She heard a shrill, but low whistle, and the sound made her start and turn. She faced a thicket of scrubby bushes across the road. Suddenly she saw a face appear from behind this screen—a girl’s face.
“Oh! Is it you?” cried Ruth, starting in that direction.
“Cheese it! don’t yell it out. Somebody’ll hear you,” said the girl, hoarsely.
“Oh, dear me! you have a dreadful cold,” urged Ruth, darting around the clump of brush and coming face to face with the strange girl.
“Oh, that don’t give me so much worry,” said the Raby girl. “Aw—My goodness! Is that for me?”
Ruth had unfolded a paper covered parcel she carried. There were sandwiches, two apples, a piece of cake, and half a box of chocolate candies. Ruth had obtained these supplies with some difficulty.
“I didn’t suppose you would have any breakfast,” said Ruth, softly. “You sit right down on that dry log and eat. Don’t mind me. I—I was awake most all night worrying about you being out here, hungry and alone.”
The girl had begun to eat ravenously, and now, with her mouth full, she gazed up at her new friend’s face with a suddenness that made Ruth pause.
“Say!” said the girl, with difficulty. “You’re all right. I seen you come down the path alone, but reckoned I’d better wait and see if you didn’t have somebody follerin’ on behind. Ye might have give me away.”
“Why! I told you I would tell nobody.”