Though she could not know it, it was the precise conclusion at which her chums had already arrived. They knew her better than she knew herself.

When she had deliberately ignored Irma's friendly note, her five chums had consulted earnestly together regarding what they had best do. Irma and Constance proposed that the five should visit her in a body, in an endeavor to win her back. Muriel, Susan and Marjorie opposed such a measure. "It wouldn't do the least bit of good," Muriel had emphatically declared.

Marjorie had quietly echoed Muriel's opinion, adding: "Let dear old Jerry alone, girls. She must work out her own salvation. When she comes back to us it must be of her own free will. She hasn't really left us, you know. She'll always be a Lookout, heart and hand."

As December rushed on its snowy way toward the holiday season, it became somewhat difficult for Marjorie to practice what she had preached.

Jerry's desertion left a huge blank in her life that could not be filled. The brusque, good-humored stout girl had formerly been her most ardent supporter in making Christmas merry for the poor of Sanford. The little folks at the day nursery loudly bewailed her absence from their midst.

Mrs. Macy and Hal, who had learned the deplorable circ.u.mstances from Jerry's own lips, held more than one energetic but futile argument with her in an effort to reduce her to reason. She met these earnest admonitors with an unyielding stolidity that caused them both to retire from the field in disgust. Whenever she chanced to meet her chums she greeted them with a cool civility that was infinitely more annoying than no greeting would have been. She marched defiantly to and from school by herself, preferring her own company to that of the Sanford High students outside the intimate circle of girls in which she had once moved.

She made but one exception to them. She was occasionally seen in company with Veronica Browning. The mystery surrounding the latter fascinated her. Then, too, she greatly admired this delightful girl. Although Veronica had learned of Jerry's self-made Coventry, she never referred to it when with the latter. From Marjorie, who had been quick to note Jerry's predilection for Veronica, she had received instructions to do all she could to lighten the young rebel's self-imposed burden. Of her own free will she had offered her services in Jerry's place at the day nursery. She had calmly informed the belligerent of her intention before doing so. Jerry had stared hard at her and merely said: "Go ahead and do it. You won't hurt my feelings. Are you sure you can spare the time?"

Veronica had answered in the affirmative and the subject had been immediately dropped.

The week preceding Christmas saw the Lookouts deep in preparations for the day of days. There was to be a wonderful gift-laden tree at the nursery for the children, and the usual yearly task of supplying the Sanford poor folks with holiday cheer was also carried on with a will.

Marjorie's home became a headquarters for the tireless workers and the Lookouts spent many fruitful and pleasant hours there. Even Mignon condescended to lend her presence on one or two occasions and surprised her companions by actually doing a little work. Since her encounter with Jerry she had been extremely ill at ease. She had a coward's respect for the plain-spoken stout girl, and she now stood more in fear of her than ever. The very day after Jerry had accosted her in Sargent's her father had promised her an expensive electric limousine as a commencement present, provided she conducted herself in exemplary fashion until then.

Mignon had therefore decided to walk softly until this prize was safely in her possession.

Christmas came and went, leaving behind for Marjorie the usual liberal amount of remembrances from her friends. It was a less happy Christmas, however, than that of the previous year. Jerry's desertion weighed heavily upon her. The two girls had always exchanged holiday gifts and calls. This year, determined to make no exception, Marjorie had selected and sent her usual good-will present to Jerry. Irma, Constance, Susan, Muriel, Harriet and Esther Lind had done likewise. From Jerry they had received nothing in return except their own gifts. Each package contained a card, on each of which had appeared the same Jerry-like message: "Keep this and send it to me later. Mignon may not always be a Lookout."

This pertinent message provoked a certain amount of merriment on the part of the recipients. Nevertheless, an undertone of sadness lurked in the laughter. Jerry was Jerry and could not be imitated, duplicated nor replaced. They had missed her sorely at the gay round of parties that filled their holidays. Her unexpected state of rebellion had also completely upset her brother Hal's plans for the Macys' usual Christmas dance. He and Jerry exchanged sharp words over what he termed her "bull-headedness" and for two weeks afterward they were not on speaking terms. All in all Jerry pa.s.sed a most doleful Yuletide season for which she had only herself to blame.

CHAPTER XXII-MARJORIE DECIDES

The end of January brought with it mid-year examinations. It saw no change in the strained situation which Jerry had created. To all outward appearances she was as implacable as ever. Only Jerry herself knew the difficulty of remaining adamant in the face of longing for the comradeship which she had repudiated. Long ago, when Mary Raymond had done precisely what she was now doing, Jerry had pointed out to Mary the folly of such a course. More than once, since her self-exile from her companions, Jerry had thought of this. Vengefully remembering that Mignon had also been at the root of Mary's difficulties, her bitterness against the French girl increased two-fold. She grew more determined than ever in her thus far fruitless effort to discover what Mignon had told Lucy Warner that had set the latter so strongly against Marjorie Dean. This learned, she was not quite decided upon what she would do next. That would depend entirely on the nature of Mignon's gossip.

