Part 31 (2/2)
”Who want it back?”
”Those two ladies that sold us the basket,” explained Tess.
”Are they with this bunch of Gypsies?” asked Sammy in surprise. ”I haven't seen them. And I've been here two whole days.”
”How did you come to be a Gypsy, Sammy?” asked Dot with much curiosity.
”Why, I--er--Well, I lost my clothes and my money and didn't have much to eat and that big Gypsy saw me on the road and asked me if I wanted to ride. So I came here with him and he let me stay. And n.o.body does a thing to me. I licked one boy,” added Sammy with satisfaction, ”so the others let me alone.”
”But haven't you seen either of those two ladies that sold us the basket?” demanded Tess, beginning to be worried a little.
”Nope. I don't believe they are here.”
”But that man says they are here,” cried Tess.
”Let's go ask him. I--I won't give that bracelet to anybody else but one of those ladies.”
”Crickey!” exclaimed Sammy. ”Don't feel so bad about it. Course there is a mistake somehow. These folks are real nice folks. They wouldn't fool you.”
The three, Sammy looking very important, went to find Big Jim. He was just as smiling as ever.
”Oh, yes! The little ladies are not to be worried. The women they want will soon come.”
”You see?” said Sammy, boldly. ”It will be all right. Why, these people treat you _right_. I tell you! You can do just as you please in a Gypsy camp and n.o.body says anything to you.”
”See!” exclaimed Tess suddenly. ”Are they packing up to leave? Or do they stay here all the time?”
It was now late afternoon. Instead of the supper fires being revived, they were smothered. Men and women had begun loading the heavier vans.
The tents were coming down. Clotheslines stretched between the trees were now being coiled by the children. All manner of rubbish was being thrown into the bushes.
”I don't know if they are moving. I'll ask,” said Sammy, somewhat in doubt.
He went to a boy bigger than himself, but who seemed to be friendly.
The little girls waited, staring all about for the two women with whom they had business.
”I don't care,” whispered Dot. ”If they don't come pretty soon, and these Gypsies are going away from here, we'll just go back home, Tess.
We _can't_ give them the bracelet if we don't see them.”
”But we do not want to walk home,” her sister said slowly in return.
”And we ought to make Sammy go with us.”
”You try to _make_ Sammy do anything!” exclaimed Dot, with scorn.
Their boy friend returned, swaggering as usual. ”Well, they are going to move,” he said. ”But I'm going with them. That boy--he was the one I licked, but he's a good kid--says they are going to a pond where the fis.h.i.+ng is great. Wish I had my fishpole.”
”But you must come back home with us, Sammy,” began Tess gravely.
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