lamity. They could think of one
solution and one only, and that was--the gypsies.

As Betty took leave of the girls at her own door that noon, after vainly
urging them to stay to lunch--they were too impatient to get home and
spread the news to stop for anything, even lunch at Betty's--she heard
the jangle of the telephone.

"Sorry you won't come in," she called. "I'll see you later, anyway!" and
she flew upstairs to answer the insistent summons.

"Hello! . . . Oh, that you, Allen? . . . Yes, I've just come home from
Mrs. Billette's. . . . She has lost a silver tea service and some other
things. . . . What's that? . . . Yes, stolen. . . . Gone! . . . Are you
sure? . . . Oh, now they will never get their things! . . . Yes, come
over to-morrow and we can talk things over. . . . Don't be silly! . . .
Yes, come early. . . . Good-bye."

As she hung up the receiver mechanically, Betty's gaze traveled out of
the window and over the smooth, green lawn to the far-distant horizon.

"Gone!" she murmured. "The gypsies are gone! Oh, I wonder where they
went to?"

CHAPTER VI

A WONDERFUL OUTING

"Hello, Betty, that you? Yes, this is Mollie, of course. It seems to me
that I'm always at the 'phone these days. But, oh, Betty, I just simply
couldn't wait a minute to tell you! . . . Yes, I've just received a
letter. . . . What's that? . . . No, mother hasn't been able to trace her
silver at all yet. Isn't it terrible? . . . Oh, well, she is becoming
resigned to the worst. . . . But, Betty, aren't you a bit interested? . . .
Yes, I know you are, dear, and it's very sweet of you. . . . Well, it's
from Aunt Elvira. Remember I told you the other day that she intended to
go to Europe? Well, it's about that. . . . Yes, there has been so much
excitement about these old gypsies that I had almost forgotten I had
such an aunt. . . . No, I won't tell you one thing more about it, except
that everything is O. K. Will you come over to-night? . . . What's
that--you can't? Oh, Betty, you just have to. Oh, well, if that's all
why don't you bring him along? . . . Yes, all the boys are coming anyway.
Will says he has something to talk over with us. . . . Then I may count
on you, to-night, honey? . . . All right--good-bye till then."

This conversation took place in the morning. Promptly at eight that
evening the door bell rang and Betty, after a last peep in the mirror
and a finishing pat to her dress, flew down to answer the summons.

"