Ruth and her present
companions, Helen and Tom Cameron, took through the hills some distance
beyond the Red Mill and Cheslow, their home town.

They fall into the hands of Gypsies and the two girls are actually held
captive by the old and vindictive Gypsy Queen. Through Ruth's bravery
Helen escapes and takes the news of the capture back to Tom. Later the
grandson of the old Gypsy Queen releases Ruth.

While at the camp Ruth sees a wonderful pearl necklace in the hands of
the covetous old Queen Zelaya. Later, when the girls return to Briarwood,
they learn that an aunt of one of their friends, Nettie Parsons, has been
robbed of just such a necklace.

Ruth, through Mr. Cameron, puts the police on the trail of the Gypsies.
The Gypsy boy, Roberto, is rescued and in time becomes a protege of Mr.
Cameron, while the stolen necklace is recovered from the Gypsy Queen, who
is deported by the Washington authorities.

In the end, the five thousand dollars reward offered by Nettie's aunt
comes to Ruth. She is enriched beyond her wildest dreams, and above all,
is made independent of the niggardly charity of her Uncle Jabez who seems
to love his money more than he does his niece.

Unselfishness was Ruth's chief virtue, though she had many. She could
never refuse a helping hand to the needy; nor did she fear to risk her own
convenience, sometimes even her own safety, to relieve or rescue another.

In the present case, none knew better than Ruth the treacherous currents
of the Lumano. It had not been so many months since she and her uncle,
Jabez Potter, out upon the Lumano in a boat, had nearly lost their lives.
This present accident, that to the young moving-picture actress, was at a
point some distance above the Red Mill.

"If she is carried down two hundred yards farther, Tom, she will be swept
out into mid-stream," declared Ruth, still master of herself, though her
voice was shaking.

"And then--good-night!" answered Tom. "I know what you mean, Ruth."

"She will sink for the last time before the current sweeps her in near the
shore again," Ruth added.

"Oh, don't!" groaned Helen. "The poor girl."

Tom had driven the automobile until it was ahead of the struggling Hazel
Gray. An eddy clutched her and drew her swiftly in toward the bank.
Immediately Tom shut off the power and he and Ruth both leaped out of the
car.

A long branch from an adjacent tree had been torn off by the wind and lay
beside the road. Tom seized this