“How could a girl scout act so dishonorably?” Molly questioned indignantly.

“And she actually got away with the money,” Mrs. Cosgrove repeated.  “Some young bold girls can cover their tracks better than hardened men.”

Rose felt her cheeks pale.  She had never known the antics of nervous chill, but just now a series of “goose-flesh-flashes” chased all over her.

“You must be very tired, Rose,” remarked Molly keenly.  “Better go to bed early and omit the meeting.  Mrs. Brennen, the welfare leader at Conit, is coming over, but you can hear her another time.  You had nervous work on those scarfs to-day.  I heard the girls say that floss stuck like chiffon.”

“It was sticky,” Rose was glad to comment, “and I guess I won’t go over to the school house if you don’t mind.  Perhaps I will just take a walk in the air and later write a few letters.”

“The fresh air is what you want,” Mrs. Cosgrove unconsciously assisted in the plans seething through the troubled brain of Rose.  “I’ve noticed you are a bit pale lately.  But we can’t expect to make a robust Rose out of you all at once.  You feel all right, don’t you?”

“Oh, yes, thank you.  I have a little headache, the reds and pinks glare so, I guess they hurt the eyes a little,” Rose qualified.

“They do indeed,” agreed Mrs. Cosgrove.  “Have you heard from your folks?”

“Yes, I had a letter to-day,” answered Rose truthfully.  “They are getting along splendidly, and father says he thinks he will soon have a good place for me.”

“That’s fine.  We are glad to have you with us, Rose, but with your own folks will be better, when things get all nicely fixed up.”

“Yes,” put in Molly.  “When you go off to take your own place now, Rose, you will understand American ways much better than you did when you came.  And wherever you go, I am going to send word ahead to the Girl Scouts so that you may join at once and keep up your training.  Our own troop is going to organize to-morrow night.  We are going to call ourselves the Venture Troop, as we will be the first troop yet formed in a manufacturing plant.”

“Then the Franklin’s will be organized before the True Treds take in the mill girls of Flosston?” queried Rose.

“They also meet this week to initiate a group of a dozen girls from Fluffdown.  These are to be scattered in two troops and they will try the plan of putting the strangers in with the girls who have had scout experience.  You see, we have no troop at all in Franklin, and I am ambitious to have the first formed of our own girls exclusively.  They are very enthusiastic.”

“I will be sorry if I have to go away,” Rose murmured, and her eyes darkened into violet tones with deeper emotion.

“And I can’t tell you how I shall miss you if you do have to go,” spoke Molly.  “But you are not gone yet.  At least you will be made a troop leader before you go from Franklin.  Then, in your new surroundings you will be able to assist others to do what you have seen done here.”