CHAPTER XXI
MOTHER HULL
"Mother Hull wants to talk with you, Helka."
"She must send her message by you," said Helka to Lena. "I never get along with Mother Hull."
Cora gasped, and then sighed the sigh of relief. Would that dreadful old woman enter the room and perhaps insult her?
"She is very—cross," ventured Lena.
"No more so than I am. Tell her to send her message."
"But if she will not?"
"Then I will not hear it."
"There may be trouble."
"I have my laws."
The girl left the room, evidently not satisfied.
Presently there was a shuffling of aged feet in the big, bare outside hall. Helka turned, and her eyes flashed angrily.
"Go behind the screen," she said to Cora. "If she wants to see you, she must have my permission."
At that the door opened, and the old gypsy woman entered.
"I told you not to come," said Helka.
"But I had to. It is——"
She stopped and looked over the room carefully.
"Oh, she is here," said the queen, "but you are not to see her."
"Why?"
"Because I have said so. You know my laws."
The old woman looked as if she would like to have struck down the daring young queen. But her clinched fist was hidden in her apron.
"Helka, if they take this house they take you."
"Who is going to take it now?"
"The new tribe. They have sent word. We must give in or they govern."
The new tribe! That might mean more freedom for Helka. But she must be cautious—this old woman was the backbone of all the tribes, and every word she spoke might mean good or evil to all the American gypsies. She was all-powerful, in spite of Helka's pretended power.
"They cannot take my house," said Helka finally. "I have the oath of ownership."
The woman shook her head. All the while her eyes were searching for Cora, and she knew very well that the stolen girl was back of that screen. She wanted to see her, to know what she looked like in daylight; also to know how she was behaving.
"What did she say about Salvo?" hissed the woman.
"She says nothing of him. Why should she? Salvo did wrong. He should be sent to jail."
This was a daring remark, and Helka almost wished she had not made it.
The eyes of the old woman fairly blazed with anger.
"You—you dare—to speak that way!"
Helka nodded her head with apparent unconcern.
"Why not?"
"There is always—revenge. I might take your girl friend farther into the mountains. That would leave you time to behave."
"Have we so many houses?" almost sneered the younger woman.
"There are holes, and caves and rivers," answered the woman, with the plain intention of frightening the disloyal one into submission.
"We left off that sort of thing when we came to America," replied Helka undaunted. "I will take care of this prisoner. I have agreed to."
The old woman shuffled up nearer to the screen. Cora felt as if she must cry out or faint, but Helka spoke quickly.
"Don't you dare to step one inch nearer," she said, assuming a voice of power. "I have told you to go!"
A dog was barking fiercely under the window.
"They will watch," said the old woman, meaning that the dogs would stay on guard if Cora should attempt escape.
"Oh, I know that," answered Helka. "But I have told you to go!"
Cora was trembling. She remembered the voice, although she was too deeply under the effects of the chloroform when in the wagon to recall more of this woman.
"I only came to warn you," said the woman.
"You are always warning," and Helka laughed. "I am afraid, Mother Hull, that we will begin to doubt your warnings. This young girl makes an admirable gypsy, yet you warned me so much before she came."
The woman stooped over and whispered into Helka's ear. "And I warn you now," she said, "that if she gets away I will not save you from Sam. You will marry him."
"Go away instantly," commanded the queen, springing up like an infuriated animal. "I have told you that before I will marry Sam I will—I will—— He sent you to threaten me! I——"
"Helka! Helka!" soothed the woman, "be careful—what you say."
"You leave me! I could throw myself from this window," and she went toward the open casement.
"There now, girl! Mother Hull was always good to you——-"
"Go!"
The hag shuffled to the door. Turning, she watched Helka and looked toward the screen. Helka never moved, but stood like a tragedy queen, her finger pointing to the door.
It was exactly like a scene in a play. Cora was very frightened, for she could see plainly through the hinge spaces of her hiding place.
When there was no longer a step to be heard in the hall, Helka sank down on the floor and laughed as merrily as if she had been playing some absurd game.
Cora was amazed to hear that girl laugh.
"Were you frightened?" Helka asked.
"A little," replied Cora, "she has such a dreadful face."
"Like a witch," admitted Helka. "That is why she is so powerful—she can frighten every one with her face."
"And the new tribe she spoke of?"
"Has, I believe, a beautiful queen, and they are always trying to make me jealous. But since I have seen you, I care less for my gypsy life."
"I am glad! I hope we may both soon go out in the beautiful, free world, and then you could meet David——"
"Hush! I heard a step! Lie down and pretend illness."
Again Cora did as she was commanded. It did seem as if all were commands in this strange world.
There was a tap at the door.
"Enter!" called Helka.
A very young girl stepped into the room timidly.
"Sam sent this," she said, then turned and ran away.
Helka opened the cigar box. "Cigarettes, I suppose," she said. Then she smiled. "Why, it's a present—a bracelet. I suppose Sam found this as he finds everything else he sends me—in other people's pockets. Well, it is pretty, and I shall keep it. I love bracelets."
She clasped the trinket on her white arm. It was pretty, and Cora had no doubt that it had been stolen, but as well for Helka to keep it as to try to do anything better with it.
"I should like to give it to you," said the queen suddenly. She took off the bracelet and examined it closely.
"Oh, I really couldn't take it," objected Cora.
"I know what you think, but suppose you got out some time? This might lead to——"
"Oh, I see. You need not speak more plainly. Perhaps when I go I may ask you for it!"
"It has a name inside. Betty——"
"Betty!" exclaimed Cora.
"Do you know a Betty?"
"Indeed, I do! She was with us when——"
"Then that was when Sam found it. The name is Betty Rand!"
"Oh, do you think they have harmed Betty?" and Cora grew pale.
"Bless you, no! I heard that the girls had been searching the woods for you. She may have dropped it——"
"Oh, I hope so. Dear Betty!" and Cora's eyes welled up. "What would I not give to see them all!"
"Well, now, dear, you must not be impatient. See, I am reforming. I have not smoked today. And that is something that has not occurred in years. If you should make a lady out of a savage, would you think your time ill spent?"
Cora gathered up the robe she wore. It did seem as if she had been in gypsy land so long! She was almost familiar now with its strange ways and customs.
"You are not a savage, and I love your music. If you come out into the world, I am going to take you among my friends. We all have some musical education, but you have musical talent."
"Do you really think so? David loves music. Shall I sing?"
"Are you not afraid of that old woman?" asked Cora.
"Not in the least. Besides, if I sing she will think all is well." She took up her guitar. But after running her fingers across the strings she laid it down again.
"Tell me," she spoke suddenly, "about your mother. I hope she will not worry too much. If ever I knew my sweet mother I should be willing to live in a cave all my life."
Cora had always heard girls speak this way of lost mothers. Yes, it was sweet to have one—to know one.
"My mother is a brave woman," said Cora. "She will never give up until all hope is gone."
"I know she is brave, for you must be like her. And your brother?"
"He will miss me," answered Cora brokenly, for she could not even speak of Jack without being affected.
The great, dark eyes of the gypsy looked out into the forest. Cora wondered of what she could be thinking.
"Jack," she repeated, "Jack what?"
"Jack Kimball," replied Cora, still wondering.
"That sounds like a brave name," remarked the queen. "I am getting spoiled, I'm afraid. I cannot help being interested in the outside world."
"Why should you not be?" asked Cora.
"Because I do not belong to it. To be content one must not be too curious. That, I believe, is philosophy, and——"
"There is some one coming," interrupted Cora.
"It is Lena. I am like the blind. I know every one's step."
And she was not mistaken, for a moment later Lena entered the room.