said in triumph; "and, begging your pardon, will
did not tu
aid carelessly, "Three of us a
a slipper
their prisoner doubtfully until the door closed. Then the officer whee
he drawled,
et he only saw the gypsy's girlish figure in its red and green, for she had covered her face with her hands. She was looking a
mind about him, for she began to sob bitterly. A
k at me?" asked Ha
dau
so fea
and you would sho
aking her wrists in his
said again, but th
ring into her pocket, and fell bac
d, "is all soj
uld have been self-contempt to doubt her. Yet ha
ng it wise not to look her in the face.
d my mither aye to count twenty afore I spoke, because she thocht I
h the result that his question changed to "Where did y
acquaint the Thrums people with our movements? That you must tell me at
rself. It said several things, among them that the off
e the sojers?" exclai
cows, for he has nane
was the sheriff who told tales? Answer m
of them was that as the sheriff had told nothing, she had a story to ma
e said eagerly, "wi
the sheriff
Egyptian said in distress.
n before him on other occasio
e remembered that the sheriff was near, and she looked desperately at the window as if ready to fling herself from it. She
se of her woe, and great was his des
he said, "and I pro
and making up her story as she told it, "yestreen I met the shir
t me to believe that. W
ty. He was ridi
s on his way back to Tilliedrum from Lord Rintoul's place. But
his fortune. He said he would gaol me for an impostor if I didna tell him true, so I gaed about it ca
oldier. "You promised to tell me not what you said to
o you think fortunes is telled? First we get out o' the man, without his seeing what we'r
thing out of him w
he rode awa' say
d with the delig
will never let him hear the end of this story. He was right; you are
ce, but the fun disappeared, and a
bewitched the sheriff. I must take car
iled, but he also ce
Egyptian agai
she sobbed. "I wish I h
ish that?" Ha
ered, and again covered
at her u
" he said, gently. "You a
re? Her words said so, but had he? The captain could n
yptian's sobs. Halliwell's heart w
oor g
? Was she not laughing at
hat he was of two minds. She let her hands fall from h
e," she said, sadly, "how
oking at
o her wonderful eyes. I am older than the
ain d
o beguile him, but he could not take his eyes off hers. He was in
reached the door, without taking her eyes from his fac
nd the handle of the door. She was turning it when his hand fe
loak. She dared not disobey. Then he leant against the door, his back to her, for just
presently, and called to
ou can find the she
ids
ptain
marvelled at his words, "it is better. D
ed, and again the Egyptian w
mptuously, though her heart sank whe
," he answe
the room, and she sat
out the sheriff was not
ut it a' this time? Captains I could tell you what you're thinking now. You're
e speak until he heard the sheriff coming up the stair. T
ocked?" cried the
ed Halliwell; "the
ble, and the room was at once in darkness. The officer
ness?" asked the she
ried Halliwell. "P
me the woman
er! She capsized the
the d
er hand. It showed an extraordinary scene. The door was shut, and the sheriff was guar
efore either man
. After her!"
en. The Egyptian had fled
n Davidson, who had been gossiping at the corner of the town-house, relea
Riach cried, and hastened
per that he called up Davidson and