"Never mind who I am," said the girl, rather sharply. "Let me go."
"I know why you were lurking about here," Ruth said, calmly. "You heard that Rosa Wildwood is stopping here."
"Then you are June Wildwood. You're her sister. I don't know how you came to be with those Gypsies, and masquerading as an old woman----"
"My goodness!" gasped Agnes. "Was _she_ that Gypsy queen?"
"Yes," Ruth said, confidently. "Now, weren't you?" to the strange girl. "And aren't you Rosa's sister who ran away two years ago?"
"Well, Rosa's just crazy to see you. And your father has been searching for you everywhere," said Ruth, quickly. "You must come in and see Rosa. There's Mrs. Bobster opening the front door."
The shadow of the man with the derby hat on his head still was motionless upon the shade; but the widow had opened the front door on its chain, and now demanded:
"It's only me, Mrs. Bobster," cried Ruth.
Tess and Dot were already running toward the cottage door. "Oh, Mrs. Bobster!" Tess cried, "here's the girl that helped us on the island--me and Dot."
"And my Alice-doll," concluded Dot, likewise excited. "And Ruthie says she's Rosa's sister."
"For the good land of liberty's sake!" ejaculated Mrs. Bobster, throwing wide the door. "Come in! Come in!"
The girl whom Ruth had seized hesitated for a moment. Ruth whispered in her ear:
"Rosa is wearing her heart out for you, June Wildwood. And your father isn't drinking any more. He has a steady job. You come back to them and you needn't be afraid of those Gypsies."
"They'll try to get me back. Doc. Raynes' wife was one of them. The old doctor died a year ago, and since then I've been with that gang," said June Wildwood.
"Were the doctor and his wife the folks you ran away with?"
"Yes. I danced and sang and dressed up in character to help entertain their audiences when he sold bitters and salve," the girl explained. "The old doctor treated me all right. But these thieving Gypsies are different. Mrs. Doc. Raynes is Big Jim's sister."
"Don't you be afraid of them any more. We'll set the police after them," Ruth declared. "Where have you been since the day my sisters were with you?"
"I've been washing dishes at a hotel here in Pleasant Cove. But I kept under cover. I was afraid of them," said the girl.