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our own. That man has been deceiving us first
and then doing us all the harm he could. When
we at last found out more about him, we tried
to escape him and find Ramon. Then he must
be looking for us, too. We went away from the
rooms we had because I had seen that evil man
upon the street here and I knew he would find
us. Then a friend we have told us that he had
gone and we came back because I could have
work here and knew some good people like the
countess here. The pretty Italian signorina here
told me that she had seen me when the pretty
carols were sung. I listened, but my mother,
who is old and sick, wanted me to put down the
window."

Rose stopped, but looked troubled. "When
did the man come to see your father? He has
come back again!"

"It was some time ago," answered Betty, "and
Father thought that he would probably go to
Detroit to look for Ramon."

"He has money -- our money, and he will kill
Ramon, I think."

"Perhaps he's been just scaring you," sug-
gested Betty. "He did not look so terrible as
that."

"He is a serpent," said Rose. "Some time I
may tell you more, if you care about it."


 [[241]]