Ruth was staring through the open flap of the tent. Outside, about where the clam digger had stood a few moments before, was the tall, scarred-faced Gypsy tramp that they had seen at the nomads’ camp the day they came to Pleasant Cove!
“Oh, Ruth!” echoed Agnes, coming to Ruth’s side.
But the older sister quickly recovered her self-possession. Her first thought was:
“If Tom Jonah were only here!”
Ruth went to the door. The man leered at her and doffed his old cap.
“Good day, little lady,” he said. “She remember me—Big Jim—heh?”
“I remember you,” Ruth said, shortly.
“Ver’ proud,” declared the Gypsy, bowing again.
“What do you want?” asked the oldest Corner House girl, with much more apparent courage than she really felt.
“You remember Zaliska—heh?” asked the man, shrewdly.