The Girl Scouts at Camp Comalong Part 23

"Oh, we thought you were--that is we were looking for Peg Ramsdell,"

stammered Cleo.

"She's not home," snapped the intruder. "I'm Leonore Fairbanks. I don't think you happen to know my name," said the one who had formerly played only silly parts, "and I came here on business." She made this very emphatic. "The dog is so vicious he won't let me go near the door or I might get what I want even though Peg is away."

How evident was her change of manner! Why?

"s.h.a.g is trained to take care of the cottage, I believe," ventured Cleo, noticing how faithfully the big collie performed his duty, for while Leonore Fairbanks kept down on the path he was friendly enough, but each time she attempted to put her foot on a step of the porch he growled threateningly.

"We must hurry after our friends," Grace said awkwardly. "We are going on an all-day hike."

"Over to Big Nose?" asked Leonore.

"That way," replied Cleo.

"Then you may meet Peg." The girl's face swiftly changed as evidently her mind was working as swiftly. "Say," she spoke suddenly, "be good sports and don't mention that you've seen me here, will you?"

"Why?" demanded both girls in unison.

"Because you know she's such a crazy kid and does such foolish things really. You can believe me it will be all the better for her if she doesn't go flying off the reel, as she would if she knew I came up here. I came on business for dad, and you know I hate to ask a favor, but it would be best if you didn't mention this. If you are a friend of Peg's I think you might do that much for her."

"We are as friendly as she will let us be," said Cleo frankly. "But we can't really promise anything. We must run. The girls will think we are lost," and giving faithful s.h.a.g a parting pat they ran off to overtake the hiking party.

"Isn't that queer?" exclaimed Grace. She had s.n.a.t.c.hed up a bunch of wild flowers for her delay alibi.

"Very suspicious, I should say," returned Cleo. "And of course, if we meet Peg we are bound to tell her."

"I think we should," agreed Grace. "There must be some reason for that girl's change of manner, and I'm sure it can't be anything that would benefit Peg."

"No, and her name is Leonore Fairbanks," said Cleo. "Rather pretty.

There, the girls are waiting for us."

No explanation for the delay seemed necessary and the interrupted hike was presently doing double time over the fragrant by-paths. Of course the tardy ones would tell the story quickly as an opportunity came up.

The top of the hill was reached at last, and from that point the view of the lake and its surroundings lay like a panorama spread out on a silky canvas. It was well worth hiking for, and the Bobbies were breathless in admiration. They scampered from one rock to another, each claiming a superior view until this feature took on the proportions of a new outdoor game.

To the right was a dense evergreen forest; small tiered mountains to the left. They stood in a rocky gorge between this and Big Nose Rock.

Presently the whinnying of a horse startled the little sightseers.

Then Julia called out from her perch on a big flat stone:

"Look, girls! Up on the rock! There's Peg! What can she be doing away up there?"

All eyes turned to the highest point, and there, like some wild thing of the mountains, stood Peg. She was hatless, and in the usual brown riding outfit. As if the call had reached her, although distance made this impossible, she turned suddenly, threw her head up in a listening att.i.tude, then with a quick move that had in it the impatience of a disappointment, she vanished in the rocks.

"What ever can she be doing away up there?" repeated Isabel.

"Exploring, perhaps," guessed Julia, "but she has to leave her horse so far away. See, there he is."

"And look," again indicated Louise, "there is her aunt over under that tree, reading. She hasn't seen us yet."

"Perhaps we can get them to join our picnic," exclaimed Grace. She was unusually anxious to speak with Peg.

CHAPTER XVII

THE GRANITE STAR CLUE

Sightseeing was forgotten now and general interest centered on Peg and her Aunt Carrie. This lady, as usual, was delighted to meet the Scouts, and talked freely to Miss Mackin of her hope that Peggie should "mingle more" with the campers. Peg, herself, had come down from the rock and out of the ravine, disheveled, untidy and plainly tired.

"You simply must join our picnic," gushed Louise. "It seems like the best of luck that we should have come up here."

Peg smiled and frowned alternately. She noticed her aunt was already under the influence of a sandwich. It was a good fat one, with green lettuce fringe and it came from Cleo's kit.

"I'll be back in a moment. I must attend to Whirlwind," said Peg. The girls saw now she had pockets in that big leather ap.r.o.n, and they bulged out--perhaps with some mountain souvenirs.

Grace attempted to follow Peg, going toward the horse under a big tamarack tree, but the girl was evidently unconscious of this attention, and as she hurried off, Grace, after a few steps of uncertainty, turned back and flopped down on the edge of the circle of picnic makers.

There was something very charming about Aunt Carrie. Even handling the food betrayed her culture, and her solicitation about another's comfort, all pointed to a knowledge of the little things acquired in good breeding. And she was well cared for in spite of the mountain life; her skin though dark was velvety, her hair like white floss, and only when she removed her gloves for handling the food did her little friends have an opportunity of noticing, besides the care her hands received, that she wore a great opal ring, carved with the beetle, perhaps.

Peg was coming back, and her pockets had been emptied, for the heavy skirt now slinked around her slender form. She held her boyish hat by its chin strap and smiled happily as she fell in with the group.

Yes, her eyes were of the same deep, dark cast, and her skin had that same olive tint, even her gestures showed what a real relation this girl was to the woman in the old-fashioned riding habit.

"You ride a lot, don't you?" said Cleo, carelessly.

"Yes, it's the one thing to do out here," replied Peg. She was trying something from a number of tempting food samples offered her.

"And you enjoy riding, Miss Ramsdell?" said Miss Mackin to the aunt.

"I feel more at home on a horse than I do on my feet," replied the woman. "But you see, I have always been used to horses."

"And not to feet----" flashed Peg.

"Now, my dear, don't tease an old lady. I have hard work enough to keep up with you on foot or in the saddle," replied Aunt Carrie.

Both Cleo and Grace were thinking of the girl Leonore Fairbanks, and both were anxious to mention to Peg her presence at the log cabin. It came about precipitately, however.

Louise was pouring the lemonade and had just served Aunt Carrie. The cup for Peg was filled and being extended when Grace said:

"We saw company at your house as we came along, Peg."

"Company?" She accepted Louise's cup.

"Yes. One of the girls from the hotel. She said she was Leonore Fairbanks."

"Leonore Fairbanks? Where was she?" Peg's voice was a signal of alarm.