CHAPTER XI

SALT LAKE CITY.

The weary monotony of the ride across the desert was to be broken; the Girl Scouts had decided to use one of their surplus days at Salt Lake City. They wanted to get more than a fleeting glimpse of the picturesque beauty of which they had heard so much, and they longed to swim in Great Salt Lake, where, according to all accounts, one could not sink.

The girls gave over their morning to sight-seeing, and, though they were making use of the lovely shady camp grounds provided by the city, they determined to eat their noon meal at a hotel, in order that they might feel rested for the afternoon’s swim.

They stopped at the post-office to inquire for mail, and were not disappointed, for the clerk handed them a sizeable bundle. Florence and Daisy expressed particular eagerness.

Well, when do you see them again? asked

Alice, watching Daisy’s countenance as she perused a fat letter.

See whom? demanded the girl, blushing.

You know—the occupants of the red car.

When we get to California—probably the second of August. Isn’t that what your letter says, Flos?

Yes, Mr. Cryton is going to be waiting on the doorstep when we take the milk bottles in in the morning, laughed Florence, reading an extract from her letter. But say, won’t it be great to have them help us with our new cars when wet get them! For I don’t put much stock in those two nephews!

Neither do I agreed Alice; they sound as if they were sort of wishy-washy—the kind that wait around for somebody else’s money! But do you really think we’re going to get there in time?

I hope so. But both Marj and Ethel seem worried, and that’s a bad sign.

What’s a bad sign? questioned Marjorie, looking up from her letter at the mention of her own name.

That you don’t like our friends of the red car! returned Florence. Because you know that you don’t, Marj!

No, I’ll admit that I don’t care a lot about them, replied the other truthfully. My brother didn’t like them much either—he asked about them in this letter, and hoped that you hadn’t allowed them to get too intimate.

I can’t see that it concerns him—or John Hadley either! flashed Florence, angrily. Why they should they take it upon themselves—

Please don’t play grandma! put in Daisy, imploringly.

All right—anything so that you hurry and give us plenty of time at the lake.

It was not long before the girls were in their tents again, preparing for the excursion of the afternoon. Marjorie was the first to be dressed, and she took the time to survey her uniform while she waited for the others.

Girls, she remarked dismally, don’t you think this is a sorry sight? Oughtn’t we to be washing them again?

Mine is awfully dirty, agreed Lily; I’m ready to join you!

You don’t mean to wash them in the Lake? demanded Alice.

No, laughed Marjorie; I only meant we had better do them soon.

Yes, because we’ll have to wear them when we meet Aunt Emeline!

We better have them on then! put in Florence. Well, let’s do it after our bath.

No, we may be too tired then, said Marjorie.

Let’s wash them now, before we go, and hang them out to dry. Then we’ll have them ready, in case it should rain tonight.

The resolution was adopted by all members of the party, and one by one the girls appeared from the tents and set about their self-appointed tasks. In half an hour they were finished, and Girl Scout uniforms hung about on all sides, testifying to their labor. They surveyed the result in amusement.

Nobody would need to ask who we were, remarked Daisy.

We’re certainly carrying out Aunt Emeline’s orders to the letter, added Alice. We’re displaying our uniforms all the time, one way or another—even when they’re wet!

Mrs. Remington and Daisy had volunteered to stay at home and take care of the tents while the party went to the lake, for both said that they were tired and would be glad of the opportunity to rest. Therefore, dismissing worry from their minds, the other five girls drove off in the larger car and spent a most enjoyable afternoon, floating and swimming in the extremely salt water. They returned refreshed and invigorated.

We’ll have to do some ironing tonight, observed Marjorie as they returned to the camp. Because we can’t all use the iron tomorrow.

But we’re staying here all night tomorrow, aren’t we? asked Ethel.

Yes, that’s true. I wonder whether the uniforms are dry.

They must be, replied Alice, shading her eyes with her hand in order to get a view of their tent. I see our tents, but not any uniforms!

Mrs. Remington must have taken them in, concluded Marjorie. Well, they weren’t so very ornamental.

Evidently she didn’t take much of a nap, remarked Ethel.

They were surprised, therefore, as they entered the tent, to find their chaperone still asleep on her cot. Naturally inferring that it was Daisy who had looked after their uniforms, they went in search of her. But she too was asleep in her tent.

Let’s get dressed first, suggested Marjorie; and find out about them later. It would be a shame to waken Mrs. Remington—

What’s this? called the latter, from within the adjoining tent. I am awake—I just heard you come.

Good! exclaimed Alice. It certainly was nice of you to take in our uniforms—

Your uniforms? repeated Mrs. Remington, questioningly. But I didn’t touch them! I’ve been asleep ever since you left!

Then Daisy did, said Marjorie. Oh—O—Dais!

Yes? came a sleepy voice.

Did you take in our uniforms?

No—I’ve been asleep!

But they’re gone! cried Ethel, in dismay.

