It was some months afterward. The growing town of Cheslow had long since
developed the moving picture fever, and two very nice theatres had been
built.
One evening in the largest of these theatres an old, gray-faced and
grim-looking man sat beside a very happy, pretty girl and watched the
running off of the seven-reel feature, "The Forty-Niners."
If the old man came in under duress and watched the first flashes on the
screen with scorn, he soon forgot all his objections and sat forward in
his seat to watch without blinking the scenes thrown, one after another,
on the sheet.
It really was a wonderfully fine picture. And thrilling!
"Hi mighty!" ejaculated Uncle Jabez Potter, unwillingly enough and under
his breath in the middle of the picture, "d'ye mean to say you done all
that, Niece Ruth?"
"I helped," said Ruth, modestly.
"Why, it's as natcheral as the stepstun, I swan!" gasped the miller. "I
can 'member hearin' many of the men that went out there in the airly
days tell about what it was like. This is jest like they said it was. I
don't see how ye did it--an' you was never born even, when them things
was like that."
"Don't say that, Uncle Jabez," Ruth declared. "For I saw a little bit of
the real thing. They write me that Freezeout Camp has taken on a new
lease of life. Mr. Phelps says," and she blushed a little, but it was
dark and nobody saw it, "that we are all going to make a lot of money
out of the Freezeout Ledge."
But Uncle Jabez Potter was not listening. He was enthralled again in the
picture of old days in the mining country. It seemed as though, at last,
the old miller was converted to the belief that his grand-niece knew a
deal more than he had given her credit for. To his mind, that she knew
how to make money was the more important thing.
The final flash of the film reflected on the screen passed and Uncle
Jabez and Ruth rose to go. It was dark in the theatre and the girl led
the old man out by the hand. Somehow he clung to her hand more tightly
than was usually his custom.
"'Tis a wonderful thing, Niece Ruth, I allow," he said when they came
out into the lamplight of Cheslow's main street. "I--I dunno. You young
folks seems ter have got clean ahead of us older ones. There's things
that I ain't never hearn tell of, I guess."
Ruth Fielding laughed. "Why, Uncle Jabez," she said, "the world is just
full of such a number of things that neither of us knows much about that
that's what makes it worth living in."
"I dunno; I dunno," he muttered. "Guess you've got to know most of 'em
now you've gone to that college."
"I am beginning to get a taste of some of them," she cried. "You know I
have three more years to spend at Ardmore before I can take a degree."
"Huh! Wal, it don't re'lly seem as though knowin' so _much_ did a body
any good in this world. I hev got along on what little they knocked
inter my head at deestrict school. And I've made a livin' an' something
more. But I never could write a movin' picture scenario, that's true.
And if there's so much money in 'em----"
"Mr. Hammond writes me that he's sure there is going to be a lot of
money in this one. The State rights are bringing the corporation in
thousands. Of course, my share is comparatively small; but I feel
already amply paid for my six weeks spent in Arizona."
This, however, is somewhat ahead of the story. Uncle Jabez' conversion
was bound to be a slow process. When the party returned from the West
the person gladdest to see Ruth Fielding was Aunt Alvirah.
The strong and vigorous girl was rather shocked to find the little old
woman so feeble. She did not get around the kitchen or out of doors
nearly as actively as had been her wont.
"Oh, my back! an' oh, my bones! Seems ter me, my pretty," she said,
sinking into her rocking chair, "that things is sort o' slippin' away
from me. I feel that I am a-growin' lazy."
"Lazy! You couldn't be lazy, Aunt Alvirah," laughed the girl of the Red
Mill.
"Oh, yes; I 'spect I could," said Aunt Alvirah, nodding. "This here
M'lissy your uncle's hired to help do the work, is a right capable girl.
And she's made me lazy. If I undertake ter do a thing, she's there
before me an' has got it done."
"You need to sit still and let others do the work now," Ruth urged.
"I dunno. What good am I to Jabez Potter? He didn't take me out o' the
poorhouse fifteen year or more ago jest ter sit around here an' play
lady. No, ma'am!"
"Oh, Aunty!"
"I dunno but I'd better be back there."
"You'd better not let Uncle Jabez hear you say so," Ruth cried. "Maybe I
don't always know just how Uncle Jabez feels about me; but I know how he
looks at _you_, Aunt Alvirah. Don't dare suggest leaving the Red Mill."
The little old woman looked at her steadily, and there were the scant
tears of age in the furrows of her face.
