strips two inches wide. Then she neatly covered the woolen scarf with a
wider piece. Renee and Pat, deeply concerned, leaned over the dog and
watched. Pat held the injured leg and Renee gently stroked the dog's
head.
"Isn't he a darling?" cried Pat. "I just _hate_ Watkins for hurting
him!"
"It wasn't Watkin's fault--he might have saved the dog and had a serious
accident and hurt--you girls! The dog ran out in front of the car!
This will be a lesson to him."
The splint ready Sheila gently placed it under the dog's leg and
instructed Pat how to hold it in place. She wound the bandage around and
around, careful to avoid the break, but firmly, so as to hold the splint
securely in place. Then she straightened up from her kneeling position
with a long breath.
"There, now--that will do nicely, until someone can set it!"
"I think you're wonderful--the way you can do things!" cried Pat, always
generous in her praise. "Where did you ever learn? And oh, I forgot, we
don't know your name and we'd like to----"
The three girls, grouped about the injured dog who lay very contentedly
with his head pillowed on Renee's lap, presented striking contrasts.
Pat, like a picture in a fashion book in her trim green broadcloth coat
and turban set jauntily on her smooth dark hair, had a frankness and
sunniness in her face that was invariably winning despite a slight
imperiousness of manner; Renee, small for her thirteen years, her
delicate face, framed in golden curls, touched by the shadow of the
sorrows she had known, seemed like a fragile flower. And Sheila Quinn,
a head taller than even Pat, her black hair neatly braided in two tight
pigtails reaching almost to her waist, her face and form showing the
vigor gained from healthy exercise and simple living, had something both
of Patricia's winsomeness, Renee's quiet poise and a happy contentment
all of her own which came from the Quinn philosophy of "just make the
best of everything, sweetness, there's sure to be some sunshine
somewhere!"
Sheila laughed. "Which question shall I answer first? I'm Sheila
Quinn! I know you are Patricia Everett, but----" she hesitated as she
glanced toward Renee. Patricia added:
"This is Renee LaDue who has come way from France to live with us!"
"Oh, how nice!" Sheila glanced with friendly curiosity up and down the
little figure. "And I learned bandaging and all that at the scout
meetings. I was highest in my first-aid test," she concluded proudly.
"Scouts----" queried Pat.
"Girl Scouts," explained Sheila. "I belong to Troop Six and it's the
best troop in the city!"
"Les Eclaireuses!" cried Renee. "There were some in the School of St.
Cloud. I loved them--they used to bring the soldier's coats and socks
to Susette for us to mend! They were like little girl soldiers."
Again Patricia felt small and insignificant before the greater
experience of Renee and now, Sheila! But her nature was too sunny to
show the moment's sting of pride. Besides, she was immensely curious.
"What do you have to do to be a Girl Scout?"
"Why, just want to join! I mean just want to be all that a scout must
be and then put in your name. I wish you'd join Troop Six--it's the
best and everyone just loves Captain Ricky--she's the scout captain."
"What do you have to want to want to be a scout?" asked Pat.
Sheila squared her shoulders. "This is what you have to want," and she
repeated with dignity, for she was leader of her patrol and felt the
responsibility of her position, "to do my duty to God and my country, to
help other people at all times, to obey the scout law. There are lots
of laws but they're the kind you just _like_ to obey. Captain Ricky
says the real meaning of scouting for girls like us is service to God
and our country; that it helps each one of us to build strong characters
that anyone can depend upon! And when girls are scouts why, we don't
stop to think that one, maybe, is rich and another poor and one's black
and one's white or one's a Jew and one's a--a Baptist--we're just all
scouts and loyal! Oh, I love it!"
"Renee, _let's_ be scouts!" cried Pat. "Let's tell Daddy we want to
join Troop Six--it's the best in the city!"
Mr. Dog, his patience exhausted, had commenced to stir restlessly and
lick his bandaged leg. The three girls exclaimed in dismay:
"We've forgotten the dog!"
"What shall we do with him?"
"I'd better take him home. I am sure my mother can set his leg and then
we'll put it in a stronger splint," said Sheila.
Pat and Renee could not dispute Sheila's claim to the interesting
patient.
"Then we'll come over to-morrow to see him. I think he's a nice dog
because he looks just like Miss Prindle's General who has all kinds of
prizes, only dirty!" Patricia motioned to Watkins who, resigned to
waiting, had become more concerned in the afternoon newspaper than in
the fate of the dog.
