CHAPTER XXV
THE HEART'S DESIRE
"And what do you think of this, Nell? I've wormed out of Bill Kenmore thetruth about that mean joke the boys played on us last spring when we wereall at Jennie Stone's. Excuse! I suppose I should say Madame Marchand's.To think of Heavy Stone being an old married woman now!
"Well, Bill Kenmore always did have a crazy streak--and he wasn'tshell-shocked in France, either. You remember the time you went away downtown in answer to a telegram, thinking it was somebody who needed youvery much, and you walked into that place and found the boys all dressedup and ready to give you the 'ha, ha!'?
"I know it got you awfully mad--and I don't blame you. Chess was there, Iknow. But he didn't even know what the row was all about. Bill engineeredthe whole thing, and he thinks still that it was an awfully good joke.His ideas of humor must have originated in the Stone Age.
"I made him tell me all about it, he thinking I would be amused. Then Iturned him right out of our parlor and told him not to call again. I hearthat he thinks I am a regular cat!
"But who wouldn't be cattish with a fellow who has no more sense? Anyhow,we know the truth now. Perhaps Chess Copley is not very sharp, but Icouldn't think of his doing anything really mean. So now you know. IfChess is up there at the Thousand Islands you can tell him from me, atleast, that 'all is forgiven.' Sounds like a newspaper personal, doesn'tit?"
* * * * *
Ruth stopped reading there, and looked brightly at her chum.
"What do you think of that?" asked the latter, wiping her eyes.
"Well, my dear, I shouldn't cry about it," said Ruth. "I think it is anoccasion to be joyful."
"But, Chess--"
"Is of a forgiving nature, I think," Ruth said. "At any rate, I would notlet the matter stand between me and a nice boy friend any longer. I couldnever suspect Chess of doing an unkind thing."
"But I have wronged him!" cried Helen, who was, after all, tender-hearted.
"Do you know," said her friend, "I believe you can make it up to him verynicely, if you want to, Helen?"
The _Gem_ returned to the island just at daybreak. The girls ran down tothe dock to meet the returned young men and Willie. Chess Copley had cometo get his own motor-boat, and the report they made of the end of thesmuggling affair was very satisfactory.
The sheriff and his posse in a big motor-boat had gone to the Kingdom ofPipes and relieved Chess of his duty as guardian of the cave. TheChinamen, who were hiding there until they could be shipped into theStates dressed in feminine garments, were all handcuffed, together withthe owner of the launch and Horatio Bilby, and loaded into the sheriff'slaunch.
"And you should have heard Bilby squeal," said Tom. "There is one bad eggwho is likely to pay a considerable penalty for his crimes. He'll not getout of the mess very easy."
"What of the King of the Pipes?" asked Ruth.
"Poor old Charley-Horse Pond," Willie, the boatman, said, "will bedetained as a witness. Already he has got a new name for himself. Heisn't 'King of the Pipes' any longer."
"What do you mean?" Ruth inquired, for she was interested in the queerold man and his fate.
"He told me that he was Major Andre," chuckled Willie. "He is a NumberOne spy. The sheriff knows him well and knows there isn't a mite of harmin him."
Later it came out that the old man had been living on the island for sometime, having found the cave there. The smugglers of opium and the Chinesefound him there and made use of him. But when the court proceedings cameon, Pond was merely used by the prosecution as a witness. Hisharmlessness was too apparent for the court to doubt him.
That particular day had to be a day of rest for Ruth and her friends, forthey had had no sleep the night before. But while they slept Mr.Hammond's representative went in search of Totantora and Wonota and thetwo Osage Indians were brought back to the moving picture camp beforenight.
The work of making the last scenes of "The Long Lane's Turning" was takenup at once, and until the last scene was taken Ruth and her associateswere very busy indeed. The Cameron twins spent most of the ensuing timewith the Copleys and the other summer visitors. And it was noticeablethat Helen was attended by Chess Copley almost everywhere she went.
Tom saw this with some wonder; but he found very little opportunity totalk to Ruth about it. And when he tried to question Helen regarding herchange toward Chess, she quite ignored the subject.
"Looks to me," Tom said to himself, "as though I was shut out in thecold. I wish I hadn't come up here. I might as well be slaving in thatold office. Gee, I'm an unlucky dog!"
For Tom, no more than Helen, could not see that Ruth's attitude towardthe matter of strenuous occupation for a wealthy young man was a fairone. Tom certainly had none of Uncle Jabez Potter's blood in his veins.
