“That’s a great idea, John!” exclaimed Marjorie. “My word, you are a help to our troop!”
“As much as Mr. Richards?” he asked slyly.
“Almost,” Marjorie conceded.
At the very next meeting she made an opportunity to put his plans into action and found them more successful then she had dared to hope. The dolls were little French toys; their pretty faces made a decided appeal to all of the girls. Moreover, the materials which Mrs. Hadley had sent were so dainty and charming, that it made them actually want to sew.
While they were thus busily engaged, talking at the same time about the prize that was offered, Mr. Richards dropped in.
“No interest in second-class tests tonight, I can see that!” he joked in his pleasant, breezy manner, which was so attractive to the girls. “I guess this is no place for a mere man!”
“Then we’ll quit!” announced Queenie, glad in her heart of an excuse to stop. “We can practice signalling——”
The scout master raised his hand forbiddingly.
“Nothing doing!” he asserted. “When I get married I want a girl who can sew—it’s lots more use than being able to signal. And I guess all the other fellows are about alike. So you go right on!”
He addressed the troop in general, but he was looking at Marjorie.