While recalcitrant Jerry pursued her will-o-the-wisp quest for useful information, the Lookout Club were adhering steadily to their resolve to make their little organization a success. Despite the jolt they had suffered by reason of the withdrawal of their president, they continued to hope that she would eventually return to the fold. Regarding Lucy Warner's return they had little to say. Irma, Susan, Muriel and Constance, who were better posted than their fellow members on the inside details of Lucy's cavalier treatment of Marjorie, secretly disapproved of the close-mouthed secretary's refusal to meet Marjorie frankly. As for the other Lookouts, Lucy's antagonistic behavior seemed to them quite in keeping with her past performances.

Thus matters dragged along through changeable, short-lived February and early March. During that period of time, however, the Lookouts put into effect the plan that had come to Marjorie at the time of the organization of the club. The project of the day nursery as the center of achievement she had reserved, broaching the subject of her plan until the more important enterprise should be firmly on its feet. Due to the excellent management of the Lookouts and the gratifying monetary returns from the Campfire, it was now in a flourishing condition. Their treasury boasted over eight hundred dollars, sufficient capital to defray the nursery's expenses until well into the next winter.

Their hopes were now set on making the Lookout Club a high school sorority, and the names of several juniors seemingly suitable to a.s.sume the responsibilities their senior sisters would relinquish with graduation, were already under discussion. The considerable amount of internal discord with which they had been forced to contend had not been such as to create adverse criticism on the part of outsiders. The club ranked high in public estimation. Knowing this, its members, with one exception, were earnestly desirous of maintaining that high standard. On their integrity depended its establishment as a sorority.

The one exception was, of course, Mignon La Salle. She had no lofty ambitions and only one definite aim; the will to stir up mischief and thus keep her fellow members in hot water. Following her arraignment by Jerry, she had proceeded with caution. As the winter days glided by without bringing her the exposure which Jerry had threatened, she began to treat the matter lightly. So long as Jerry remained unsuccessful in ferreting out the reason for Lucy Warner's grudge against Marjorie, she felt herself secure. Thanks to Lucy's una.s.sailable secrecy, she believed Jerry had small chance of learning what she did not wish known. Bent on making a.s.surance doubly sure she had sought Lucy to remind her of her promise. The latter had received her with the utmost frigidity. She stated shortly that she had told Marjorie Dean nothing. Further, she had no intention of giving her any information. Regarding what she had said to Jerry, she was silent. That had nothing to do with her promise to Mignon. What Jerry had said to her, however, unconsciously influenced Lucy to treat the French girl with dignified disdain.

Mignon did not relish the snubbing. She accepted it because she dared not resent it. Having gained her point she could afford to dismiss it with a shrug. If she could continue to ward off possible disaster until her graduation from high school in June, the danger point would then be pa.s.sed. A new set of Lookouts would replace the old, the limousine her father had promised her would be won, and her triumph over these stupid girls be complete. Another year would see her in some far-off college, well beyond their reach.

It was early in February when Marjorie made known her plan to the club.

At one of their regular meetings she had risen to speak earnestly on the subject of high school fellowship. She had expressed her belief that as Lookouts it was the business of the club to do something toward creating a spirit of comradeship among the four cla.s.ses of Sanford High School.

She had then proposed that once in two weeks on Friday evening the Lookouts should hold a reception in the gymnasium to which the pupils of the Sanford High School should be invited. It would be a strictly informal affair, inst.i.tuted with the purpose of amalgamating the four cla.s.ses into one big high school family. There might be a short program composed of volunteer stunts. There were sure to be present enough girls who would gladly take turns at the piano for dancing. The club could serve light refreshments at its own expense and the reception as a whole could not fail to promote better acquaintance and understanding. She had already spoken of it to Miss Archer, who had gladly granted her permission to use the gymnasium.

Such was the project which Marjorie had outlined. It had met the instant approval of her hearers and before the meeting ended the details of the plan had been settled and the date for the first reception set for the second Friday evening in February. On the eventful night the four cla.s.ses attended the reception almost to a member, enjoyed themselves hugely after the fashion of carefree youth, and departed at eleven o'clock, the consciousness of a well-spent evening pervading their cordial good-nights to their schoolmate hostesses. Marjorie's thoughtfulness for others had been the means of bringing happiness to more than one girl in Sanford High School to whom the social side of school had formerly meant little. Among such a large body of students there were many whose opportunities for social pleasures were few and far between. To these wistful lookers-on, the chance to become partic.i.p.ants in this new and diverting phase of school life was a boon indeed.

Greatly to her surprise, Marjorie discovered in Veronica Browning a devoted advocate of the club's new movement. Of her own free will she a.s.sured Marjorie of her willingness to take part in the program, should her services be desired. Her offer was joyfully accepted, for her fame as a dancer had traveled the rounds of Sanford. At the second reception she became the feature of the evening. Lost in wonder of her art, beside it her lowly position in life paled into insignificance. She came in for an avalanche of girlish admiration which she accepted with the modesty of one who attached little importance to her accomplishment.

