angers here."

"I should love to know you," the girl replied, and the tanned skin was
suffused with a conscious blush, "but I am not permitted to make
friends."

"But we are Girl Scouts," argued Grace, assuming her most cajoling air,
"and we are supposed to make friends with everybody," she finished.
Grace tactfully fondled a beautiful spray of clover that was making its
way out of Mary's basket. This action evidently pleased the child, for
she smiled, and handed the spray over to its admirer.

"I have read of Girl Scouts," answered the stranger, "and if only
granddaddy would allow me what a wonderful time we could have! Do you
all gather flowers in nature study, as your books say you should?"

"Oh, yes, indeed we do," replied Cleo heartily. "Do sit down on this
little mound where you were when we came along, and let us have a nice
quiet talk. No one is near to hear us!"

At that the strange girl glanced furtively toward a clump of blackberry
bushes and put her finger to her lips.

"Reda is there, my nurse, you know, and she is very strict. I could
win granddaddy over only for her," and the deep-set eyes seemed to
freeze over in that glassy stare the girls had noticed before.

"Quick, tell us, where do you live? May we go to your house? Perhaps
your grandfather would like us?" Cleo was crowding her questions, lest
the woman called Reda should suddenly pounce upon them.

"Perhaps," said the girl, now so dreamy and vague the girls almost felt
helpless to pursue their mission.

"Do tell us where, please!" pleaded Grace, watching the bushes swish
back from the place she felt Reda was concealed in.

"By the big twin chestnuts," replied the child.

"What is your name?" asked Cleo eagerly.

"Maid Mary!" again came an answer, but the little stranger was now
moving off in spite of all the efforts being made to detain her.
Madaline was almost too far away to take part in the conversation, she
was plainly afraid of the woman in the bushes.

"What is the rest of your name--Mary what?" insisted Grace.

"Reda says it is only Maid Mary, but I know the rest of it, and some
day I am going to tell it!" flashed the child with a sudden blaze of
defiance.

"Where are the twin chestnuts?" asked Cleo, determined not to thus
leave the clew they had so eagerly sought.

"Over the mountain by the lake," replied Mary, and "Good-by," she
almost sobbed. "I love you! There!" she cried, springing over the
little stream at