Evening star., 1928-12-14

POCGer lOOKe0 W1bIl SdblSIdCblOIl
at her work, whole field OF
grass curing in the hot sun. Her
dark eyes sparkled as she estimated the
value of the crop Next Winter, when
the mows of their neighbors were
tdwindling, the hay stored in their Darn
would bring a good price. In fact, her
Winters tuition at Gardner High lay
al this moment before her.
! The Potter family, consisting OF six
r,ersons was accomplishing what 1t had
been predicted it could never do-make
ia living on the small farm beside the
creek Being without exception strong
lond healthy they were willing and able
workers. David, Alice's brother, man
laoed the farm. while their father, who
lhed been a carpenter before he turned
In the soil, worked at such jobs as he
icouId find to do. At present Mr.. Potter
was building a barn for farmer, and
lthe entire work of haying fell upon
iDavid and Alice The twins, Julia and
John. were of course too young 10 leno
lmuch assistance. Ava.
CHANGING in David's direction, Allce
saw. TO her surprise, that he who seldom
wasted a moment was leaning on niS
ir,itchfork staring at something IN tne
distance From her seat on the tedder
Alice turned to look in the same dlrec-
tjon Down the road came queer pro-
cession-horses. either led or drawing
rattle-trap vehicles from which pots ana
nails dangled and tangled. Every wagon
was full of brown-skinned men, women
ard children clad in colorful garments
of red and yellow.
The leading wagon paused and from
1t a man leaped.
the field, their golden heads cleaning
in the sunlight. do you see the gyp-
sies?" painted Julia. They stopped up
at the house and asked if they might
tent here. Mother said they must ask
David. Will he let them, do you thlnk?'
Before Alice could reply the chief OF
the gypsies had reached the spot. he
was tail and swarthy with rings IN ms
ears but rather picturesque IN MS VICE
brimned hat and brown corduroys.
"You let my people camp mere py
water?" he inquired anxlously.
"No. I guess you better move on,
David answered ungraciously.
The dark face clouded.
"Everybody say the same-Move
on" he exclaimed. He made express
rsive gestures "I ask here, there, every
!where-'Move on they tell me. / can
90 no farther. We have very seek
child with us. We must stop"
"A sick child" said Alice sympa-
.thetically. 'Oh, David, please don't re-
fuse him!'
Finding encouragement IN Ance s Woroo'
the chief turned to her.
I'VE make no trouble, miss. MY peo-
rle very honest people" he PLEADED.
aYou can go through the lane there
and camp by the creek" David SAID
srrudgingly. Then, as after earneSt
thanks the man moved away: That
sick child business was a mere ruse:
You should understand the ways Oh
cypsies we'll enough to know tnaG, Ailce;
Mhen father comes home tonignt an0
finds that tribe on our premises ne VIII
he properly angry. You can take the
blame If YOU had kept still l would
never have thought of letting them
stop here" 49, Al
ready the procession was wlnoing
fhrough the lane to the place designated
Inv David, In a short time the queer
nstched tents were pitched, the norses
feeding. a camp fire sending up lts
smoke and women busily wasnlnS gar
mentS in the creek. -
At dinner David continued 10 gruin-
a,le about Alices interference an tne
matter of the gypsies.. Sne oecIueu.
therefore, to see for hersAI WneCueI
there really was a sick child In the
camp. Hurrying through the meal sne
solucked a big bunch OF nasturtlums
from her flower pot and stole away 70
the creek. -
,,,icfakablv cordial. The women croWo-
ed around her with smiles ana the
children. clinging to their motneLs
fIlIlv-swaying skirts, stared at ner IN sry
wonder. Alice could not undeIsCana ID
word and apparently ner Eng1,sh Eng, st;1I MTI
she made them understand by signs
ard gestures that the flowers were IN
tended for the sick child. AT that one
IF the women seized her by the arm ana
lad her within a tent, where upon q
hIankets Law a small boy. his dark race
flushed with fever. He whimpered Wnen
his mother aroused him, but when sne
h1ressed the bright golden blossoms ~
his hot little hands he looked up at ner
and at the young visitor ana smneo.
Alice told David, altnougn sne was
awe that he would scold her for go
kro into the presence of the sick child.
To her surprise he said nothing. AS
IS matter of fact David was troubled
bver a bit of news he had picked up
That noon over the little one-tuoe
radio set he had made himself ano
(which was such source OF fun ana
information for the whole family.
When at 3 o'clock growl OF thun-
der sounded from the southwest Alice
gave cry of alarm. David" There's
a storm coming!"
ST know it." David did not pause In
stacking hay, although the perspira-
tion was streaming down his tired
face. "I heard over the radio this noon
that a storm was due. This hay is
going to get wet after all our hard
work. Maybe we can get small load
or two in the barn, but that's all. Say,
Alice unhitch now from the rake and
go up to the barn and get the hay