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.