He looked a little angry now when Pat explained that they intended to
carry the dog in the automobile to the Quinn home, but there was
something in Pat's face that stilled the protest on his lips.
Pat exclaimed with delight when she found that Sheila lived in the old
brick house whose windows were in sight of her own. With Renee and now
Sheila, the world that had seemed only the day before to be so lonely,
now seemed full of friends. Sheila did not tell Pat that she had often
watched her come and go from the house that was so like a palace
compared to her own. Sheila knew that there had been just a little envy
in her heart at times and she was ashamed of it. For, after all, not
for worlds would she exchange her dearest mother and the three small
brothers for the wealth of the Everetts!
"Let's have lots of good times together," Pat called in parting, "and
we'll come over first thing to-morrow to see the dog!"
So much had Pat and Renee to tell of their day that Mr. Everett quite
forgot an after-dinner engagement he had made with a business
acquaintance. All four of them, Aunt Pen and Daddy, Pat and Renee sat
before the fire. Pat, with a diplomacy not suspected by her innocent
family, led up very carefully to what she wanted "more than anything
else in the world!" That was always the way she put it. She used the
very words now as she told of Troop Six--the best in the whole city!
"Bless Pat!" cried her father, using Melodia's favorite expression, "_I_
can't keep up with you! Yesterday it was one thing and to-day it's
another, and it's always what you want more than anything else in the
world!"
"Yes, Daddy--_this_ is!"
"A Girl Scout----" he glanced over the children's heads at Penelope and
his brows lifted as much as to say, "Well, this is _your_ garden--what
have you to say?"
Aunt Pen answered his look.
"Do you know, Thomas, I think it's just the thing! It will bring the
girls in touch with joys and responsibilities they've not known before!"
"It makes us build up--oh, something about character!" In her
excitement Pat could not remember Sheila's grand words. "Renee says
that in Paris they are like girl soldiers. And Sheila says we'll love
the girls in the troop; there's Keineth Randolph and Peggy Lee and True
Scott and a lot of others----"
"I know Mrs. Lee, and if Peggy is like her mother she is a fine girl,"
added Aunt Pen.
"Keineth is John Randolph's girl," put in Pat's father.
"Then we may?" Pat asked anxiously.
"You may," laughingly answered Mr. Everett and Aunt Pen in one voice,
covering their ears that they might not be deafened by Pat's boisterous
"hurrah!"
Upstairs Pat chattered on, although Renee's eyes were almost shut with
sleep. They opened their beds and each laid out her nightgown and
slippers.
"You know I'm glad Maggie's downstairs now--we ought to take care of
things ourselves; we'll _have_ to, if we make good scouts! Oh, good
gracious!" Pat whirled a stocking in midair. "We'll have to try exams
and I'm always scared to death. But you'll help me, won't you, Renee?"
And little Renee, her heart overflowing with gratitude, glad to do the
smallest service within her power, answered heartily, though sleepily,
"'Deed I will!"
*CHAPTER VI*
*EAGLES AND GOLDEN EAGLETS*
"A bun fell on my kitten,
She died where she was sittin'----"
sang Sheila, holding up for inspection the blouse she had just finished
ironing.
The front doorbell rang, its rusty tone resounding through the house.
"Goodness gracious," exclaimed Mrs. Quinn, smoothing out her apron. Few
came to the sombre front door of the old house; somehow instinct seemed
always to lead visitors along the flagged walk to the door leading into
the cheery kitchen.
Sheila, flying to the door, had guessed in an instant who the callers
were! She led Pat and Renee back through the long hall and the injured
dog, comfortably established in a basket near the stove, set up a
vigorous barking by way of welcome.
"He's all right, or will be as soon as the break mends, mother says!
This is my mother, Pat," and Patricia turned from the dog to Mrs. Quinn,
who greeted the girls with her cheery smile.
"The children would have him here and I guess the poor dog is glad
enough to find a home," she explained, nodding toward the basket which
the younger Quinns, with scraps of old carpeting, had made most
comfortable.
"Mother says he's an Irish terrier, so let's call him Paddy!" And
Paddy, as though he liked and accepted the name, barked and wagged his
stump of a tail and tried to jump out of his basket.
With little effort to conceal their curiosity Patricia and Renee were
staring about them. Patricia had never seen a kitchen like this before!
