n about. The sheets had been
typewritten and were now sealed in a manila envelope, which was addressed
and stamped.

She hesitated all day about dropping the packet in the mailbag; but now
she took her courage in both hands and determined to send it to its
destination.

CHAPTER VIII

A NEW STAR

Ruth had actually been trying her "prentice hand," as Mr. Hammond had
called it, at the production of a moving picture scenario. It was the
first literary work she had ever achieved, although her taste in that
direction had been noted by Mrs. Tellingham and the under-instructors of
the school.

Oh! she would not have had any of them know what she had done in secret
since arriving at the Hall at the beginning of this term. She would not
let even Helen know about it.

"If it is a success--if Mr. Hammond produces it--_then_ I'll tell them,"
Ruth said to herself. "But if he tells me it is no good, then nobody shall
ever know that I was so foolish as to attempt such a thing."

Even after she had it all ready she hesitated some hours as to whether or
not she should send it to the address Mr. Hammond had given her. The
pamphlet he had promised to send her had not arrived, and Ruth had little
idea as to how a scenario should be prepared She had written much more
explanatory matter than was necessary; but she had achieved one thing at
least--she had been direct in the composition of her scenario and she had
the faculty of saying just what she meant, and that briefly. This concise
style was of immense value to her, as Ruth was later to learn.

Ruth managed to slip the big envelope addressed to Mr. Hammond into the
mailbag in the hall without spurring Helen's curiosity again. She had to
chuckle to herself over it, for it really was a good joke on her chum.

Unconsciously, Helen had given her the idea for this little allegorical
comedy which she had written. And how her friend would laugh if the
picture of "Curiosity" should be produced and they should see it on the
screen.

The girls crowded into the big dining room in an orderly manner, but with
some suppressed whispering and laughter on the part of the more giggling
kind. There were always some of the girls so full of spirits that they
could not be entirely repressed.

The long tables quickly filled up. There were few beginners at this time
of year, for most of the new scholars came to Briarwood Hall at the
commencement of the autumn semester.

There was one new g