April 17, 2025 • 10 mins
When the Outdoor Girls arrive for their lakeside camping trip, they find their shack destroyed and mysteries abound. Who is sneaking around their campsite? And what secrets does the mountain woman hold?
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Dot Org The Outdoor Girls Around the Campfire by Laura
Lee Hope, The Old Maid of the Mountains. Rather early
the next morning, although the girls did their best to
dissuade them, Frank and Will declared that they must be
getting back to Deepdale. If we expect to come up
(00:21):
for the weekend, said Will, we'll have to work hard
for the next two or three days. So the girls
were forced to let them go, accompanying them quite a
little distance along the rough Woods road that led to
the main highway a mile or two further on. If
you girls need provisions or anything, Frank told them just
before they said goodbye, there are several prosperous farms a
(00:44):
little further on that could supply you with fresh milk
and eggs and butter. See you, later, added Well, swinging
his bicycle into position, adding for Betty's special benefit. And
next time we come, we'll bring Alan along. Be sure
you do, said Molly, wickedly. Betty is simply pining away.
(01:04):
Then the girls turned back to camp once more, feeling
rather lonesome. They did wish the boys could have stayed.
I guess we might as well pull down this thing,
said Betty, eyeing the tent, which they had erected on
the first night of their stay in the woods. We
have a real tent now, and when the boys come
up for the weekend, they'll have that big one of
Roy's with them. So down came the tarpaulin. Although the
(01:28):
girls had almost as much difficulty in dismantling of the
improvised tent as they had had in erecting it, at
last it was down, however, and they set about making
the camp as neat as possible. This done, they wandered
through the woods trying to find if there were any
camp in the neighborhood which might harbor tramps. They found none,
(01:48):
and they finally returned to camp more mystified than before.
That night, Around the campfire, the prettiest one they had
yet made, Betty cautioned them that the best thing they
could do would be to put this scare about tramps
out of their minds. There's no use ruining our whole summer,
she said. The chances are, even if there are tramps about,
(02:12):
they don't mean to annoy us. We haven't any jewelry
or valuables that they might hope to steal, and they
will probably be only too glad to give us a
wide berth. That's what I say, agreed Molly heartily. It's
up to us to say whether we're going to let
such a foolish thing ruin our fun. I, for one,
don't intend to nor, I said Amy stoutly. Now that
(02:34):
I'm here, I'm going to have the time of my life. Good,
said Betty, patting Amy's hand encouragingly. That's the way to talk.
And now, will you put some more wood on the fire, Gracy,
I feel like telling some stories, all right, agreed Grace,
with a glance into the black shadows of the woodland
beyond the dancing light of the fire. Tell as many
(02:56):
as you like, as long as they're not ghost stories.
And so after this, the outdoor Girls did really make
a determined effort to forget all about the possibility of
tramps lurking in the neighborhood and set about as only
they knew how to crowd each day to the brim
with fun. They made several trips through the woods to
(03:17):
a nearby farmhouse for supplies, and on one of these
trips they decided not to stop at the farmhouse, but
to hike a little further on up into the hills.
They had never been so far away from camp before,
and it was with a feeling of adventure that they
started to climb a miniature mountain into the denser woodland beyond.
Oh it's lovely up here, said the little captain. The
(03:40):
higher up you get, the better the air becomes fine,
agreed Grace, adding as she came abreast of Betty, what's
that over there, little captain, doesn't it look like smoke?
The girls gazed in the direction of her pointing finger
and saw that, sure enough, ride above the rise of
the hill, a thin line of smoke was hurling somebody's camp, Maybe,
(04:02):
said Molly, instinctively lowering her voice. Funny thing away out
here in the wilds about the only place you'd expect
to find a camp, I suppose, drawled Grace, but Betty interrupted, cautiously,
pushing them a little further back down the hill. Listen,
she said in a whisper, her eyes bright with eagerness.
Maybe that's the camp of the tramps that we've been
(04:22):
looking for, And if it is, we'll have to be
careful not to let them know we're around. You said something,
Betty Nelson, agreed Grace, beginning to back, still further down
the hill. I vote we get away from here. Nonsense,
said Betty, sharply, but still in a whisper. You can
run away if you want to. But I'm going to
see what that smoke means. Right, you are agreed, Molly,
(04:45):
And together they began cautiously to ascend the hill, Amy
and Grace bringing up the rear. They had almost reached
the top of the hill when someone came suddenly toward
them through the trees, bringing them to a short stop.