She could not tell just what made it so different--it might be the neat
rows of pretty china dishes on the shelves of the open cupboard, or the
shiny tins and pots and pans in the stove corner, or the bright rag rugs
on the spotless floor, or the gay patterned cloth across the table at
the window, or the blooming plants on the sills framed by crisply
ruffled muslin curtains! And Mrs. Quinn, a pink bow at her neck
brightening her faded dress and heightening the color of her thin
cheeks, looked as though she belonged there with the geraniums and the
bright rugs and the spotless dishes! Patricia was thinking that it was
just the sort of a room one felt like staying in--and anyone could feel
sure that--if there was any sunshine anywhere--it would be slanting
across that floor.
Renee was standing with her hands quaintly clasped.
"It is like home," she cried. She caught sight of a little wooden stool
and exclaimed: "Oh--like Susette's!"
Sheila had told Mrs. Quinn that Renee had come way from France. The
motherly woman now drew the child to her and let her tell of Susette and
the cheery kitchen at St. Cloud so that the tiny shadow of homesickness
might pass from her heart.
Patricia was joyously announcing that her Daddy and Aunt Pen had said
they might join Troop-Six!
"And I saw Captain Ricky and she told me to bring you girls to-day!
Scout meeting is at three o'clock at Lincoln School," Sheila added.
"Renee--do you hear that? Goodness, I'm scared! What do we have to do
first?"
"Form in patrols for inspection. I hope you can come into the Eagle
Patrol with Keineth Randolph and Peggy Lee and myself!"
Patricia had innumerable questions to ask. She and Renee sat upon the
floor, one on each side of Paddy's basket which had been drawn out into
the middle of the room. Sheila resumed her ironing, explaining that it
must be done before she could do anything else. Mrs. Quinn commenced a
vigorous beating and stirring that promised goodies of some kind,
joining now and then in the merry chatter. This was the beginning of
many such pleasant hours in the kitchen of the old brick house!
As the girls were going home Patricia said suddenly to Renee, speaking
out of a moment of deep thought: "What was it made it so jolly--there?
I believe it was the piano! Who'd ever think of having a piano in the
kitchen?"
"No!" declared Renee. "It was the rocking chair and the piece-work
cushions and the stool!"
At the scout meeting Renee, unused to large groups of children, felt a
wave of shyness grip her. She was grateful for Pat's vivacity--no one
would notice how quiet she was! At first there seemed to be a great
many girls and as though they were all talking at once, but soon she
made out through Sheila's rather offhand introductions that the girl
with the nice eyes and jolly smile was Peggy Lee, that the smaller one
with the golden hair was Keineth Randolph and that these two with the
three girls standing near Pat made up the Eagle patrol.
Capt. Ricky, who was really Miss Fredericka Grimball, only no one ever
called her anything but Capt. Ricky, greeted warmly the new recruits.
She was a tall young woman, her fine face made beautiful by beauty of
character rather than feature and with a personality that won her girls'
liking and at the same time their respect.
She whispered to Sheila that she would place Pat and Renee in the Eagle
Patrol! A shout went up in answer which was quieted by Capt. Ricky's
whistle and her command to "fall in!"
Pat felt delightfully like a soldier as she drew up her slender five
feet of body between Renee and True Scott. But she was an absurdly
awkward soldier as she obeyed the commands and her pride met a sad fall
when upon inspection she had to hold out ink-stained fingers!
After a brief drill the Captain gave the command to the Color Guard to
form. From the ranks three girls stepped forward and with military
precision brought from its place at one end of the room the Troop flag.
Every scout's hand went instantly to the forehead in salute! Together
they repeated:
"I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the country
for which it stands;
One nation indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all!"
Renee could not follow their words, but in a clear, sweet voice she sang
with them the "Star Spangled Banner," and as the words rang out, "Then
conquer we must when our cause it is just," there was an added
brightness in her eyes, for she had come closer than the others to
"war's desolation."
In Sheila's kitchen the girls had studied the scout laws; they repeated
them now, carefully. To Pat, whose life so far had had few "laws" or
"rules" of any kind, they seemed to mean more, now, as she repeated them
in chorus, and she wondered deep within her heart if she could really
keep them all! But just at that moment she caught a glance and a smile
from Capt. Ricky that put courage in her heart where the faintness had
been! It would be well worth trying!
