FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS
It was not likely that Ruth found it any easier, after this, to attend
strictly to her school duties, but after her conversation with Mrs.
Tellingham she _had_ put forth a greater effort to recover her standing
in her class.
Whether Mrs. Parsons' necklace was found, or not; whether Ruth obtained
a portion of the reward in pay for the information she had lodged, the
girl realized that she had no right to neglect her studies.
She had come to one conclusion at least: whether or no, she would not
break into that fifty dollars Uncle Jabez had given her so unwillingly.
And she would use no more of his money for vacation jaunts, or for
luxuries.
"I must accept his help in gaining my education," she told herself. "But
beyond that, I need not go. I have gone about, and had good times, and
bought many things just as though I really had a right to expect Uncle
Jabez to supply every need.
"No more of that, Ruth Fielding! You prate of wishing to be
independent: be so in any event!"
She was young to come to such a determination; yet Ruth's experiences
since her parents had died were such as would naturally make her
self-assertive. She knew what she wanted, _and she went after it_!
As for the matter of the new gymnasium suit--why! that Ruth gave up
entirely. She decided that she had no business to use Uncle Jabez's
money for it, and of course she could not go into debt for a new
costume.
No matter what the other girls thought, or what they did, _she_ would
have to be content with her old uniform when it came to the exhibition
games.
She did not have the courage yet to tell even Helen of this decision;
nevertheless she was determined to stick to it. At once she had begun to
pick up in recitation marks, and Miss Gould no longer scowled over
Ruth's reports.
The strain of mind had been considerable, however; Ruth had much to make
up in her studies; she wasted no time and began to forge ahead again.
She would not even think of Roberto and Mr. Cameron's search for Queen
Zelaya. Helen was full of the topic, and often tried to discuss it with
Ruth, but the latter put it aside.
She had done all she could (or so she thought) to help restore the
missing pearl necklace to Nettie's aunt. Worrying about it any more was
not going to help a bit.
It seemed too ridiculous to think of _her_ ever obtaining five thousand
dollars--or any part of that generous reward!
So the busy days passed. Helen heard from her father several times, but
although she knew he was in New York, ostensibly buying goods, and that
he had Roberto with him, the gentleman said very little about the other
Gypsies and the missing necklace.
Then one day Mrs. Tellingham sent for Ruth. To be sent for by the
principal never frightened the girl of the Red Mill--much. She stood
well on the principal's books, she knew.
But the lady had called her to discuss nothing about the school work.
She had a letter and a railroad ticket in her hand.
"Tony has telephoned for Dolliver to come for you, Ruth," said Mrs.
Tellingham. "You must go away----"
"Nothing has happened at home? Uncle Jabez--Aunt Alvirah----?"
"Nothing is wrong with them at all, my dear," declared the lady, kindly.
"It is Mr. Cameron. He wants you to come to New York at once. Here is
transportation for you. He will meet your train at the Grand Central
Station."
"Mrs. Parsons' necklace!" gasped Ruth.
"He says something about that--yes," said Mrs. Tellingham. "It is
important for you to come and identify somebody, I believe. You must
tell him that, at this time in the term, you can be spared only a short
time."
All was bustle and confusion for Ruth during the next two hours. Then
she found herself on the train bound for New York. She had a section of
the sleeper to herself, and arrived in the city the next morning at an
early hour.
She was making her toilette, as the electric engine whisked the long
train through the upper reaches of the city, and she marveled at the
awakening Bronx and Harlem streets.
When she came out through the gateway of the trainshed, she saw a youth
standing by, watching the on-coming passengers sharply. But she was
almost upon him, and he had stepped forward, lifting his hat and putting
out a hand to take her bag, before she recognized Roberto, the Gypsy
boy.
But how changed in appearance! Of course, he was still dark of skin, and
his black eyes flashed. But he had removed the gold rings from his ears,
his hair had been trimmed to a proper length, he was dressed smartly in
a gray suit, and wore a nice hat and shoes.
Altogether Roberto was a very handsome youth indeed--more so now than
when he had been a wild boy!
"You do not know me, Miss Fielding?" he said, his eyes twinkling and a
warm blush rising in his cheeks.
