Ruth Fielding Down East

Ruth Fielding Down East, by
Alice B. Emerson

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Title: Ruth Fielding Down East Or, The Hermit of Beach Plum Point
Author: Alice B. Emerson

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RUTH FIELDING DOWN EAST
Or
The Hermit of Beach Plum Point
by
ALICE B. EMERSON
Author of "Ruth Fielding of the Red Mill," "Ruth Fielding at Sunrise
Farm," "Ruth Fielding Homeward Bound," Etc.
Illustrated

[Illustration: TOM CAST ASIDE HIS SWEATER AND PLUNGED
INTO THE TIDE. Ruth Fielding Down East Page 113]

New York Cupples & Leon Company Publishers

Books for Girls
BY ALICE B. EMERSON
RUTH FIELDING SERIES
12mo. Cloth. Illustrated.

RUTH FIELDING OF THE RED MILL
RUTH FIELDING AT BRIARWOOD HALL
RUTH FIELDING AT SNOW CAMP
RUTH FIELDING AT LIGHTHOUSE POINT
RUTH FIELDING AT SILVER RANCH
RUTH FIELDING ON CLIFF ISLAND
RUTH FIELDING AT SUNRISE FARM
RUTH FIELDING AND THE GYPSIES
RUTH FIELDING IN MOVING PICTURES
RUTH FIELDING DOWN IN DIXIE
RUTH FIELDING AT COLLEGE
RUTH FIELDING IN THE SADDLE
RUTH FIELDING IN THE RED CROSS
RUTH FIELDING AT THE WAR FRONT
RUTH FIELDING HOMEWARD BOUND
RUTH FIELDING DOWN EAST
CUPPLES & LEON CO., PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK.
Copyright, 1920, by Cupples & Leon Company
Ruth Fielding Down East
Printed in U. S. A.

CONTENTS
I. THE WIND STORM 1
II. THE MYSTERY OF IT 7
III. THE DERELICT 14
IV. THE CRYING NEED 22
V. OFF AT LAST 29
VI. "THE NEVERGETOVERS" 35
VII. MOVIE STUNTS 43
VIII. THE AUCTION BLOCK 52
IX. A DISMAYING DISCOVERY 67
X. A WILD AFTERNOON 77
XI. MR. PETERBY PAUL--AND "WHOSIS" 86
XII. ALONGSHORE 95
XIII. THE HERMIT 104
XIV. A QUOTATION 113
XV. AN AMAZING SITUATION 122
XVI. RUTH SOLVES ONE PROBLEM 129
XVII. JOHN, THE HERMIT'S, CONTRIBUTION 136
XVIII. UNCERTAINTIES 144

XIX. COUNTERCLAIMS 152
XX. THE GRILL 159
XXI. A HERMIT FOR REVENUE ONLY 171
XXII. AN ARRIVAL 180
XXIII. TROUBLE--PLENTY 186
XXIV. ABOUT "PLAIN MARY" 193
XXV. LIFTING THE CURTAIN 199

RUTH FIELDING DOWN EAST
CHAPTER I
THE WIND STORM
Across the now placidly flowing Lumano where it widened into almost
the proportions of a lake just below the picturesque Red Mill, a bank of
tempestuous clouds was shouldering into view above the sky line of the
rugged and wooded hills. These slate-colored clouds, edged with pallid
light, foredoomed the continuance of the peaceful summer afternoon.
Not a breath of air stirred on the near side of the river. The huge old
elms shading the Red Mill and the farmhouse connected with it
belonging to Mr. Jabez Potter, the miller, were like painted trees, so
still were they. The brooding heat of midday, however, had presaged
the coming storm, and it had been prepared for at mill and farmhouse.
The tempest was due soon.
The backyard of the farmhouse--a beautiful lawn of short grass--sloped
down to the river. On the bank and over the stream itself was set a
summer-house of fair proportions, covered with vines--a cool and
shady retreat on the very hottest day of midsummer.

A big robin redbreast had been calling his raucous weather warning
from the top of one of the trees near the house; but, with her back to the
river and the coming storm, the girl in the pavilion gave little heed to
this good-intentioned weather prophet.
She did raise her eyes, however, at the querulous whistle of a striped
creeper that was wriggling through the intertwined branches of the
trumpet-vine in search of insects. Ruth Fielding was always interested
in those busy, helpful little songsters.
"You cute little thing!" she murmured, at last catching sight of the
flashing bird between the stems of the old vine. "I wish I could put you
into my scenario."
On the table at which she was sitting was a packet of typewritten sheets
which she had been annotating, and two fat note books. She laid down
her gold-mounted fountain pen as she uttered these words, and then
sighed and pushed her chair back from the table.
Then she stood up suddenly. A sound had startled her. She looked all
about the summer-house--a sharp, suspicious glance. Then she tiptoed
to the