“Nuthin’ doin’!” thundered Queenie. “You’re canned, both of you! You stood us up for registerin’ the troop, by baggin’ scouts for dates! You’re out of! Get out, before we fire you!”
“No, no!” protested Marjorie, in alarm, jumping up and rushing forward. “Let me explain, girls——”
But the furious girls were not listening to her. They were still looking at Queenie.
“We’ll pay you back, Queenie Brazier!” threatened Gertie, slamming the door again, and racing up the steps.
The young people looked at each other in consternation; but before anything could be said, the gong sounded to warn them of the building’s closing. Silently they obeyed its summons, leaving all discussion until the officers had gone.
CHAPTER XIV.
GOSSIP.
Marjorie was behind in her studies; college athletics, class affairs, and most of all, Girl Scouts, had crowded them out temporarily. But she was not a girl to let them slide indefinitely; to have to report “unprepared” more than once at a recitation troubled her conscience. So, contrary to her custom, she decided to devote Sunday to work.
She had mentioned this fact to John Hadley as they left the scout meeting the previous evening, and he had willingly fallen in with her plans, knowing that Wednesday evening would be his.
“Just so long as you promise not to worry over this unpleasantness,” he agreed. “It isn’t worth it.”