"Oh, Ruthie! you never were _that_," Helen hastened to say.

"Oh, yes I was. When I first came to the Red Mill you know Uncle Jabez
only took me in because I was a relative and he felt that he _had_ to."

"But you helped save him a lot of money," cried Helen. "And there was that
Tintacker Mine business. If you hadn't chanced to find The Fox's brother
out there in the wilds of Montana, and nursed him back to health, your
uncle would never have made a penny in _that_ investment."

Helen might have gone on with continued vehemence, had not Ruth stopped
her by saying:

"That makes no difference in my feelings, my dear. Each quarter Uncle
Jabez has had to pay out a lot of money to Mrs. Tellingham for my tuition.
And he has clothed me, and let me spend money going about with you 'richer
folks,'" and Ruth laughed rather ruefully. "I feel that I should not have
allowed him to do it. I should have remained at the Red Mill and helped
Aunt Alvirah----"

"Pooh! Nonsense!" ejaculated Tom, as the spark ignited and the engine
began to rumble.

"You shouldn't be so popular, Ruth Fielding of the Red Mill," chanted
Helen, leaning over to kiss her chum's flushed cheek.

"Look out for the barberries!" cried Ruth.

"I reckon you don't want to spill them, after working so hard to get
them," Tom said, as the automobile lurched forward.