She resumed reading the rather broad sheet that might have been called typewriter paper, if the girls had been familiar with its style.
"Let me see. Oh, yes. 'Will you do something for me?'" she continued reading. "'If you have any little book of your rules and plans, and if you will leave one in the hollow stone for me, some day I will repay you for your confidence.
"'Your victim, "'THE MAN BY THE TREE.'"
"Oh, what can he want a scout book for?" eagerly asked Grace, folding the letter.
"We couldn't give it, without permission—unless, it would be too bad to give away our secret to get permission," pouted Grace.
"We might get permission without telling all about it," suggested Cleo adroitly. "We could say we wanted to influence a stranger, and besides, anyone can buy a manual in the stores."
"Of course," decided Madaline, happy that the secret would not be spoiled. "Perhaps he wants—"
"To be a scout!" roared Grace in one of her gales of laughter.
"Wouldn't it be too funny if he were to fall in love with Captain
Clark!"
"And marry her!" topped off Cleo.
"Then your noble deed, Grace, would be noble indeed," added Madaline.