The big scene at the end of the picture--the throne room of the Frenchking--was as carefully made as the other parts of the picture had been.And because of Ruth's coaching Wonota did her part so well that Mr.Hooley was enthusiastic--and to raise enthusiasm in the bosom of acase-hardened director is no small matter.
"The Boss is rather sore on the whole business," Hooley said to Ruth. "Ithas been an expensive picture, I admit. We have gone away over the studioestimate.
"But that is not my fault, nor your fault, nor the Indian girl's fault.Mr. Hammond is not to be blamed either, I suppose, for feeling worried.The motion picture business is getting to that stage now where lavishexpenditure must be curtailed. I fancy Mr. Hammond will make onlyfive-reel program pictures for some time. And where will your big featurepictures come in, Miss Fielding?"
"The program pictures are sure-fire, I suppose," the girl admitted. "Butit doesn't take much of a story to make those. Nor does it give the starsas good a chance."
"Well, lean years may be coming. We shall all have to draw in our horns.Remember me, Miss Fielding, if you decide to produce with some otherfirm. I like to work with you, and I have a more or less elastic contractwith the Alectrion Corporation."
Ruth actually did have an idea for the future. It was in embryo as yet.But, as will be seen in the next volume of this series, entitled, "RuthFielding Treasure Hunting; Or, A Moving Picture that Became Real," it ledthe girl of the Red Mill into new fields and drew her and her friendsinto new adventures.
The last scene being completed, Ruth and Helen packed their trunks. ButHelen was to ship hers to the Copley's island up the river, where shewould stay for a week or so before returning to Cheslow. Ruth was goingback to the Red Mill, and after that she was not sure of her movements.
Tom would accompany her home. She was glad of this, for she knew that,once at home, he must of necessity take up his work again with hisfather. Tom Cameron, however, confessed that he "hated" the dry goodsbusiness.
Chess Copley showed his appreciation of Ruth's kindness and friendship ina very pretty way indeed. He came to her secretly with a jeweler's box inhis hand.
"You know, Ruth, you have been just like a sister to me since you havebeen up here. I think as much of you as I do of Sara and Jean--I declareI do! And I know Helen--or--or anybody, won't mind if you wear thislittle trinket. When you wear it remember you've got a good friend whoseinitials are engraved on the inside."
Ruth accepted the present frankly, for she liked Chess. But she did notknow how beautiful the bracelet was until after Copley had disappeared inhis _Lauriette_. It was more costly than Ruth thought a present from thatsource should be.
So, rather doubtful, she said nothing to Tom Cameron about the bracelet,although she wore it. She knew that she would have refused such a presentfrom Tom himself. But, then--there was a difference!
She did not intend to be rushed into any agreement with Tom Cameron thatwould at all interfere with her freedom. She still had her career inmind.
They got back to Cheslow early in July. And how glad Aunt Alvirah was tosee her pretty. As for Uncle Jabez, his interest was in the commercialend of the picture Ruth had made.
"And when do you begin on another of them pictures, Niece Ruth?" headded. "You ain't going to stop now, when there is so much to be made in'em?"
"I do not know exactly what I shall do next," she told him, shaking herhead. "But I think I shall try to make my next picture under differentcircumstances. But as I don't really know, how can I tell you?"
"Never mind, my pretty," put in Aunt Alvirah, "you are here with us now,and that means a lot. You certainly deserve a rest," and the old womanplaced an affectionate hand on Ruth's shoulder.
At this the girl of the Red Mill smiled.
"Maybe I do," she replied, "after all those strenuous happenings on theSt. Lawrence."
