“Mercy, no!” replied Marjorie, so emphatically that Lily wondered whether she had said anything awful.
When the girls took their places at the next meal, Marjorie found Kirk sitting beside her.
“I have written my letter,” he said. “And if they are the up-to-date company that I think they are, they will probably reply by telegram.”
“That would be great!” said Marjorie, realizing, of course, that Kirk referred to the radio, although he had not mentioned it.
“Do you suppose,” asked Marjorie, “that there is any chance of its arriving by the fifteenth? You know the trip to Yellowstone comes during the last two weeks in August, so we thought we should like to give a scout party the fifteenth, and present the radio to Mrs. Hilton. Do you think it would be safe to plan it for then?”
“Yes, I think so,” replied Kirk, still keeping his voice to the undertone they had adopted for safety’s sake. “Anyway, I can hurry them up with a telegram,” he added.
“Then we’ll go right ahead with the party,” said Marjorie.
The next three weeks were filled with busy days for the scouts. Marjorie showed them that she was just as zealous about carrying out her plans as she was in making them; and the classes and study went on, in conjunction with the rides and walks and other regular activities on the ranch. Before the fifteenth of August had arrived, every single scout had sent in an examination paper to headquarters which would allow her, when she had passed her eighteenth birthday if she had not already done so, to be commissioned as a lieutenant. Alice, Daisy and Florence were fully prepared to pass the remaining tests to win their Golden Eaglet badges in the Fall; and although the other three girls were not yet quite ready, they had made good advancement. The radio was ordered and paid for; the scout party was well organized. With one exception, Marjorie had carried out every project she had started, and she was nearly satisfied. If only the troop could in some way do its good-turn, then she would feel that her summer—her last one as an active member of Pansy troop—would be as profitable as it had been pleasant.
“Only three more days!” said Marjorie, folding the letter from her mother which promised a box of good things for the party, “Suppose the radio doesn’t come!”
“Well, we’ll have a good time anyhow!” returned Doris, cheerfully. “Think of all the wonderful food we’re going to get. Has everybody heard from her mother?”