Part 30 (1/2)
”What has happened now?”
”Have you seen Tess and Dot?”
”Not to-day.”
”I--I mean within a little while? Two hours?”
”I tell you I have not seen them at all to-day. I have been busy right here for Con.”
”Then they are gone! The Gypsies have got them!”
For Agnes, without much logic of thought, had immediately jumped to this conclusion. Neale stared.
”What sort of talk is that, Agnes?” he demanded. ”You know that can't be so.”
”I tell you it is so! It must be so! They got Mrs. McCall and me out of the house--”
”Who did?” interrupted Neale, getting hastily over the fence and taking the girl's hand. ”Now, tell me all about it--everything!”
As well as she could for her excitement and fear, the girl told the story of the boy who had brought her the false message about Maria Maroni, and then about the message Mrs. McCall had received calling her across town.
”It must be that they have kidnapped the children!” moaned Agnes.
”Not likely,” declared the boy. ”The kids have just gone visiting without asking leave. In fact, there was n.o.body to ask. But I see that there is a game on just the same.”
He started hastily for the Corner House and Agnes trotted beside him.
”But where _are_ Tess and Dot?” she demanded.
”How do I know?” he returned. ”I want to find out if there is something else missing.”
”What do you mean?”
”That bracelet.”
”Goodness, Neale! Is it that bracelet that has brought us trouble again?”
”It looks like a plot all right to me. A plot to get you and Mrs.
McCall out of the house so that somebody could slip in and steal the bracelet. Didn't that ever occur to you?”
”Goodness me, Neale!” cried Agnes again, but with sudden relief in her voice. ”If that is all it is I'll be glad if the old bracelet is stolen. Then it cannot make us any more trouble, that is one sure thing!”
CHAPTER XXIII--A SURPRISING MEETING
Tess and Dot Kenway, with no suspicion that anything was awaiting them save the possible loss of the silver bracelet, but otherwise quite enjoying the adventure, walked hurriedly along Willow Street as far as the brick-yard. That they were disobeying a strict injunction in taking the bracelet out of the house was a matter quite overlooked at the time.
They came to the corner and there, sure enough, was a big, dusty automobile, with a big, dark man in the driver's seat. He smiled at the two little girls and Tess remembered him instantly.
”Oh, Dot!” she exclaimed, ”it is the man we saw in this auto with the young Gypsy lady when we were driving home with Scalawag from Mr.