THE END
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THE RUTH FIELDING SERIESBy ALICE B. EMERSON
12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid
RUTH FIELDING OF THE RED MILL or Jasper Parole's Secret
RUTH FIELDING AT BRIARWOODHALL or Solving the Campus Mystery
RUTH FIELDING AT SNOW CAMP or Lost in the Backwoods
RUTH FIELDING AT LIGHTHOUSE POINT or Nita, the Girl Castaway
RUTH FIELDING AT SILVER RANCH or Schoolgirls Among the Cowboys
RUTH FIELDING ON CLIFF ISLAND or The Old Hunter's Treasure Box
RUTH FIELDING AT SUNRISE FARM or What Became of the Raby Orphans
RUTH FIELDING AND THE GYPSIES or The Missing Pearl Necklace
RUTH FIELDING IN MOVING PICTURES or Helping the Dormitory Fund
RUTH FIELDING DOWN IN DIXIE or Great Days in the Land of Cotton
RUTH FIELDING AT COLLEGE or The Missing Examination Papers
RUTH FIELDING IN THE SADDLE or College Girls in the Land of Gold
RUTH FIELDING IN THE RED CROSS or Doing Her Bit for Uncle Sam
RUTH FIELDING AT THE WAR FRONT or The Hunt for a Lost Soldier
RUTH FIELDING HOMEWARD BOUND or A Red Cross Worker's Ocean Perils
RUTH FIELDING DOWN EAST or The Hermit of Beach Plum Point
RUTH FIELDING IN THE GREAT NORTHWEST or The Indian Girl Star of the Movies
RUTH FIELDING ON THE ST. LAWRENCE or The Queer Old Man of the Thousand Islands
RUTH FIELDING TREASURE HUNTING or A Moving Picture that Became Real
RUTH FIELDING IN THE FAR NORTH or The Lost Motion Picture Company
RUTH FIELDING AT GOLDEN PASS or The Perils of an Artificial Avalanche
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THE BETTY GORDON SERIESBy ALICE B. EMERSON
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A series of stories by Alice B. Emerson which are bound to make thiswriter more popular than ever with her host of girl readers.
1. BETTY GORDON AT BRAMBLE FARM or The Mystery of a Nobody
At the age of twelve Betty is left an orphan.
2. BETTY GORDON IN WASHINGTON or Strange Adventures in a Great City
In this volume Betty goes to the National Capitol to find her uncle andhas several unusual adventures.
3. BETTY GORDON IN THE LAND OF OIL or The Farm That Was Worth a Fortune
From Washington the scene is shifted to the great oil fields of ourcountry. A splendid picture of the oil field operations of to-day.
4. BETTY GORDON AT BOARDING SCHOOL or The Treasure of Indian Chasm
Seeking the treasure of Indian Chasm makes an exceedingly interestingincident.
5. BETTY GORDON AT MOUNTAIN CAMP or The Mystery of Ida Bellethorne
At Mountain Camp Betty found herself in the midst of a mystery involvinga girl whom she had previously met in Washington.
6. BETTY GORDON AT OCEAN PARK or School Chums on the Boardwalk
A glorious outing that Betty and her chums never forgot.
7. BETTY GORDON AND HER SCHOOL CHUMS or Bringing the Rebels to Terms
Rebellious students, disliked teachers and mysterious robberies make afascinating story.
8. BETTY GORDON AT RAINBOW RANCH or Cowboy Joe's Secret
Betty and her chums have a grand time in the saddle.
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BILLIE BRADLEY SERIESBy JANET D. WHEELER
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1. BILLIE BRADLEY AND HER INHERITANCE or The Queer Homestead at Cherry Corners
Billie Bradley fell heir to an old homestead that was unoccupied andlocated far away in a lonely section of the country. How Billie wentthere, accompanied by some of her chums, and what queer things happened,go to make up a story no girl will want to miss.
2. BILLIE BRADLEY AT THREE-TOWERS HALL or Leading a Needed Rebellion
Three-Towers Hall was a boarding school for girls. For a short time afterBillie arrived there all went well. But then the head of the school hadto go on a long journey and she left the girls in charge of two teachers,sisters, who believed in severe discipline and in very, very plain foodand little of it--and then there was a row! The girls wired for the headto come back--and all ended happily.
3. BILLIE BRADLEY ON LIGHTHOUSE ISLAND or The Mystery of the Wreck
One of Billie's friends owned a summer bungalow on Lighthouse Island,near the coast. The school girls made up a party and visited the Island.There was a storm and a wreck, and three little children were washedashore. They could tell nothing of themselves, and Billie and her chumsset to work to solve the mystery of their identity.
4. BILLIE BRADLEY AND HER CLASSMATES or The Secret of the Locked Tower
Billie and her chums come to the rescue of several little children whohave broken through the ice. There is the mystery of a lost invention,and also the dreaded mystery of the locked school tower.
5. BILLIE BRADLEY AT TWIN LAKES or Jolly Schoolgirls Afloat and Ashore
A tale of outdoor adventure in which Billie and her chums have a greatvariety of adventures. They visit an artists' colony and there fall inwith a strange girl living with an old boatman who abuses her constantly.Billie befriended Hulda and the mystery surrounding the girl was finallycleared up.
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Ruth Fielding on the St. Lawrence; Or, The Queer Old Man of the Thousand Islands Page 25
