station, thus leaving the other alone in the night, Dagmar, too,
quickened her steps.

"Tessie," she called finally. "Tessie, wait. I can't go back now."

That was all Tessie wanted. She waited, and when again they took
up tangled threads of their adventure it was scarcely possible
either would allow any further interruptions to delay them.

And Dagmar clutched in her tightly clasped hand the lost scout
badge.




CHAPTER II

WOODLAND THRILLS


It was Margaret Slowden who lost the Badge of Merit. The pretty
gilt wreath, with its clover leaf center on a dainty white ribbon
hanger, had been presented to Margaret on such an auspicious
occasion, that the emblem meant much more to the girl scout than
its official value of rank indicated.

The True Tred Troop of Flosston had been organized one month when
Margaret won the medal. Shortly after the holidays, an event of
unusual importance occurred in the mill town, when its small
company of service boys returned from "Over There." They were