e
fallen from the trees, and the lawn was brown, the sloping front yard of
the Potter house was very attractive. The walks were swept, the last dead
leaf removed, and the big stones at the main gateway were dazzlingly
white-washed.

The jar and rumble of the grist-mill, and the trickle of the water on the
wheel, made a murmurous accompaniment to all the other sounds of life
about the place. From the rear of the old house fowls cackled, a mule sent
his clarion call across the fields, and hungry pigs squealed their prayer
for supper. A cow lowed impatiently at the pasture bars in answer to the
querulous blatting of her calf.

Tom was going on home to change his clothes; but when Ruth saw the fringe
of icicles around the bottoms of his trouser legs, she would not hear to
it.

"You come right in with us, Tom. Helen will drive the car home and get you
a change of clothing. Meanwhile you can put on some of Uncle Jabez's old
clothes. Hurry on, now, children!" and she laughingly drove Tom and Hazel
Gray before her to the porch of the old house, where Aunt Alvirah, having
heard the automobile, met them in amazement.

"What forever has happened, my pretty?" cried the little old lady, whose
bent back and rheumatic limbs made her seem even smaller than she
naturally was. "In the river? Do come in! Bring the young lady right into
the best room, Ruthie. You strip off right before the kitchen fire, Master
Tom. I'll bring you some things to put on. There's a huck towel on the
nail yonder. Oh, my back! and oh, my bones!"

Thus talking, Aunt Alvirah hobbled ahead into the sitting room. The girl
who had fallen into the river was now shivering. Ruth and the old lady
undressed her as quickly as possible, and Aunt Alvirah made ready the bed
with the "fluffy" blankets in the chamber right off the sitting room.

"Do get one of your nighties for her, my pretty," directed Aunt Alvirah.
"She wouldn't feel right sleepin' in one o' _my_ old things, I know."

Ruth was excited. In the first place, as to most girls of her age, a "real
live actress" was as much of a wonder as a Great Auk would have been;
only, of course, Hazel Gray was much more charming than the garfowl!

Ruth Fielding was interested in moving pictures--and for a particular
reason. Long before she had gained the reward for the return of the pearl
necklace to Nettie Parsons' aunt, Ruth had thought of writing a scenario.
This was not a very original thought, for many, many thous