"I would not have had you miss your brother's presentation for the
world! Such a thing can never come again. Why did you not call
some of the girls to relieve you?"

"If Tom did anything like that he could never have received the D.
S. C., and I am a Scout and pledged to honor commands," returned
Margaret nobly.

For that sacrifice she received from the same platform, one week
later, her own badge of merit, and the occasion was a real rally,
with officials from headquarters, and all the neighboring troops
participating.

Was it strange then that Margaret should lament her loss?

No other badge could actually take the place of that one, and
while Captain Clark would immediately advise headquarters of the
loss, and order a new one, the brave little scout girl would still
feel she had lost that one vested with the special presentation
honors.

On the morning following the loss, the girls of True Tred were
seen out on the road so early, the station master, old Pete,
hurried to his window, and got ready for business, surmising an
excursion or at least a local convention imminent.

But no such occurrence was probable, it was only the troop out
looking for the badge, and inevitably they did not find it. Signs
made by Captain Clark were posted in the station, the post-office,
and at prominent corners, but Margaret was disconsolate. She had