Chapter 5

Then something attracted her attention. She stepped out on the ground and inspected the under-garments with wide-eyed curiosity. They were dainty and exquisitely made of the finest, sheerest linen she had ever seen. Unquestionably they were a woman’s clothing. This Joe was a thief then!

She might have known it.

She sat down on the grass and fingered the gauzy material. Where could this tramp have come upon such articles? What opportunity would he have had to steal clothing of this value? And—imagine a camel-boy wanting to wear a woman’s clothes! Now an utterly preposterous idea arrived to confuse the problem. Could this Joe be a girl? Hannah recalled her wonderment at the extraordinarily long, curling lashes when she had looked into the boy’s weary eyes. And the small, slim hand. But—even assuming that the youngster was masquerading, that didn’t explain this expensive underwear.

She held up the shirt, woven of costly linen. On the left breast there was embroidered a peculiar device. Hannah studied it with mystification. The emblems in the blue oval meant something: she was sure of that. There was a new moon, done in gold thread, circling about a silver star; and crossing through the slim moon and the star, a white sword and a shepherd’s crook.

Suddenly Hannah resolved to make an experiment that might solve the mystery. She returned to the bedroom door and listened. It was very quiet in there now.

‘Joe,’ she called.

‘Yes.’ The voice was sleepy—or was it frightened?

‘I’ve found out something about you.’

There was no reply.

‘Joe—you’re a girl!’

‘Y-yes,’ weakly, wearily; ‘I know.’

‘Well’—Hannah’s voice was unsteady—’after you’ve rested, look in the closet for some clothing.’ Her tone had softened. ‘In the chest you will find under-garments—not nearly so fine as yours, but serviceable. They belonged to my daughter—who died.’ And when there was no reply, she added, ‘Or would you prefer to go on pretending you’re a boy?’