A business meeting followed. The business on hand to be discussed
ranged in character from reports on "war savings," "thrift kitchen
work," "city beautiful plans," a "back-to-school" campaign, knitting and
sewing, to a noisy argument over a coming hike. The girls all tried to
talk at once, and but for Capt. Ricky's whistle might have succeeded;
nevertheless, out of the jumble of words Pat and Renee caught the
impression that these merry girls were really doing a great deal of
earnest work as well as play! In these khaki clad youngsters strong
characters were in the building, "that anyone could depend upon" as
Sheila had put it!
"Sheila, I know something un-us-u-al is going to happen!" whispered
Peggy Lee, leaning across Pat and Renee. The Eagle patrol had grouped
together, sitting cross-legged on the floor. "When Capt. Ricky looks
like that she's got some grand surprise----"
"Maybe it's an overnight hike! We take our ponchos and blankets and
dog-tents and sleep outdoors!"
"It's too cold for that now, Ken! Perhaps it's a real party like the
one we had last spring!"
But none of them had guessed right! Capt. Ricky had a surprise for them
but it was even better than the overnight hike or the "real party!"
When the business of the meeting was over she stepped before them, her
hands clasped behind her back in a most mysterious manner. She began:
"Scouts, I have been given a great privilege--and you shall all share it
with me! An honor has come to Troop Six!" She had to wait, then, for a
moment; loud cheers interrupted her! She did not seem in the least
disturbed. "But like all the honors that have come to Troop Six this
has been won through merit, earnest effort and hard work. We may well
be proud of her who has brought us this honor; we can all follow her
example and seek the standard she has attained! We can hail her as a
leader among us! Sheila Quinn, please step forward!"
A ripple of "oh-h-h" ran through the girls! Sheila's face turned
crimson. Peggy and Keineth excitedly pushed her forward.
Capt. Ricky's left hand clasped Sheila's and with her right she held up
a glittering badge.
"Sheila, it is my happy privilege, upon the recommendation of the
National Commissioner, to award to you the Golden Eaglet, the highest
honor that can be won by a Girl Scout!"
A din of cheering drowned out anything more that Capt. Ricky might have
wanted to say. Peggy and True Scott were capering about like
jumping-jacks. There were shouts of "What's the matter with Sheila!
She's all right," "Three cheers for Troop Six," "Now a tiger for the
Eagle Patrol," and through it all Capt. Ricky stood smiling, clasping
Sheila's hand, and Sheila, the color of a red poppy, looked wildly about
as though seeking some corner that might swallow her up.
Someone called "speech"; Peggy took it up, then it came from every
corner! Capt. Ricky nodded to Sheila. Sheila swallowed hard to clear
her voice of the tight band that seemed to choke it.
"I'm awfully glad I won--just for the sake of the Troop! It was hard
work at first but afterwards one thing helped another. I hope you'll
all be Golden Eaglets and I'll help anyone that wants to work for it
and--Oh, I can't say another word!" and poor Sheila made a dash for the
corner where the Eagle patrol awaited her with eager arms.
There were "eats," then, for it was of course a great occasion, and
Peggy insisted that Sheila must eat six of the raisin cookies that were
served. Pat, feeling now as though she had always belonged to Troop
Six, asked, humbly, "if plain Eagles might not have just five?" and
helped herself as she spoke!
The girls walked home together, a merry troop! Peggy Lee and Keineth
Randolph turned after a few blocks; as Pat, Renee and Sheila went on Pat
slipped her hand through Sheila's arm.
She had been deeply impressed by Sheila's modesty of manner. She was
certain if she had been awarded such high honor she would have strutted
like a peacock!
"Doesn't it feel grand to be a Golden Eaglet?" she asked Sheila
solemnly.
Sheila hesitated. "I--don't--know! It makes me sort of--scared! I
must live up to it, you see, and sometimes--it's awfully hard!"
For a few paces the girls walked along in silence. Serious thoughts had
crossed each mind. An honor won was not enough--it must be lived up to!
Pat, who could not be still for very long, was the first to break the
silence. She gave a merry chuckle.
"Well, I guess Pat Everett has a long way to go before she can be a
Golden Eaglet! I've got to learn to be just a good scout first and you
can believe that the next time I go to a scout meeting--I'll wash my
hands before I go!"
*CHAPTER VII*
*AUNT PEN PLANS*
The Everett family was holding a "pow-wow." That was what Pat called
the after-dinner hour when they gathered about the library fire. Renee
thought it quite the jolliest time of the day; almost always Mr. Everett
had so many funny or exciting things to tell and he and Aunt Pen never
shut the girls out of their conversation; when sometimes their talk
became serious and of problems which the girls could not understand,
then either Mr. Everett or Aunt Pen carefully explained. And in turn
Aunt Pen and Pat's father would listen with deep interest to the girls'
account of their day.
