HADEE
Natalie grasped the edges of the doorway so unexpectedly opened before
her, and clung there. The light shot into the secret room, revealing a
figure huddled up in one corner—a timid, shrinking form, from which
faint moans came.
“It’s a girl!” gasped Mrs. Bonnell. “The poor creature!”
The figure in the corner raised itself up, and stared at the intruders.
“Water—water,” moaned the girl. “I am so sick!”
As the eyes of the Camp Fire Girls became more accustomed to the
semi-gloom of the room, they caught a glimpse of the gay colors in the
dress of the figure in the corner.
“It’s Hadee! The Gypsy!” gasped Natalie.
“Yes, I am Hadee,” murmured the girl. “You have found me. Oh, I am so
glad! I feared no one ever would. I thought I would die here, and—my leg
is broken!”
“Oh, you poor creature!” cried Mrs. Bonnell. “Girls, we must have a
doctor right away. Marie, run down to the shore and see if you can find
a boat anywhere about. Signal to them—wave your handkerchief—scream!
“Mabel, see if you can get me some water—bring it in anything—in some of
the dishes—in our baskets. Natalie, get me some sticks I can use for
splints to bind up her leg until the doctor can get here. Alice, you
help me with—her,” and she motioned toward the Gypsy girl.
Thus did the Guardian effectually assume charge of matters. It was the
best thing she could have done to take the minds of her charges off the
startling events that had happened in the last few minutes.
“Which leg is it, dear?” asked Mrs. Bonnell, as she went over to the
figure in the corner. “I’ll try not to hurt you, but—I must look at it.”
“The right one. I fell night before last as I was coming up the stairs,
but I managed to drag myself in here.”
“And you’ve been here alone ever since?” asked Natalie.
“Yes, and I thought I would die.”
Mrs. Bonnell was examining the broken leg. It was a simple fracture, but
considerable inflammation had set in from the neglect, and when the
injured leg was touched ever so gently there came a moan of pain from
the stricken girl.
Hadee had raised herself up on her elbow, while Mrs. Bonnell was pouring
cold water on the fracture and binding it up.
“Oh!” moaned the Gypsy girl, and then she fell back senseless.
“She’s dead!” gasped Mabel.
“Nonsense, it’s only a faint. Sprinkle some water on her face while I
finish binding up this leg,” said Mrs. Bonnell. “She’ll come to all
right. Loosen her dress at the neck.”
As Mabel did this something rolled out of the upper part of the
insensible girl’s garment. It was something that gleamed and sparkled in
the light.
“My mother’s diamond ring!” cried Mabel seizing it.
Hadee opened her eyes.
“I—was going to—give it back,” she murmured. “That is why—I ran away
from the—from the camp—so they wouldn’t take it.”
“There now, don’t talk,” soothed Mrs. Bonnell. “You can tell us all
about it when you feel better. We’ll make you as comfortable as we can
until the doctor comes. I hope Marie can manage to find some one to
send.”
There was a tramping of feet on the floor below.
“Some one is coming!” cried Natalie.
“It’s the boys—our boys!” exclaimed Mabel. “Oh, how good!”
“They mustn’t come in here!” decided Mrs. Bonnell. “There has been
enough excitement for Hadee. I must keep her quiet. Natalie, you and
Mabel slip down and tell them what has happened. Then one of you bring
back some more water, and a little of the food. She must be nearly
famished.”
“I am—hungry,” admitted Hadee. “But I feel much better now, I am so glad
you—found me.”
“Don’t come up—we’re coming down, boys,” called Natalie, as she and
Mabel started for the stairs.
“What have you found?” demanded Jack, for it was he and his chums who
had come to the old mill.
“The ghost!” said Natalie. “It’s poor little Hadee—the girl who told our
fortunes that time—the girl who ran away from the Gypsy camp. She’s
hurt. Marie has gone for a doctor. How did you happen to come here?”
“Oh, we got lonesome over in camp,” said Blake, “so we thought we’d just
take a run over here to say how—do.”
“I’m so glad you did!” exclaimed Natalie, with a grateful look at him.
“I’ll take up some food and water,” spoke Mabel. “Then I’ll come back.
You might see if Marie has been able to signal any one, Phil,” she said
to her brother.
“Here’s Marie now,” spoke Jack, as the girl came flying into the mill.
“Did you send for a doctor?” asked Natalie.
“I have mother’s diamond ring back!” cried Mabel, holding up the
sparkling gem.
“Say, these girls beat anything for finding things!” declared Jack.
“Hadee had it,” explained Mabel. “I’m so glad.”
“What about the doctor?” asked Natalie.
“I met Old Hanson,” Marie said. “He said he’d go right back and get one.
Dr. Morse is at some house down the road now most fortunately, and Old
Hanson said he’d have him come here. I met the hermit on the road as I
was running to the lake shore.”
“Everything seems to be coming out for the best,” said Jack. “Now let’s
have some details.”
Natalie and Marie gave such as they knew to the boys, while Mabel took
up the food and water to Alice and Mrs. Bonnell, who had remained with
the Gypsy girl.
“But what is she doing in this old mill?” asked Blake. “And what makes
you think she is the ghost?”
“I don’t know why she is here,” said Natalie, “except that she ran away
from the Gypsy camp for some reason or other, and this was the best
place to hide.
“As for her being the ghost—here is your knife and match-box, Blake. I
found them in her room,” and she extended the articles to him.
“Stung!” gasped Jack.
“And by a girl,” added Phil.
“So it was Hadee who stole down and took our things while we were
asleep,” murmured Blake.
There was the sound of wheels outside.
“Here’s the doctor!” exclaimed Natalie.