Ruth Fielding and the Gypsies; Or, The Missing Pearl Necklace

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

22743

Title

Ruth Fielding and the Gypsies; Or, The Missing Pearl Necklace

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Orphaned Ruth Fielding helps her miserly uncle at the Red Mill when Ben and the mules go missing. She rows across the river to deliver flour but the boat capsizes, leaving her uncle injured. Ruth and her friend Helen are captured by Gypsies led by Queen Zelaya, accused of stealing a pearl necklace. With the help of Tom Cameron and the boy Roberto, the girls escape, identify the thief, and secure a reward that grants Ruth independence.

Summary up to 500 words

In *Ruth Fielding and the Gypsies; Or, The Missing Pearl Necklace* by Alice B. Emerson, the spirited orphan Ruth Fielding faces a series of perilous adventures while living with her gruff uncle, Jabez Potter, at the Red Mill. The story begins when Ruth's hired man, Ben, and the mules vanish. Concerned, Ruth rows across the treacherous Lumano River to deliver flour to Tim Lakeby's store. However, the strong current sweeps her boat onto a hidden reef, capsizing it and injuring her uncle. Ruth and her friend Helen are subsequently captured by a band of Gypsies led by the formidable Queen Zelaya. Imprisoned in a Gypsy van, the girls are accused of stealing a valuable pearl necklace. Ruth, however, suspects the necklace was taken by the Gypsies themselves. While held captive, the girls observe the camp's dynamics, noting that the group is preparing to move and that their guards are becoming careless. Seizing an opportunity during a commotion caused by a kicked horse, Ruth and Helen escape into the woods. They locate a fishing punt and attempt to row away, but a hound on their trail alerts the camp. Just as they are cornered, Roberto, a Gypsy boy who has been living with the Cameron family and has decided to become an American, arrives to help. Roberto leads the girls to safety at the Cameron home. Mr. Cameron reveals that the pearl necklace has been found and identified as stolen by the Gypsies. Queen Zelaya, who entered the country illegally and possesses a criminal record, is to be deported back to Bohemia. The five-thousand-dollar reward for the necklace is deposited in Ruth's name, granting her financial independence. No longer needing her uncle's grudging help for school expenses or clothes, Ruth feels secure in her future. The story concludes with Ruth ready to pursue higher education and assist her friends, while the Gypsy clan is broken up and leaves the area forever.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Adventure
• Fiction