The Girl Scouts at Rocky Ledge Part 15

"Now we want you to meet Alma," announced Wyn. "She's one of our little Tenderfoots, and so romantic? She will be sure to want to adopt you, for just wait until you see if Betta doesn't say we found you in the lake!"

she predicted.

Alma came from the leader's tent. She had been studying--those tests were soon to be held.

"Just see our little pond-lily," began Thistle, while Nora, now somewhat accustomed to the girls' jokes, managed not to blush too furiously.

"Oh!" began Alma, then she stopped.

Nora felt in that moment she was discovered and that the prince would soon cease to be a mystery.

"Well, Alma, this is Nora--Nora----"

"Blair," added Nora, realizing her full name had not been given the girls before.

"Oh, how do you do?" faltered Alma. "I thought at first I had met you before."

"No. Nora is the visitor at the Mantons," explained Wyn, "and we all had a ducking--we initiated Nora and had a lovely time. You missed it, Al."

"Sorry," said Alma, still eyeing Nora.

"But we spoiled our uniforms," rattled on Wyn. "That wretch, Jimmie Freckles, dumped us right out into the lake."

"And I was brought back to your camp to be redressed," Nora managed to say. She felt if she did not say something the girl with the lovely, glossy, brown hair, who was staring at her, would penetrate her secret.

"Alma has visions," went on Wyn. "She saw a real prince in your woods one day; didn't you, Alma?"

"I saw a little boy in a velvet suit----"

"And he had curls."

"And he had dimples."

"And he had lovely gold buckles on his slippers."

"And he had----"

But Alma turned on her heel and left the girls to finish their description without her aid.

Nora was greatly relieved when she left.

"Honestly," explained Thistle, "Alma insists she did see a little boy in your woods. Did you ever come across such a child?"

"Never," replied Nora, then, "I really must hurry home, I am afraid I am late for lunch now."

"Won't you stay? We are to have----"

"Thank you, Pell, but Cousin Ted and Cousin Jerry will be so anxious to hear all the news----"

"But you must keep secrets--make secrets if you haven't any to keep,"

advised Betta, who had taken a fancy to Nora. In fact all the girls showed unusual interest in the little visitor.

"Oh, I know how to do that," Nora replied truthfully.

Then, with many invitations and a number of suggestions as to spending some days and even a few evenings, Nora finally managed to race off toward the Nest, after Betta walked with her out of the camp grounds and watched while she hurried down the road. It was a very short distance to Wildwoods, and before Betta turned back to Camp Chickadee she had seen faithful Cap run out to meet Nora.

"Now, are you satisfied, Alma?" asked Wyn. "You would insist the visitor was a boy."

"It may be her brother," replied the brown-haired one, "but honestly, girls, and no joking, he had curls just like hers," said Alma.

"But isn't she sweet?" asked Wyn.

"Princes aside, I like her most as well as Alma's vision," declared Thistle. "And did you notice how matter-of-fact she donned Bluebird's outfit? What are we going to say to her if she happens back tonight?"

"Gone to the tailor's to be pressed," suggested Pell, glibly. "There come the others. Now for a lecture."

But instead, Miss Beckwith, the leader, came up smiling. "We heard all about it, girls," she began. "Met that precious James Jimmie Jimsby of yours, and he said it was in no way your fault."

"Bless the boy!" murmured Pell. "We shall certainly have to adopt the list of Jays. First we capsize his boat and then he pleads for us. Now isn't that gallant?"

"But Becky," began Thistle, sidling up to the popular leader, "we have had such a wonderful experience. We have converted a real rebel."

"Rebel!" exclaimed Wyn. "How do you know Nora was anything like that?"

"Well, Mrs. Ted Manton said as much, didn't she?"

"She didn't," replied Pell crisply. "She merely said that Nora had very little experience in girls' sports."

"I know," interrupted the leader. "Mrs. Manton has mentioned her to me, and I am very glad you have succeeded in interesting her. I fancy she is a very capable child, with too much time on her hands."

"Oh," sighed Betta. "If we had only known it we could have borrowed some. What ever shall we do to get in a day's work now?"

"Lunch first and then do double quick duty," suggested the young leader.

"It has been rather a lost day, counting by the usual results, but then, we have to figure in the new friend."

"You're a love, Becky," declared Treble. "I am sure you are going to help me with my basket. It has to be done tomorrow, if I am to get full credit for it."

"Where's Alma?" asked Miss Beckwith, suddenly.

"Pouting," replied Wyn. "You are not to know it, of course, but Alma's in love!"

A shout corroborated the statement. "She may be hanging up wet clothes,"

suggested Pell. "When they're in love they do foolish things like that, I've heard tell."

"Girls! Didn't you hang up your wet things yet?" Miss Beckwith asked in real surprise.

A rush to the back of the tent, where the garments had been hastily heaped, gave response. Presently there was a contest being held to see who could hang up the most material in the smallest s.p.a.ce and with the fewest clothes pins; at least that appeared to be the attempt the happy four were making; but when the lunch bell sounded, each and all were ready for the fresh corn, new potatoes, string beans and macaroni--a menu especially designed for culprits who fall in lakes and forget to hang up their uniforms to dry.

Everyone talked of the little stranger, and also everyone praised her beauty. She was so cute, so sweet, so adorable, and Pell even went so far as to whisper to Thistle that she was "peachy," although all slang was taboo at the table.