THE PRINCESS.
It was no easy task for Joe Potter to carry his burden, light though it
was, amid the throng of pedestrians, without being pushed rudely here or
there by those who were so intent upon their own business or pleasure as
to give but little heed to the boy and the child.
Had he been alone, he could readily have forced a passage, but fearing
lest the little maid might be injured by rough contact with one or the
other, he proceeded so cautiously as to make but slight headway, until,
forsaking the sidewalk, he betook himself to the street.
There was a fear in his mind lest Master Plummer, grown weary with long
waiting, had gone home, and this would have been a serious matter,
because Joe had no idea as to the whereabouts of his friend's lodgings.
Once out of the throng, he pressed on at a swift pace until he was
nearly overturned by a boy coming from the opposite direction, whom he
had failed to see in the shadows.
"What's the matter with you, chump? Can't you see where you're goin'?"
he cried, angrily, and the tightening of the little maid's arm around
his neck told that she was frightened.
"How much of this street do you own? Why don't you mind your--Hello, Joe
Potter, is that you?" and the ruined merchant recognised the voice as
that of his friend with whom he had spoken a short time before in front
of the fruit store.
"'Course it's me. You ought'er look out how you run 'round here, when
folks has got babies in their arms."
"I didn't see you, Joe, an' that's a fact. Where'd you get the kid?"
"She's lost, I reckon, an' I'm takin' her home for to-night," Joe
replied, and, without waiting to make further explanation, hastened on,
leaving his friend, the clerk, staring after him in open-mouthed
astonishment.
"Don't you be afraid, little one," Joe said, as Essie clung yet more
tightly to him. "They sha'n't hurt you, an' if there's any more funny
business of runnin' into us tried, I'll break the feller's jaw what does
it."
The child seemed reassured by the sound of his voice, and at once began
to tell him something which was evidently interesting to herself.
"If I could understand what you say, things would be all right," Joe
said, with a laugh, and then, as he emerged from the shadows cast by the
overhead railway structure, he came face to face with Master Plummer.
"Well, I'd begun to think you never was comin'," that young gentleman
began, but ceased speaking very suddenly, as he observed the burden in
Joe's arms. "What you got there?"
"Can't you see for yourself?" and Joe lowered the little maid gently to
the sidewalk, that Master Plummer might have a full view of his
treasure.
"Well, I'll be blowed! Where'd you get it?"
"She's lost, 'cordin' to my way of thinkin', an' I've been tryin' to
find her folks, but it's no use huntin' 'round in the night, an' I'll
tell you what it is, Plums, we've got to take care of her till mornin'."
"Take care of her! What's creepin' on you, Joe Potter? How do you think
we're goin' to look after a kid like that?"
"I don't know why we can't," Joe replied, sharply. "It'll be pretty
tough if a couple of fellers ain't able to tend out on a mite of a thing
such as her. Say, Plums, don't she look like somethin' you see in the
store windows?"
"She's fine as silk, there's no gettin' over that," and Master Plummer
would have touched one pink-and-white cheek but that his friend
prevented him.
"Now don't go to hurtin' her! She's in hard luck enough as it is,
without your mussin' her all up."
"Who's a-hurtin' of her? I was jest goin' to put one finger on her
cheek."
"There's no need of doin' so much as that. It might frighten the little
thing, and besides, she's too fine to be handled by you and me, Plums.
She's a reg'lar little princess, that's what she is," and Joe raised the
child quickly, as if to remove the temptation from Master Plummer's
path.
"What's her name?" the fat boy asked, as he gazed admiringly at the
child.
"I can't seem to make out, she talks so queer," and as if to illustrate
his meaning, Joe's princess began to chatter, while she clasped both
tiny arms around her self-elected guardian's neck.
"Well, say, I'd give up what I made this afternoon jest for the sake of
havin' her hug me like that! Ain't she a daisy?"
"It would be mighty hard to find anything finer in this town."
"That's a fact; but say, Joe, it's no kind of use, your talkin' 'bout
our takin' care of her, 'cause it can't be done."
"I'd like to know why?"
"Jest run your eye over her, an' then look at us! Why, she's been kept
rolled up in silk all the time, an' you talk 'bout takin' her down to
the blacksmith's shop!"
There was little need for Master Plummer to make further explanation.
Joe had so thoroughly lost himself in admiration of the treasure he had
found that, until this moment, he had not realised how poor was the home
to which he proposed to carry her.
Now he looked about him in perplexity, and the princess, impatient
because of the delay and her guardian's silence, began to protest most
vehemently.
"See here, Plums, we've _got_ to take her down to your place, an' that's
all there is to it! There ain't any chance of findin' her folks
to-night, so what else can we do?"
