The Girl Scout Pioneers | Page 3

corner of the high fence, where, in the shadow of its bill-posted
height they crouched, until the laughing, happy girls of True Tred
Troop, just out from their early evening meeting at Sunset Hall, over
the post-office, had passed down into Elm Street.
"I think they saw us," whispered Dagmar, "I heard one girl say some
one was hiding by the signboard."
"We should worry," flippantly replied Tessie. "I guess they are too
busy thinking about their old wigwagging to notice mill girls."
"Oh, you're mean, Tessie. I think they are real nice. They always say
hello to me."
"That's because you are pretty," snubbed the older girl, with something
like common spite in her voice.

"Here they come back! Guess they lost something."
"We'd better be moving the other way, then. Pshaw! We will sure be
late if they keep up their trailing around. Come along. Just be so busy
talking to me they won't get a chance to give you their lovely hello. It
would be all up with us if they spied us." With a persuasion not entirely
welcome to Dagmar, Tessie again dragged her along, this time turning
away from the dim lights that showed through the window of Flosston
station.
Presently the group of scout girls could be heard exchanging opinions
on the possibility of finding something lost. One thought it might have
dropped in the deep gutter, another declared she would have heard it
fall if it hit the many stones along the sidewalk, and still another
expressed the view that it would be impossible to find it until daylight,
no matter where it had fallen.
"But I just got it, and wanted to wear it so much," wailed the girl most
concerned. "I think it is too mean--"
"Now, we will be sure to find it in daylight," assured the tall girl,
evidently the captain. "I will be around here before even the mill hands
pass. Don't worry, Margaret. If we don't find it, I shall send to
headquarters for another."
"But I shall never love it as I did that one," and tears were in the voice.
"Besides, think of all the lovely time we had at the presentation!"
"Now come," softly ordered the tall girl. "No use prowling around here,
we can't see anything with matches. I promise you, Margaret, you shall
have another badge in time for the rally if we do not find this," and
reluctantly the party of searchers turned again in the direction of the
village.
Watching their opportunity, the two mill girls came out from the
shadows of the high fence they had been trusting to shield them from
the view of the scouts. With quickened step they now turned again
towards the station

"Dear me!" exclaimed Tessie. "Haven't we had awful luck for a start?
Hope it won't follow us along."
"Well, the more we delay the more I want to go back home," Dagmar
replied rather timidly. "Tessie, I am afraid I will not be able to look at
things your way. I seem to have different ideas."
"Now, Daggie. Don't go getting scary. I don't care whether you think
my way or not. I won't fight about it. Let's hurry," and with renewed
protestations of real companionship, the older girl grasped the arm of
the younger, as if fearful of losing her hold on the other's confidence.
"Oh, please don't call me Daggie," objected Dagmar, freeing herself
from the rather too securely pressed arm grasp. "You know how I hate
that. Always makes me feel like a daggar. Call me Marrie. That's
American, and I am an American, you know."
"All right, little Liberty. I'll call you Georgianna Washington if you say
so, Marrie. That's like putting on airs for Marie. But just as you say,"
evidently willing to make any concession to have the younger girl
accept her own terms.
"Wait! My foot struck something," exclaimed Dagmar, just reaching
the spot where burnt matches left the trail of the girl scout searchers.
"There, I found the badge."
"Oh, let's look! Is it gold?" They stopped under the street lamp to
examine the trinket.
"No, it isn't gold, I think, but isn't it pretty?"
"Kinda," urging Dagmar along. "Say, kid, what is this anyway? A
stopover we've Struck? Are we going tonight or some other night?"
"I'll have to give this badge back."
"Why will you? Didn't you find it? Isn't it yours?"
"Of course not. It belongs to the girl who lost it."

"Oh, I see. That's why I should call you Georgianna Washington," with
a note of scorn in her voice. "Well, if you want to go back, and get
some one to go out ringing the town bell with you, you may find the
nice little girl scout who lost her baby badge.