Lilian Garis

“ No accident marred the afternoon, beyond the unexpected slide of Cleo, who, venturing too near the edge, came down to the water's brink by way of a sliding, sandy trail.
Everybody had been in wading, choosing a shallow pool that trickled in from the bay and hid behind a wall of sand, now plainly marked, as the tide was receding.
"Come, girls, we must be moving," warned Mae, "a sail boat depends on wind and tide for safe navigation." ”

“ Louise answered. "We have seen the island from two sides, and that must be at the extreme other end."
There was no visible apprehension expressed in the way the girls landed at the point, and if they experienced such emotion, it was thoroughly disguised, for as a troop they simply besieged the strip of land, with one grand, vigorous yell.
No Tenderfoots seemed included, but rather seasoned woodsmen; eager to climb, to beat down trails, "to confront the enemy" with open or closed fists—such daring indeed was manifested in their act of possession.
"I'm so glad we came in at this end," said Cleo. ”

“ CHAPTER XI AT THE COLONADE
THEY felt quite like grown-ups out there in the moonlight, on the carpeted piazzas, with the music from the ballroom wafting out through the many open windows.
Here and there in sheltered nooks, knots of young folks buzzed their confidences, while the scouts chose two long, low divans, directly off the exchange, where they might at once enjoy the music of the waves and the rhythm of the orchestra.
It all seemed too pleasant to mar with ordinary conversation, so holding hands as girls will, the companions sank down to enjoy the wonderful summer night. ”

“ So intent were they on watching the dove they did not hear an approaching step. It came so stealthfully, creeping along the soft marshy ground, scarcely a sound broke the woodland stillness; only the voices of children down at the landing, giving evidence of other life than that of the Girl Scouts on the island.
"Oh see!" said Grace. "This leg is hurt. Perhaps that is why he doesn't fly off," and noticing for the first time that the bird hopped on one slender leg, Grace stepped up nearer to examine the injury. ”

“ CHAPTER IV MARGARET-BY-THE-DAY
"WHY shouldn't we do it?" argued Margaret, who with Julia had joined her chums at Sea Crest. "I think it would be just as much fun as playing a game, and heaps more useful."
"Mother would hardly allow us," drawled Cleo. "She might appreciate our courage, but to really try doing a washing!"
"Why not?" insisted Grace. "I'm just dying to try one of those motors. I think it would be almost as exciting as driving a car. Do let us Cleo. You know how it works." ”

“ In a sheltered corner under the board walk, the girls divested themselves of their shoes and stockings, scampered back to the edge and encountered knee deep waves or wavelets.
"Wading is really decorous in the dark," boomed Elizabeth. "It's lots more fun than even bathing in daylight."
"But not as good as swimming," replied Louise, who had just allowed her pretty pink scarf-sash to come in contact with the ruinous salt water.
At the sound of the nine-thirty gong—it was the village fire alarm that always sounded the hour—the scouts as well as the other merrymakers hurried to dress. ”

“ And just now we have it all to ourselves," she finished, looking up and down the vast expanse of territory known as the ocean front, and therefore quite as extensive as the stretch of the ocean itself.
"All the same," insisted Grace, smoothing again the rolled slip of paper which Cleo had handed over. "I believe this is written by someone——"
"We all do," interrupted Cleo with a smile.
"I mean some one who is a firebug!"
"Oh, come now," teased Louise. "I don't believe you are as sensational as that, Grace. Firebugs don't grow in the ocean, like crabs. ”

“ Its origin was a spring under a hill, and as it trickled along, in the tender growth of green, the girls felt instinctively the beauty of the little spot so hidden and isolated from the inhabitants of Sea Crest.
"Lovely!" breathed Cleo. "Little Royal could hardly be lonely here."
"Oh, yes, he could," contradicted Grace. "A child wants more than scenery to play with." ”