"You--you are so changed!" gasped Ruth.
"Yes. Mr. Cameron is a fine man," said the boy, nodding. "I like him. He
do all this for me," and he made a gesture that included his new outfit,
and flashed her another brilliant smile.
"Oh! how it does improve you, Roberto!" she cried.
"_Robert_, if you please," he said, laughing. "_I_ am going to be
American boy--yes. I have left the Gypsy boy forever behind--eh?"
Ruth fairly clapped her hands. "Do you mean all that, Robert?" she
cried.
"Sure!" he said proudly. "I like America. Yes! I have been here now ten
years, and it suit me. And Mr. Cameron say I can go to school and learn
to be American business man. That is better than trading horses--eh?"
"Oh, isn't that fine!" cried the girl of the Red Mill. "Now, where are
you going to take me?"
"To the hotel. Mr. Cameron will wait breakfast for us," declared the
lad, and in ten minutes Ruth was greeting her chum's father across the
restaurant table.
"And I suppose you are just about eaten up with curiosity as to why I
sent for you?" Mr. Cameron asked her, smiling, when Robert had gone out
on an errand.
"Just about, sir," admitted the girl.
"Why, I want to tell you, my dear, that you are likely to be a very
lucky girl indeed. The five thousand dollars reward----"
"You haven't found the necklace?"
"Yes, indeed. That has been found and identified. What I want you for is
so you can identify that old Gypsy, Queen Zelaya. I did not want to
force her grandson to appear against her before the authorities. But you
can do so with a clear conscience.
"Queen Zelaya will be sent back to Bohemia. She has a bad record, and
entered the country secretly some years ago. Your evidence will enable
the Federal authorities to clinch their case, and return the old woman
to the country of her birth.
"It is not believed that she actually stole the pearl necklace, but it
is plain she shared in the proceeds of all the Gypsies' plundering, and
in this case she took the giant's portion.
"We could not prove robbery upon her, but she can be transported, and
she shall be," concluded Mr. Cameron, firmly.
This was what finally happened to Queen Zelaya. Her clan was broken up,
and not one of them was ever seen in the neighborhood of the Red
Mill--or elsewhere in that county--again.
Robert Mazell, as is the Gypsy boy's Americanized name, promises to be
all that he told Ruth he hoped to be--in time. He must begin at the
bottom of the educational ladder, but he is so quick to learn that his
patron, Mr. Cameron, tells Tom, laughingly, that _he_, Tom, will have to
look to his laurels, or the boy from Bohemia will outstrip him.
Having carried out the trailing of the Gypsy Queen at his own expense,
and recovered the necklace privately, Mr. Cameron did not have to divide
the reward offered by Mrs. Rachel Parsons with anybody.
The entire five thousand dollars was deposited in Ruth's name in the
Cheslow Savings Bank. And this happened in time so that Ruth could draw
enough of her fortune to get a new gymnasium costume for the mid-winter
exhibition!
She did not have to use the money Uncle Jabez grudgingly gave her. Her
tuition fees were paid in advance for this year at Briarwood Hall, but
she determined thereafter to pay all her own expenses, at school and
elsewhere.
At last she felt herself to be independent. By going to Mr. Cameron, she
could get money when she wished, without annoying the miller, and for
this situation she was very very thankful.
Her life stretched before her over a much pleasanter path than ever
before. There were kind friends whom she could help in the future, as
they needed help--and that delighted Ruth Fielding.
Her own future seemed secure. She could prepare herself for college and
could gain the education she craved. It seemed that nothing could balk
her ambition in that direction. And so--this seems to be a very good
place indeed in which to bid good-bye for a time to Ruth Fielding of the
Red Mill.
THE END
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
THE RUTH FIELDING SERIES
By ALICE B. EMERSON
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Ruth Fielding was an orphan and came to live with her miserly uncle. By
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or What Became of the Raby Orphans
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The Y. M. C. A. Boys on Bass Island
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The Motor Boys
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The Motor Boys After a Fortune
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End of Project Gutenberg's Ruth Fielding and the Gypsies, by Alice B. Emerson