But when the girls all returned to their compartment, they found, to their amazement, that somebody not only had been there, but was still occupying the best chair in the room--somebody so totally unlike anyone they had ever seen that they felt as if they must be dreaming. An old woman, so powdered and rouged as to conceal her real age, dressed in an ill-fitting, long, black dress and gray bonnet, gazed at them as they entered. Doris, who was the first to enter the room, immediately jumped to the conclusion that this was the new lieutenant. But Marjorie and Lily, who knew that this was not the case, were at their wits end for an explanation. “How do you do!” said Doris, politely. The woman eyed her critically, with a scowl on her face. “You the Girl Scouts?” she asked, in a shrill, unpleasant voice. “I’m Miss Proctor, your new lieutenant.” The other girls had all pressed into the compartment, and stood with wide open eyes, listening with horror to the woman’s announcement. Doris continued as spokesman for the party. “Yes,” she said, “Mrs. Remington wrote that we might expect you.” “Well, here I am! And look here--you’re all going to walk the chalk-line! No more foolin’ with boys, as long as I’m your boss! And no card-playing! To bed every night at nine o’clock!” The girls heard these words with increasing anger; inwardly they all felt a rising hostility. It was Alice, however, who impulsively voiced the sentiment of the group. “And you actually expect to go to the ranch with us?” she blurted out, in an insolent tone. “You!” “Those are your captain’s orders!” replied Miss Proctor. “The captain has gone mad!” cried the girl, completely losing control of herself. Marjorie and Lily, however, who knew that no such person as Miss Proctor existed, began to guess that someone was playing a practical joke on them. Marjorie decided to find out, if possible, while still keeping the other girls in the dark as to the real situation. So she struck upon a bold plan. “Are you sure,” she began sarcastically, “that you are old enough to be a lieutenant, Miss Proctor?” The other scouts opened their mouths in speechless amazement at the audacity of such a speech from Marjorie Wilkinson. Could this be the same girl who was always so courteous and polite, especially with older people? But if they were surprised at the girl’s question, they were dumbfounded at the old woman’s reply. “Don’t get fresh!” she snapped, in a voice suspiciously youthful. “And have you passed your examination?” continued Marjorie, calmly. “Certainly I have! The captain gave it to me herself!” “Can you do the semaphore alphabet?” “Watch me!” cried the old lady, springing quickly to her feet, and displaying for a second two very mannish shoes. “A--B--C--” she began, waving her arms in illustration. Marjorie held up her hand. “I believe you--that will do,” she said, suppressing a smile. Then, with a sly wink at Lily,