The threat of the old gypsy woman rang in Cora"s ears. She could see her raise that brown finger and hear her say: "If you harm Salvo, harm shall be upon your head." Cora had testified against Salvo. A hat known to belong to a member of the tribe was later found at midnight under Cora"s car, miles from the town where the robbery had been committed. Were they following her?
"Oh, really, I can"t sing to-night," she protested rather lamely. "I have a cold."
The voices on the porch had ceased. Betty was claiming her father for some game. The evening had not been a great success.
"And to-morrow," faltered Walter, "we pa.s.s on. I wish we had decided to stay in the Berkshires, but of course the girls must make the White Mountains," and he fell back in his chair as if overwhelmed. "I fancy Bess is ambitious to climb Mount Washington."
"I possibly could--as well as the others," and Bess flushed at the mention of anything in the flesh-reducing line. "I have always been a pretty fair climber."
"Yes, that"s right," called Jack. "I remember one time Bess climbed in the window at school. A lemon pie had been locked up inadvertently."
"But you ought to see more of Lenox," spoke Betty. "I do wish you would stay--for a few days at least."
"So do I," said Walter with flagrant honesty.
"But the season wanes," remarked Cora, "and we must keep to our itinerary. Now that my machine has been overhauled I antic.i.p.ate a royal run. Betty, can"t you come with us? Mr. Rand says you have been here all summer----"
"And too much is enough," declared the ensnared Walter. "Betty, if you would come we might mount Mount Washington."
"What do you say, papa?"
"Why, go, of course; it would be the very thing for you. And then, don"t you see, I shouldn"t have to give up my job as chaperon," and he clapped his hands on his knees and chuckled with a relish that all enjoyed.
Mr. Rand decided that he would go and take his gorgeous car, and the pretty, bright little Irish Betty! Why, it would be like starting all over again!
Hazel was fingering Cora"s guitar. The chords of the "Gypsy"s Warning"
just floated through the room. Walter hummed, Jack almost whistled, Ed looked the part, but Cora!
Cora, brave, beautiful and capable--Cora jumped up and seemed to find some flowers in the vases absolutely absorbing. Cora did not take any part in rendering even the subdued "Gypsy"s Warning."
CHAPTER XVI
THE DISAPPEARANCE
"But it is lonely, and I think we had best keep close together."
"But I want to----"
"Show Betty how beautiful it is to be lonely. Wallie Pennington, you are breaking your contract. No one was to get----"
"Personal. Oh, all right--take Betty," and Walter emitted a most unmusical brawl. "Of course, you and Ed are keeping the contract. You are doing as you please. Behold Ed now, carrying Cora over a pebble----"
"That"s because Ed loves _me_," declared Jack, "and he is saving Cora"s boots."
"All the same, I simply won"t carry Bess. She might melt in my arms."
The young men were exploring the woods in the White Mountains. The girls were racing about in absolute delight over the ferns, while Mr.
Rand, who had actually taken the "jaunt" from the hotel afoot, sat on a huge stone comparing notes with his muscles, and with the inactive years of discretion and indiscretion.
"They"re like a lot of young animals," he was saying to any one near enough to hear, "and I--I am like something that really ought to know better."
"Just suppose," said Jack to Ed, "that a young deer should spring out just there where Belle and Hazel are sitting. What do you think would be the act?"
"Hazel would try to catch the deer, and Belle would go up a tree. Give me something harder."
"Well, then, suppose a tramp should come along the path and ask Betty for the thing that hangs around her neck. What would happen then?"
"Walter would get mixed up with his trampship. That, too, is easy."
"Cora says we have got to get back to earth in time for the Chelton fair. Now, I never thought that Cora cared about that sort of thing,"
Walter remarked.
"But it"s the home town, and Cora knows her name is on some committee,"
replied Ed. "I guess we will get enough of these wilds in a week. At any rate, all Cora does care for is the car--she would rather motor than eat."
Betty had taken some wild berries to her father. "I say, sis," he pleaded, "can"t we get back? I am stiffening, and you may all have to get together and carry me."
"Are you so tired? Poor dad! I didn"t think the walk was too much.
But you do feel it!" and she sat down on a soft clump of gra.s.s at his feet. "Well, as soon as the girls get their ferns and things they want to take home for specimens, we will start back. If you really are tired, we could get a carriage at the foot of the hill."
"And have you youngsters laugh at me! Never! I would die walking first," and Mr. Rand stretched himself to show how near death he really was. "Now, I tell you, we will all take the bus back. That would be more like it."
This suggestion was rapidly spread among the woodland party, and when the girls did finally consent to desert the growing things and leave a "speck of something for the rabbits to eat," as Jack put it, the start for the hotel was made.
At the foot of the hill, or the opening of the mountain path, an old woman, a gypsy, stood with the inevitable basket on her arm.
"Tell your fortune, lady? Tell you the truth," she called, and actually put her hand out to stop Cora as she was pa.s.sing. "Tell it for a quarter."
"Take a basketful," suggested Ed, sotto voce. "I would like to know what"s going to become of Wallie when we get back to Chelton."
As usual, Walter was helping Betty, who, with her light laugh and equally light step, was making her way over the last stones of the wood way.
"Tell your fortune----"
"Oh, no," called back Mr. Rand, who had stopped to see what was delaying the party. "We don"t need to be told. Here woman," and he threw back a coin, "take this and buy a--new shawl."
All this time the woman was standing directly in Cora"s way. The path was very narrow, and on either side was close brushwood. Cora stepped in the bushes in order to get out to the road, and as she did she stumbled and fell.
In an instant Ed had caught her up, but not before the old woman had peered deep into Cora"s face, had actually moved her scarf as if looking for some mark of recognition.
"I"ll help her up," the woman exclaimed, when she saw that Ed was angry enough to thrust her to the edge of the pathway. "I see a fine fortune in her eyes. They are black, her hair is black, and she has the appearance of the girl who runs an automobile. Oh, yes, I remember!"
and she now turned away satisfied. "These girls ride much. But she--she is their leader!"
"Oh, come," whispered Belle. "I am so frightened. That is one of the gypsies from the beach camp."
Cora had regained her feet, and with a bruised hand was now pa.s.sing along with the others.