Well, he chuckled, if Sammy Pinkney has been carried off by the Gypsies, I sympathize with the Gypsies. I have a very vivid recollection of how much trouble Sammy can make and without half trying.
Now, children, give my note to Ruth. I am very sorry that Luke Shepard is ill. If he does not at once recover it may be well to bring him here to Milton. With his aunt only just recovering from her illness, it would be unwise to take the boy home.
This he said more to himself than to the little girls. Because of their errand Tess and Dot could remain no longer. Ralph unhitched the pony and Tess drove away.
Around the very first corner they spied a dusty, rather battered touring-car just moving away. A big, dark man, with gold hoops in his ears, was driving it. There was a brilliantly dressed young woman in the tonneau, which was otherwise filled with boxes, baskets, a crate of fruit, and odd-shaped packages.
Oh, Tess! squealed Dot. See there!
Oh, Dot! rejoined her sister quite as excitedly. That is the young Gypsy lady.
Oh-oo! moaned Dot. Have we got to give her back this fretful silver bracelet, Tessie?
We must try , declared Tess firmly. Ruth says so. Get up, Scalawag! Come on hurry! We must catch them.
The touring-car was going away from the pony-phaeton. Scalawag objected very much to going faster than his usual easy jog trot unless it were to dance behind a band! He didnt care to overtake the Gypsies motor-car.
And that car was going faster and faster. Tess stopped talking to the aggravating Scalawag and lifted up her voice to shout after the Gypsies.
Oh, stop! Stop! she called. Miss Miss Gypsy! Weve got something for you! Why, Dot, you are not hollering at all!
I Im trying to, wailed the smaller girl. But I do so hate to make Alice give up her belt.
The Gypsy turned his car into a cross street ahead and disappeared. When Scalawag brought the Corner House girls to that corner the car was so far away that the girls voices at their loudest pitch could not have reached the ears of the Romany folk.
Now, just see! Well never be able to give that bracelet back if you dont do your share of the hollering, Dot Kenway, complained Tess.
I I will, promised Dot. Anyway, I will when its your turn to wear the bracelet.
The little girls reached home again at a time when the whole Corner House family seemed disrupted. To the amazement of Tess and Dot their sister Ruth had departed for the mountains. Neale had only just then returned from seeing her aboard the train.
And its too late to stop her, never mind what Mr. Howbridge says in this note, cried Agnes. That foolish Cecile! Here is the second half of her telegraph message, and she read it aloud again:
Until afternoon; will wire you then how he is.
Arrived Oakhurst. They will not let me see Luke until afternoon. Will wire you then how he is.
No more like a girl than it is like a boy, snapped Agnes. Im sure all the brains in the world are not of the masculine gender.
I stand corrected, meekly agreed her friend. Just the same, I dont think that even you, Aggie, would award Cecile Shepard a medal for perspicuity.
Why why , gasped the listening Dot, has Cecile got one of those things the matter with her? I thought it was Luke who got hurt?
You are perfectly right, Dottie, said Agnes, before Neale could laugh at the little girl. It is Luke who is hurt. But this Neale ONeil is very likely to dislocate his jaw if he pronounces many such big words. He is only showing off.
Squelched! admitted Neale good-naturedly. Well, what do you wish done with the car? Shall I put it up? Cant chase Ruths
train in it, and bring her back.
You might chase the Gypsies, suggested Tess slowly. We saw them again Dot and me.
Oh! The Gypsies? What do you think, Neale? I do believe there is something in that fortune-telling business, Agnes cried.
I bet there is, agreed Neale. Money for the Gypsies.
But Agnes repeated what the Gypsy girl had said to Ruth and herself just as the elder Corner House girl was starting for the train.
I saw that Gyp of course, agreed Neale. But, pshaw! she only just guessed . Of course there isnt any truth in what those fortune tellers hand you. Not much!
There was something in that basket they handed Tess and me, said Dot, complacently eyeing the silver girdle on the Alice-doll.
Say! About that bracelet, Aggie, broke in Neale. Do you know what I believe?
What, Neale?
I believe those Gypsies must have stolen it. Then they got scared, thinking that the police were after them, and the women dropped it into the basket the kids bought, believing they could get the bracelet back when it was safe for them to do so.
Do you really suppose that is the explanation?
I am afraid the bracelet is stolen goods. Perhaps the children had better not carry it away from the house any more. Or until we are sure. The police
Mercy me, Neale! you surely would not tell the police about the bracelet?
Not yet. But I was going to suggest to Ruth that she advertise the bracelet in the Milton Morning Post . Advertise it in the Lost and Found column, just as though it had been picked up somewhere. Then let us see if the Gypsies or somebody else comes after it.