“Yes, Kathleen, as patrol leader, will remain here with Beverly and Betty. Ardeth and Virginia will go with us to the cottage. The camp station wagon will take us to Milburn where we can buy necessary supplies. Then we’ll be deposited at Calico Cottage, and be picked up again tomorrow morning.”
The plan was acceptable to everyone, although Kathleen, Beverly and Betty secretly were a bit disappointed that they were not to be included in the party.
“Never mind!” Miss Ward assured them. “Perhaps tomorrow night, we can trade places.”
At four o’clock, the station wagon came to take Miss Ward, Judy, Ardeth and Virginia to the Village. Most of their luggage was left behind, but each girl had packed a few essentials which would be needed for the over-night stay.
At Milburn, the Scouts sought a grocery store, there to make careful purchase of a list of supplies they had worked out. As she paid for the groceries, Judy remarked that they were to be used at Calico Cottage.
“Calico Cottage?” repeated the woman who had waited upon her. “Don’t tell me you’re staying at that place!”
“Yes, we are for a few days,” Judy admitted. “I rented the cottage for my aunt. Until she comes, a few of the Scouts plan to use some of the bed space.”
“You may like the cottage,” the woman replied. “No one could hire me to stay there though!”
“Why not?” Judy inquired, instantly alert. “What is wrong with the cottage?”
“That’s what folks around here would like to know,” the woman replied with an expressive shrug of her shoulders. “It’s close to Hager’s Hole for one thing.”