“The words will come unbidden to the lips of the Romany girl. Fear not. Come.” There was a suspicion of a twinkle in the piercing black eyes as Sybarina stretched forth her hand to Harriet Burrell. Harriet’s heart thumped violently as she stepped down from the wagon. “If I get a chance to read George Baker’s palm I will make him stand as near to the wagon as possible, so you girls can hear what I say to him, but don’t you dare make a sound.”
“Isn’t she the clever darlin’?” chuckled Crazy Jane.
“Harriet is a very resourceful girl,” answered Hazel admiringly.
“Yes; Harriet has added a good many honor beads to her string during this hike,” replied the guardian. “I think, too, that she is going to pay those boys the debt that we owe them.”
“Listen!” commanded Jane. Sybarina was speaking.
“Behold before you the Star of the East. Behold one who has come out of the East to read the future true. Cross her palm with silver and the Oracle will speak, revealing the past and foretelling the future.”
The Gipsy queen had not led Harriet into the bright light. Instead the girl, in the fainter light at the outer edge of the circle, stood with downcast eyes, hands folded before her.
[Illustration: “Cross My Hand With Silver.”]
“Who shall be the first to hear the future and the past from the Star of the East?”
“Say, fellows, now is the time to find out a few things,” laughed Captain George Baker. “Here’s where I consult the Star of the East. Here, young woman, read my palm. I don’t know anything about this fortune-telling business, and I don’t believe in it, but I’m willing to take a chance on it. How much does it cost to consult the stars?”
“For a silver quarter I will reveal the past only. Cross my hand with a silver dollar and both the past and future shall be as an open book,” answered Harriet, speaking in a low tone, disguising her voice as much as possible.
“A dollar! Whew! Isn’t that pretty high?”
“The stars are higher,” was the curt reply of the Star of the East.
There was an audible giggle from the interior of the nearby wagon. Harriet heard it, but Captain Baker was too much interested in the prospect of having his fortune told to give heed to the sound.
“Isn’t she the clever darlin’?” reiterated Crazy Jane, restraining herself from shouting only by a great effort of will.
