“No.  But she’s tall like Ann.”

“And that girl walks queerly.  Did you ever see the like?  Strides along just like a boy—­Oh!”

Out of a cedar clump appeared a crowd of shrieking girls, who began to dance around Amy and her companion, shouting scornful phrases which were bound to make Amy Gregg angry.  But Mary and her friends this time received a surprise.  Amy ran.  Not so the “girl” with her.

This strange individual ran among Amy’s tormentors, tripped two or three of them up, tore down the hair of several, taking the ribbons as trophies, and sent the whole crowd shrieking away, much alarmed and not a little punished.

“It isn’t a girl!” gasped Helen.  “It’s Curly Smith.  And as sure as you live he’s got on some of Ann’s clothes. Won’t our Western friend be furious at that?”

But Ann Hicks was not troubled at all.  She had lent Curly the frock and hat, and when he behaved himself and walked properly he certainly made a very pretty girl.

He gave Amy’s enemies a good fright, and they let her alone after that.

“But, goodness me! what is Briarwood Hall coming to?” demanded Ruth, in discussing this incident with her room-mates.  “We are leaving a tribe of young Indians here for Mrs. Tellingham to control.  Helen! you know we never acted this way when we were in the lower grades.”

“Well, we were pretty bad sometimes,” Helen said slowly.  “We did not engage in free fights, however.”

“They all ought to have a good spanking,” declared Ann, with conviction.

“And I suppose you seniors ought to do it?” sneered Amy, who could not be gentle even with her own friends.

“I’m not convinced that I sha’n’t begin with you, my lady,” said the Western girl, sharply.  “I lent those old duds of mine to Curly to help you out, and you are about as grateful as a poison snake!  I never saw such a girl in my life before.”

CHAPTER XVIII

THE FIVE-REEL DRAMA

There was a spark of romance in old Mrs. Sadoc Smith, after all.  Ruth read to her the first part of “The Heart of a Schoolgirl” and to further the continuation and ultimate successful completion of that scenario, the old lady would have done much.

Curly looked upon Ruth with awe.  He was a devotee of the moving pictures, and every nickel he could spare went into the coffers of one or the other of the “picture palaces” in Lumberton.  Lumberton was a thriving city, with both water-freight and railroad facilities besides its mills and lumber interests; so it could well support several of the modern houses of entertainment that have sprung up in such mushroom growth all over the land.

Mr. Hammond’s films taken at Lumberton were of an educational nature and the Board of Trade of the city expected much advertising of the industries of the place when the films were released.