Evening star., 1928-02-07


edge Of the swamp, where at
i this time Of the year the trees
were still standing with their
feet In black water. Then the road
emerged on to Arm ground. with the
swamp lying below on its right ana an
occasional red roof projecting over the
plowed fields on their left. Roads
swerved In from these farms. all bend
ing toward Foxville. which they saw
first when the spire of its church ap.
peared suddenly above cluster OF
trees and they began to pass nttie frame
houses that almost touched the road
Sidewalks and lawns. At the outskirts
of the little town they came upon two
men and a young girl sitting by the
edge Of the road. The girl was slim
and had her hair done like Jennys.
The two men were siniSterly swarthy.,
She recognized the trio Chauncy had
been talking about.
"Gypsies," she said to the still silent
Yeah. Saw them this morning,
Coming down the grade"
He waved to them as he passed. The
Girl stared at Jenny curiously. The
two men grinned and answered
Torsten's wave.
THEY'VE got a camp" explained
Torsten. ''Out back of us"
She nodded After her initial re-
buff, when Torsten declared that he
had not been thinking about her at all.
she had said nothing more. She was
sure, from his tone. that he was not
telling the truth: and she knew quite
we'll that If she only left him to him.
self. his feelings would soon make him
speak. She had been rather amused
In fact, by the savage earneStneSs with
which Torsten had been driving.
was so childish and obvious. The gyp-
sizes gave him his chance to begin again
on a less personal theme.
II was talking with them. said
Torsten. They wanted to know II
couldn't give them some work. told
'em No. thanks" Torsten laughed.
"No gypSies in mine!"
She asked him why not and he ex-
planned that gypsies had the unfortu-
nate failing of not being able to recog-
nize other peoples property from their
own.
Il told 'em no-and then that girl
there wanted to tell my fortune. She
said she saw a lot Of trouble ahead"
so you let her?"
81 did not! told her to go chase
herself don't want anybody reading
nv palm to tell me there's girl with
big brown eyes going to cross my path"
He looked sideways at Jenny as he
said this.
They usually tell you said Torsten.
"the things that you already know"
She smiled uneasily and was glad 70
Gee that they were entering the center
Of the town.
Foxville had a rustic simplicity and
eontentment that moved even Torstens
comment.
Il like these old burgs-with the trees
over the streets"
But the main square was sufficiently
inclusive and up-to-date to satisfy any
taste. It had park in its center where
Abraham Lincoln looked down humor-
ously upon q trim. flowered grass plot
fenced In by cable strung on cannon
Of the civil war period, and where a
deadly looking piece OF camoufiageo
modern artillery seemed to be threaten
ing to put shot into the drug store.
The park was surrounded by rectangle
Of yeiiow-brick streets. the back view
I'm the United States and four fianks OF
plate glass windows of Foxville's COM
mercial establishments
Abraham Lincoln, his hand in his
tpel. looked down on all this. smiling
eficient trafhc cop.
Jenny. suggested that before going
down to the railway station they go
Into the drug store and have an Ice
cream soda to start with. A peace
otfering which Torsten accepted with
smile. But We can't waste much time"
be added. 1--WE got to get back"
While they were eating some girls
walked In. and Jenny saw that they
were Just as wen dressed. smart and
up to date As any girls she had known
q Chicago. They spoke 70 the dris
seerned 10 know them all. It would be
Yattsk comforting, thought Jenny, 10
hive in town where everybody was
your friend
At the station the man handed them
o small boz and said there had been
telephone call from Mr.. Cain at the
construction camp Hes been calling
you" grinned the man. "for the last
hour. Says TO tell you to step on it and
hustle back"
Whats the natter"
Don't know. Something broke down.
Hes mad a. the dickens. TO hear the
way he's been going on"
Torsten smiled souriy at Jenny. and
shouidered the box. As he did so a
and tapped him on the shoulder. Tor
stem gave q start and nearly dropped
the box.
You're from that camp, amt your"
said the policeman.
Sure" snapped Torsten. What
about it?"
The policeman epat and swung his
baton under his arm: did you see two
men and o girl On your way over today?
oypsaes7"
"ko." said Torsten.