The old woman had dropped the pearls in haste. Now she picked them up again, and went on with her silent worship of the gems.
Ruth did not startle her again; but she saw something that made her own heart beat faster and brought the perspiration out upon her limbs.
Above the old woman's head, and behind her, was a window. Pressed close to the pane of the window Ruth saw a face—dark, evil, be-mustached. It was one of the Gypsy men.
She remembered now what she had overheard between the two supposed tramps who had taken shelter in the deserted house during the tempest. Was this one of those two ruffians? And was he the one who had railed at the division of some stolen treasure, and had spoken with covetousness of the beautiful pearls?
The thought made Ruth tremble. His wicked face withdrew, but all the time the Gypsy queen was admiring the necklace, Ruth felt that the evil eyes of the man were also gloating over the pearls.
CHAPTER XI
TOM ON THE TRAIL
In spite of the fact that his sister thought it hard that Tom Cameron had not returned to the stalled auto by dark, the lad was having no easy time.