Hawke's Tor by E. V. Thompson

towards gypsies and non-gypsies, whether they are young women or cantankerous old men.’
    Suddenly smiling, he added, ‘Mind you, it’s an oath that’s easier to remember when you’re dealing with a pretty girl rather than with a crusty old man – even if there’s no reward at the end of it.’
    Zillah looked at Tom for a long time without making any comment and he knew she was trying to make up her mind whether or not she could trust him. Then, reaching a decision, she asked, ‘Just how do you think you might be able to help when I have no idea where he went when he left our wagon?’

    â€˜First, I need you to tell me everything you know about the circumstances in which he left the wagon. Do you have any idea what time it was – and did he say nothing at all about where he was going?’
    Zillah suddenly appeared ill-at-ease. Aware she was reluctant to be frank and open with him Tom decided to take a chance and tell her what he already knew about her father.
    â€˜If you want me to help you find your father you need to be honest and tell me all you can about the time you last saw him. I think I know why you’re reluctant to say anything that might get him into trouble, but I already know he finds homes for unwanted babies. I’m also told the babies go to homes where they are wanted and as a result can look forward to a much happier life than they would otherwise have had.’
    â€˜Who told you this?’ she demanded.
    â€˜That doesn’t matter, Zillah and it’s nothing that either I or my superintendent are going to make our business. I am only mentioning it so you don’t feel you need to hold anything back from me. If we are going to find your father I must know everything about his disappearance. I would also like you to give me a full description of him, remembering I have never met him.’
    Hesitating for only a moment, Zillah said, ‘I can do better than that. I can show you a photograph and also a drawing I made of him – which I think is more of a likeness than the photograph. Both were done about two years ago when we were still on Sharptor. A man came around with a camera taking pictures of the mines and miners living around the Minions workings and said he’d like to take pictures of Dado and me. He gave us two pictures of us together. I’ll fetch them for you.’
    Hurriedly climbing the six ladder-steps curving up to the gypsy wagon, Zillah emerged moments later carrying a silver
frame which held a photograph of her smiling as she stood beside an expressionless man with a thick tangle of uncombed black hair.
    â€˜It is a very good photograph,’ Tom said, although he was looking at the image of Zillah rather than her father. ‘May I take it with me?’
    â€˜No but there’s another behind it in the frame. You can have that as long as you take good care of it – and I want it back. Dado didn’t like it very much because it has him scowling but, in all honesty, it’s an expression that comes more naturally to him than a smile!’
    Handing him a small sheet of paper, from a number held in a cardboard file, she added, ‘Here’s a drawing I did of him, you can take that too.’
    It was a good pencil sketch and Tom was impressed by the skill it showed … as did the other sketches in the file, but he much preferred the photograph which included Zillah. He thought she looked radiant and was about to tell her so, but stopped himself in time. He was satisfied she had accepted he intended helping her to find her father, but realized she was still unsure about his motives.
    â€˜If you look after them you can take all the sketches, they’ll be safer kept together in the file but remember, I want them back.’
    With the photograph and sketches carefully sandwiched between two pieces of linen-covered pasteboard and secured with a length of ribbon, Tom placed it in the saddle-bag