It was perhaps a week after Veronica's terpsich.o.r.ean triumph that it suddenly occurred to Marjorie to ask her to reconsider her earlier refusal to join the Lookout Club. Since the latter's decided negative to the proposal, made at the time of the organization of the Lookouts, Marjorie had not repeated her request. Veronica had then refused it with finality. Afterward the subject had never been reopened between them. In lieu of the fact that Veronica had done much toward making the Campfire a success, and continued to help the Lookouts in their various enterprises, Marjorie cherished the conviction that Mignon La Salle's certain opposition to Veronica as a member could no longer be respected.

Privately she announced her views to her chums, who were of the same mind. She, therefore, resolved again to lay the subject before her friend and plead with her to reconsider her refusal.

Chancing to meet Veronica in the street one March morning on the way to school she greeted her with: "I've a special favor to ask of you, Ronny, and don't you dare refuse."

"It is granted," smiled Veronica.

"Now I've caught you!" Marjorie laughed mischievously. "You can't back out. The Lookouts wish you to join the club, Ronny. I wish it most of all."

"I guessed that to be the special favor," remarked Veronica quietly.

"You did?" Marjorie's brown eyes widened in surprise. "Then you must really wish to join us after all!"

"Yes! I am quite ready to become a Lookout," was the amazing announcement. "I know you are wondering why I have changed my mind about it. Before I explain, I'll say that I am glad you asked me again to join your club. It is another proof of your fair-mindedness."

"I don't quite understand." Marjorie regarded Veronica in bewilderment.

It was almost as though this astonishing girl had, in some mystifying fashion, divined the thought-process by which she had arrived at her decision.

Veronica laughed. "You mean you can't imagine how I came to understand why you asked me again to become a Lookout."

"Yes; that is true. But how could you possibly guess it? You amaze me, Ronny."

"You don't realize, Marjorie, that I have come to know you very well,"

returned Veronica with sudden intensity. "You are the sort of girl that must play fairly, or not at all. You were not entirely satisfied with our agreement of last fall. I knew it then. I knew, too, that it was wisest for me to stay out of the club. Now the situation has changed.

Our delicate consideration for a certain person has been wasted. You feel that my interest in the progress of the Lookouts has been, and is, greater than hers. Frankly, I know it to be so. I wish to join your club for two reasons. First, because this lawless, headstrong girl should be shown that the good of the Lookouts must be regarded above her personal prejudices; second, because of my own pleasure in the a.s.sociation."

"You've said the very things I have thought, Ronny." Marjorie spoke as one who has been miraculously relieved from a c.u.mbersome burden. "I am glad you see things as I do. I shall propose you for membership on Thursday evening at the club meeting. If-a certain person--" She paused.

"Why shouldn't we say her name? If Mignon doesn't approve, then she'll have to disapprove. It will be a case of eleven against one. The majority rules, you know. The eleven will surely be delighted to welcome you as a Lookout. Do you mind if I tell them the good news beforehand?"

"As you please." Veronica slipped an affectionate arm into one of Marjorie's. "You are true blue, Lieutenant," she said a trifle unsteadily. "All my life I shall be glad that I have known a girl like you. Some day I shall try to prove to you how much I appreciate your friendship."

"It's just the other way round, Ronny." Marjorie's earnest a.s.surance rang with affection.

Arrived at the school building their confidential talk ended. Marjorie took her seat in the study hall feeling singularly inspirited.

Veronica's decision to join the Lookouts embued her with fresh courage to face the storm of protest which Mignon would undoubtedly raise when Veronica's name was proposed for membership. Thinking it over she reconsidered her idea of telling the Lookouts beforehand. It would be hardly fair to leave Mignon out of the knowledge, yet she did not wish her to know it until she herself proposed Veronica's name at the meeting. This course of action seemed infinitely more discreet. She was positive that no one save Mignon would raise an objection. Very charitably she hoped that the latter would not create a scene and thus lay herself open to the certain displeasure of the other girls. Her indignation aroused, hot-headed Muriel Harding was quite capable of demanding Mignon's resignation then and there. Marjorie was definitely settled on one point. If, in the heat of anger, Mignon should tender her resignation, it should also mark the end of her personal interest in the French girl's behalf. She would go to Mr. La Salle and ask release from her promise.

CHAPTER XXIII-A STORMY SESSION

"Is there any new business to be brought before the club?" inquired Muriel Harding in her most presidential manner.

The Lookouts were in august session in the Atwells' cozy living room, which the mere members of the family, aside from Susan, had obligingly vacated while the club held sway. Seated in a semi-circle that curved the lower end of the large room, nine girls fixed attentive eyes on Muriel, who occupied a wide-armed chair a few feet in front of them. At a table on the right, Irma and Mignon were seated side by side. Her interest centered on her account book, the latter did not trouble to raise her eyes as Muriel spoke.

From the last right-hand chair in the circular row, Marjorie Dean rose.

"I wish to propose the name of Veronica Browning for membership into the Lookout Club," she announced in low, clear tones.

A wavering sigh swept the semi-circle as Marjorie reseated herself. This was, indeed, new business. Muriel Harding stared at Marjorie in mild astonishment. All interest in her accounts vanished, Mignon La Salle leaned forward over the table, her black eyes snapping. For a long moment no one spoke.

"I second the motion." Harriet Delaney's firm accents shattered the silence.