“If it doesn’t prove to be Sarah Turner’s bracelet,” interjected Agnes.
“Yes. That is possible. They may have just found it—those Gypsy women. And the story Costello, the junkman, told us might be a fake,” said Neale.
“However,” broke in Mr. Pinkney again, “there is a chance that the bracelet was given to Tess and Dot for a different purpose from any you have suggested.”
“What do you mean by that?” asked Neale and Agnes in unison.
“It is a fact that some Gypsies do steal children. Now, don’t be startled! It isn’t commonly done. They are often accused without good reason. But Gypsies are always more or less mixed up with traveling show people. There are many small tent shows traveling about the country at this time of year.”
“Like Twomley & Sorber’s circus,” burst out Agnes.
“Smaller than that. Just one-ring affairs. And the shows are regular ‘fly-by-nights.’ Gypsies fraternize with them of course. And often children are trained in those shows to be acrobats who are doubtless picked up around the country—usually children who have no guardians. And the Gypsies sometimes pick up such.”
“Oh, but, Mr. Pinkney!” cried Agnes, “we are so careful of Tess and Dot. Usually, I mean. I don’t know what Ruth will say when she gets home to-night. It looks as though we had been very careless while she was gone.”
“I know what children have to go through in a circus,” said Neale soberly. “But why should the Gypsies have selected Tess and Dot?”
“Because, you tell me, they were playing circus, and doing stunts at the very time the Gypsy women sold them the basket.”