“ There are four of us. One basket and four poles," she ordered from the prim little gray haired woman who kept the stand at the landing.
"And bait," went on Louise, while the other girls marveled at her marine intelligence.
"Oh, what smelly stuff?" sniffed Grace, taking the basket and holding it out at arm's length.
"That's the bait," explained Louise.
"I'm never going to eat fish as long as I live," resolved Cleo. "Each time I meet it it smells worse."
"The same fish naturally would," joked Louise. "But this is only bait Cleo—bait, don't you know what that means?" ”

“ CHAPTER VII A DIFFICULT SITUATION
"WHERE shall we take him?" asked Grace in dismay.
"To the landing," replied Cleo, who still rowed with Margaret, while Julia clung to the stern of the boat in horror.
The boy looked so lifeless! Could he be dead?
As he lay there his delicate features seemed more than death-like; they seemed dead!
"Oh, mercy, do hurry!" pleaded Grace. "Let me help you pull," she asked, getting hold of Margaret's oar.
The small boat was now over crowded, and it was with difficulty the girls managed to give the boy sufficient room.
"Can't we call any one?" suggested Julia. ”

“ Grace greeted him. "This is my chum, Cleo Harris, you remember I spoke of her. We are all Girl Scouts, you know," as he eyed the uniform and both girls raised their hand in salute. "Maybe you can give us something to do with all of your life lines, and buoys and such things. We don't know much about life saving on the deep, although we have tried it on dry land," said Grace.
"Welcome," said the old sailor simply. "We don't have hard work this time of the year, but we need the rest after winter. This was a heavy one. ”

“ When she raced off with Bentley and Leonore turned toward the village the scouts were still shaking with laughter.
"We are to raid Jake's. Remember that," said Margaret.
"But we will surely have to make a contribution to Kitty," said Louise. "She has had her eye on your buckles, Maggie."
"Why didn't you see the patient all the way home?" asked Leonore, when they stopped for the other girls at the Post Office.
"Oh, why didn't we?" reiterated Louise. "Leonore, she lives on forbidden ground. We have had a glimpse of it and hope for more, but we have to bide-a-wee, don't we, Margaret? ”

“ How she had the courage to go on and on until she reached Maraucourt, and obtained work in her grandfather's factory, and at last found a way into his heart, is through every step a story of the most absorbing interest to all lovers of childhood. She triumphs over all discomforts, perils and schemers with a firm faith in right things, and the perseverance of one unable to do wrong things. This disposition at last enables her to work great benefits for the people and ensures her the happiness of life lived at its best. This is one of the greatest of inspirational stories. ”

“ At this the remains of their lunch were dragged out from the cabin, and as they viewed the most glorious sunset they had ever witnessed, they munched crumbs, and tried to keep up their spirits, which were plainly going down with the ball of red gold.
It was a gloomy prospect. No way of sending a message home, no one to give them a tow, and as Cleo put it just "nobody nor nawthin'."
It was fast coming nightfall! Brave as they were the scouts worried more about the home folks than they did at their own predicament. ”

“ CHAPTER VIII AT WEASLE POINT
"ISN'T it queer how no one seems to know any one else?" remarked Grace, with more words than meaning.
"You mean every one seems a stranger to every one else," added Cleo, affecting the same ambiguity.
"Yes; to put it collectively, the whole town is being populated by rank 'furriners,'" said Louise, "but I can explain the analogy. You see, when summer comes the natives pack up and leave their homes to rent them profitably. ”

“ Realizing her mother might have heard any of the possible wild rumors, Captain Dave helped her into Cleo's car and very proud indeed, was the old sailor, of the wig wag rescue.
"No surprise to me," he told his men. "Those girls have the grit many a boy might well boast of, and when I saw her drop from that pier I did not have to hold my breath. I knew she'd make it."
"But how did she see that speck of a canoe creep around the pier?" asked Jim Barstow, the oldest member of the crew next to Captain Dave. ”

“ This from Grace.
"Like a mountain house at the seashore. All field stones and rustic trimmings," commented Louise.
"We think it simply great," declared Cleo. "Come along till I show you the big attic. It was built for a studio, and looks right over the ocean. I never dreamed seashore landlords could offer for rent such a wonder house as this."
"Folks tire of things so easily, and continually long for change, I suppose," said Louise. "But you were lucky to get this, Cleo. I fancy one of the many artists coming here would love to have found it first." ”

