d a cross word or really differed much on any subject. Ruth was the
more yielding of the two, perhaps, and it might be that that was why
Helen seemed so to expect her to yield now.

"Of course, Ruthie, we can't disappoint Miss Cox," she said, with
finality. "And after she was so kind to us, too."

"Are you sure she did all that out of simple kindness, Helen?" asked
the girl from the Red Mill, slowly.

"Why! what do you mean?"

"Aunt Alviry says one should never look a gift-horse in the mouth,"
laughed Ruth.

"What _do_ you mean?" demanded her chum.

"Why, Helen, doesn't it seem to you that Mary Cox came out deliberately
to meet us, and for the purpose of making us feel under obligation to
her?"

"For pity's sake, what for?"

"So that we would feel just as _you_ do--that we ought if possible to
attend the meeting of her society?"

"I declare, Ruth Fielding! How suspicious you have become all of a
sudden."

Ruth still laughed. But she said, too: "That is the way it has struck
me, Helen. And I wondered if you did not see her attention in the same
light, also."

"Why, she hasn't asked us to join the Upedes," said Helen.

"I know. And neither has Miss Steele----"

"You seem to have taken a great fancy to that Madge Steele,"
interrupted Helen, sharply.

"I think she is nice looking--and she was very polite," said Ruth,
quietly.

"Well, I don't care," cried Helen. "Miss Cox has shown us much more
kindness. And I promised for us, Ruth. I said we'd attend her club
this evening."

"Well," said her chum, slowly. "It _does_ look as though we would have
to go with Miss Cox, then. We'll tell Miss Steele----"

"I believe your head has been turned by that Madge Steele because she's
a Senior," declared Helen, laughing, yet not at all pleased with her
friend. "And the F. C.'s are probably a fussy crowd. All the teachers
belonging to the club too. I'd rather belong to the Upedes--a real
girls' club without any of the teachers to boss it."

Ruth laughed again; but there was no sting in what she said: "I guess
you have made up your mind already that the Up and Doing Club is the
one Helen Cameron wants to join."

"And the one Ruth Fielding must join, too!" declared Helen, in her old
winning way, slipping her arm through Ruth's arm. "We mustn't go
separate ways, Ruthie."

"Oh, Helen!" cried Ruth. "Don't talk like that. Of course we will
not. But let us be careful about our friendships here."

"W