They spent the whole day delightfully and, tired, scratched, and not a little wind-burned, Ruth tramped home behind Curly in good season for supper at Mrs. Sadoc Smith’s.

She did not tell the boy that the whole outing had been arranged the night before with his grandmother before Ruth herself went to bed.  Curly expected to be “called down,” as he expressed it, by his grandmother when they arrived home.  To his amazement they were met cheerfully and ushered in to a bounteous supper on which Mrs. Smith had expended no little thought and time.

Curly was stricken almost dumb by his grandmother’s generosity and good-nature.  After supper he whispered to Ruth: 

“Say! you’re a wonder, you are, Ruth Fielding.  Never anybody got around Gran the way you do, before.  You’re a wonder!”

Helen and Ann met Ruth in great excitement.  “Where under the sun have you been—­and in that ragged old gym suit?” gasped Helen.

“You look as though your face was burnt.  I believe you’ve been playing hooky, Ruth Fielding!” cried Ann.

“Right the first time,” sighed Ruth, happily.  “Oh, I feel so much better.  And I know I shall sleep like a brick.”

“You mean, a railroad tie, don’t you?” demanded Ann. “That’s a sleeper!”

“Of course we found your note, and we told Miss Brokaw.  But she’s got it in for you just the same,” said Helen, slangily.  “And only guess!”

“Yes!  Guess!  Ruth!  Fielding!” and Ann seized her and danced her about the room.  “You missed it by being absent to-day.”

“Oh, don’t!  Never mind all this!  I’m tired enough.  I’ve walked miles,” groaned Ruth.  “What have I missed?”

“Mr. Hammond is in Lumberton.  He came to see you about the scenario,” Helen eagerly said.

Ruth sat down and clasped her hands, while her cheeks paled.  “It’s a failure!” she whispered.

CHAPTER XIX

GREAT TIMES

That was not so, however, and Helen and Ann soon blurted out the good news: 

“It’s a great success!”

“He’s going to bring up the company next week and make the pictures at the Hall!”

“He’s been with Mrs. Tellingham all the afternoon planning when the pictures shall be taken, and how they shall be taken,” Helen said.  “I guess it’s not a failure!”

“I should say not!” joined in Ann Hicks.

“Oh, girls!”

If it had not been for Ruth’s long day in the open and the fact that her nerves had become much quieter, she could never have forced back the tears of relief that answered so quickly these reassuring words.

Then a great flood of thankfulness welled up in her heart.  She had accomplished something really worth while!  Later, when she saw, on the screen, the story she had written, she was to feel this gratitude and joy again.

She went to bed that night and slept, as she had promised, until Mrs. Sadoc Smith knocked on the door for them all to rise.  She got up with all the oppression lifted from her mind, and wanted to race the other girls to the Hall before breakfast.