"I shall be leavin' it some day soon, my pretty. 'Tis a beautiful place
here--the Red Mill. But there is a Place Prepared. I'm on my way there,
Ruthie. But, thanks be, I kin cling with one hand to the happy years
here because of you, while my other hand's stretched out for the feel of
a Hand that you can't see, my pretty. After all, Ruthie, no matter how
we live, or what we do, our livin' is jest a preparation for our dyin'."
Nor was this lugubrious. Aunt Alvirah was no long-visaged, unhappy
creature. The other girls loved to call on her. Helen was at the Red
Mill this summer quite as much as ever. Jennie Stone and Rebecca Frayne
both visited Ruth after their return from Freezeout Camp.
It was a cheerful and gay life they led. There much much chatter of the
happenings at Freezeout, and of the work at the new gold mining camp.
Min Peters' scrawly letters were read and re-read; her pertinent
comments on all that went on were always worth reading and were
sometimes actually funny.
* * * * *
"I wish you could see pop," she wrote once. "I mean Mr. Henry James
Peters. If ever there was a big toad in a little puddle, it's him!
"He's got a hat so shiny that it dazzles you when he's out in the sun.
It's awful uncomfortable for him to wear, I know. But he wouldn't give
it up--nor the white vest and the dinky patent leather shoes he's got on
right now--for all the gold you could name.
"And I'm getting as bad. I sit around in a flowery gown, and there's a
girl come here to work in the hotel that's trimming my nails and fixing
my hands up something scandalous. Man-curing, she calls it.
"But the fine clothes has made another man of pop; and I expect they'll
improve yours truly a whole lot. When we get real used to them, sometime
we'll come East and see you. I can pretty near trust pop already to go
into a rumhole here without expecting to see him come out again
orey-eyed.
"Not that he's shown any dispersition to drink again. He says his
position is too important in the Freezeout Ledge Gold Mining Company for
any foolishness. And I'll tell you right now, he's the only member of
the company now that that Edie girl's gone home that ever is dressed up
on the job. Mr. Phelps works like as though he'd been used to it all his
life.
"Let me tell you. _His_ pop's been out here to see him. 'Looking over
prospects' he called it. But you bet you it was to see what sort of a
figure his son was cutting here among sure-enough men.
"I reckon the old gentleman was satisfied. I seen them riding over the
hills together, as well as wandering about the diggings. One night while
he was here we had a big dance--a regular hoe-down--in the big hall.
"This here big-bug father of Mr. Royal danced with me. What do you know
about that? 'What do you think of my son?' says he to me while we was
dancing.
"Says I: 'I think he's got almost as much sense as though he was borned
and brought up in Arizona. And he knows a whole lot more than most of
our boys does.' 'Why,' says he to me, 'you've got a lot of good sense
yourself, ain't you?' I guess Mr. Royal had been cracking me up to his
father at that.
"Mr. Phelps--the younger, I mean--takes dinner with us most every Sunday;
and he treats me just as nice and polite as though I'd been used to
having my hair done up and my hands man-cured all my life."
* * * * *
This letter arrived at the Red Mill on a day when Jennie and Rebecca
were there, as well as Helen and her twin. There was more to Min Peters'
long epistle; but as Jennie Stone said:
"That's enough to show how the wind is blowing. Why, I had no idea that
Phelps boy would ever show such good sense as to 'shine up' to Min!"
"The dear girl!" sighed Ruth. "She has the making of a fine woman in
her. I don't blame Royal Phelps for liking her."
"I imagine Edie took back a long tale of woe to her father and that he
went out there to 'look over' Min more than he did gold prospects,"
Rebecca said, tartly. "Of course, she's awfully uncouth, and Royal
Phelps is a gentleman----"
"Thus speaks the oracle!" exclaimed Helen, briskly. "Rebecca believes in
putting signs on the young men of our best families who go into such
regions: 'Beware the dog.'"
"Well, he is really nice," complained Rebecca, who could not easily be
cured of snobbishness.
"I hope there are others," announced Tom, swinging idly in the hammock.
"Fishing for compliments, I declare," laughed Jennie, poking him.
"Why, he's des the cutest, nicest 'ittle sing," cooed his sister,
rocking the big fellow in the hammock.
"It's been an awful task for you to bring him up, Nell," drawled Jennie.
"But after all, I don't know but it's been worth while. He's almost
human. If they'd drowned him when he was little and only raised you, I
don't know but it would have been a calamity."