And what they saw made them rub their eyes hard
to make sure they were not dreaming. A little old
(05:05):
lady she was, with the figures so slight and thin
it looked as if a breath of wind might blow
it away, and a face that was sweet in spite
of the wrinkles of age. Her head was uncovered, and
her hair curly and snowy white, framed her face softly
and pleasantly. Although she was a little old lady who
looked as though she might have stepped straight out of
(05:27):
a story book, she did not seem to see the
astonished girls at first, but came straight on, head bent
and old feet, faltering uncertainly on the rocky path. Then
Suddenly she looked up and saw them. A thin, blue
veined hand flew to her throat in swift alarm, and
she stared at them silently. Betty, recovering from her surprise,
(05:51):
flew to the old lady's side, taking a wrinkled old
hand in her firm young one, Oh, I'm so sorry
if we startled you, so, the little captain penitently. You see,
we saw the smoke from your fire, and we thought, Oh,
were you coming to see me? Asked the little old lady,
a light springing to her eyes. I'm glad. I've been
(06:13):
very lonesome lately. Do come up, DearS and rest yourselves.
You look very worn. And so she turned, retracing her steps,
and evidently taking it as a matter of course that
the girls would follow her, Betty ran forward, catching the
old lady's arm and helping her over the rough places,
meanwhile sending an urgent look of command over her shoulder
(06:34):
to the still amazed girls. The look said, more plainly
than words, if you dare tell this old soul we
didn't come on purpose to see her, I'll murder you all.
We'll play the game, Molly called, as though in response
to spoken words, and Betty nodded contentedly. Their queer little
hostess caught nothing of this byplay. She was seemingly too
(06:56):
intent upon not stumbling over the stones and tree stumps
that dotted her front yard. Some day, she said, in
quaint apology, I'm going to have all these rocks and
logs removed, But you see, I'm not strong enough to
do it myself. At this pathetic admission, Betty felt a
strong desire to take the frail little person in her
(07:17):
arms and tell her it was all right who minded
a few sticks and stones. Anyway, midway of the clearing
there stood a little cabin badly in need of paint
and repairs. And it was from the chimney of this
small abode that the smoke was pouring in a thin spiral,
the smoke which had first worn the girls of human presence.
(07:37):
The little old lady swung wide her door with a
gesture as grand as though she were welcoming her guests
to a palace. Come in, she said, adding with a
sigh as they obeyed, I wish I had some refreshments
to offer you, young ladies, but the fact is I
have nothing left in the house. I was on my way,
she added hastily, as though the girls might misconstrue her
(07:59):
care confession to lay in some more supplies when I
met you. They stayed with their queer little hostess for
the better part of an hour, and before the time
had passed they had fallen hopelessly in love with her.
She was sweet and quaint and pathetically eager that they
should enjoy themselves. The girls, growing more and more interested
(08:20):
as they came to know her better, skillfully drew her out,
leading her to talk about herself. This she did with
a frankness that was disarming. They call me the old
maid of the mountains. The good people around here, she confessed,
as though she took real pride in the title. Sometimes
they come to see me, although often they are too
(08:40):
busy with their own affairs to bother about a little
old woman. Although she added bravely, as though once more
afraid that the girls might be led to pity her,
I am not oft and lonesome. I have my work.
You see work, repeated Betty vaguely. Somehow it seemed impossible
that this frail little cree creature was able to work. Yes,
(09:02):
returned the little old lady, interpreting her puzzled. Look, I
do needle work, a great deal of it, though she
added with a sigh, it is hard for me to
do it lately. My eyes are not as good as
they were. Take care of your eyes in your youth,
my DearS, she finished, looking around at them earnestly, and
never whatever you do cry. The girls, rather amazed at
(09:24):
this command, could find nothing to say. However, this made
little difference, as the old lady once started, seemed glad
enough to have somebody to talk to. She rambled on
and on while the girls listened eagerly. Suddenly, with a
quick look at the clock, she started to her feet.
Mercy me, she exclaimed, in dismay. It is getting late,
(09:45):
my DearS, and I must get to the farm and
back before nightfall. I hope you'll pardon me, but it
takes me such a long long time. She sighed again,
and patiently reached for her shawl. When she tottered and
grasped the edge of the t table for support, the
girls realized how really weak and feeble she was. I
(10:06):
do believe was Betty's shocked thought that she's actually hungry. Aloud,
she said, with the special irresistible manner that she reserved
for very old people. You're going to stay just where
you are. I'll run and get what you need. End
of Chapter seventeen.
