As only girls know how to show affection, this sort was now fairly
showered upon the rescued girl.

"It almost seemed worth while to have been lost," Cora managed to say.

"When shall we hear all about it?" asked Belle.

"Not to-night," objected the twin sister. "It is enough to know that
we have Cora."

The automobiles were rumbling on. Every mile post took them farther
from the gypsies, and nearer the hotel.

"Hey there!" called Mr. Rand. "You boys keep a tight hold!"

"Aye, aye, sir!" shouted back Walter. "Seems to me Mr. Rand is getting
very gay," he remarked to Betty.

"He simply means," said the dutiful daughter, "that you must look
carefully after the girls. They might be after us--the gypsies, I mean.

"Oh," said Walter, in that way that Walter had.

CHAPTER XXIX

A REAL LOVE FEAST

"However did it happen?" demanded Belle.

"Please let the child draw her breath," insisted Mr. Rand. "Remember,
she has been kidnapped--a prisoner, a slave!"

"No, not that," objected Helka. "She was my guest."

"I knew we would find her," declared Betty, crowding up to Cora's chair.

"We didn't," contradicted Ed, "she found us. She simply----"

"Flopped down on us," finished Jack. "Cora, I never knew I loved you
until I lost you."

"Oh, yes, you did, Jackie. You always made sugary speeches when--you
wanted small change."

"And the dogs?" asked the detectives. "What happened to them?"

"We put them to sleep!" announced Cora, in the gravest possible tones.
"Do you know, we never could have done it but for Lena."

"Lena shall be rewarded," declared Walter.

"Wallie!" warned Jack.

"The newest girl!" whispered Belle.

"At any rate, no one can steal Helka," said Cora, glancing over at
Lillian and David. "But how does he come to be Leland?" The question
was aimed at Dr. Robbins.

"Oh, that boy! He must change everything--even his name, although it
really is Leland David."

"David for strength, of course," said Cora. "Oh, I just must scream!
Think of it! No more dogs! No more eating off the floor----"

She caught Helka's eye. "What is it, Cora?" asked the gypsy queen.
Cora clasped her arms about her.

"Isn't she beautiful?" whispered Belle. "Did you ever see such a face?"

"Glorious," pronounced Betty.

"But say, Betty, did you notice how the daddy takes up with the doc?"
said Ed. "I am dreadfully afraid of stepmothers."

"I'm not," said Betty, with a shrug of her pretty shou