Part 21 (1/2)
”I didn't hear them. I never learned much of the language they use among themselves.”
”Well, we got a tip,” said the boy, ”that the bracelet belonged to this Queen Alma, and that there is a row among the Gypsies over the owners.h.i.+p of it.”
”You don't tell me!”
”I am telling you. We heard so. Say, is that Big Jim a Spaniard? A Spanish Gypsy, I mean?”
”I don't know. Maybe. He looks like a Spaniard, or a Mexican, or an Italian.”
”Yes. I thought he did. He comes of some Latin race, anyway. What is his last name?”
”Why--I--I am not sure that I know.”
”Is it Costello? Did you hear that name while you were with the Gypsies, June?”
”Some of them are named Costello. It is a family name among them I guess. And about that Jim. Do you know that I saw him yesterday driving down Main Street in an automobile?”
”You don't mean it? Gypsies are going to become flivver traders instead of horse swappers, are they?” and Neale laughed.
”Oh, it was a big, seven-pa.s.senger car,” said June. ”Those Gypsies have money, if they want to spend it.”
”Did you ever hear of a Gypsy junkman?” chuckled Neale.
”Of course not. Although I guess junkmen make good money nowadays,”
drawled June Wildwood, laughing too. ”You are a funny boy, Neale O'Neil. Do you want to know anything else?”
”Lots of things. But I guess you cannot tell me much more about the Gypsies that would be pertinent to the bracelet business. We hear that the Costello Gypsies are fighting over the possession of the heirloom--the bracelet, you know. That is why one bunch of them wanted to get it off their hands for a while--and so gave it into the keeping of Tess and Dot.”
”Mercy!”
”Does that seem improbable to you, June?”
”No-o. Not much. They might. It makes me think that maybe the Gypsies have been watching the old Corner House and know all about the Kenways.”
”They might easily do that. You know, they might know us all from that time away back when we brought you home from Pleasant Cove with us.
This is some of the same tribe you were with--sure enough!”
”I know it,” sighed June Wildwood. ”I've been scared a little about them too. But for my own sake. I haven't dared tell Rosa; but pap comes down here to the store for me every evening and beaus me home. I feel safer.”
”The bracelet business has nothing to do with you, of course?”
”Of course not. But those Gypsies might have some evil intent about Ruth and her sisters.”
”Guess they are just trying to use them for a convenience. While that bracelet is in the Corner House no other claimant but those Gypsy women are likely to get hold of it. Believe me, it is a puzzle,” he concluded. ”I guess we will have to put it up to Mr. Howbridge, sure enough.”
”Oh! The Kenways's lawyer?” cried June.
”Their guardian. Sure enough. That is what we will have to do.”