Red Money

Chaldea," said Lambert, smiling on the beautifu

manly tones. "What does Oh baro d

ated Chaldea swiftly, "and duvel is

lied the Gentile lady good-humoredly.

in which she spoke, was enough to rouse the gypsy girl's naturally hot temper. She retreated and swa

ng her white teeth. Her rough merriment and masculine looks showed Chaldea that, as a rival, s

Gorgios lady want

nodded and fished in her pocket. "I'

ady. Mother Cockleshel

er, and rapidly gathered into her brai

f the true Romany, peaked at the corners. Her jetty hair descended smoothly from under a red handkerchief down to her shoulders, and there, at the tips, became tangled and curling. Her figure was magnificent, and she swayed and swung from the hips with an easy grace, which reminded the onlookers of a panther's lithe movements. And there was a good deal of the dangerous beast-of-prey beauty about Chaldea, which was enhanced by her picturesque dre

ano," whispered Miss Greeby in her companion's

same tone. "She explodes on the slightest p

ou play with volcanic fire you'll

girl is onl

the lay figure ab

onsisted of Lees, Loves, Bucklands, Hernes, and others, all mixed up together in one gypsy stew. The assemblage embraced many clans, and not only were there pure gypsies, but even many diddikai, or half-bloods, to be seen. Perhaps the gradually diminishing Romany clans found it better to band together for mutual benefit than to remain isolated units. But the camp c

erein the genuine Romany had their abode, but the autumn weather was so fine that most of the inmates preferred to sleep in the moonshine. Of course, there were plenty of dogs quarrelling over bones near various fires, or sleeping with one eye open in odd corners, and everywhere tumbled and laughed and danced, brown-faced, lithe-limbed children, who looked uncannily Eastern. And the

r even her unromantic nature was stirred by the unusual picturesqueness of the scene. "The sight of these people an

t I understand your feelings. On occasions we all have the nostalgia of

h, so far as I can see," argued his

answered, glancing sideway

while women are going up, both physically and mentall

r Cockleshell.

sies that the Gentile lady had come to consult the queen of the tribe. And, like Lord Burleigh's celebrated nod, Chaldea's wink could convey volumes. At all events, Lambert and his companion were unmolested, and arrived in due course before the royal palace. A croaking voice announced that the quee

eby, stepping back,

hion. Where a wrinkle could be, there a wrinkle was, and her nose and chin were of the true nutcracker order, as a witch's should be. Only her eyes betrayed the powerful vitality that still animated the tiny frame, for these were large and dark, and had in them a piercing look which seemed to gaze not at any one, but through and beyond. Her figure, dried like that of a mummy, was surprisingly straight for one of her ancient years, and her profuse hair

er voice than would have been expected from one of her age and diminished stature. "I hope I

again. "You don't look a

ny-a Stanley of Devonshire. Gentilla is my name and the tent m

put in Chaldea eagerly. "Ge

curtsey. "Though she's foolish to use Romany words to Gentiles as don't understan

ble do you find that?"

the likes of you," said Mother Cockleshell, getting out of her difficul

t you say

words, sir," answered Mo

them true Romany as was your milk tongue. No wonder the Genti

usly, and in a mixture of her mother-tongue and English. "Ja pukenus, slut of the gutter," she shook her fist, and Chaldea, with an insulting laugh, moved away. "Bengis your see! Bengis your see! And tha

utright. "This is mor

Lambert. "You're too

rd enough. She'll sell you, and get Ka

I'm not in lov

," said Mother Cockleshell darkly. "You're a good and kind g

Miss Greeby in his ear

e had the hearing of a cat. "With the fire of Bongo Tern, the which y

?" asked Miss Gree

insisted the old woman. "And the child

aid Lambert, hitching his shoulders. "I shall leave you to ha

illa Stanley saw the look on the hard face and the softening of the hard eyes as the cheeks grew rosy red. From this emotion she drew her conclusions, and she chuckled to think of how true a fortune she cou

ked in wheedling tones. "Cross Mother Cockleshell's ha

" demanded Miss Greeby, waiving the quest

r years and told charms and gave witchly spells for fine weather. Gentilla Stanley am I

upted Miss Greeby abruptly. "I

id the ancient gypsy darkly. "And them as

afternoon of making money. Some fools f

fully preserved teeth. "I know The Manor," said she, rubbing

sked Miss Greeby. "H

. I shall love to see her again. To dick a puro pal is as commoben as a aushti habben, the which, my precious angel, is true Romany for the Gentile saying, 'To see an old f

o Lady Agnes, so she turned the conversation by pointing to a snow-white cat of great size, who stepped daintily out of the tent. "I should think, as a witch, your cat ought to be black," said Miss Greeby. Mother Cockleshell screeched like a night-owl and hastily pattered some gypsy spell to avert evil. "Why, th

ething about these gypsy superstitio

as he was told by one of our people. Such a nice gentleman, kind, and free of his money and clever beyond tellings, as I always says. Many a time has

were that," observed

ruly. Come, cross m

only desire to know one thing," she said

had given when Lambert followed Chaldea, that a desire to marry the man was the wish in question. And seeing how indifferent Lambert was in the presence of the tall lady, Mother Cockle

ortune-telling is all rubbish, as I ha

months," screamed the

?" demanded the

en, my hopeful-for-what-you-won't-get, like the cat after t

Miss Greeby, tossing her ruddy mane

reat Romany for sure-is coming to camp with us. Each minute he may come, and I go to get ready a stew of hedgehog, for Gentile words I must use to you, who are a Gorgio. And so good day to you, my lady," ended the old hag, again becomi

ned her attention toward finding Lambert. With her bludgeon under her arm and her hands in the pockets of her jacket, she stalked through the camp in quite a masculine fashion, not vouchsafing a single r

locks-distressingly shaggy and unkempt-he wore no hat, and he looked like a brownie, grotesque, though somewhat sad. But even more did he resemble an ape-or say the missing link-and only his eyes seemed human. These were large, dark and brilliant, sparkling like jewels under his elf-locks. He sat cross-legged on the sward and hugg

sband?" asked Mi

ks grew crimson. "Not at all," she

are not

curtly, and shot a sw

id that young gentleman smiling. "And he

lied the gypsy. "But he is no r

en?" asked Lam

the grea

had also spoken of the expected arrival at the

; then turned her back rudely on the speaker and addressed Lambe

ting these two as Beauty and the Beast, or perhaps as Esmeralda and Quasimodo. I want t

ea quickly. "This afternoon I must da

ve a private conversation with Chaldea so as to disabuse her mind of any idea she ma

e," replied Lambert, sauntering up the pat

to The Manor?" called

y liked to be treated like a comrade and without ceremony. That is, she liked it so far as other men were concerned, but not as regards Lambe

e the handsome Gorgio was so ludicrous in Chaldea's eyes that she laughed in an ironical fashion. Miss Greeby turned on her sharply, but be

ran toward the camp, fo

man of the true Romany breed. Miss Greeby stared at him and blinked her eyes, as though she could not believe what they beheld, while the man waved his hand and responded to the many greetings