however, before Mollie and Grace had exchanged
very significant glances.

The young people turned for a last look at the gypsy rendezvous before a
bend in the road shut it from view.

"I've had an awfully good time," said Grace, then added, irrelevantly:
"I only hope those gypsies don't steal anything."

"That's a good hope," whispered Allen in Betty's ear. "They are dabsters
when it comes to getting away with other people's property."

CHAPTER V

THIEVES IN DEEPDALE

The door bell rang out its noisy summons.

Betty forestalled the maid on her way to the portal with a merry: "I'll
go, Mary. It's probably one of the girls."

It was not one of the girls only, but all three of them, and seemingly
in the wildest excitement.

"Oh, Betty, Betty!" Mollie cried, not even stopping to say "hello."
"Have you heard the news--have you?"

"No, it's so early----" began Betty, but Grace interrupted her.

"But it isn't half as bad as what happened to us," she said, sinking
into a porch chair and fanning herself violently, being overcome either
by the heat or her emotions--possibly both. "Why! dad's running around
the house like a mad man this morning, swearing all sorts of vengeance
on the thief, whoever he or she is--I suppose it must be a he, though,
because women don't steal----"

"Hold on, hold on a minute," commanded Betty, her hands over her ears.
"How _do_ you expect me to find out what has happened if you won't come
to the point?"

"Well, I was going to tell you if you'd only have a little patience,"
Grace continued, in an injured voice. Here she paused to put into her
mouth a chocolate cream, which she had taken from a little box she had
brought with her. Then, seeing Amy about to speak, she went on hastily,
holding the box out mutely toward her friends, who all shook their
heads. "Here I rush all the way over and get all heated up and
everything----"

"Oh, for goodness' sake, Grace!" Mollie broke in, having come to the end
of her patience. "If you don't tell the story I will. You have been half
an hour already getting nowhere."

At this dire threat Grace continued quickly. "Oh, well," she
capitulated, "since you are in such a hurry--well, the fact is, Betty,
Beauty's been stolen," and she delivered the terrible news in a hushed
voice.

"Oh!" said Betty, horrified. "And your father valued him above all the
rest. Are you sure he was stolen, Grace?"

"Well, I don't see what else could have happened