very small
article to worry about in event of an ordinary moving. "Also," he
continued, "I'll feel Kitty is in good hands with this sort of--well,
sort of claim on your friendship," he stammered. "You see, how wise I
am, to link you together this way?"

It had been rather a serious half hour, and the True Treds were not
prone to stay concentrated for any prolonged length of time. As it was,
Isabel had been counting the blocks in the faded red table cover, and
Helen was drawing pictures with a burnt match on the back of a marine
magazine.

"Now, I've got some good news, after all the old mildewed stuff," said
Captain Dave. "You have been wanting to see our men at drill. What would
you say to coming down some morning soon--and--and----Wonder would I be
spilling the beans if I told you a secret?" he broke off.

"Trust us to pick them up carefully if you do, Captain," volunteered
Cleo.

"Well, here's the news," and he sank lower in his chair, dropped his
head deeper on his shoulders, and seemed to assume the most secretive
and confidential air. "Listen," he commanded. "The Boy Scouts are to
have a wig wag trial. They may have been a little mite jealous of your
reputation, or something like that, anyhow, they've fixed it up to do a
grand stand stunt, and they've enlisted the Beach Patrol----"

"But we have been begging for that all summer," interrupted Grace
immediately on the offensive.

"I recall that, and it's why I am spilling the beans. Why can't you all
join in?"

"With the Boy Scouts?" It was Louise who spoke.

"Certainly," Margaret hurried to say. "Why not? They will enter us if we
send an application. Oh, goody-good! Louise run right home with the tin
box, lock it in the safe and come have a troop meeting," sang out
Margaret.

"Don't have to say where you heard the news, do you?" asked the captain
with a chuckle.

"Certainly not," declared Cleo. "Besides, we know exactly where we can
verify it. Come on, girls. Let's interview the clerk at the landing soda
fountain. You remember he told us he was a scout."

They all remembered, and ran thither forewith, as Grace would say.

"To think of the boys planning to outdo us in glory," Cleo reflected.
"Well, we had better be busy, True Treds, and get ready to prove our
mettle."

It was exciting even to anticipate, and that the Boy Scouts were going
to considerable trouble in their preparations now dawned forcibly upon
the girls.

"That's what all the wig