“He means a quarter,” said Pearl, explaining. “But a quarter’s too much. Show her your palms, girls. This is my treat. I have ten dimes.”
The tall man had motioned his fellows back, but they were arranged around the party of girls in such a way that, no matter which way they turned, one of the ruffians was right before them!
“Oh, Ruth! I am frightened!” whispered Agnes in her sister’s ear.
“Sh! don’t scare the children,” Ruth said, her first thought for Tess and Dot.
The old crone hobbled directly to Ruth and put out a brown claw. Ruth extended her own right hand tremblingly. The hag was mumbling something or other, but Ruth could not hear what she said at first, the other girls were chattering so.
Then she noticed that the grip of the old Gypsy was a firm one. The back of her hand seemed wrinkled and puckered; but suddenly Ruth knew that this was the effect of grease paint!
This was a made-up old woman—not a real old woman, at all!
The discovery frightened the Corner House girl almost as much as the rough men frightened her. “Zaliska” was a disguised creature.
She clung to Ruth’s hand firmly when the girl would have pulled it away, and now Ruth heard her hiss:
“Get you away from this place. Get you away with your friends—quick. And do not come back at all.”