Many of the pictures were to be taken at Briarwood Hall.  Mrs. Tellingham, on behalf of the dormitory fund, was to have a certain interest in the profits of the production.  These legal and technical matters Ruth had nothing to do with.  She was able, with an untrammeled mind, to go on with the actual work of writing the 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.”

“Goodness, Ruth! you are so funny.”