interest enough in
the young man to be "scrappy." "What do you suppose we have seen, Chess?"

"I'd like to know first of all how you came here without a boat?"

"My goodness, yes!" gasped Helen. "I'd almost forgotten about Wonota and
Totantora."

Ruth shook her head. "I am not likely to forget that," she said.

She explained to the young man as they got into the launch and he pushed
out from the shore about the difficulty that had arisen over the Indians.
He was naturally deeply interested in Ruth's trouble and in the fate of
the Indians. But on top of that Helen eagerly told about the speedy
launch, the yellow lady, and their suspicions regarding what was going on
at the island that they had nicknamed the Kingdom of Pipes.

"I tell you what," Chess said, quite as eagerly as Helen, "I was coming
over to take you all for a sail on the river to-night. Let's get Tom and
just us four keep watch on that island. I believe there is something
going on there that ought to be looked into."

"I--I don't know that it is our business to look into it," suggested
Ruth, doubtfully.

But for once Helen agreed with Chess, and against Ruth's better judgment
it was determined to come back to this locality after dinner and lurk
about the mysterious island in the Copley launch.

CHAPTER XVIII

BILBY'S TRUMP CARD

Naturally, Ruth went in search of Mr. Hammond the moment she landed on
the island where the moving picture company was established. But, as she
saw that the _Gem_ was not at the dock, she scarcely expected to find the
president of the company at hand--and in that expectation she was not
mistaken.

Mr. Hooley, the director, however, told her what he knew about the
occurrence that had started Totantora so madly from the island in the
canoe. Bilby and whoever it was that backed him in his enterprise were
evidently determined to obtain the services of Wonota, the Osage
princess, if it could be brought about.

"Looks to me," said the director, "as though we were going to have some
trouble finishing this picture, Miss Fielding."

"We can't finish it without Wonota!" cried the girl.

"You don't think you could rewrite the remaining scenes so that we can
keep on to the conclusion?" he asked thoughtfully.

"Why, Mr. Hooley! How about the throne-room scene? Wonota must appear in
that. You say yourself that we cannot use anybody in her place."

"How about cutting out that scene? Finish the play on this side of the