The Girl Aviators Motor Butterfly | Page 7

head, "you
shan't go back if we can help it. Come with us for the time being,
anyway."

"But we have no legal right to take her," objected Roy.
"Don't say another word," snapped the usually gentle Peggy, whose
indignation had been fully aroused, "come on. Let's get back to where
we left Aunt Sally, then we can decide what to do."
"Incidentally, we'll do well to get out of this vicinity before any more
of those fellows come up. There must be several more somewhere close
at hand," exclaimed Jimsy.
"Yes; and I'll bet the others, the two who ran off, have gone to call
them," put in Roy; "that woman has disappeared, too."
No time was lost in getting back to the aëroplanes, "The Wren," as the
gipsies called her, keeping tight hold of Peggy's hand. The boys walked
behind and, with Jake, formed a sort of rear guard to ward off any
possible attack. But either the other members of the band were far off,
or else they did not care to attempt an assault, for the party reached the
aëroplanes without further incident or molestation.
Miss Prescott's consternation may be imagined as she listened to the
tale they had to tell. From time to time during its relation she glanced
pityingly at the Wren.
"Poor child!" she exclaimed, gazing at the wizened little creature's
bruised arms. They were black and blue from rough handling, and bore
painful testimony to the life she had lived among the gipsies.
"What is your name, dear?" she asked, motioning to the child as Peggy
finished her story.
"The Wren, that's what they always called me," was the response, in a
thin little wisp of a voice.
"Have you no other name?" asked Miss Prescott kindly.
The child shook her head.
"I don't know. Perhaps I did once. I wasn't always with the tribe. I

remember a home and my mother, but that was all so long ago that it
isn't clear."
"Then she's not a gipsy," declared Peggy emphatically.
"I'll bet they kidnapped her some place," exclaimed Roy.
"That doesn't solve the problem of what to do with her," struck in Jess.
"We can't send her back to those people," declared Bess, with some
warmth.
"On the other hand, how are we to look after her?" said Jimsy.
"It's a problem that will have to solve itself," said Miss Prescott, after a
few moments of deep thinking.
"How is that?" asked Peggy.
"Because she goes with us no matter what happens. It may not be legal,
but humanity comes above the law sometimes," declared Miss Prescott,
with emphasis.
"Hurrah for Aunt Sally!" cried the boys, "she's as militant as a newly
blossomed suffragette. Cheer up, Wren, you're all right now."
"Then I'm to stay with you?" questioned the child.
"Of course," came from Aunt Sally.
The child buried her head on the kind-hearted lady's lap and burst into a
passion of weeping that fairly shook her frail frame.
It was at this juncture that Jake set up a shout and pointed toward the
woods. From them a group of men had burst, armed with sticks and
stones. They came rushing straight at the little group, uttering ferocious
shouts.
"We're in for it now," exclaimed Roy; "girls, you had better get in the

machine and drive a safe distance. Those fellows mean mischief."
CHAPTER IV.
APPROACH OF THE STORM.
It was apparent enough that mean mischief they did. Their dark eyes
gleamed fiercely out of their swarthy faces. One or two wore a vivid
red or blue handkerchief knotted about sinewy necks, this means of
adornment only adding to their generally sinister look.
"I knew we wouldn't get far without running into trouble," moaned Jake
dejectedly.
Roy turned on him sharply, almost angrily.
"You get the ladies in that machine and drive off down the road a bit,"
he said; "I'll attend to this thing. Jimsy, come here."
Jake hesitated a moment and then strode off to the auto.
"Can't we stay and help?" asked Bess.
"No; we can help Roy best by doing what he; wants us to. He's got
some plan in his head," rejoined Peggy firmly, "come along, Wren; Jess,
help me with her, she's terrified to death."
This was no exaggeration. At sight of the gipsy band, the child so
recently taken from their clutches shrank and cowered against her
young protectress.
"Don't let them take me--don't!" she kept wailing.
"Never mind; don't be scared, Wren," Peggy comforted, "they won't get
you."
A flash of determined fire came into Peggy's eyes as she spoke.
"Peg! You're magnificent," exclaimed Jess, as, headed by Miss Prescott,

they hastened toward the car which Jake had already cranked.
The gipsies had paused for an instant. Evidently the sight of the
aëroplanes bewildered and amazed them.