Ruth Fielding on Cliff Island; Or, The Old Hunter's Treasure Box

t glimpse of

a cloud behind them as they topped the hill. Here Mary Cox had met Rut

e chums were determined to save the western girl from that

hill. Down the slope the Ark coasted an

irls?" called Madge Steel

at the big senior. "Don't you dare try to spare me, Miss! I am get

d. That was the best way to treat M

egan to call a welcome to four girls who were walking briskly down the w

croaked Old Dolliver, bringi

e lame girl-just a mite. Then the two parties of scho

y sharp-looking, and the other two balanced each other evenly, both being more

rfax; of course, the red-haired one was Mary Cox, "The Fox," w

" she whispered. "I arrived just this morning myself. You know that my br

tation of friendship for Ruth; but they did not yet know all t

ody indiscriminately, and of course perf

aughed. "And you're all looking fine, too. But it do

d Helen Cameron, shaking her head and staring at th

a time. I was allowed to drink the water two eggs were boiled in for lunch, and to-nigh

nn quite as warmly as they did the others. There was an ai

ey cast more than glances at the eight juniors who were already such

n infant there?"

ade her a Sweetbriar alre

to fish for members," decla

our cat's got!" responded one

" crowed another. "There certainly will be somethi

elen, and Mercy, and Jinny, take that quartette room on our oth

will agree," said

way ahead of me in your

in sleeping, and in fun,"

" said Helen, calling her by

ul, dreadful name!" gr

nds. Let's agree how we shall introduce Miss

dear," said Helen, patting the western gir

a silly reason. But you know what all these girls will do to '

Ann Hicks' sensible-sounding enough? For sure, it's not pretty; but we

en you haven't got either

-when you get used to it. 'Ann Hicks.' Something dignified and fine about it

t they looked appreciation

cried Helen, hugging he

Jane,'" admitted the western girl with

the year before. "'Ann Hicks,' I bet you've got a daguerreotype at home of the gentle old soul for

s, "you have already arranged a very fanciful family tree

the original Ann-as Mary described her-whenever you feel like exploding. H

what you girls call the 'wild and woolly,' and to ha

h, about whom she had been hovering ever since they had met. "I want

squeezing her. "What is

ulders. "Listen! I promised to ask you the minute you a

uella, clapping her hands, evidently b

ere there for part of the summer. And there will be a great lodge built by Christmas time and he has told me I might invite you al

land?" ga

Lake Ta

ther has jus

. They had to evict an old squatter. I want you all to come with me for

very kind of you, Belle. But I'll have to write home first,