to him." Now that she
had delivered her news, Grace was once more as calm and composed as
ever. "The horse couldn't very well file the padlock from the outside or
climb out the window, and the groom wouldn't be very likely to take him
for a gentle stroll in the middle of the night. And unless one of those
things has happened, Beauty has been stolen. Anyway, he's gone, there's
no doubt of that."

"That's pretty bad--I can imagine just how your father feels, Grace,"
Betty's voice was grave. "I do hope they will be able to trace him. Does
your father suspect the gypsies?"

"Yes, ever since the store was robbed the other night, dad has been
suspicious of them," Grace answered. "He has tried to watch his horses
with especial care, too. That's one thing that makes him so tearing mad
to-day. Oh, you should have heard him!" and Grace sighed at the memory.

"I remember," said Betty thoughtfully, "that Allen said something the
other night when we went to visit their camp about the gypsies being
expert thieves. From the way things have turned out I guess he knew what
he was talking about."

"And they looked so nice and romantic, too," said Amy, and drew a sigh
at the irony of fate.

This conversation took place between the girls on a certain morning
several days after their memorable visit to the gypsy camp. A day or so
before one of the large stores of the town had been looted and
practically cleaned out. For two days Deepdale had been in a furore of
excitement and indignation, for in the memory of most of the inhabitants
no such crime had ever been perpetrated. There had been small robberies,
of course, but that Hendall's, traditionally the oldest store in
Deepdale, should have been treated to such insult, and by a band of
roving gypsies, too--for every one suspected them from the first--why,
it was unheard of! incredible!

Detectives and sheriff had searched the town from end to end but had
found no sign of the missing goods. They had visited the gypsy camp,
too, submitting it to a strict investigation, but with no result. The
countryside had been scoured for miles around, but no trace had as yet
been found of the missing criminals nor of their loot. Indeed, the
thieves had covered their tracks well, and the inhabitants of Deepdale
were beginning to lose hope of immediate reparation.

Such was the chaotic state of affairs on this beautiful summer morning
when Mr. Ford had awakened to find his splendid horse, Beauty, the