med, once along a trail was
enough for the young Gypsy. He never forgot.

He went away down the little stream, and made himself very clean before
appearing for his share of the food. To the surprise of Ruth and Helen
he ate daintily and showed breeding of a kind. Nor was he enamored of
the cakes and other dainties that Babette, the Camerons' cook, had put
into the lunch hamper, but enjoyed, instead, the more simple viands.

Roberto grew restless of riding in the car soon after luncheon. He
thanked them for giving him the lift, but explained that there were
paths through the woods leading to the present camp of his tribe that he
preferred to follow.

"It is a mark of kindness for you to have brought me this way," he said,
softly, bending over Ruth's hand, for he insisted upon considering her
his hostess. He realized that, had it not been for her, the Camerons
would have been chary of taking him aboard.

"If you are ever near the Red Mill again," Ruth told him, "be sure to
come and speak with Uncle Jabez. He will not forget you, I am sure."

"Of that--pooh!" exclaimed the Gypsy. "I do not want pay for such an
act. Do you?"

And that set Ruth Fielding to thinking a bit. Perhaps she _had_ expected
payment--of a kind--for her action in helping Uncle Jabez in the river.
She had hoped he would more freely respond to her affection than he did.
Ah! it is hard to do a good act and not secretly hope for some small
return. "Virtue is its own reward" is a moral hard to understand!

After Roberto had left them, the trio of friends were occupied in
exchanging views regarding the Gypsy boy, and in discussing their
several opinions as to what kind of people his folk really were.

"It must be loads of fun to jog along the roads in those caravans, and
camp where you please, and all that," said Helen, reflectively. "I
believe I'd like it."

"About twenty miles on a fast day, eh?" chuckled Tom, with scorn. "Not
for me! When Gypsies get to riding in autos--and six-cylinder,
up-to-date ones, too--I'll join the first tribe that comes along."

"I declare, Tommy!" laughed his sister, "you are getting to be a 'speed
fiend.' Ruth and I will be scared to drive with you."

"It's great to go fast," exclaimed Master Tom. "Here's a straight piece
of road ahead, girls. Hold on!"

As he spoke, he manipulated the levers and the car leaped ahead. Ruth's
startled "Oh!" was left a quarter of a mile behind. The girls clung to
the hand-holds, and