I saw Big Jim in town the other day, confessed the girl behind the candy counter the moment Agnes broached the subject. I am awfully afraid of him. I ran all the way home. And I told Mr. Budd, the policeman on this beat, and I think Mr. Budd warned Big Jim to get out of town. There is some talk about getting a law through the Legislature putting a heavy tax on each Gypsy family that does not keep moving. That will drive them away from Milton quicker than anything else. And that Big Jim is a bad, bad man. Why! hes been in jail for stealing.
Oh, my! Hes a regular convict, then, gasped Agnes, much impressed.
Pshaw! said Neale. They dont call a man a convict unless he has been sent to the State prison, or to the Federal penitentiary. But that Big Jim looked to be tough enough, when we saw him down at Pleasant Cove, to belong in prison for life. Remember him, Aggie?
The children did not say anything about a Gypsy man, observed his friend. There were two Gypsy women.
She went on to tell June Wildwood all about the basket purchase and the finding of the silver bracelet. The older girl shook her head solemnly as she said:
I dont understand it at all. Gypsies are always shrewd bargainers. They never sell things for less than they cost.
But they made that basket, Agnes urged. Perhaps it didnt cost them so much as Ruth thinks.
June smiled in a superior way. Oh, no, they didnt make it. They dont waste their time nowadays making baskets when they can buy them from the factories so much cheaper and better. Oh, no!
Crackey! exclaimed Neale. Then they are fakers, are they?
That bracelet is no fake, declared Agnes.
That is what puzzles me most, said June. Gypsies are very tricky. At least, all I ever knew. And if those two women you speak of belonged to Big Jims tribe, I would not trust them at all.
But it seems they have done nothing at all bad in this case, Agnes observed.
Tess and Dot are sure ahead of the game, so far, chuckled Neale in agreement.
Just the same, said June Wildwood, I would not be careless. Dont let the children talk to the Gypsies if they come back for the bracelet. Be sure to have some older person see the women and find out what they want. Oh, they are very sly.
June had then to attend to other customers, and Agnes and Neale walked home. On the way they decided that there was no use in scaring the little ones about the Gypsies.
I dont believe in bugaboos, Agnes declared. Well just tell Ruth.
This she proceeded to do. But perhaps she did not repeat June Wildwoods warning against the Gypsy band with sufficient emphasis to impress Ruths mind. Or just about this time the older Corner House girl had something of much graver import to trouble her thought.
By special delivery, on this evening just before they retired, arrived an almost incoherent letter from Cecile Shepard, part of which Ruth read aloud to Agnes:
and just as Aunt Lorina is only beginning to get better! I feel as though this family is fated to have trouble this year. Luke was doing so well at the hotel and the proprietor liked him. It isnt his fault that that outside stairway was untrustworthy and fell with him. The doctor says it is only a strained back and a broken wrist. But Luke is in bed. I am going by to-morrows train to see for myself. I dont dare tell Aunt Lorina nor even Neighbor. Neighbor Mr. Northrup is not well himself, and he would only worry about Luke if he knew Now, dont you worry, and I will send you word how Luke is just the minute I arrive.
how can I help being anxious? Ruth demanded of her sister. Poor Luke! And he was working so hard this summer so as not to be obliged to depend entirely on Neighbor for his college expenses next year.
Ruth was deeply interested in Luke Shepard had been, in fact, since the winter previous when all the Corner House family were snowbound at the Birdsall winter camp in the North Woods. Of course, Ruth and Luke were both very young, and Luke had first to finish his college course and get into business.
Still and all, the fact that Luke Shepard had been hurt quite dwarfed the Gypsy bracelet matter in Ruths mind. And in that of Agnes, too, of course.
In addition, the very next morning Mrs. Pinkney ran across the street and in at the side door of the Corner House in a state of panic.
Oh! have you seen him? she cried.
Seen whom, Mrs. Pinkney? asked Ruth with sympathy.
Is Buster lost again? demanded Tess, poising a spoonful of breakfast food carefully while she allowed her curiosity to take precedence over the business of eating. That dog always is getting lost.
It isnt Sammys dog, wailed Mrs. Pinkney. It is Sammy himself. I cant find him.
Cant find Sammy? repeated Agnes.
His bed hasnt been slept in! I thought he was just sulky last night. But he is gone !
Well, said Tess, practically, Sammy is always running away, you know.
Oh, this is serious, cried the distracted mother. He has broken open his bank and taken all his money almost four dollars.
My! murmured Dot, it must cost lots more to run away and be pirates now than it used to.