Ruth Fielding of the Red Mill; Or, Jasper Parloe's Secret

e Wilkins Corners road. And it was very steep and stony-up hill and down dale-with deep ruts in places and other s

after dark. Yet there was a narrow path at the side-just wide enough for Ruth and Docto

one of the men walking ahead with the lights.

d Ruth, earnestly, believing that the

zzle and barked sharply a

se gullies, and we'd miss him, it's s

will miss the place," r

hurried with him, leaving the doctor to come on in the rear.

into the darkness, but through the trees, in the far distance, the girl could see several twinkling lights

n, loudly. "Something d

rt bark and began to scr

lding his own lantern close to the ground. "See how the bank's all torn up? Bet his wh

quickly. "If he is in bad shape, boys, cal

" cried the firs

ted up his voice

murmured Ruth. "I am a

brave girl now. If he is badly hurt he'll nee

e, behind her. "Ye couldn't kill that there Cameron boy, I te

omething sharp to the mean old man; but

d under him, Doctor. He isn't conscious

him up?" querie

e mean to do,"

asper Parloe he was a very bad boy, indeed. She had heard that he was the son of a rich man. While the men were bringing the senseless body

borne by them-a man holding the body under the arms and another by his feet. Bu

e that boy still," m

le; ain't he?" s

bined light might illuminate the spot. Ruth saw that the figure was that of a youth not much older than herself-lean, lo

n murmur. "He has had a hard fall-a

was from this wound, in some moment of consciousness, that he had traced the word "Help" on his

nd twisted enough, brought u

aid one of them; "but it looks to me as though

eron's pulse and now rose quickly. "Lift him carefully upon the stretcher. We will ge

g way to his house," g

Jasper Parloe. "Three miles

ice. "You know we'll not take him so far. My hous

said the fellow, more cheerfu

uld observe the two green lights before the doctor's house. There the men put the str

only an aggravation and vexation of speret. And this here on

r," said Doctor Davison, passing on

ast for her. Before the men picked up the stretcher agai

f the men. "He's a-

Parloe, who was at Tom'

the unconscious boy, and the

he did it! It was Ja

of the wounded boy? Ruth saw that Parloe was looking at her in his sl

lative she had not as yet seen-be the cause of Tom Cameron's injury? The spot where the boy was hurt must have been five miles f

ocession was at the gateway, on either

ss. Reno after one pleading look into the face of the hesitating R

sed and forsaken, was left alone where the two green eye