side the chauffeur; but the
only occupants of the tonneau were two women.

"We wish to see Miss Fielding," said one of these women, rising and
speaking hastily to the sentinel who had presented arms before the
gateway.

"I shall have to call somebody from inside, Mademoiselle," said the old
territorial who was on guard duty. "There is such a name here, I
believe."

"Never mind calling anybody!" Ruth suddenly exclaimed, springing
forward. "Miss Fielding is here to answer the call. Will you girls
tell me what under the sun you have come here for? I thought you would
know enough to remain safely in Paris!"

"Ruthie!" shrieked Helen Cameron, fairly throwing herself from the
automobile into Ruth's arms. "It is she! It is her! It is her
owniest, owniest self!"

"Hold on," said the second occupant of the automobile tonneau,
alighting more heavily. "Leave a bit for me to fall on, Nell."

"Don't you dare, Heavy Stone!" cried Ruth. "If you fell upon my
frailness----"

"Hush! Tell it not in Gath," cried Jennie sepulchrally. "I have lost
flesh--positively."

"Yes," agreed Helen, quite dramatically. "She barked her knuckle.
Every little bit counts with Heavy, you know."

Ruth welcomed the plump girl quite as warmly as she did her own
particular chum. Immediately the military automobile rolled away. The
visitors both carried handbags.

"How did you come to get here--and where under the sun will you stay?"
Ruth demanded again.

"Now, never mind worrying about us, Martha," Jennie Stone returned.
"We will get along very well. Isn't there a hotel?"

"A hotel? In Clair?" gasped the girl of the Red Mill.
"I--should--say--not!"

"Very well, dear; we'll put up wherever you say," said Helen airily.
"We know you are always a favorite wherever you go, and you must have
loads of friends here by this time."

"The unqualified nerve of you!" gasped Ruth. "But come in. I'll speak
to _Madame la Directrice_ and see what can be done. But how did you
ever get permission to come here?" she repeated.

"It is our furlough. We have earned it. Haven't _you_ earned a
furlough yet?" Helen demanded, making big eyes at her chum.

"It never crossed my mind to ask for one," admitted the girl of the Red
Mill. "But merely your having a furlough would not have won you a
visit so near the front."

"Really?" asked Jennie. "Do you mean to say this _is_ near the battle
line?"

"You'd think so at times," returned Ruth. "Bu