"I'm no soldier-girl!"

Marjorie did not feel ready to go into the explanation of what Girl
Scouts really stand for; she merely arched her brows and looked away
indifferently. To her relief, the orchestra struck up a one-step, and
the girls all separated to dance.

Games and dancing followed alternately, until the groups were entirely
broken up, and everyone was acquainted. It was half-past nine when an
intermission was called for refreshments to be served.

The sophomores disappeared into a screened corner to procure the
ice-cream for their guests, and while they were waiting for plates,
Marjorie again encountered Ruth.

"It's my opinion," remarked the latter, "that we've struck a bunch of
lemons! I haven't met a single girl so far that has pep enough to
organize a secret class meeting, or put up any kind of a fight against
us sophomores! Why, I don't believe there will be one girl in the whole
freshman class who'll make the Girl Scout troop!"

"I'd be willing to bet a box of the best chocolates made that Edith
Evans' sister makes it!" retorted Marjorie. "She's just the type!"

"I guess you're right," admitted Ruth; "but if you'd ever talk to that
funny little thing over near the piano, you'd be disgusted with
freshmen, too. She sort of keeps her mouth open, as if she weren't quite
all there, and makes the queerest replies--or else none at all. But
she's the most hopeless one I've struck yet."

"Who is she?" asked Marjorie, peeping around the screen and looking
towards the orchestra. "That little girl in pink?"

"Yes--with the scared look."

"What's her name?"

"Alice Endicott," answered Ruth. Then, "But why all this interest,
Marj?"

"No special reason, except that I'm sorry for anybody that is lonely. I
think I'll try to make friends with her."

"You always did enjoy the 'Big Sister' act, didn't you?" jeered Ruth. A
sarcastic little gleam came into her eyes. "How about Frieda Hammer?"
she asked, pointedly. "She didn't turn up, did she?"

Ruth referred to the country girl whose father had worked on the farm
where the Scout camp was situated the previous summer. The girl had come
to the kitchen tent three separate times, at night, and upon each
occasion had stolen a great deal of food. Upon the final occurrence she
had been detected and identified, but although she had admitted the
theft to Miss Phillips when she was later accused, she made no attempt
at apology or explanation. The girl's ignorance, her