he scenario.

CHAPTER XVI

THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG

Those were really strenuous days indeed for Ruth Fielding and her friends
at Briarwood Hall. The class that looked forward to graduating in June was
exceedingly busy.

Had Mrs. Tellingham not made an equitable arrangement in regard to Ruth's
English studies, allowing her credits on her writing, the girl of the Red
Mill would never have found time for the writing of the scenario which all
hoped would ultimately bring a large sum into the dormitory fund.

With faith in her pupil's ability as a writer for the screen, Mrs.
Tellingham had gone on with the work of clearing away the ruins of the
burned building, and had given out contracts for the construction of the
new dormitory on the site of the old one.

The sums already gathered from voluntary contributions paid the bills as
the work went along; but in "The Heart of a Schoolgirl" must lie the
earning power to carry the work to completion.

As each girl of the senior class had special work in English of an
original nature, Mrs. Tellingham announced that Ruth's scenario should
count as her special thesis.

"We will let Mr. Hammond judge it, my dear," the principal said to Ruth.
She was already proud of the girl's achievement in writing "Curiosity,"
for she had now read that first scenario. "If Mr. Hammond declares that
your drama is worthy of production, you shall be marked 'perfect' in your
original English work. That, I am sure, is fair."

In spite of all the studying she had to do, and her work on the scenario
of the five-reel drama, Ruth found time to look after Amy Gregg. Not that
the latter thanked her--far from it! Ruth, however, did what she thought
to be her duty toward the younger girl.

Once Jennie Stone hinted that she suspected Amy of starting the dormitory
fire, but Ruth stopped her with:

"Be careful what you say, Jennie Stone. I am sure you would not want to
set the other girls against little Gregg. She's apt to have a hard time
enough here at Briarwood, at best."

"Her own fault," declared the plump girl.

"Her unfortunate nature, I grant you," said Ruth, shaking her head. "But
don't say anything to make it worse. You'd be sorry, you know."

"Huh! If she deserves to have it known that the fire started in her
room----"

"But you don't know that!" again interrupted Ruth. "And if it chanced to
be so, that's all the more reason why you should not suggest it to the
other girls."

"G