The girls looked at each other in obvious consternation. This was a catastrophe which they had never dreamed of—and a serious one. For if they travelled in civilian dress they would be breaking one of the regulations that Miss Vaughn had so carefully stipulated.

What could have happened to them? demanded Alice, hysterically. Who would want to steal them?

Nobody but a troop of Girl Scouts, and they wouldn’t, reasoned Marjorie.

Or a rag-man! suggested Ethel.

And they could hardly blow away, continued Marjorie; there isn’t any wind!

Still, we didn’t have any clothes-pins, observed Florence, solemnly. I knew you forgot something, Marj—

Come, girls, we’ll have to hurry and dress, and do something! commanded Ethel. Let’s each take a direction and inquire all over the grounds!

The girls lost no time in carrying out this suggestion; but an hour later they returned without any information. Mrs. Remington realized how tired and discouraged they were, and urged that all discussion of plans be deferred until dinner.

They went to the same hotel at which they had lunched, and ordered an elaborate dinner. The spaciousness of the dining-room, the calm, leisurely attitude of the other diners, and the delicacy of the food and the service, rested and refreshed them; by the time that the salad course was brought in, they felt ready to consider their disaster and to plan a way out. Marjorie was the first to offer a solution.

Of course we can’t buy new uniforms, since this is Friday night, and the stores are closed all day Saturday; but can’t we borrow some from another troop? There must be Girl Scouts in Salt Lake City.

This idea, however, did not meet with instantaneous approval. Several of the girls looked doubtful, and Florence laughed harshly.

Marj, have you forgotten that we’re grownups? she demanded. And that most Girl Scouts are ten or twelve years of age! Their suits would come to our knees!

We could let out the hems—and select the longest ones, protested Marjorie. It could be done.

Yes, said Mrs Remington thoughtfully, and I think it is the only thing that could be done to save us. We’ll have to find the nearest troop.

There ought to be some of them meeting tonight, remarked Alice. Friday is usually popular.

But how to find them?

We won’t give up till we do! We’ll ask everybody we see!

In spite of the opposition at first, the plan was adopted, and as soon as the meal was concluded, the girls hastened to try it out. It proved to be much less difficult than they had anticipated; the very first person of whom they inquired—the clerk at the hotel desk—told them that his daughter was a Girl Scout, and that her troop met on Friday evenings. Marjorie and Ethel both wrote down the directions he gave them for finding its meeting place.

Without even waiting to return to their camp, the girls set out immediately on their quest, which led them to a remote part of the city, off the main roads. Carefully following their explicit directions, they pulled up at last in front of a little church, and saw by the light in the basement that a meeting was in session.

In less than a minute the girls were out of both cars, running down the steps to the entrance. The door was open and the scouts, who happened to be seated in patrols, and busy with some kind of hand-craft, looked up excitedly as the girls filed in. The captain came forward smiling.

In a few words, but with infinite tact, Mrs. Remington told the story and put forth her plea for their help. She offered, of course, a good price for the uniforms—sufficient to compensate the scouts for the bother of purchasing new ones. To the travelers’ intense relief, the scouts accepted the proposition immediately.

Of course we are glad to help our sister scouts, replied the captain. But do you think the uniforms will be long enough?

Have you a senior patrol? inquired Mrs. Remington.

Yes—girls over fourteen!

Well, let us try them. Could the girls run home and get some other clothing?

Why certainly, agreed the captain, nodding to the scouts to go. Run along quickly!

Wait! interposed Marjorie. We have two cars out there! We can drive you and save time.

But it’s hardly more than across the street, replied the patrol leader graciously. And we’ll only be a minute.

Hardly were they out of the door before they returned to the room.

Didn’t you say that you had two cars? asked the patrol leader, addressing Marjorie.

Yes. Why?

There is only one out there now!

Which one? demanded Lily, in alarm.

A big one—seven passenger!

And mine is gone? gasped the distressed owner. You are sure?

Alice suddenly let out a shriek.

It’s all my fault, Lil—I forgot to lock it, in my haste to get in! Oh, I’m so sorry—

Will you want our uniforms just the same? interrupted the patrol leader, realizing that time would now be too precious to waste.

Yes, replied Marjorie with determination. This doesn’t alter our desire to win. We’ll go at it even harder—

The patrol leader did not wait to hear the end of the sentence, but hurried her girls back for their dresses, while the tourists rushed out to make sure that the other car was safe.

We can still finish our trip in the one big car, said Mrs. Remington, provided that we put out all our camping outfit, and stay at hotels every night till we reach the coast.

Then let’s give our camping things to this nice little troop, suggested Lily, who had decided to accept her loss philosophically.

And start tomorrow instead of waiting over another day, added Marjorie.

Half an hour later the girls dressed again in the scout uniforms, the fit of which was better than they had anticipated, all got into the big car and waved goodbye to their new friends, reminding them to come to the grounds early in the morning for the outfit. They drove back to their tents, somewhat subdued in spirits; the victory in gaining the suits was balanced by the defeat in losing the car. But, as Ethel reminded them, there was one compensation: for the rest of the trip they could all travel together!