Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 82: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

708 They topped the rise, and half walked, half slid down the other side. Suddenly they came out on the gypsy encampment snugly hidden in a hollow amid more pop- lars and beeches and young oaks. ‘There was a spring hard by, and an abandoned wood road which presumably led back to the highway somewhere. It was a lovely spot, but the humans defaced it sadly. There were two torn brown tents. In- side they had glimpses of hideously dirty cotton comforters. The women were not dressed for parade, and Celesta shuddered at the state of their hair and hands. Never- theless it was a prosperous outfit; the wagons were newly painted in the crude colors with rococo ornaments dear to gyp- sies, and their horses were in good condi- tion. In addition to the man with the scar, there were four men and three women. The leader was a one-armed man of great physi- cal strength. The secrecy of their camp, and the fact that they were traveling light, without chil- dren, suggested to Hal that this was a flying column, despatched on some mysterious gypsy mission. There was a beautiful bay mare tethered to a tree. Hal suspected she had something to do with their mission. The three fugitives sat down on the ground, and their breakfast was brought them in tin cups and plates, It consisted of a muddy decoction that passed as coffee, thick slices of salt pork fried, and rude hunks of corn bread baked before an open fire. Hal glimpsed two dead rabbits, the spoils, no doubt, of the tall gypsy’s hunt- ing; but these were not included in the bill of fare. Celesta had had no knowledge that food such as this existed; nevertheless she ate it gratefully. As soon as they had finished, the leader, who was called ‘“‘ Wingy,” took their money and jerked a grimy thumb in the direction of the wood road. “ That ’ll take you back to the main road,” he said. Hal, who heard, or thought he heard, the distant murmur of a motorcycle, was in no haste to move. ‘‘ When are you going to pull out?” he asked. “‘ Soon,” was the evasive answer. ‘Which way are you going?” ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. 4 Sou’east.”’ “As far as Westmoreland?” Westmore- land was the first city over the State line. “* Maybe.” | “The young lady is tired walking,” said Hal. ‘ Will you carry us with you?” Wingy looked at the aged woman, who evidently enjoyed the first voice in their counsels. “How much you pay?” she demanded of Hal in a shrill squall. ‘““We ride inside one of the wagons,” specified Hal. This was received with meaning, derisive grins. The gypsies perfectly understood the desire to travel under cover. Hal per- ceived that the price would be quadrupled. “ All right,” said Wingy. ‘“ How much you pay ” ‘“ Fifteen dollars.” “ Fifty dollars,” she insisted. “TI haven’t got it.” A bargain was finally struck at twenty- five, and Wingy collected on the spot. At once the gypsies began to strike camp. Clearly they were in more of a hurry than they had permitted to appear. In a re- markably short time everything was packed in the wagons, and the horses were hitched. There were several spare nags. The cavalcade presently set out upon the wood road, not in the direction of the high- way, but still deeper into the woods. The blooded mare was ridden by the tall gypsy in the van. Wingy told the three fugitives they’d have to walk until they got out of the woods. “ Bad going,” he said. “ Wagon maybe turn over.” Obviously the road had not been traveled in along time. Hal worked as hard as any of them in clearing the way, but could not see that it improved his position. They still grinned at him in their inscrutable, half derisive way. It took them three hours to cover a dis- tance of perhaps three miles. Hal gathered from their muttered imprecations among themselves directed at ‘ yellow-jackets,”’ that it was the presence of the State con- stables on the main road that had forced them to make this arduous detour. At noon the tall gypsy rode back to re- Gomicbdooks (C@