The Corner House Girls Among the Gypsies Part 28

"I guess you don't know us," Tess said doubtfully. "You don't belong in this neighborhood."

"I know you all right," said the boy. "You're the two girls those women sold the basket to. I know you."

"Oh!" gasped Tess.

"The Gypsy ladies!" murmured Dot.

"That's the one. They sold you the basket for forty-five cents. Didn't they?"

"Yes," admitted Tess.

"And it's _ours_," cried Dot. "We paid for it."

"That's all right," said the boy slowly. "But you didn't buy what was in it. No, sir! They want it back."

"Oh! The basket?" cried Tess.

"What you found in it."

The boy seemed very sure of what he was saying, but he spoke slowly.

"They want that silver thing back. It wasn't meant for you. It was a mistake. You know very well it isn't yours. If you are honest--and you told them you were--you will bring it back to them."

"Oh! They did ask us if we were honest," Tess said faintly. "And of course we are. Aren't we, Dot?"

"Why--why-- Do we have to be so dreadful' honest," whispered the smallest Corner House girl, quite borne down with woe.

"Of course we have. Just think of what Ruthie would say," murmured Tess. Then to the boy: "Where are those ladies?"

"Huh?" he asked. "What ladies?"

"The Gypsy ladies we bought the basket from?"

"Oh, _them_?" he rejoined hurriedly, glancing along the street with eagerness. "You go right out along this street," and he pointed in the direction from which he had come. "You keep on walking until you reach the brick-yard."

"Oh! Are they camped there?" asked Tess.

"No. But a man with an automobile will meet you there. He is a man who will take you right to the Gypsy camp and bring you back again. Don't be afraid, kids. It's all right."

He went away then, and the little girls could not call him back. They wanted to ask further questions; but it was evident that the boy had delivered his message and was not to be cross-examined.

"What _shall_ we do?" Tess exclaimed.

"Oh, let's wait. Let's wait till Ruth comes home," cried Dot, saying something very sensible indeed.

But responsibility weighed heavily on Tess's mind. She considered that if the Gypsy women wished their bracelet returned, it was her duty to take it to them without delay. Besides, there was the man in the automobile waiting for them.

Why the man had not come to the house with the car, or why he had not brought the two Gypsy women to the Corner House, were queries that did not occur to the little girls. If Tess Kenway was nothing else, she was strictly honest.

"No," she sighed, "we cannot wait. We must go and see the women now. I will go in and get the bracelet, Dot. Do you want your hat? Mrs.

McCall and Agnes are both away. We will have to go right over and tend to this ourselves."

CHAPTER XXII--EXCITEMENT GALORE

When Agnes Kenway reached the tenement where Maria Maroni resided and found that brisk young person helping in the delicatessen store as she did almost every day during the busy hours and when there was no school, the Corner House girl was surprised; but she was not suspicious.

That is, she was not suspicious of any plot really aimed at the happiness of the Corner House family. She merely believed that the strange boy had deliberately fooled her for an idle purpose.

"Maria Maroni! What do you think?" Agnes burst out. "Who could that boy be? Oh, I'd like to catch him! I'd make him sorry he told me such a story."

"It is too bad you were troubled so, Agnes," said Maria, when she understood all about it. "I can't imagine who that boy could be. But I am glad you came over to see us, never mind what the reason is that brings you."

"A sight you are for sore eyes yet," declared the ponderous Mrs.

Kranz, who had kissed Agnes warmly when she first appeared. "Come the back room in and sit down. Let Ikey tend to the customers yet, Maria.

We will visit with Agnes, and have some tea and sweet crackers."

"And you must tell me of somebody in the row, Mrs. Kranz, who needs these delicacies. Somebody who is ill," said Agnes. "I must not take them home again. And Maria looks altogether too healthy for jelly and chicken broth."

Mrs. Kranz laughed at that. But she added with seriousness: "There is always somebody sick here in the tenements, Miss Agnes. They will not take care themselfs of--no! I tell them warm flannels and good food is better than doctors yet. But they will not mind me." She sighed.

"Who is ill now?" asked Agnes, at once interested. She loved to play "Lady Bountiful"; and, really, the Kenway sisters had done a great deal of good among their poor tenants and others in the row.

"Mrs. Leary. You know, her new baby died and the poor woman," said Maria quickly, "is sick of grief, I do believe."

"Ach, yes!" cried Mrs. Kranz. "She needs the cheerful word. You see her, Miss Agnes. Then she be better--sure!"

"Thank you!" cried Agnes, dimpling and blushing. "Do you really think I can help her?"

"And there is little Susie Marowsky," urged the delicatessen shopkeeper. "That child is fading away like a sick rose. She iss doing just that! If she could have country eggs and country milk--Ach! If we were all rich!" and she sighed ponderously again.

"I'll tell our Ruth about her," said Agnes eagerly. "And I'll see her, too, before I go home. I'll give her the broth, yes? And Mrs. Leary the jelly, bread, and fruit?"

"No!" cried Mrs. Kranz. "The fruit to Dominic Nevin, the scissors grinder. He craves fruit. You know, he cut his hand and got blood poisoning, and it was so long yet that he could not work. You see him, too, Miss Agnes."

So altogether, what with the tea and cakes and the visits to the sick, Agnes was away from the Corner House quite three hours. When she was on her way home she was delayed by an unforeseen incident too.

At the corner of Willow Street not far from the brick-yard a figure suddenly darted into Agnes' path. She was naturally startled by the sudden appearance of this figure, and doubly so when she saw it was the Costello that she knew as the junkman, and whose first name she now believed to be Miguel.

"What do you want? Go away!" cried the girl faintly, backing away from the vehement little man.

"Oh, do not be afraid! You are the honest Kenway I am sure. You have Queen Alma's bracelet," urged the little man. "You will give her to me--yes?"

"I--I haven't it," cried Agnes, looking all about for help and seeing n.o.body near.