CHAPTER PAGE

I. Not in the scenario                        1
II.  The film heroine                           9
III.  At the red mill                           18
IV.  A time of change                          28
V.  “That’s A promise”                        36
VI.  What is ahead?                            46
VII.  “Sweetbriars all”                         52
VIII.  A new star                                60
IX.  The devouring element                     67
X. Gaunt ruins                               76
XI.  One thing the old doctor did              84
XII.  “Great oaks from little acorns grow”      90
XIII.  The idea is born                         100
XIV.  At Mrs. Sadoc smith’s                    108
XV.  A dawning possibility                    117
XVI.  The cat out of the bag                   125
XVII.  Another of Curly’s tricks                134
XVIII.  The five-reel drama                      141
XIX.  Great times                              153
XX.  A cloud arises                           161
XXI.  Hunting for Amy                          168
XXII.  Disaster threatens                       176
XXIII.  Putting one’s best foot forward          183
XXIV.  “Seeing ourselves as others see us”      190
XXV.  Aunt Alvirah at Briarwood hall           201

RUTH FIELDING IN MOVING PICTURES

CHAPTER I

NOT IN THE SCENARIO

“What in the world are those people up to?”

Ruth Fielding’s clear voice asked the question of her chum, Helen Cameron, and her chum’s twin-brother, Tom.  She turned from the barberry bush she had just cleared of fruit and, standing on the high bank by the roadside, gazed across the rolling fields to the Lumano River.

“What people?” asked Helen, turning deliberately in the automobile seat to look in the direction indicated by Ruth.

“Where?  People?” joined in Tom, who was tinkering with the mechanism of the automobile and had a smudge of grease across his face.

“Right over the fields yonder,” Ruth explained, carefully balancing the pail of berries.  “Can’t you see them, Helen?”

“No-o,” confessed her chum, who was not looking at all where Ruth pointed.

“Where are your eyes?” Ruth cried sharply.

“Nell is too lazy to stand up and look,” laughed Tom.  “I see them.  Why! there’s quite a bunch—­and they’re running.”

“Where?  Where?” Helen now demanded, rising to look.

“Oh, goosy!” laughed Ruth, in some vexation.  “Right ahead.  Surely you can see them now?”

“Oh,” drawled Tom, “sis wouldn’t see a meteor if it fell into her lap.”

“I guess that’s right, Tommy,” responded his twin, in some scorn.  “Neither would you.  Your knowledge of the heavenly bodies is very small indeed, I fear.  What do they teach you at Seven Oaks?”