Page:Ruth Fielding at Lighthouse Point.djvu/14

4 Near and far! S. B.—All! Briarwood Hall! Sweetbriars, do or die— This be our battle-cry— Briarwood Hall! That's All!"

With the final word the spot-light winked out and the other lights of the hall flashed on. The assembly of hooded and shrouded figures were revealed. And Helen Cameron, half smiling and half crying, found herself standing upon the platform before her schoolmates who had already joined the secret fraternity known as "The Sweetbriars."

Beside her, and presiding over the meeting, she found her oldest and dearest friend at Briarwood Hall—Ruth Fielding. A small megaphone stood upon the table at Ruth's hand, and its use had precluded Helen's recognition of her chum's voice as the latter led in the ritual of the fraternity. Like their leader, the other Sweetbriars had thrown back their scarlet hoods, and Helen recognized almost all of the particular friends with whom she had become associated since she had come—with Ruth Fielding—the autumn before to Briarwood Hall.

The turning on of the lights was the signal for