peak of this to any
one except to say I wished to give you the little pin as a parting
gift."

As Tory softly turned the handle of the door to come back into the
room and announce the Girl Scouts, she observed Miss Fenton stoop and
pin at Kara's throat a small pin. As she came nearer she saw that it
was a beautiful sapphire set in an old-fashioned band of gold. In
truth, the pin was handsomer than either girl appreciated.

A moment later, before Kara could thank her properly, the older woman
hurried away, insisting she had a household duty to look after.

The Girl Scouts had been warned.

Kara's farewell to her Patrol must be as casual and matter-of-fact as
possible. There must be no heroics at parting; she would leave in the
early morning and must reserve all her strength.

At shortly after five o'clock the girls and the Troop Captain had
departed and Kara was again lying down alone until the evening meal.

Afterwards Dr. McClain and Dorothy were to come in for a few moments.

Kara and Tory, Miss Victoria and Mr. Richard Fenton were in the
drawing-room when they entered. Unexpectedly Lance accompanied them.

"We did not intend allowing Lance to appear, Kara," Dorothy apologized,
"but he insisted he had something of special importance to say to you
and never had been allowed the opportunity, you have been so
surrounded."

Not long after, stating that he was satisfied with her condition, Dr.
McClain departed to call upon another patient. A few minutes later
Miss Victoria and Mr. Fenton left the drawing-room to the younger
guests.

Kara was in her wheeled chair. Lance was standing near her. Dorothy
was seated on a stool nearby, while Tory remained on the rug with her
back to the fire, facing the others.

Dorothy smiled.

"Do you remember, Kara? Tory is wearing a green dress to-night as upon
the occasion of our first visit to this drawing-room to ask her to
become a Girl Scout. Dear me, what is that commotion?"

The two girls ran over toward the window. Lance had the thoughtfulness
to wheel Kara's chair so that she might equally gratify her curiosity.

Tory had drawn up the curtain and the four of them could see a small
group of figures standing in the street beneath the drawing-room
window.

There was a light coating of snow on the sidewalk.

"What in the world is the matter?" Dorothy asked anxiously. "Isn't Don
one of the boys down there? I wonder what they intend?"

Lance made an odd grimace.

"I