Dot Org The Outdoor Girls Around the Campfire by Laura
Lee Hope, The Old Maid of the Mountains. Rather early
the next morning, although the girls did their best to
dissuade them, Frank and Will declared that they must be
getting back to Deepdale. If we expect to come up
(00:21):
for the weekend, said Will, we'll have to work hard
for the next two or three days. So the girls
were forced to let them go, accompanying them quite a
little distance along the rough Woods road that led to
the main highway a mile or two further on. If
you girls need provisions or anything, Frank told them just
before they said goodbye, there are several prosperous farms a
(00:44):
little further on that could supply you with fresh milk
and eggs and butter. See you, later, added Well, swinging
his bicycle into position, adding for Betty's special benefit. And
next time we come, we'll bring Alan along. Be sure
you do, said Molly, wickedly. Betty is simply pining away.
(01:04):
Then the girls turned back to camp once more, feeling
rather lonesome. They did wish the boys could have stayed.
I guess we might as well pull down this thing,
said Betty, eyeing the tent, which they had erected on
the first night of their stay in the woods. We
have a real tent now, and when the boys come
up for the weekend, they'll have that big one of
Roy's with them. So down came the tarpaulin. Although the
(01:28):
girls had almost as much difficulty in dismantling of the
improvised tent as they had had in erecting it, at
last it was down, however, and they set about making
the camp as neat as possible. This done, they wandered
through the woods trying to find if there were any
camp in the neighborhood which might harbor tramps. They found none,
(01:48):
and they finally returned to camp more mystified than before.
That night, Around the campfire, the prettiest one they had
yet made, Betty cautioned them that the best thing they
could do would be to put this scare about tramps
out of their minds. There's no use ruining our whole summer,
she said. The chances are, even if there are tramps about,
(02:12):
they don't mean to annoy us. We haven't any jewelry
or valuables that they might hope to steal, and they
will probably be only too glad to give us a
wide berth. That's what I say, agreed Molly heartily. It's
up to us to say whether we're going to let
such a foolish thing ruin our fun. I, for one,
don't intend to nor, I said Amy stoutly. Now that
(02:34):
I'm here, I'm going to have the time of my life. Good,
said Betty, patting Amy's hand encouragingly. That's the way to talk.
And now, will you put some more wood on the fire, Gracy,
I feel like telling some stories, all right, agreed Grace,
with a glance into the black shadows of the woodland
beyond the dancing light of the fire. Tell as many
(02:56):
as you like, as long as they're not ghost stories.
And so after this, the outdoor Girls did really make
a determined effort to forget all about the possibility of
tramps lurking in the neighborhood and set about as only
they knew how to crowd each day to the brim
with fun. They made several trips through the woods to
(03:17):
a nearby farmhouse for supplies, and on one of these
trips they decided not to stop at the farmhouse, but
to hike a little further on up into the hills.
They had never been so far away from camp before,
and it was with a feeling of adventure that they
started to climb a miniature mountain into the denser woodland beyond.
Oh it's lovely up here, said the little captain. The
(03:40):
higher up you get, the better the air becomes fine,
agreed Grace, adding as she came abreast of Betty, what's
that over there, little captain, doesn't it look like smoke?
The girls gazed in the direction of her pointing finger
and saw that, sure enough, ride above the rise of
the hill, a thin line of smoke was hurling somebody's camp, Maybe,
(04:02):
said Molly, instinctively lowering her voice. Funny thing away out
here in the wilds about the only place you'd expect
to find a camp, I suppose, drawled Grace, but Betty interrupted, cautiously,
pushing them a little further back down the hill. Listen,
she said in a whisper, her eyes bright with eagerness.
Maybe that's the camp of the tramps that we've been
(04:22):
looking for, And if it is, we'll have to be
careful not to let them know we're around. You said something,
Betty Nelson, agreed Grace, beginning to back, still further down
the hill. I vote we get away from here. Nonsense,
said Betty, sharply, but still in a whisper. You can
run away if you want to. But I'm going to
see what that smoke means. Right, you are agreed, Molly,
(04:45):
And together they began cautiously to ascend the hill, Amy
and Grace bringing up the rear. They had almost reached
the top of the hill when someone came suddenly toward
them through the trees, bringing them to a short stop.
