.

Josie's talent drew Mary Louise to her magnetically. The detective's
daughter was likewise a delightful companion. She was so well versed in
all matters of national import, as well as in the foibles and
peculiarities of the human race, that even conservative, old Colonel
Hathaway admired the girl and enjoyed her society. Josie had visited
Mary Louise more than once and was assured a warm welcome whenever she
came to Dorfield. Most of the Liberty Girls knew Josie O'Gorman, and
when they heard she was coming they straightway insisted she be made a
member of their band.

"She'll just _have_ to be one of us," said Mary Louise, "for I'm so
busy with our wonderful Shop that I can't entertain Josie properly
unless she takes a hand in our game, which I believe she will be glad
to do."

And Josie _was_ glad, and proclaimed herself a Liberty Girl the first
hour of her arrival, the moment she learned what the patriotic band had
already accomplished and was determined to accomplish further.

"It's just play, you know, and play of the right sort--loyal and
helpful to those who deserve the best we can give them, our brave
soldiers and sailors. Count me in, girls, and you'll find me at the
Liberty Shop early and late, where I promise to sell anything from an
old hoopskirt to a decayed piano at the highest market price. We've had
some 'rummage sales' in Washington, you know, but nothing to compare
with this thorough and businesslike undertaking of yours. But I won't
wear your uniform; I can't afford to allow the glorious
red-white-and-blue to look dowdy, as it would on my unseemly form."

CHAPTER IX
GATHERING UP THE THREADS

Josie O'Gorman had been in Dorfield several days before Mary Louise
showed her the traitorous circulars that had been issued by some
unknown obstructionist. At first she had been a little ashamed to
acknowledge to her friend that a citizen of her own town could be so
disloyal, but the matter had weighed heavily on her mind and so she
decided to unload it upon Josie's shrewder intelligence.

"I feel, dear, that the best service you can render us while here--the
best you can render the nation, too--will be to try to discover this
secret enemy," she said earnestly. "I'm sure he has done a lot of harm,
already, and he may do much more if he is left undisturbed. Some folks
are not too patriotic, even now, when we are facing the most terrible
ordeal in our history, and some are often so weak as to be influe