Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-07-31
THE WORLD FOR SALE

/ kept near to the river, and indeed by in
stinct and not by thought or calculation
she made her way about at all times.
Turned homeward, she walked for about
by which she had come. 1t was growing
darker. and. being in unfamiliar sur
roundings. she hurried on. though she
know well what course to take. Follow
ing the bank of the river she would
have increased her walk greatly, as the
stream made curve at point above
Manitou, and then came back again to
its original course; so she cut across
the promontory, taking the most direct
line homcward.
Presently, however. she became con
scious of other people in the wood be-
side herself. She saw no one. but she
heard breaking twigS. the stir of leaves.
the flutter of partridge which told of
human presence. The underbrush was
considerable. darkness was coming on.
and she had sense of being surrounded.
II agitatcd her. but she pulled herself
together, stood still and admonishcd her
self. She called herself n fool : she asked
herself If she was going to be n coward.
She laughed out loud at her own ap-
prehcnsion but chill stole into her
| blood when she heard near by--there
was no doubt about it now-mockery
of her own laughter. Then suddenly. be-
! fore she could organize her senses. n
score of men seemed to rise up from the
ground around her, to burst out from
] hn hue hoe, -.
to storm upon her. She had only time
to realize that they were Romanys. be.
fore scarfs wcrc thrown around her
head, bound around her body, and. un.
conscious. she was carried away into the
deep woods.
When she rcgaincd consciousness
Flcda found herself in n tent. set in n
Kind of prairie amphitheatrc valanced
by shrubs and trees. Bright fires burned
here and there, and dark featured men
squattrd upon the ground. cared for
their horses or busted themselves near
two large caravans. at the doors or on
the steps of which now and again ap-
pearcd n woman.
she had walked without moving, had
observed the scene without drawing the
attention OF mana srntry-who sat
beside the tent door. The tent was cmpty
save for herself. There was little in il
besides the camp bed against the tent
wall. upon which she lay, and the
cushions supporting her head. She had
"akcd car"tuIly. as it were; as though
some inward monitor had warned her
OF impending danger. She realized that
she had been kidnapped by Romanys.
and that the hand behind the business
was that of Jcthro Fave. The advcp
turous and reckless Fave family had
ITS many adhcrcnts in the Romany
world, and Jpthro was its head. tho
hereditary claimant for its leadership.
Notwithstanding the Ry of Rvs pro.
hibition. there had drawn nearer and
| ever nearer to him. from the Romany
| world he had abandoned. many of his
| people. uever. however. actually com
ing within his vision till the appcarance
OF Jethro Fave. Here and there on
the prairie, to point just beyond
Gabriel Druse's horizon. they had come
from all parts of the world and Jethro
reckless and defiant under the sentence.
and knowing that the chances against
his life were n million to one had de-
;. On INV poiu stroke which, II
iaiieu' would make his fate no worse,
anu IL succeeded would give him
ms WIFE. and. maybe. headship over
an inc homany world. For weeks he
h"u piahhed' watched and waited. fill
ing 'he woods with his adhcrents, So
cretly following Fleda day by day.
until "t IaSt' the opportunity seemed
pc'ie''' anu mere She lay IN Romany
IAN once more with the fickering fires
ou'Siue oI the hlght. and the sentry
AT her NORWAY ms Waterman was
ioI 'ttnro rave but she knew wei
'haI Jethro was not tar OIL.
through the open door OF the tent,
ior some minutes hcr eyes studied the
Sesiieh' Vi tne clrcle WITHIN her vision
anu sue reaii|eu that mere was an or
sah'Ieu attempt 10 iorce her Dack into
.he non'anF worlu. II She rcpudiateo
the "orgio Ire an" a'kneWledged her
SCH no'''"h! ou'e asaln' She kne"
nei surety Wou'' oe secureu put III
run sue nau i,o ienr ior her me- lo'
~ ohe Wou'u uarc 10 ueiS the NY o
l,ss 81 iar as 10 XIII MS uaushter' bu'
sue WAS III uanR'r oi aho'her klha-ir
ueep anu .erripie oahger anu she hhe"
we'll AS the thoush' OF IL TOOK pos
emotion possessed her. All the Romany