Part 32 (2/2)
”Let's not cry about it,” he whispered. ”That won't get us anywhere, that is sure. But the very first chance we get--”
No chance for escape however was likely to arise while the Gypsy troop were en route. The children could hear the rumble of the vans behind.
Soon Big Jim in his touring car pa.s.sed this first van and shouted to the driver. Then the procession settled into a steady rate of speed and the three little captives had not the least idea in which direction they were headed nor where they were bound.
Back at the old Corner House affairs were in a terrible state of confusion. Linda had returned from her voyage among the neighbors with absolutely no news of the smaller girls. And Agnes had discovered that the silver bracelet was missing.
”It was Tess's day for wearing it, but she did not have it on when she went out to play,” the older sister explained. ”Do you suppose the house has been robbed, Neale O'Neil?”
Neale had been examining closely the piece of paper that Agnes had found stuck to the plate on which she had fed the beggar girl the day before and also the note Mrs. McCall had received purporting to come from Mr. Howbridge's butler. Both were written in blue pencil, and by the same hand without any doubt.
”It's a plot clear enough. And naturally we may believe that it was not hatched by that Miguel Costello, the junkman. It looks as though it was done by Big Jim's crowd.”
”But what have they done with the bairns?” demanded the housekeeper, in horror.
”Oh, Neale! have they stolen Tess and Dot, as well as the silver bracelet?” was Agnes' bitter cry.
”Got me. Don't know,” muttered the boy. ”And what would they want the children for, anyway?”
”Let us find out if any Gypsies have been seen about the house this afternoon,” Agnes proposed. ”You see, Neale. Don't send Linda.”
Linda, indeed, was in a hopeless state. She didn't know, declared Mrs.
McCall, whether she was on her head or her heels!
Neale ran out and searched the neighborhood over. When he came back he had found n.o.body who had set eyes on any Gypsies; but he had heard from Mrs. Pease that Gypsies were camped out of town. The store man had told her so.
”Oh!” gasped Agnes, suddenly remembering. ”I heard about that. Mrs.
Pinkney told me. They are on the Buckshot Road, out beyond where Carrie Poole lives. You know, Neale.”
”Sure I know where the Poole place is,” admitted Neale. ”We have all been there often enough. And I can get the car--”
”Do! Do!” begged Mrs. McCall. ”You cannot go too quickly, Neale O'Neil. And take the police wi' ye, laddie!”
”Take me with you, Neale!” commanded Agnes. ”We can find a constable out that way if we need one. I know Mr. Ben Stryker who lives just beyond the Pooles. And he is a constable, for he stopped the car once when I was driving and said he would have to arrest me if I did not drive slower.”
”Sure!” said Neale. ”Agnes knows all the traffic cops on the route, I bet. But we don't _know_ that the children have gone with the Gypsies.”
”And we never will know if you stand here and argue. Anyway, it looks as though the silver bracelet has been stolen by them.”
”Or by somebody,” granted the boy.
”Ne'er mind the bit bracelet,” commanded the housekeeper. ”Find Tess and Dot. I am going to put on my bonnet and shawl and go to the police station mysel'. Do you children hurry away in the car as you promised.”
It was already supper time, but n.o.body thought of that meal, unless it was Aunt Sarah. When she came down to see what the matter was--why the evening meal was so delayed--she found Linda sobbing with her ap.r.o.n over her head in the kitchen and the tea kettle boiled completely dry.
That was nothing, however, to the condition of affairs at one o'clock that night when Ruth, with Luke and Cecile Shepard, arrived at the old Corner House. They had been delayed at the station half an hour while Ruth telephoned for and obtained a comfortable touring car for her visitors and herself. Agnes did not have to beg her older sister to put in a telephone. After this experience Ruth was determined to do just that.
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