I'm so glad!" and Pat threw two strong young arms around -Penelope's neck. Everyone talked at once. Renee, looking at Emile and -then at the other happy faces about her, thought that all the joy in the -world must have crowded there within the four walls of the sunny -dining-room! - -"It'll be just as though we were really related," she put in, shyly. -"For I'll always feel that Capt. Allan _is_ my guardian and Emile -belongs to me and Pat belongs to Aunt Pen!" - -"Don't leave _me_ out, Mouse!" - -"Oh, no!" and Renee's contrition was tragic. "For you are the very best -man in the world and belong to all of us!" - -Pat, who had been performing a sort of ceremonial dance among them all, -stopped in dismay. - -"Oh, Aunt Pen, _what_ about school?" - -"Then you will be sorry to lose your teacher, Patsy? But it is almost -the first of May and with a little home study you girls can get along. -Anyway, mother will be here to decide what is best." - -Pat's face was serious. - -"I am glad mother's coming home! And Celia, too! But I _have_ loved -our school, Aunt Pen! You've made me just like to study all sorts of -things! When mother comes I'm going to tease her to let us go next fall -to the Lincoln school with Peggy and Sheila and the other girls--and -then go to college." - -Aunt Pen nodded toward Pat's father. Pat, of course, didn't know that -she was trying to say: "There--_that's_ a real girl talking--who wants -to be of some service, some day, in this world!" - -Then Pat insisted that Capt. Allan tell them more about the old house in -the Adirondacks. - -"Somehow, I can't imagine him keeping you up there very long, Penelope," -laughed her brother. "He doesn't know you as well as I do!" - -Capt. Allan described to them the old rambling house built half way up -the wooded slope of Cobble Mountain. From its many windows, he -remembered, a wonderful view could be had of a sweep of valley, river -and surrounding slopes. - -"Will has promised me that I may go on with all my experiments and fads -just the same! There'll be lots of room there!" she retorted to her -brother. "And some day I shall turn Cobble House into a school for -girls." - -"Like _our_ school, Aunt Pen?" - -"Yes, and I hope that all my girls there will work as faithfully as you -have, Pat!" - -"And I'll be the man-of-all-work around the place and chief executioner, -when you need one!" declared Capt. Allan, mischievously. - -Mr. Everett shook hands gravely with his sister. - -"All I say is success to you--my dear, whatever you try to do!" - -There seemed to be so much to talk about that no one wanted to break up -the little circle. However, the hands of the old clock over the -fireplace were climbing rapidly toward noon and Renee was eager to take -Emile to the grandmother's. Pat begged to go, too. As they started -away, Renee holding tightly to Emile's hand, Aunt Pen, watching the boy, -wiped a suspicion of a tear from her eye. - -Capt. Allan saw it and answered the thought that was in her mind. - -"He's a brave boy and has a strong will--he'll learn to do his work with -his one arm! But before anything else he must stay in the open until he -has built up his strength and wiped from his mind forever the horror of -all he has gone through!" - -The old stone house did not look at all ugly and gloomy in the bright -morning sunshine! And for Renee and Emile it took on a new interest--it -was to be their home! There were signs of life, too, about the place. -The windows had been opened and from the back of the house came sounds -of vigorous beating. As they walked slowly up the brick path Renee -suddenly darted in among the wild honeysuckle growing close on either -side of the door. - -"Emile--_see_! A daffodil!" - -There it was--lifting its bright head through the tangle of undergrowth -as though it knew that sunshine and happiness had come to the neglected -home! And there were more, too, and Renee, hunting eagerly, found -hundreds of tiny blades of bright green grass and beyond a rose vine -climbing toward the old stone wall. - -"Oh, it _is_ going to be nice!" she cried to Emile. "We can have a -garden like Susette's." - -Emile, with the soul of an artist, was already mentally transforming the -entire house and garden. It would be very pleasant to do nothing for -awhile but work out among the growing things with Renee! Mrs. Forrester, -eager to see again her "little flower," had roused Elsbeth very early in -the morning that she might be in readiness. She had insisted upon -putting on her old black silk dress; she had folded a soft net fichu -around her neck and had fastened it with a lavender ribbon. - -"Now _don't_ stand and stare at me like that silly," she had rebuked the -old servant. "Can't you understand that I'm not sick any more? Watch -me!" and holding her head very high she walked slowly across the room -out into the hall. - -So it was in the living room they found her. God had given back to her -so much that she was not even startled when Renee very simply told of -Emile's coming. She could not speak a word as she reached up her arms -to embrace the boy, for he looked so much like his mother that it -brought a choking sob to her throat. - -And if in Emile's heart there had lingered any hardness toward the -grandmother it disappeared when he saw her! She looked so little and -fragile, sitting in the big walnut chair, that it roused all the -chivalry in the boy's soul. He kissed her tenderly on each wrinkled -cheek. - -Then Pat was introduced; Renee had to tell, too, of finding the -daffodils. Elsbeth, her face twisted into a comical expression of -bewilderment, listened in the doorway, and from all parts of the house -there was a rumble of furniture and the tread of feet. - -"In a very little time this place will all be changed," Mrs. Forrester -said, patting Renee's hand. "We will have flowers growing all around -us--and we will be very happy, we three!" - -It was a very busy day! Emile must be admitted to the secrets of the -Eyrie; he was shown the account book of LaDue and Everett and some of -Renee's work. Then he had to hear the story of Paddy and the lost -formulas, of Sheila and Peggy and Garrett and Hill-top, of Troop Six and -the scout work, and of Keineth and