y residents of Deepdale, some of whom the
girls recognized.

The roving folk had set forth their wares upon rudely constructed
tables, ready for the first purchaser. Some of the things were truly
beautiful--pieces of rare old lace, chains and chains of many-colored
beads, silver that was polished till it reflected dazzlingly the dancing
firelight. There were rude tents set aside for the telling of fortunes,
and somewhere further back in the camp the wild, sweet strains of a
violin mingled with a man's sweet tenor voice.

"Some of those fellows surely can sing," Frank remarked. "I'd give a
good hundred dollars this minute if I had his voice."

"I wish I could find one for you, Frank," said Grace. "I need the
hundred badly."

The young people spent over an hour wandering about the place, enjoying
to the full the novelty and the romance of it all.

Just as they had about made up their minds that it was time to go home,
Betty, who had exclaimed more than once over the beauty of some of the
young gypsy girls, their beauty being emphasized by the picturesque
clothes they wore, stepped back to look into a tent they had passed a
moment before.

Allen saw his opportunity and was quick to improve it.

"You must be careful how you trot about alone here, Betty. You know----"
he began, when she interrupted him.

"Oh, it is!" she said. "It is!"

"What?" asked Allen, mystified.

She drew him back into the shadows before she answered. "I wasn't sure,
but now I know," she said. "That's the very old woman who wanted to tell
our fortunes at Grace's this afternoon."

"Well, what of it?" he inquired, with an attempt to be reassuring. "She
won't hurt you--not while I'm around."

"Oh, but I don't like her looks," and the girl shivered slightly.

"You need your coat, Betty," said Allen. "Where is it?"

"Jack--Mr. Sanford has it. I'll get it."

She started forward, but he laid a restraining hand on her arm. "Betty,
Betty," he whispered. "You're not going to keep this up, are you?"

"What do you mean?" she questioned, with an attempt at dignity that was
not a very great success.

"You know as well as I do," he answered. "It wasn't my fault. Amy
introduced her and I--well, I had to be decent. Betty, don't you know
me well enough----"

"Where have you people been anyway?" It was Amy's voice. "We've been
looking all over for you."

"Right here, every minute," said Allen cheerily, and the little party
started on again. Not,