s a miser and hoards up
valuables just like a magpie."

Helen's father and the Gypsy boy went away then, and the chums had to
possess their souls with patience, and attend strictly to their school
work, until they could hear how the matter turned out.

CHAPTER XXV

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 thoug