was reason for that. She was, while in New York, so much taken up
with the part she was playing in "Brighteyes" that she could think of
little else. She saw many things in the stores she wished to buy. Ruth
had advanced Wonota some money on her contract with the Alectrion Film
Corporation. But when it came right down to the point of buying the
things that girls like and long for--little trinkets and articles of
adornment--the Indian girl hesitated.

"Buy it if it pleases you," Ruth said, rather wondering at the firmness
with which Wonota drew back from selecting and paying for something that
cost less than a dollar.

"No, Miss Fielding. Wonota does not need that. Chief Totantora may be
lost to me forever. I should not adorn myself, or think of
self-adornment. No! I will save my money until I can go to that Europe
where the great chief is held a prisoner."

The girls--Helen and Jennie--were both for buying presents for the
Indian girl, as she would not use her own money. But Ruth would not
allow them to purchase other than the simplest souveniers.

"That would spoil it all. Let her deny herself in such a cause--it will
not hurt her," the girl of the Red Mill said sensibly. "She has an
object in life and should be encouraged to follow out her plan for
helping Chief Totantora."

"Maybe he is not alive now," said Helen, thoughtfully.

"I would not suggest that," Ruth hastened to rejoin. "As long as she can
hope, the better for Wonota. And I should not want her to find out that
Totantora has died in captivity, before my picture is finished."

"Whoo!" breathed Jennie. "You sound sort of selfish, Ruthie Fielding."

"For her sake as well as for the sake of the picture," returned the
other practically. "I tell you Wonota has got it in her to be a valuable
asset to the movies. But I hope nothing will happen to make her fall
down on this first piece of work. Like Mr. Hammond, I hope that she will
develop into an Indian star of the very first magnitude."

CHAPTER XIII

DAKOTA JOE MAKES A DEMAND

At first Ruth and her friends did not worry about the presence of
Fenbrook and his Wild West Show in Chicago.

"Just riding past the billboard of the show isn't going to hurt us,"
chuckled Jennie Stone.

It was a fact soon proved, however, that the Westerner had made it his
business in some way to keep track of the movements of Wonota and her
friends. He made this known to them in a most unexpected way, Mr.
Hammond