“ Grace had courage to say. "We are not afraid of the woods, and it's early yet. There seem to be other people here who have to get back to Sea Crest."
"Snoopin' eh?" sneered the girl again. "Well, you want to watch out. You're the smarties that tried to drown Bentley, ain't you?"
"Who said we ever tried to drown any one?" demanded Cleo, stepping up to the girl, whose bare feet looked almost black, and whose short hair stood around her face with the wildest effect—almost Fiji, the girls thought. ”

“ I suppose some one lives that way, do they?"
"You mean on the island," he explained. "That's Weasle Point, sticks out into the bay and just west is the island; not more than a clump of trees on a few rocks, but big enough to stand the wear, so it is called Luna Land, but children make it Looney Land," he explained. "A couple of huts in there, but no place for you girls to go visitin'," he finished, as if divining the plan already shaping itself in the minds of Grace and Cleo—a trip to Looney Land. [37]
"Why Looney Land?" asked Cleo. "Queer folks out there?" ”

“ Under the shelter of the pavilion the girls stopped to see if any one they knew might be about, when a figure under an umbrella, far over in a corner protected from the blanket of fog, caught their attention.
"The boy!" said Grace. "Let's go over and speak to him." [104]
"He might get stage fright and again jump overboard," laughingly returned Louise.
"Any port in a storm," quoted Grace. "If I don't talk to some one I'll just have to ring myself up on the telephone. I'm dark blue." ”

“ To be able to learn, to be elastic to the point of flexibility, is surely the secret of all progress, and these girls of True Tred had little need of such a lesson.
The Blowell stood straining at its cable at Round River dock when the scouts, numbering a troop, scampered aboard. Julia's cousins, Mae and Eugenia Westbrook, prided themselves on their nautical skill, and nothing could possibly be more promising for a day's sport than a sail on the Blowell. ”

“ Then Cleo laughed; Louise joined her, and all three bolted for the door.
"Oh, I thought I'd choke," gurgled Cleo. "Did you ever see such circus folks?"
"But the boy with the yellow paper may be writing us another letter," hazarded Grace. "We should have gone up boldly and confronted him."
"I was more interested in slip-shod Letty," said Louise. "She looked real daggers, and what about her threat? She almost shook her fist at us."
"Oh, she'll be sure to love us, that's certain," [23] commented Cleo, "but I don't see why we should let her act so bold. We ran as if we were afraid of her." ”

“ Kitty had given her a new line on patients. From the time her wet clothes had been taken from her, Kitty had threatened to go out on the fire escape in the hospital robe, if they were not returned very early in the morning, and nurse knew very well, she intended to carry out the threat.
There was no bag or luggage to leave with Kitty, neither did she dally in her exit. Rather, she was in the car and waiting, before Margaret and Louise could possibly get down the stairs and reach the sidewalk.
"I love automobiles," said Kitty, as they climbed in, and Leonore touched the starter. ”

“ I think we ought to report her," declared the indignant Margaret.
"Report her for doing the things we do?" laughed Cleo. "Why, Margaret, who would think you were a first class scout? I'm surprised," and the girl's voice mimicked the severe tones of a prim elder.
"Just the same," Julia insisted, "I can't see why she should be allowed to plague us and [41] molest us in the streets." Julia was not quite sure "molest" was the word, but it had an important sound and all the girls seemed impressed by it.
"Aren't we special officers?" protested Grace. "Why shouldn't we do our own—our own policing? ”

“ In the conclave it was decided to ask Neal for a ride in his lovely new motor boat.
"That will be the safest way to go," said Louise, "as it would afford the quickest chance of getting away."
"Nothing to be afraid of," Cleo said disdainfully.
"How do we know?" argued Isabel. "Just because no bears jumped out at us is not proof there were none up the trees." [139]
"Bears don't climb the trees," retorted Elizabeth.
"Well, we might have to and it's just the same," insisted Isabel.
"Do you know," said Cleo. "I wouldn't be surprised if some little child over there is playing Peter Pan!" ”