"Oh, cat's foot!" snapped Tom, rising from the hammock with a bound.
"You girls mostly give me a woful pain. You're too biggity. Pretty soon
there won't be any comfort living in the world with you 'advanced
women.' The men will have to go off to another planet and start all over
again.
"Who'll mend your socks and press your neckties?" laughed Ruth from her
seat on the piazza railing.
"Thanks be! If there are no women the necessity for ties and socks will
be done away with. And certain sure most of you college girls will never
know how to do either."
"Hear him!" cried Jennie.
"Infamous!" gasped Rebecca.
"You wait, young man," laughed his sister. "I'll make you pay for that."
But Tom recovered his temper and grinned at them. Then he glanced up at
Ruth.
"Come on down, Ruth, and take a walk, will you? Come off your perch."
The girl of the Red Mill laughed at him; but she did as he asked. "Come
on, I'm game."
"No more walks," groaned Jennie. "I scarcely cast a shadow now I'm
getting so thin. That saddle work in Arizona pulled me down till I'm
scarcely bigger than a thread of cotton."
Ruth and Tom started off to go along the river road, the two who had
first been friends in Cheslow and around the Red Mill. There was a smile
on Ruth's lips; but Tom looked serious. Neither of them dreamed of the
strenuous adventures the future held in store for them, as will be
related in our next volume, entitled "Ruth Fielding in the Red Cross;
or, Doing Her Bit for Uncle Sam."
The other young folks, remaining in the shaded farmyard, looked after
them. Jennie jerked out:
"Mighty--nice--looking--couple, eh?"
Nobody made any rejoinder, but all three of Ruth's friends gazed after
her and her companion.
The couple had halted on the bridge. They were talking earnestly, and
Ruth rested one hand on the railing and turned to face the young man.
His big brown hand covered hers, that lay on the rail. Ruth did not
withdraw it.
"Mated!" drawled Jennie Stone, and the others nodded understandingly.
THE END
THE RUTH FIELDING SERIES
By ALICE B. EMERSON
12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid
RUTH FIELDING OF THE RED MILL
or Jasper Parole's Secret
RUTH FIELDING AT BRIARWOODHALL
or Solving the Campus Mystery
RUTH FIELDING AT SNOW CAMP
or Lost in the Backwoods
RUTH FIELDING AT LIGHTHOUSE POINT
or Nita, the Girl Castaway
RUTH FIELDING AT SILVER RANCH
or Schoolgirls Among the Cowboys
RUTH FIELDING ON CLIFF ISLAND
or The Old Hunter's Treasure Box
RUTH FIELDING AT SUNRISE FARM
or What Became of the Raby Orphans
RUTH FIELDING AND THE GYPSIES
or The Missing Pearl Necklace
RUTH FIELDING IN MOVING PICTURES
or Helping the Dormitory Fund
RUTH FIELDING DOWN IN DIXIE
or Great Days in the Land of Cotton
RUTH FIELDING AT COLLEGE
or The Missing Examination Papers
RUTH FIELDING IN THE SADDLE
or College Girls in the Land of Gold
RUTH FIELDING IN THE RED CROSS
or Doing Her Bit for Uncle Sam
RUTH FIELDING AT THE WAR FRONT
or The Hunt for a Lost Soldier
RUTH FIELDING HOMEWARD BOUND
or A Red Cross Worker's Ocean Perils
RUTH FIELDING DOWN EAST
or The Hermit of Beach Plum Point
RUTH FIELDING IN THE GREAT NORTHWEST
or The Indian Girl Star of the Movies
RUTH FIELDING ON THE ST. LAWRENCE
or The Queer Old Man of the Thousand Islands
RUTH FIELDING TREASURE HUNTING
or A Moving Picture that Became Real
RUTH FIELDING IN THE FAR NORTH
or The Lost Motion Picture Company
RUTH FIELDING AT GOLDEN PASS
or The Perils of an Artificial Avalanche
CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers, New York
THE BETTY GORDON SERIES
By ALICE B. EMERSON
Author of the Famous "Ruth Fielding" Series
12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in full colors
Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid
A series of stories by Alice B. Emerson which are bound to make
this writer more popular than ever with her host of girl readers.
1. BETTY GORDON AT BRAMBLE FARM
or The Mystery of a Nobody
At the age of twelve Betty is left an orphan.
2. BETTY GORDON IN WASHINGTON
or Strange Adventures in a Great City
In this volume Betty goes to the National Capitol to find her
uncle and has several unusual adventures.
