“Oh, my back and oh, my bones!  Oh, my back and oh, my bones!”

The housework was all done and the kitchen swept and as neat as a new pin when the gay tooting of the Cameron automobile horn called Ruth to the porch.  There was only Helen on the front seat of the car; but in the tonneau was a bundled-up figure surmounted by what looked to be a scarlet cap which Ruth knew instantly must be Tom’s.  Ruth did not know many boys and, never having had a brother, was not a little bashful.  Besides, she was afraid Tom Cameron would make much of her connection with his being found on the Wilkins Corners road that dark night, after his accident.

And there was another thing that made Ruth feel diffident about approaching the boy.  She had borne it all the time in her mind, and the instant she saw Tom in the automobile it bobbed up to the surface of her thought again.

“It was Jabe Potter—­ he did it.”

So, for more reasons than one, Ruth approached the motor car with hesitation.

“Oh, Ruth!” cried Helen, putting out a gauntleted hand to her.  “So this horrid rain has not washed you away?  You won’t like the Red Mill if the weather keeps this way.  And how do you get on?” she added, lowering her voice.  “How about the Ogre?”

“He has not ground me into bread-flour yet,” responded Ruth, smiling.

“I see he hasn’t.  You’re just as plump as ever, so he hasn’t starved you, either.  Now, Ruth, I want you to know my brother Tom, whom you have met before without his having been aware of it at the time,” and she laughed again.

Tom’s left arm was in a sling, and the scarlet bandage around his head made him look like a pirate; but he grinned broadly at Ruth and put out his lean brown hand.

“When I heard about you, Miss Fielding, I knew you were a spunky one,” he said.  “And anybody that Reno takes to, the way she did to you, is all right.  Besides, Nell is just spoons on you already, and Nell, like Reno, doesn’t take to every girl.”

“The doctor said an outing in the car wouldn’t hurt Tom,” went on Helen, “and we’re going to run up the valley road a way.  Now Ruth Fielding, you get your hat and coat and come with us.”

“I don’t know that I may,” Ruth said, timidly.

“I’ll believe that he is an ogre then, and that you are kept a prisoner in this awful castle,” cried Helen.

“I’d love to go,” murmured Ruth.

“Then run and ask,” urged her friend, while Tom added, good-naturedly: 

“Yes, why not come along?  Don’t be afraid of Nell’s driving.  She handles the car all right.”

Ruth knew that Uncle Jabez had gone to town.  She had a feeling that he did not like the Camerons and might oppose her friendliness with them.  But he was not at hand now to interfere with her innocent pleasures.  She went in and asked Aunt Alvirah if she could take the ride.

“Why not, child?  You’ve been the very best helpmate ever an old woman had—­ Oh, my back and oh, my bones!  Run along and have your fun, deary.  You need not be back till supper time.  You have earned your little outing, that’s sure and sartain.”