The Camp Fire Girls at the End of the Trail

  CHAPTER VIII Possibilities

  "It really was exciting for a few moments, Billy. I do wish you had beenwith us; you would have known better what to do and say to the men!"Peggy Webster exclaimed.

  Sitting bolt upright, Billy Webster was actually looking animated--hiseyes and color bright with a peculiar transparency.

  "It may be exciting for them before the matter is settled," he replied."Funny for you and Marshall to have run into a place of that character,when I thought we were living out in the wilderness. Please tell meexactly what happened, Peg?"

  Peggy chanced to be sitting alone beside her brother about five minutesafter her return to camp, Ralph Marshall not yet having come back fromhis errand. Mrs. Webster and Vera had both departed to help with dinner,suggesting that Peggy remain and rest after her long ride, as they wouldattend to her share of the work.

  Peggy sat with her shoulders hunched up and, leaning forward, talkedquickly.

  "Odd, wasn't it? Ralph and I had dropped behind the others and weretalking. We had ridden away from the neighborhood of the canyons throughthe pine woods. Then, quite suddenly, we came upon a group of tents. Yousee we had gotten off the road and in some places had gone single file inbetween the trees."

  "I don't wonder they were surprised at your turning up," Billy commented.

  "Surprised!" Peggy's tone was reflective. "I think that is putting thecase pretty mildly, Billy. The men were extremely angry at our ridingcalmly into what they doubtless believed their secret hiding place. Theirtents were in a little hollow, with hills and trees around them. The menwere sitting before the fire smoking, when I came upon them. As I chancedto be in front, one of them jumped up, said something ugly, and thengrabbed my bridle."

  Billy Webster frowned. "Were you frightened, Peggy?"

  The girl had dropped back on the ground and was now lying with her handsclasped under her head.

  "No, I don't think so; I was too amazed. Besides, Ralph Marshall rode upalmost at once and explained that we had lost our way. The trouble nowis, I am so curious. The men were very rough and were undoubtedly inhiding or they would never have behaved so strangely. Yet surely we arepast the days in the West when stage coaches and trains used to be heldup, aren't we? Besides, these men had women and children with them."

  Some one was at this instant coming toward them and Billy glanced around.It was odd how much animation, even determination, had lately come intohis ordinarily listless face and manner.

  "I'll ride over tomorrow and find out who the men are and why they arehiding so near here," he announced as calmly as if such an action hadbeen a daily proceeding on his part. "Marshall, you'll tell me how to getthere?" he added, for Ralph, during the moment, had joined them.

  He now gazed down with unconscious condescension at the younger boy.

  "Oh, I don't think this group of fellows exactly in your line ofbusiness, Billy. If I had not said I would not, I should like to reporttheir hiding place to the nearest sheriff. But, as long as your sisterwas with me, we simply had to slide out of an uncomfortable situation aseasily as we could. I must say she did not mind so much as I did."

  Ralph now looked upon Peggy with an expression no girl or woman couldfail to enjoy. It was veiled, of course, and only revealed a reasonabledegree of admiration, yet there was nothing excessive and certainlynothing sentimental in it. For Ralph had the wisdom which belongs to thepeople who know how to make themselves agreeable. He understood somethingof the temperament of the person he was trying to win. From the first hehad known that he must appear to be simple and genuine with Peggy Websterin order to cultivate her intimate friendship and affection.

  However, Ralph was sincere. He had admired the calm manner in which Peggyhad accepted a disagreeable situation. The type of girl, with whom heusually preferred spending his time, would probably have been bothfrightened and cross, and would doubtless have blamed him for getting herinto an awkward position.

  But Peggy had been perfectly reasonable. Indeed, it never seemed to haveoccurred to her to pretend that she was not equally responsible for theirstraying off from the others, because she had wished it as much as hehad. But, then, Peggy Webster apparently never pretended anything! Shewas too straightforward to be considered attractive by the men who wishfor greater subtleties in their girl friends, as Ralph believed he did.

  Nevertheless, it was agreeable to ride quietly back to camp, discussingtheir recent experience as one would have discussed it with anotherfellow, simply from the standpoint of curiosity.

  The men they had come upon so unexpectedly had looked like an ugly group.However, they had realized that their encounter with them had been anaccident, and they had not been particularly rude to Peggy. It would bedifficult for any one to be, Ralph decided, as he sat down beside her.

  Peggy had gotten halfway up and her dark hair was tumbled about herflushed face. She had not thought to go away and dress as the other girlshad, although her costume was dusty from her ride. She had not even aproper share of vanity and self-consciousness.

  Nevertheless, Peggy was genuinely pleased at Ralph's coming directly toher and Billy and taking his place beside them without stopping to talkwith any one else.

  In the last few days she had found herself liking Ralph very much. In away this was odd, for she had known him for some time without caring muchabout him in one way or the other. However, then Ralph had never paid herany particular attention; only recently had he seemed to like being withher more than with any of the other girls. Peggy honestly thought theother Camp Fire girls far more attractive than she could ever be.

  Then Ralph did not seem to her nothing but a society fellow, althoughthis was what Bettina Graham insisted. At least he played a good game oftennis, for Peggy had been over to his hotel on two mornings to play withhim.

  "If we dance this evening, won't you save most of your dances for me?"Ralph leaned over to murmur in a low voice, so that their other companioncould not hear.

  And Billy did not overhear, although he arose at this moment and stoodstaring with a queer, understanding look in his blue eyes at his sisterand her friend. "I suppose it won't hurt Peg a great deal to wake up," hewhispered to himself. "Anyhow, it would do no good for me to interfere."

