ss Ruth is thinking of singing that song. Ruth
believes in Wonota."

"If I could carry the tune," her chum said, more lightly. "We'll talk of
that later, Mr. Hammond."

"Oh, I would give you first chance, Miss Ruth," said the producer. "By
the way," and he turned to his desk. "I brought mail from the town. Here
are several letters for you, Miss Ruth, and one for Miss Cameron."

The girls began to open their letters as soon as they reached their room.
But it was Helen's single epistle that created the most excitement.

"It's from Carrie Perrin," she said to Ruth. Then, in a moment, she
uttered a cry that drew Ruth's full attention. "Listen to this! What do
you know about this, Ruth?"

"What is it, my dear?" asked her chum, in her usual composed manner.

"Just think of that!" cried Helen, in tears. "And I have treated him so
hatefully. He'll never forgive me in this world, I suppose. It is about
Chess," she sobbed, and handed her chum the letter.

CHAPTER XXV

THE HEART'S DESIRE

"And what do you think of this, Nell? I've wormed out of Bill Kenmore the
truth about that mean joke the boys played on us last spring when we were
all at Jennie Stone's. Excuse! I suppose I should say Madame Marchand's.
To think of Heavy Stone being an old married woman now!

"Well, Bill Kenmore always did have a crazy streak--and he wasn't
shell-shocked in France, either. You remember the time you went away down
town in answer to a telegram, thinking it was somebody who needed you
very much, and you walked into that place and found the boys all dressed
up and ready to give you the 'ha, ha!'?

"I know it got you awfully mad--and I don't blame you. Chess was there, I
know. But he didn't even know what the row was all about. Bill engineered
the whole thing, and he thinks still that it was an awfully good joke.
His ideas of humor must have originated in the Stone Age.

"I made him tell me all about it, he thinking I would be amused. Then I
turned him right out of our parlor and told him not to call again. I hear
that he thinks I am a regular cat!

"But who wouldn't be cattish with a fellow who has no more sense? Anyhow,
we know the truth now. Perhaps Chess Copley is not very sharp, but I
couldn't think of his doing anything really mean. So now you know. If
Chess is up there at the Thousand Islands you can tell him from me, at
least, that 'all is forgiven.' Sounds like a newspaper personal, doesn't
it?"