And what they saw made them rub their eyes hard
to make sure they were not dreaming. A little old
(05:05):
lady she was, with the figures so slight and thin
it looked as if a breath of wind might blow
it away, and a face that was sweet in spite
of the wrinkles of age. Her head was uncovered, and
her hair curly and snowy white, framed her face softly
and pleasantly. Although she was a little old lady who
looked as though she might have stepped straight out of
(05:27):
a story book, she did not seem to see the
astonished girls at first, but came straight on, head bent
and old feet, faltering uncertainly on the rocky path. Then
Suddenly she looked up and saw them. A thin, blue
veined hand flew to her throat in swift alarm, and
she stared at them silently. Betty, recovering from her surprise,
(05:51):
flew to the old lady's side, taking a wrinkled old
hand in her firm young one, Oh, I'm so sorry
if we startled you, so, the little captain penitently. You see,
we saw the smoke from your fire, and we thought, Oh,
were you coming to see me? Asked the little old lady,
a light springing to her eyes. I'm glad. I've been
(06:13):
very lonesome lately. Do come up, DearS and rest yourselves.
You look very worn. And so she turned, retracing her steps,
and evidently taking it as a matter of course that
the girls would follow her, Betty ran forward, catching the
old lady's arm and helping her over the rough places,
meanwhile sending an urgent look of command over her shoulder
(06:34):
to the still amazed girls. The look said, more plainly
than words, if you dare tell this old soul we
didn't come on purpose to see her, I'll murder you all.
We'll play the game, Molly called, as though in response
to spoken words, and Betty nodded contentedly. Their queer little
hostess caught nothing of this byplay. She was seemingly too
(06:56):
intent upon not stumbling over the stones and tree stumps
that dotted her front yard. Some day, she said, in
quaint apology, I'm going to have all these rocks and
logs removed, But you see, I'm not strong enough to
do it myself. At this pathetic admission, Betty felt a
strong desire to take the frail little person in her
(07:17):
arms and tell her it was all right who minded
a few sticks and stones. Anyway, midway of the clearing
there stood a little cabin badly in need of paint
and repairs. And it was from the chimney of this
small abode that the smoke was pouring in a thin spiral,
the smoke which had first worn the girls of human presence.
(07:37):
The little old lady swung wide her door with a
gesture as grand as though she were welcoming her guests
to a palace. Come in, she said, adding with a
sigh as they obeyed, I wish I had some refreshments
to offer you, young ladies, but the fact is I
have nothing left in the house. I was on my way,
she added hastily, as though the girls might misconstrue her
(07:59):
care confession to lay in some more supplies when I
met you. They stayed with their queer little hostess for
the better part of an hour, and before the time
had passed they had fallen hopelessly in love with her.
She was sweet and quaint and pathetically eager that they
should enjoy themselves. The girls, growing more and more interested
(08:20):
as they came to know her better, skillfully drew her out,
leading her to talk about herself. This she did with
a frankness that was disarming. They call me the old
maid of the mountains. The good people around here, she confessed,
as though she took real pride in the title. Sometimes
they come to see me, although often they are too
(08:40):
busy with their own affairs to bother about a little
old woman. Although she added bravely, as though once more
afraid that the girls might be led to pity her,
I am not oft and lonesome. I have my work.
You see work, repeated Betty vaguely. Somehow it seemed impossible
that this frail little cree creature was able to work. Yes,
(09:02):
returned the little old lady, interpreting her puzzled. Look, I
do needle work, a great deal of it, though she
added with a sigh, it is hard for me to
do it lately. My eyes are not as good as
they were. Take care of your eyes in your youth,
my DearS, she finished, looking around at them earnestly, and
never whatever you do cry. The girls, rather amazed at
(09:24):
this command, could find nothing to say. However, this made
little difference, as the old lady once started, seemed glad
enough to have somebody to talk to. She rambled on
and on while the girls listened eagerly. Suddenly, with a
quick look at the clock, she started to her feet.
Mercy me, she exclaimed, in dismay. It is getting late,
(09:45):
my DearS, and I must get to the farm and
back before nightfall. I hope you'll pardon me, but it
takes me such a long long time. She sighed again,
and patiently reached for her shawl. When she tottered and
grasped the edge of the t table for support, the
girls realized how really weak and feeble she was. I
(10:06):
do believe was Betty's shocked thought that she's actually hungry. Aloud,
she said, with the special irresistible manner that she reserved
for very old people. You're going to stay just where
you are. I'll run and get what you need. End
of Chapter seventeen.
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