  But Ralph this time had made a mistake, for Peggy's dark eyes were gazingat him humorously.

  "Don't be absurd, Ralph," she returned as good-naturedly and in asmatter-of-fact a tone as if she had been talking to one of her brothers."You know perfectly that I don't dance very well; certainly not half sowell as Bettina, and as you never ask me to dance with you more than onceon most evenings, I don't understand your sudden change of heart. Reallyyou don't have to be good to me on account of our adventure, because Ienjoyed it. Suppose you get Sally or Gerry to amuse you now. I must helpa little with dinner."

  Then Peggy and Billy walked off together leaving Ralph to pull himself upand, feeling a little aggrieved, to follow Peggy's advice.

  The Camp Fire table was made of long pine planks set on four logs sawedsmooth and to a proper height.

  The somewhat informal table was covered with a beautiful damask clothwhich the Camp Fire guardian had brought West with her for just suchfestival occasions. In the center and filled with wild flowers was thegreat bowl of Indian pottery which she had purchased from old Nampu inher hut near the Painted Desert.

  Although it was not yet dark a big camp fire was burning, made brightwith pine cones and branches of pine. In the sombre old trees surroundingthe open space were a dozen or more golden lanterns. Before dinner couldbe finished the early darkness would have descended, so the lanterns weremerely a preparation for this event.

  The girls kept rushing from the kitchen tent and the camp fire with greatplatters of corn and of freshly baked corn bread and roasted potatoes. Atone end of the table was a baked ham and at the other a big dish ofbroiled chicken. The ham had been secured from the hotel, but if MariePepin had not yet learned to enjoy a camping exis
tence, she was true toher French blood and was a wonderful outdoor cook. Marie alone couldbroil chicken in a perfect fashion above an open camp fire.

  Everybody was by this time more than ready for dinner yet they were keptwaiting for Dan Webster's return.

  Shortly after his return from the ride Dan had disappeared, saying thathe would be back in a short time. At least he had made this statement toMrs. Burton, for no one else had discussed his intentions with him. Andshe it was who kept urging that they wait dinner a moment or so longer.

  This was most unlike the ordinarily impatient Mrs. Burton; moreover itwas a Sunrise Camp Fire rule that meals should wait on no one. However,this rule was not intended as a disagreeable one to punish the offender,but only to protect the guiltless. For, if one were unavoidably late, itwas a simple enough matter to find oneself something to eat, and far morecomfortable than the sensation of having kept everyone else waiting.

  However, just as dinner was served without him Dan Webster drove intocamp and the mystery was explained. Seated beside him was the girl whohad been an unexpected visitor a few mornings before.

  She was using a crutch and Dan had to help her across to a seat besideMrs. Burton and then took his place on her other side.

  Marta Clark was wearing a little grey-green dress, evidently her best,although it was both shabby and old-fashioned. In it she looked tiny andpale; nevertheless, both Mrs. Burton and Dan felt the girl's charm.

  Her eyes seemed to have lights behind them as they shone so oddly, andher lips were a deep red.

  "It is awfully good of you to have me here," she whispered quietly toMrs. Burton. "You see, I have been living in a tent with my brother for awhole year and this is the first time I have had a meal with any oneelse."

  She slipped one hand over and touched Mrs. Burton's.

  "Of course, I know you think it stupid and absurd of me, but you can'tguess what it means to me to be sitting so close beside you. I feel as ifI must be dreaming. I have so wanted to know a great actress."

  Polly Burton gave the girl's hand a little friendly pressure in return.

  "Then you must wake up," she said firmly. "You see the girls in my CampFire group don't think of me as an actress, but only as a more or lesssuccessful Camp Fire guardian. I don't like stage-struck girls, even if Iwas one myself once upon a time, as my sister reminded me. Besides, whyshould you care, child, anything about me or my work. I really don't seewhy it should matter to you whether I am an actress or a--well let us saya sewing woman. I should probably have been as unsuccessful at that asany one could be."

  Mrs. Burton laughed and Marta made no reply. Instead she was wise enoughto change the subject immediately.

  "In any case you have been wonderfully kind. I am sure I don't know why,but sometimes it seems as if the wrong things in this life are rewarded,such as my coming here uninvited to see you. I wonder if it was selfishtonight to leave Miss Deal to look after my brother."

  As some one had at that moment distracted Mrs. Burton's attention byspeaking to her from the other end of the table, Marta turned to Dan.

  "You have been kindest of all," she remarked with the sudden gentlenessshe used as unexpectedly as her sudden flares of temper.

  Both amused Dan. He had seen the new girl more frequently than any of theother members of their Camp Fire as, for the past few days he had drivenone or two of them over each day to call upon Marta and her brother, ormore especially upon Ellen Deal. The visits were naturally not always tothe two comparative strangers, but to find out if Ellen were happy andcomfortable in her self-appointed task of caring for two invalids unknownto her until a short time before.

  After dinner, feeling responsible for their guest, Dan sat beside herwhile the others danced. But, by and by, Sally Ashton, who did not enjoyhaving Dan completely absorbed by any one else, came and asked him todance with her. And Marta insisted that he should.

  She was not alone, however, for in a short time Peggy joined her. Forsome reason Peggy had decided not to dance a single time during theevening. She was not sure of her own reasons, but gave the excuse thatshe was tired.

  She was glad now to have the opportunity of remaining with their guest.For, several times during the evening, Howard Brent had seated himselfbeside her as if he had something of importance on his mind which hewished to confide. And then he had gotten up and gone away without sayingit. Peggy did not wish him to make the attempt again. She was not in amood for confidences and really rejoiced when, at ten o'clock, all oftheir guests started for home.