"That's good work," ejaculated Nora Casey. "She'll outstrip us all."
Of course each girl won daily. Some had strings nearly half a yard long. At every council fire the Guardian would distribute them to the girls, but Sallie Davis had the most beads. She was clever and won many for cooking.
About the middle of July there came another set of Camp Fires. They occupied the woods about half a mile away. It seemed that the Guardian—a Miss Andrews—was a schoolmate of Kate Hollister's. They were called the "Columbus Camp Fires." The girls were friendly and together they had great sport.
CHAPTER XXVII
A DISCOVERY
One morning Patty and Ethel started for a walk. They were to climb a small mountain. On their way they came across a pocket handkerchief. It was a girl's handkerchief, and on it was the initial "H."
"This isn't Cousin's Kate's I know," said Ethel. "She carried one certain kind with a tiny 'H' worked in the corner. This looks like a cheap one that might be purchased for a dime. Whose can it be? Are there any 'H's' in the Columbus Camp Fires?"
They recalled every name—not an "H."
"Then as it isn't Kate's nor mine it must belong to Mattie Hastings."
"Yes," replied Patty. "She often walks up here alone."