Lanky could not keep his eyes away from the big wagon. It seemed to him that he heard some sort of slight movement within the van; and no doubt he was picturing in his mind the frightened, yet eager, little girl crouching there, wanting to show herself to them, yet shrinking from arousing the anger of the black-eyed old queen.
“Your friend seems to be interested in my new wagon,” remarked the gypsy, suddenly, and Lanky started, fearing that he had betrayed a fatal curiosity; but he drew a breath of relief when she continued, using language that surprised Frank, as it told him the woman must have a certain amount of education: “If you would like, I will be glad to show you how it is arranged inside. It is what they call the last thing in road wagons. And you have been kind to tell my people about the chance of trading horses in the crowd that is coming to the circus.”
Frank saw her eyes sparkle while she was saying this. He immediately guessed that she had a very good reason for talking in that way, though he could not understand what it might be.
“If you don’t mind,” he remarked, showing a fair amount of eagerness, “we would like to see how it is fixed inside. I’ve never really examined one of these road wagons, and always wanted to.”
“Come inside with me, then, both of you,” continued the queen, rising from her stool, and starting up the three steps leading to the closed door.
Frank heard Lanky draw a long breath. He laid a hand on the other’s arm as they started after the gypsy woman; and Lanky understood that this was meant for a warning to him.
“All right, Frank,” he muttered, calming down again.
When the door of the big van had been opened, the interior was exposed to view. And the first thing the two lads discovered was a girl of about eight or nine years of age, sitting curled up on a cushion. She had big dark eyes, and hair that was almost purplish black. Her skin was as dusky as that of any of the men.
“This is my grandchild,” explained the old woman, with something like pride in her voice, for the girl was decidedly handsome, though very bold looking. “When I die she will be the queen after me. It is understood by the tribe. She comes of royal blood, does Mena.”
Then she began to explain what the many appliances were for, that they saw in the wagon. The girl seemed to understand that she had better go away while the old queen was telling these two town boys about her new van, for she left the vehicle.