ing her at this
expensive school and furnishing her with clothes and spending money. It
was plain he had never approved of her being away from the mill during
vacations, too.

Uncle Jabez saw no reason for young people "junketing about" and
spending so much time in pleasure, as Ruth's friends did. Boys and girls
learned to work, in his day, between short terms at school. It was all
so different now, that the old man could not be blamed for
misunderstanding.

For a girl to look forward to making a name for herself in the world--to
have a career--to really be somebody--was something of which Uncle Jabez
(and Aunt Alvirah as well) could not fail to disapprove.

Ruth desired to prepare for college, and in time enter a higher
institution of learning. She wished, too, to cultivate her voice, and to
use it in supporting herself later. She knew she could sing; she loved
it, and the instructors at Briarwood encouraged her in the belief that
she had a more than ordinarily fine contralto voice.

Uncle Jabez did not believe in such things. He would never be willing to
invest money in making a singer of his niece. Useless to think of it!

Uncle Jabez had said that girls were of little use in the world,
anyway--unless they settled down to housekeeping. The times Ruth had
been of aid to him were, as he said, "just chancey."

It was of the reward for the return of the missing pearl necklace to
Nettie Parsons' Aunt Rachel, that the girl of the Red Mill was thinking
so continually, while the first days of this term at Briarwood slipped
by. But five thousand dollars would grant Ruth Fielding the independence
she craved!

Ruth and Helen Cameron had discussed the mystery of the pearl necklace
in all its bearings--over and over again. All the "pros" and "cons" in
the case had "been before the house," as Helen said, and it all came to
the same answer: Could it be possible that Queen Zelaya, Roberto's
grandmother, now had in her possession the necklace rightfully the
property of Nettie Parsons' Aunt Rachel?

"That is, she had it," said Ruth, believing fully it was so, "if that
awful man I saw spying on her, has not robbed the old woman and gotten
away with the necklace. You know how he talked that day in the deserted
house to the other Gypsy?"

"I guess I do!" exclaimed Helen. "Could I ever forget a single detail of
that awful time?"

"And where are the Gypsies now?" said Ruth, feelingly. "Ah! _that_ is
the question."

"Uncle Ik