some mighty good-looking girls in this crowd."

"Now I see why they're so anxious to go," laughed Betty. "I don't think
we'd better chance it, girls. They might become so charmed with the
fair gypsy maids that they'd forget our existence."

"I don't think you need worry too much about that," said Allen,
answering the challenge in Betty's eyes. "The only question is whether
we will have eyes to see the charms of the gypsy maids."

"Here! here!" shouted Will. "You're coming on, Allen, you're coming on.
I wish I could reel them off like that. Well, ladies, what day shall we
set for the adventure?"

"To-night," said Betty promptly.

"Good," Frank responded. "Betty has the right idea, all right. To-night
it is!"

So it was settled, and when they parted eyes were bright with the
excitement of the coming adventure.

CHAPTER IV

THE GYPSY ENCAMPMENT

Betty was ready before any one arrived that night. The boys and girls
were to meet at her house and from there go on to the gypsy encampment.

She sat on the porch with a light wrap thrown over one arm and waited
impatiently.

"Oh, why don't they come?" she thought. "The girls said they would be
early, and the boys are always away ahead of time. Oh, here come Grace
and Will, now if the others will only hurry."

"Hello, Betty! Been waiting long?" It was Will's cheery greeting.

"Oh, for hours and hours," said the Little Captain with a sigh. "I'd
begun to think everybody had forgotten all about it. I'm so glad you're
here. You can keep me company anyway."

"Oh, are we the first?" Grace was surprised. "I hurried Will till he
nearly had a fit. Said we would be ahead of everybody else, but I didn't
believe him."

"Some day," said Will in a prophetic voice, "some day, young lady, you
will learn that I _do_ know something."

"Oh, do you really think so?" said Grace, hopefully. "If that day ever
comes, Will, dear, I will be the very first to congratulate you."

"Here come some of the others," Betty cried out. "I can't quite make
them out, but it looks like Roy and Amy and--yes--there's Allen, too.
But who is the other girl? It certainly isn't Mollie. I know her walk
too well."

"No, it isn't Mollie," said Grace, slowly. "Do you know whom it looks
like, Betty?"

"No," said that young person, straining her eyes in the direction of the
newcomers. "Who is it?"

"I'm not sure but it looks like----" Grace paused a moment, then said
with conviction, "I'm right!