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

he term. Everybody was busy. A girl who did not work, or wh

well enough-save those in the two neighboring quartette rooms in her dormitory building-to accept

first violin with a hope of getting solo parts in time. She loved the instrument, and in the evening

r, and she sang ballads with such feeling, that Ann often was glad it was dark in the room. T

concerts. Other times she would have railed because she could not study. Mer

lt moods. "I'll learn all there is to be learned. I'll stuff my head full. Then, when other

n way to put it

and your legs go wabbly-No person with a bad back and

Alvirah," murmu

t just human!" gas

uman, I think,

was ever called 'Curtis,'" decla

angel somewhere named 'Mercy,'

ack scholar of her class. There was a scholarship to be won,

eclared she was goi

x. "All your spare time is t

hip at table," declared the plump girl, good-natured

se other girls seemed to have some particular object.

er piano playing. That was something that would show out in Bullhide and on the ran

Nor was she contented with the fact that she had begun t

er heart Ann believed she was included in the party because Belle would have b

she honestly possessed. She had never had to think of such things before. In her western home it had never cr

quartette rooms, with Madge Steele, the senior; Madge's brother, Bob

ave the boys," declared He

hen she had agreed to go, if she could

days of the first half. The second half was broken by the Easter va

given out before the holidays. Helen was going to play and Ruth to sing.

a dance at night. The hall had to be trimmed with greens and those girls-of the j

nt to go,"

en. "Of course you

. "Do you see who is going to head the party?

!" snapped Mercy

Ruth, shaking a fin

t Mitchell says or d

" exclai

Miss," said Mary C

spiteful Mercy, "do you call your

ashington," l

they say that somebody wished to change the epitaph on his to

d to tell a fib some

too," excl

a lie. It's awfully hard to be exactly truthful always," said Lluella. "You remem

Tingley. "You fibbed

o much. So-so I took one of my pencils to our teacher and as

"Then teacher said just what I wanted her to say: 'You may inquire in the other

ncil in my hand still, Belle com

dmitted Bel

asked s

you know it!' And I had to say-right off, 'It isn't, and I didn't!'

e had no idea of telling a fib about it. And because she was too proud to say to the teacher in charge that s

riton Lake. Old Dolliver drove one, and his helper manned the other. The English teacher was in cha

tangs. Ann Hicks recognized them before she got into the sleigh.

eak out, and kick, and bite, and act the very Old Boy! Poor

sty air, and the ring of the ponies' hoofs, and the jingle of the bel

hout and song. They were all armed with big shears or sharp knives, bu

on a high branch, the boy slipped, fell, and came down to the ground, hitting each interven

almost fainted. Old Dolliver stooped over the

oke ev'ry bone in his body, I make no

briskly, in the old man's ear. "

rly at Lu

get

ou'd never walk it. I'll

im," jerked out

din' hosses, Miss,"

e can be ridden," declared the

f one on my

uess not!" exclaime

"Whoa-easy! You wouldn't bite me, you know," she croon

he allowed to remain, but there was no saddle.

ll you!" she cried, se

e that ever did it," drawled

of the other girls, Ann Hicks swung herself astride of the dancing pony, dug her h