hile Ruth and her friends with Mr. Hammond and his personal
staff would go eastward.

It had been arranged that Wonota should return to the Osage Agency for a
short time. Meanwhile Ruth had promised to try to do another scenario in
which the young Indian girl would have an important part.

Mr. Hammond was enthusiastic, having seen some of the principal scenes
of "Brighteyes" projected. He declared to Ruth:

"She is going to be what our friend the camera man calls 'a knock-out.'
There is a charm about Wonota--a wistfulness and naturalness--that I
believe will catch the movie fans. Maybe, Miss Fielding, we are on the
verge of making one of the few really big hits in the game."

"I think she is quite worthy of training, Mr. Hammond," agreed the girl
of the Red Mill. "When I get to work on the new picture I shall want
Wonota with me. Can it be arranged?"

"Surely. Her contract takes that into consideration. Unless her father
appears on the scene, for the next two years Wonota is to be as much
under your instruction as though she were an apprentice," and he
laughed.

Mention of Chief Totantora did not warn Ruth of any pending event. The
thing which happened was quite unexpected as far as she was concerned.

The westbound train halted at Clearwater one afternoon, while the three
white girls were sitting on the rear platform of their car busy with
certain necessary needlework--for there were no maids in the party. Ruth
idly raised her eyes to see who got off the train, for the station was
in plain view.

"There are two soldiers," she said. "Look! Boys coming home from 'over
there,' I do believe. See! They have their trench helmets slung behind
them with their other duffle. Why----"

She halted. Helen had looked up lazily, but it was Jennie who first
exclaimed in rejoinder to Ruth's observation:

"Dear me, it surely isn't my Henri!"

"No," said Ruth slowly, but still staring, "there is no horizon blue
uniform in sight."

"Don't remind us of such possibilities," complained Helen Cameron with a
deep sigh. "If Tom--"

"It _is_!" gasped Ruth, under her breath, and suddenly the other girls
looked at her to observe an almost beatific expression spread over the
features of the girl of the Red Mill.

"Ruthie!" cried Helen, and jumped up from her seat.

"My aunt!" murmured Jennie, and stared as hard as she could along the
beaten path toward the station.

The two figures in uniform strode toward the special car. One s