CHAPTER XXIV
ABOUT "PLAIN MARY"
Mr. Hammond and the actors with him had no idea of the nature of theaccident that had happened to the _Stazy_. From the extreme end of BeachPlum Point they could merely watch proceedings aboard the craft, andwonder what it was all about.
The manager could, however, see through his glasses that Ruth Fielding wasat the wheel. Her face came out clear as a cameo when he focused the operaglasses upon her. And at the change in the girl's expression he marveled.
Those ashore could do nothing to aid the party on the motor-yacht; anduntil it got under way again Mr. Hammond was acutely anxious. It rolled sothat he expected it to turn keel up at almost any moment.
Before the blasts of rain began to sweep across the sea, however, the_Stazy_ was once more under control. At that most of the spectators madefor the camp and shelter. But the manager of the film corporation waitedto see the motor-yacht inside the shelter of Beach Plum Point.
The rain was falling heavily, and not merely in gusts, when Ruth and herfriends came ashore in the small boat. The lamps were lit and dinner wasover at the main camp. Therefore the automobile touring party failed tosee Bella Pike or hear about her arrival. By this time the girl had goneoff to the main dormitory with Mother Paisley, and even Mr. Hammond didnot think of her.
Nor did the manager speak that evening to Ruth about the hermit's scenarioor his interview with the old man regarding it.
The three girls and Aunt Kate changed their clothing in the little shackand then joined the young men in the dining room for a late supper. AuntKate was to stay this night at the camp. There was a feeling of muchthankfulness in all their hearts over their escape from what might havebeen a serious accident.
"Providence was good to us," said Aunt Kate. "I hope we are all properlygrateful."
"And properly proud of Ruthie!" exclaimed Helen, squeezing her chum'shand.
"Don't throw too many bouquets," laughed Ruth. "It was not I that toreJennie's cape out of the propeller. I merely obeyed the skipper'sorders."
"She is a regular Cheerful Grig again, isn't she?" demanded Jennie,beaming on Ruth.
"I have been a wet blanket on this party long enough. I just begin torealize how very unpleasant I have been----"
"Not that, Mademoiselle!" objected Henri.
"But yes! Hereafter I will be cheerful. Life is worth living after all!"
Tom, who sat next to her at table (he usually managed to do that) smiledat Ruth approvingly.
"Bravo!" he whispered. "There are other scenarios to write."
"Tom!" she whispered sharply, "I want to tell you something about that."
"About what?"
"My scenario."
"You don't mean----"
"I mean I know what has become of it."
"Never!" gasped Tom. "Are you--are--you----"
"I am not '_non compos_,' and-so-forth," laughed Ruth. "Oh, there isnothing foolish about this, Tom. Let me tell you."
She spoke in so low a tone that the others could not have heard had theydesired to. She and Tom put their heads together and within the next fewminutes Ruth had told him all about the hermit's scenario and herconviction that he had stolen his idea and a large part of his story fromRuth's lost manuscript.
"It seems almost impossible, Ruth," gasped her friend.
"No. Not impossible or improbable. Listen to what that man on Reef Islandtold me about this hermit, so-called." And she repeated it all to theexcited Tom. "I am convinced," pursued Ruth, "that this hermit couldeasily have been in the vicinity of the Red Mill on the day my manuscriptdisappeared."
"But to prove it!" cried Tom.
"We'll see about that," said Ruth confidently. "You know, Ben told us hehad seen and spoken to a tramp-actor that day. Uncle Jabez saw him, too.And you, Tom, followed his trail to the Cheslow railroad yards."
"So I did," admitted her friend.
"I believe," went on Ruth earnestly, "that this man who came here to liveon Beach Plum Point only three weeks ago, is that very vagrant. It isplain that this fellow is playing the part of a hermit, just as he playsthe parts Mr. Hooley casts him for."
"Whew!" whistled Tom. "Almost do you convince me, Ruth Fielding. But toprove it is another thing."
"We _will_ prove it. If this man was at the Red Mill on that particularday, we can make sure of the fact."
"How will you do it, Ruth?"
"By getting one of the camera men to take a 'still' of the hermit, developit for us, and send the negative to Ben. He and Uncle Jabez must rememberhow that traveling actor looked----"
"Hurrah!" exclaimed Tom, jumping up to the amazement of the rest of theparty. "That's a bully idea."
"What is it?" demanded Helen. "Let us in on it, too."
But Ruth shook her head and Tom calmed down.
"Can't tell the secret yet," Helen's twin declared. "That would spoil it."
"Oh! A surprise! I love surprises," said Jennie Stone.
"I don't. Not when my chum and my brother have a secret from me and won'tlet me in on it," and Helen turned her back upon them in apparentindignation.
After that Ruth and Tom discussed the matter with more secrecy. Ruth saidin conclusion:
"If he was there at the mill the day my story was stolen, and now submitsthis scenario to Mr. Hammond--and it is merely a re-hash of mine, Tom, Iassure you----"
"Of course I believe you, Ruth," rejoined the young fellow.
"Mr. Hammond should be convinced, too," said the girl.
But there was a point that Tom saw very clearly and which Ruth Fieldingdid not seem to appreciate. She still had no evidence to corroborate herclaim that the hermit's story of "Plain Mary" was plagiarized from hermanuscript.
For, after all, nobody but Ruth herself knew what her scenario had beenlike!