She was still standing with her arm resting on Kirk’s shoulder, as Bob Hilton opened the door to admit the stranger. With a gasp of astonishment, the girl’s arm dropped to her side, and she gazed open-eyed at the visitor. It was John Hadley! Not the radio messenger, after all—but John Hadley, all the way from Cape May!
Instantly her face darkened, and a cold fear took possession of her. Was something wrong at home, and had they sent him to break the news to her gently? In her terror she gripped Kirk’s hand tightly, her face showing anything but the welcome John had hoped for. Then, as if in a dream, she heard him speak.
“I would like to speak to the lieutenant of the Scout Troop,” and, as she dropped Kirk’s hand and stepped forward, he added in a lower tone, “I have your outfit from our company.”
“Oh!” cried Marjorie, suddenly realizing what his presence meant, and smiling in intense relief. But what a strange coincidence that he—John Hadley—should bring it, and without her knowledge, too!
But without waiting to give expression to her own thoughts, she turned quickly to the rancher’s wife.
“Mrs. Hilton,” she began, speaking so that everyone in the room might hear, “we Girl Scouts have had such a wonderful time this summer that we wanted to present the ranch with something as a token of our appreciation. We had hoped that this gift would come earlier, so that more of this summer’s guests could enjoy it. But at least it will be here for next year.”
“I therefore present you, in the name of the Girl Scouts of Pansy Troop, this radio set, which Mr. Hadley, the representative of the company from which it was ordered, will put up tomorrow.”
Mr. and Mrs. Hilton were both so taken by surprise by the generosity and unusualness of the gift, that neither could find words with which to accept it. Marjorie and the other scouts saw their amazement and pleasure, and felt rewarded; and before Mrs. Hilton could even stammer out her thanks, both her sons had raised a noisy cry of approval. Their informality put the party into an uproar. As there were no more speeches to be made, someone started the music, and the dancing began again.
Marjorie, however, made no motion towards summoning her partner, but remained standing where she was, near the doorway, talking to John.
“I was so surprised to see you!” she said. “And right away I was scared, for fear something was wrong with my family!”