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

iarwood Hall. Of course, this was the first real opening of the school year since that auspiciou

had been the head, no longer played their tricks. The Fox had grown

d for friendship, kindness, helpfulness, and all its members wore the pretty bad

as Mrs. Tellingham had suggested. But "roughing it"

. She was so much out of her usual element here at Briarwood tha

ks was so big, and blundering. She was taller than most girls of her age, and "raw-boned" like

Ann, big girl though she was, had to take some of the lessons belonging t

olgirl's tongue when it is unbridled. And unless the victim is blessed with eit

r-she was merely co

g quartette-going cheerfully about the term's work. They had interests that t

are for gymnasium work, although there were probably few girls at the school as muscular as herself. Tennis seeme

as quite sure of that. Ruth and the others who had been with them for that all-too-sho

s already a prominent member of the Glee Club. When the girl of the Red Mill sang, Ann Hicks felt her heart t

nor did she like being asked questions about her studies. Those firs

rried books belonging to the primary grade. Ann Hicks had many studies to mak

very tempting-looking box by parcel post. She had been initiated into the meaning of "boxes

r think of it-and he wouldn't know what to buy, anywa

, I bet," cried Heavy, who was on

odies are," urged another girl,

uld send me anything

d had Ann noted it, she would have realized that some of the

de wrapper without seeing that the box had be

rative box

"Nothing less than fa

did not know it. It would have never ente

She raised the cover. Tissue pap

nce

r shouted. One coarse, thoughtless girl seized the cap, pull

more shrilly. Heavy was thun

there was anybody so mean as that

lf-wild pony on the range, until this point, suddenly "l

fancy box it had come in. She struck right and left at the

ghted with the change in the expression of those face

gers was impressed in red upon the cheeks of those neare

give over her pursuit of her tormentors. Fortunately, Ruth herself came running to the spot. She got

course, such a disgraceful thing as a girl slapping another was seldom heard of in Briarwood. Mrs. Telli

"Whatever may have been the temptation, such an exhibition of temper cannot be allowed. I am sure she will not yield

mary grade in the beginning," the ranch girl said, spitefully. "Then I wouldn't hav

had worried her uncle greatly the first time she had done so. Now he

her girls who were always kind to her. She merely shrank fr

girls in a wiser spirit, she knew they would not have sent her the dunce

doing!" muttered Ann, angrily, yet wistfully, too. "I'd like to fling a r

back to the ranch. Nobody made fun of me out there-they didn't dare! And o

Ruth was a little lady-and Helen, too. I knew he wanted me to be th

shootin'! If I stay here I've got a mighty hard row to hoe-and-and I don't beli