the coming party! Surely never in -the world did a tongue wag faster that Pat's nor did eyes shine more -brightly than Renee's as Emile was made acquainted with all that had -brought so much happiness into her life during the past winter. - -Downstairs Aunt Pen, Capt. Allan and Daddy were talking, too. Pat with -her remarkable instinct for sensing "when plans were in the making" -exclaimed, as she entered the room: - -"Daddy Everett, you look _just_ as though you had a secret!" - -Her Daddy assumed a very important air. - -"I have! I have a surprise! You've all had one but me! And I am sure -you will think that _mine_ is best of all! And I thought of it all -myself!" - -"Oh, what _is_ it? If much more happens I'll be walking on my _head_! -What _can_ it be!" Pat looked from one to another. "Aunt Pen, you're -giggling so silly I believe it's something about your wedding! It is! -_It is_! May Ren and I be bridesmaids, Aunt Pen, and wear gauzy dresses -and big hats and carry bouquets?" - -"You're warm, Pat!" teased her father. - -"_Please_, Aunt Pen!" implored Pat in an agony of curiosity. - -"Mother has suggested in a note to me that your Aunt Pen and I bring you -and Renee to Atlantic City and meet them there----" - -"But _I'm_ determined to make Aunt Pen marry me right away, you see; I -can't even wait for gauzy hats and big dresses--we've wasted so much -happiness, already!" cut in Capt. Allan. - -"So _I_ said let's _all_ go and meet Mother, and we can have the wedding -down there where the breaking waves dash high----" - -"Oh, _Daddy, Daddy_, that's the _bestest, grandest_ surprise of all! A -_wedding_ in Atlantic City! Only the waves can't dash very high--'cause -there's no stern and rock-bound coast--only sand! But we'll trim the -room with flowers----" - -"And you and Renee _shall_ be my bridesmaids, no matter what dresses you -wear!" - -"And Emile shall be my best man!" - -"And, oh, _won't_ mother and Celia be surprised? You see _I_ had guessed -all about Capt. Allan because Aunt Pen acted so funny when we spoke of -him, but Mother doesn't know a single thing! Was there ever such a -nice, jolly wedding planned before?" - -Renee's face was a little clouded. It would be wonderful to go to the -sea, but ought she and Emile to leave the little grandmother? - -"Bless you, she shall come, too! Ocean air will finish up the good work -that her happiness has started! I can't have my plan spoiled--not even -if we have to charter a whole train!" - -Pat wanted to begin packing immediately. - -"When will we go, Daddy?" she cried. - -"Day after to-morrow," he answered with the promptness of decision that -was characteristic. - -"I'm glad that you give me _that_ much time! I'll have to get 'something -old and something new, something borrowed and something blue,'" laughed -the bride-to-be. - -"And we can go to Keineth's party and tell them all about it!" Pat was -silent for a moment. Then going to her Daddy she laid her cheek -coaxingly against his arm. - -"Daddy, as long as there are so many going--and weddings are jollier -when there are a lot of people--can't we take Sheila, too? She's never -been any further from the city than Hill-top and she's always so -contented and happy and's never teasing for things the way I am! Just -_think_ how she'd look when she saw the ocean! I have so much more fun -than she does, Daddy, I'd just as soon stay home if she could go in my -place!" - -And Pat, thinking how Sheila's face _would_ look when she first beheld -the great sweep of deep, blue sea, was very much in earnest. - -Mr. Everett patted the pleading face. He did not smile for he had been -deeply touched by Pat's generosity. - -"Yes, daughter, Sheila shall go, too." - -"Oh, Daddy, you _are_ the best daddy in the world! Let's run straight -over and tell her, Ren! _Think_ how happy she'll be!" - -From the library window Aunt Pen and Mr. Everett watched the two girls, -arms interlocked, swing down the walk that led from the Everett house to -the street. There was pride in Aunt Pen's face as she watched. Her -girls had learned generosity and unselfishness as well as Latin and -Algebra! And they had found, too, the joy of fellowship! They were -hurrying now to share their happiness! - -Mr. Everett was thinking the same thoughts as his sister, but looking -slyly at her from the corner of his eye, he repeated teasingly: - - "Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? - Silver bells and cockle shells----" - - -Aunt Pen laughingly interrupted: "And larkspur all in a row! But won't -this world's garden be richer and more beautiful for healthy, happy -girls like ours, Daddy Everett?" - - - - * * * * * * * * - - - - *THE SUNNY BOY SERIES* - - *By RAMY ALLISON WHITE* - - -Children! Meet Sunny Boy, a little fellow with big eyes and an -inquiring disposition who finds the world at large a wonderful place to -live in. There is always something doing when Sunny Boy is around. - -In the first book of the series he visits his grandfather in the country -and learns of many marvelous things on a farm, and in the other books -listed below he has many exciting adventures which every child will -enjoy reading about. - -SUNNY BOY IN THE COUNTRY -SUNNY BOY AT THE SEASHORE -SUNNY BOY IN THE BIG CITY -SUNNY BOY IN SCHOOL AND OUT -SUNNY BOY AND HIS SCHOOLMATES -SONNY BOY AND HIS GAMES -SUNNY BOY IN THE FAR WEST -SUNNY BOY ON THE OCEAN -SUNNY BOY WITH THE CIRCUS -SUNNY BOY AND HIS BIG DOG -SUNNY BOY IN THE SNOW -SUNNY BOY AT WILLOW FARM -SUNNY BOY AND HIS CAVE -SUNNY BOY AT RAINBOW LAKE - - *GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK* - - - - - - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LARKSPUR *** - - - - -A Word from Project Gutenberg - - -We will update this book if we find any errors. - -This book can be found under: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/49098 - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so -the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. -Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this -license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg(tm) -electronic works to protect the Project Gutenberg(tm) concept and -trademark. 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