"It's not nearly as jolly when Celia's home," Pat had confided to Renee,
"'cause she always talks and won't pay any attention to me!" Although
Aunt Pen, overhearing her, had laughed and said, with a world of
meaning: "Poor chatterbox!"
Letters had come from the south that day. They read them over now as
they sat in the "pow-wow." In her letter to Pat's father Mrs. Everett
had told him how glad she was they had taken Renee and how eagerly she
looked forward to knowing the little girl! As Mr. Everett read this Pat
squeezed Renee's hand and Aunt Pen patted the fair head. To Pat her
mother had enclosed a little note.
* * * Be a dear good child and help your Aunt Pen by doing whatever she
wishes you to do. Keep your father from being lonely without us, and
remember that sometimes he is very tired when he comes home at night and
likes to have some one read to him! And be very considerate of the
little stranger you have taken into your circle. * * *
"Mother needn't worry! I'll just like to do all of those three things,
you'll see!" cried Pat, folding her precious note and tucking it away in
her pocket.
But Aunt Pen's letter was the one that claimed their deep attention!
* * * If everything goes along all right at home--and I know it will
with you there, dear Pen--we may stay until spring. We are very
comfortable, the hotel is quiet and the food is good. Celia seems
brighter and is quite contented. Chauncey is out of danger, too, and in
a short time we may go to the hospital and see him. * * * It was very
hard for me to make up my mind to leave home just now, but I could not
hesitate when I knew that it was for Celia's good. And you, dear girl,
made it easier for me by taking my place. * * * I am worried about Pat's
school. I really don't think she ought to go back to Miss Prindle's at
all--there is so much sickness everywhere, and I simply cannot stand any
more worry. I think I'd rather she stayed right at home. But she ought
to have some work--dear Pen, please plan this out for me! I feel so
helpless way down here! I will leave it all to you, knowing that
whatever you do will be for Pat's good. * * *
"Read that last again," broke in Pat's father with a twinkle in his
eyes. Pat was looking rather anxiously at Aunt Pen.
Penelope read it again and then folded the letter.
"It's just exactly what I wanted Caroline to say!"
"But, Daddy, I don't care--now--about not going back to Miss Prindle's,
but I'd hate a tutor or anything like that!"
"All play and no work----"
"But I do work! Ask Aunt Pen if I haven't made my bed every morning!"
"I have some plans," Aunt Pen began slowly, "the girls ought to have
some studies and----"
"And a tutor, Aunt Pen?" Aunt Pen nodded. "Not that awful Miss
Gray--please, Aunt Pen!"
"No, not Miss Gray! I think I know someone whom you'll like--or at
least you are very fond of her now!"
Amused at the real distress in Pat's face her father broke in:
"Aunt Pen says she has some plans! Her plans are generally very
interesting," with a sidelong glance at his sister, "though I admit that
sometimes she is very heartless! Let's hear them! Then if you don't
like them, why----"
"Well, then," cried Pat resignedly, "let's hear them!"
Renee was listening with deep interest. She had never gone to school
except for the three years following her mother's death when she had on
pleasant days gone to the communal school at St. Cloud. Before that her
mother had taught her; she had stored away, too, in her mind valuable
knowledge from the books which had been always about her. Now the
thought of going to an American school filled her with terror!
Aunt Pen assumed a comically serious air. "I will tell the girls my
plans and they shall decide, for unless they go into the work with all
their hearts it will do them little good! First, each day must be
divided into periods, the first to begin at eight o'clock. Between eight
and nine there will be instruction in household arts"--she could not
resist a sly wink at Pat's father--"that includes making beds without
wrinkles and tidying the corners; of the room, especially behind the
wardrobe where things collect--"
"Aunt Pen, you are _just_ joking!"
"No, my dear! I never was more serious in my life! To my thinking
accuracy in such work is as important as accuracy in algebra or
geometry! And I am sure you did not get it at Miss Prindle's!"
"What then?" cried Pat and her father.
"An hour of out-of-door exercise in the morning and one in the
afternoon, or at least two hours out-of-doors each day, regardless of
weather!"
"Oh, I _like that_!" interrupted Pat.
Aunt Pen continued severely: "And that does not mean riding with
Watkins! That leaves six hours for study, classes and indoor
recreation."