oung lieutenant in
Portland."

"Why should she, providing I grant that you are right?"

"Because he might know her friends and would tell them where she was.
And she doesn't want that known until she has made a reputation. I don't
blame her. If ever I ran away----"

"Ruth! _you_ are not thinking of it, are you?"

"Silly! Of course not. But if I should I wouldn't want to run back home
until I had something to show for my efforts. It may be that way in
Estelle's case. She doesn't want to return like the prodigal son."

"I believe you're entirely wrong," declared Alice. "What I think is that
she perhaps comes of good people. When I say that I don't mean that they
were any better than we are, but that they so regarded themselves, and
would look askance at motion picture players. Well, Estelle doesn't want
to bring any annoyance on her family, and that may be the reason she
doesn't tell much about herself. But as for that young officer's having
seen her, I believe Estelle when she says he is mistaken. Don't you?"

"I don't know what to believe," returned Ruth. "But I'm not going to
worry over it."

"And you won't tell her you don't believe she is what she seems to be?"

"Of course not, you little goose! But I'm going to keep my eyes open.
You know we may be able to give her some good advice. You and I, Alice,
don't meet with near the temptations that assail other girls in this
business, and it's because father is with us all the while. Now Estelle
isn't so fortunate; so I propose that we sort of look after her."

"Oh, I'm very willing to do that."

"And if we see anything that is likely to cause her trouble, we must
shield her from it. That is what I mean by sort of keeping watch over
her. At the same time, I believe that she is not altogether what she
seems. She is hiding something from us--even though we are trying to be
so kind to her. But she doesn't really mean to do it. She is just
afraid, I think."

"And you really believe that lieutenant knows her?"

"He may. At least I think, from what you said, that he is honest in his
belief. But we will watch and wait. We must try to help Estelle in the
hour of trial."

"Of course we will. Now hurry, for they are waiting for us."

"Such a funny thing just happened to me!" cried Estelle to the party of
young folks when they were in the automobile and on the way to the
village. "I was mistaken for some one else."

"What--again?" asked Alice.

"No, the same incid