The Ruth Fielding Series #11-20

Ruth is puzzled over the behavior of Rebecca Frayne, who refuses to wear a powder blue tam-o'-shanter like the rest of the Freshman Class.  Rebecca's behavior quickly brands her as a outcast.

Later, an accident causes the train to break into two parts, and a burned-out bridge causes Ruth's part of the train to be stranded.  The delay costs Ruth's group quite a bit of time, and they reach Arizona long after Edie Phelps arrives.  Ruth and her friends are shocked to learn that Edie met their friend, Ann, at the station and left with her and their guide.  Ruth's group is forced to find a new guide.  Ruth decides that Edie wanted to arrive at the mining camp before Ruth—but why?

Ruth continues her work at home with the Red Cross and is soon transferred to the state headquarters.  Ruth is concerned when she discovers that a woman, Mrs. Mantle, who had previously been very critical of the Red Cross, now works for the Red Cross in an important position.

One day, Ruth is walking along a road when a strange note is dropped from a plane.  The note states, "Don't believe everything you hear."  It is written in Tom Cameron's handwriting.  Ruth realizes that Tom must be in on some secret mission in German territory.

Once the ship departs, Ruth meets a German lady named Irma Lentz who speaks of the Americans with scorn.  That evening, Ruth overhears Ms. Lentz speaking in German to a crew member, and their conversation sounds suspicious.  Ruth takes her suspicions to the captain of the ship, but the man makes fun of her.  Later, Ruth realizes that the captain told Ms. Lentz and many other people of Ruth's suspicions, causing Ruth to be ostracized as a troublemaker.

Soon, Ruth joins Mr. Hammond and his film company in Maine where they are making Ruth's latest film.  Mr. Hammond is disappointed to learn that Ruth's scenario is missing and comments that he must search for another one to use.  He offers five hundred dollars cash to anyone who can produce a usable script.  Ruth reads some of the scripts that are submitted to Mr. Hammond and is shocked when she recognizes her story.

Ruth believes that Wonota would be successful in the moving pictures, so she enlists the help of Mr. Hammond, and a way is found to break Wonota from her contract with Dakota Joe.  Mr. Hammond and Ruth agree that Wonota will be perfect in Ruth's next film.  Filming begins, but Dakota Joe is determined to seek revenge upon Ruth and follows the film company during filming.  Dakota Joe tries several times to injure both Wonota and Ruth.

Meanwhile, both Wonota and her father, Chief Totantora, are now under contract to Mr. Hammond and plan to appear in Ruth's next film, which is to be filmed in the Thousand Islands.  An unscrupulous rival filmmaker, Horatio Bilby, tries to break Wonota and Totantora's contract with Mr. Hammond.  In order to thwart Bilby, the two Indians flee over the border to Canada, and their disappearance adds to the cost of Ruth's film and threatens to halt production completely.

Ruth outright refuses any help from Helen and Tom Cameron.  Soon, a mysterious letter from an attorney arrives.  In the letter, Mr. Mole informs Ruth that someone has offered $100,000 backing for a film company and wishes to be Ruth's partner.  The primary condition is that Ruth is not to learn the name of her benefactor.  Ruth worries about who it could be and hires a lawyer to look into the deal. 

During the journey, Ruth notices two suspicious sailors who act oddly when Ruth is around.  She overhears them speaking about preventing Ruth's films from reaching the United States.  Ruth worries about this unexpected threat, especially after one of the men is discovered in her room.  The men cannot easily be dismissed since the group is in a remote location and their services are needed on the crew.