"Don't you remember this girl, Helen?" asked Ruth, seriously.
"Why! it's the girl who was camping in the snow, isn't it?" said Helen, curiously eyeing the stranger. "How-do?"
But the other was not pleased to allow the situation to develop into merely a well-bred meeting of three former acquaintances. She did not vouchsafe Helen a glance, but said, directing her words toward Ruth:
"I want that vase. It doesn't belong to you."
"Goodness, Ruthie!" put in her chum, for the first time seeing the object in Ruth's hands. "What is that thing?"
"I just dug it up here. It is the Egyptian vase taken from the Ardmore library last year I believe."
"It doesn't matter where it came from. I want it," cried the strange girl, and she stepped forward quickly as though to seize the muddy vase.
But Helen sprang forward and pushed her back.
"Hold on! I guess if Ruth's got it, you'll have to wait and prove property," said Helen. "How about it, Ruth?"
"She must tell us all about it," said Ruth, firmly. "Perhaps I may let her have it—if she tells us the truth."