left the kitchen, only to become many times worse after three
days had elapsed.

Harriet tried to reason out the mystery. Her first thought was that
Patricia might have had something to do with the spoiling of the soup. But
she had not the slightest proof that Patricia was the culprit.

Harriet was at a loss to know what to do. The problem was too much for
her. Her head whirled with her effort to solve it Before retiring for the
night, however, she moved her cot to the extreme rear of the tent so that
the light would not be so strong in her eyes when Patricia and Cora came
in to retire. After a time Harriet dropped off to sleep. She was awakened
by voices outside at the rear of the tent.

The light was out and the tent was in darkness. Harriet did not know what
time it was, but hearing regular breathing she decided that of course the
two girls must have come in and retired without having awakened her. But
as Harriet listened she recognized the voices. They were outside the tent
within a yard of her head at the moment.

"To 'The Pines'?" came the question in Patricia's voice.

"Yes," replied Cora. "Charlie Collier wants me to go with him. He says he
will come for me in his car. They are going to have a perfectly lovely
dance at 'The Pines.'"

"Have you spoken to Mrs. Livingston?"

"She wouldn't let me go. Of what use would it be to speak to her? I'm so
angry I could howl."

"What a simpleton you are, Cora Kidder," chided Patricia. "If I had an
invitation to that dance and wanted to go--really were crazy to go--I'd
go!"

"How?"

"Cut for it."

"You mean go without permission?"

"Of course. I'd do it just to defy her."

A brief period of silence followed. Then Cora spoke.

"If I thought I could do it and get back without discovery, I would," she
said slowly.

"Of course you can get back. Tell Charlie Collier at what hour you must
return and see that he starts back to camp in good season with you. Is he
coming alone?"

"Oh, mercy no. His sister will come with him and return with us."

"When is the party!"

"The day after to-morrow night."

"How are you to let him know that you will go?"

"He is going to call here with his sister to-morrow."

"Good! Now don't be afraid. Tell him you'll go."

"I believe I will," replied Cora. By the way, Patricia, the soap trick
worked all right, didn't it!"

"It certainly did," was the answer, and Patricia broke into a merry laugh,
in which Cora did not appear