3. BETTY GORDON IN THE LAND OF OIL
or The Farm That Was Worth a Fortune
From Washington the scene is shifted to the great oil fields of
our country. A splendid picture of the oil field operations of
to-day.
4. BETTY GORDON AT BOARDING SCHOOL
or The Treasure of Indian Chasm
Seeking the treasure of Indian Chasm makes an exceedingly
interesting incident.
5. BETTY GORDON AT MOUNTAIN CAMP
or The Mystery of Ida Bellethorne
At Mountain Camp Betty found herself in the midst of a mystery
involving a girl whom she had previously met in Washington.
6. BETTY GORDON AT OCEAN PARK
or School Chums on the Boardwalk
A glorious outing that Betty and her chums never forgot.
7. BETTY GORDON AND HER SCHOOL CHUMS
or Bringing the Rebels to Terms
Rebellious students, disliked teachers and mysterious robberies
make a fascinating story.
8. BETTY GORDON AT RAINBOW RANCH
or Cowboy Joe's Secret
Betty and her chums have a grand time in the saddle.
Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue
CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers, New York
THE LINGER-NOT SERIES
By AGNES MILLER
12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in full colors
Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid
This new series of girls' books is in a new style of story
writing. The interest is in knowing the girls and seeing them
solve the problems that develop their character. Incidentally, a
great deal of historical information is imparted.
1. THE LINGER-NOTS AND THE MYSTERY HOUSE
or The Story of Nine Adventurous Girls
How the Linger-Not girls met and formed their club seems
commonplace, but this writer makes it fascinating, and how they
made their club serve a great purpose continues the interest to
the end, and introduces a new type of girlhood.
2. THE LINGER-NOTS AND THE VALLEY FEUD
or The Great West Point Chain
The Linger-Not girls had no thought of becoming mixed up with
feuds or mysteries, but their habit of being useful soon
entangled them in some surprising adventures that turned out
happily for all, and made the valley better because of their
visit.
3. THE LINGER-NOTS AND THEIR GOLDEN QUEST
or The Log of the Ocean Monarch
For a club of girls to become involved in a mystery leading back
into the times of the California gold rush, seems unnatural until
the reader sees how it happened, and how the girls helped one of
their friends to come into her rightful name and inheritance,
forms a fine story.
4. THE LINGER-NOTS AND THE WHISPERING CHARMS
or The Secret from Old Alaska
Whether engrossed in thrilling adventures in the Far North or
occupied with quiet home duties, the Linger-Not girls could work
unitedly to solve a colorful mystery in a way that interpreted
American freedom to a sad young stranger, and brought happiness
to her and to themselves.
Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue
CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers, New York
THE RADIO GIRLS SERIES
BY MARGARET PENROSE
12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in full colors
Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid
A new and up-to-date series, taking in the activities of several
bright girls who become interested in radio. The stories tell of
thrilling exploits, outdoor life and the great part the Radio
plays in the adventures of the girls and in solving their mysteries.
Fascinating books that girls of all ages will want to read.
1. THE RADIO GIRLS OF ROSELAWN
or A Strange Message from the Air
Showing how Jessie Norwood and her chums became interested in
radiophoning, how they gave a concert for a worthy local charity,
and how they received a sudden and unexpected call for help out
of the air. A girl wanted as witness in a celebrated law case
disappears, and the radio girls go to the rescue.
2. THE RADIO GIRLS ON THE PROGRAM
or Singing and Reciting at the Sending Station
When listening in on a thrilling recitation or a superb concert
number who of us has not longed to "look behind the scenes" to
see how it was done? The girls had made the acquaintance of a
sending station manager and in this volume are permitted to get
on the program, much to their delight. A tale full of action and
fun.
3. THE RADIO GIRLS ON STATION ISLAND
or The Wireless from the Steam Yacht
In this volume the girls travel to the seashore and put in a
vacation on an island where is located a big radio sending
station. The big brother of one of the girls owns a steam yacht
and while out with a pleasure party those on the island receive
word by radio that the yacht is on fire. A tale thrilling to the
last page.
4. THE RADIO GIRLS AT FOREST LODGE
or The Strange Hut in the Swamp
The Radio Girls spend several weeks on the shores of a beautiful
lake and with their radio get news of a great forest fire. It
also aids them in rounding up some undesirable folks who occupy
the strange hut in the swamp.
Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue
CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers, New York
End of Project Gutenberg's Ruth Fielding In the Saddle, by Alice B. Emerson