"It's goin' to be mighty tough on her," Master Plummer replied, with a
shake of the head, and Joe put an end to further discussion by starting
off at a rapid pace down the street, regardless of the fact that he was
in ignorance of the whereabouts of his friend's lodging-place.
The princess, satisfied now that they were moving, cooed and chattered
in Joe's ear, much to his delight, and Master Plummer was forced to
follow or allow himself to be left behind.
"There's no use in rushin' as if we hadn't another minute to live," he
cried, when, by dint of rapid running, he overtook his friend. "I don't
like to race 'round when we can jest as well go slow."
"It would be a good deal better if you walked fast once in awhile,
'cause then you wouldn't be so fat."
"S'pose I'd rather be fat than as lean as some fellers I know?"
"Then it would be all right to creep along the street same's we're doin'
now. Say, how far off is your shanty?"
"Down here a bit; but you don't count on goin' right there, do you?"
"Why not? Where else should we go?"
"Seems to me it would be better to get that stew first, an' then we
sha'n't have to come out again to-night."
"Look here, Plums," and Joe spoke sharply, "do you think I'm goin' to
take the princess into a place where they sell five-cent stews?"
"She's got to go somewhere, if she wants anything to eat."
"We'll bring her supper to your shanty. I won't carry this little thing
into a saloon for a crowd of toughs to look at."
Master Plummer sighed. He had been anticipating a feast of stew from the
moment Joe left him to engage in his new vocation, and it was a grievous
disappointment that the pleasure should be so long delayed.
"We'll go down to your place an' try an' fix things up; then you can
leave us there--"
"But you want somethin' to eat as well as I do."
"I guess I can get along without anything, for a spell. It's the
princess I'm thinkin' about; she's got to have somethin' fine, you know.
Stew'd never do for her."
"How's custard pie? I know where they've got some that's great,--two
inches thick, with the crust standin' up 'round the edge so the inside
won't fall out while you're eatin' it."
"Perhaps the princess might like the custard; but I ain't so sure about
the crust. It seems to me she's been fed mostly on candy, an' sich stuff
as that. Anyhow, you take my money an' buy whatever you think she'd
like. Got any candles down to your place?"
"I did have one last week; but the rats ate most of it, an' I don't
s'pose it would burn very well now."
"Take this nickel, an' buy some in that grocery store."
"Why don't you come, too?"
"I don't believe the princess would like to go into sich a place, an'
besides, folks might want to take hold of her. I ain't goin' to have any
Dutch groceryman slobberin' over her."
Master Plummer took the nickel and crossed the street in his ordinarily
slow fashion, while Joe and the princess held a long and animated
conversation, to the evident satisfaction of the little maid and the
mystification of the boy.
Owing to his being thus engaged, Joe did not grow impatient because of
Master Plummer's long absence, as he might have done under other
circumstances, and said to his princess when the newsdealer rejoined
them:
"Now, little one, we're goin' to Plums's home, an' you must try not to
feel bad 'cause it ain't very swell. It's bound to be better'n stayin'
out in the street all night, for I've tried that game a good many times,
an' there's nothin' funny 'bout it."
The little maid, perched on Joe's arm something after the fashion of a
bird, chirped and twittered a reply, and Plums, who had fallen in the
rear that he might secretly touch the arm which was around Joe's neck,
said, reflectively:
"I s'pose we'll have a high old time between now and mornin', 'cause
that kid, sweet as she's lookin' jest now, ain't goin' to be quiet in a
place like mine. It's fellers like you an' me, Joe, who've knocked
'round the city a good many times when we didn't have the price of a
lodgin' in our pockets, what can 'preciate a home where the wind an'
rain can't get in."
"You're talkin' straight enough, Plums, an' I 'gree to all you say; but
this 'ere princess ain't like the general run of kids,--that you could
see if you was blind. She's a reg'lar swell, an' you can bet there won't
be any kick 'cause we ain't stoppin' at the Walledoff. Couldn't you get
a little more of a move on? At this rate we sha'n't have supper much
before mornin'."
Master Plummer was willing to comply with this request, and did indeed
appear to be making strenuous efforts to walk at a more rapid pace; but
having patterned after a snail so many years, it seemed impossible for
him to overcome what had become a habit.
Not once during the short journey did the princess make any protest
against the plan her temporary guardian had suggested.
She was very comfortable, and although Joe's arms ached from long
holding the light burden, she knew it not,--perhaps it would have made
no difference had she been aware of the fact.
Finally, and after what had seemed a very long journey to the princess's
guardian, the little party arrived in front of the blacksmith's shop,
and Master Plummer conducted his guests through a narrow alley to the
rear of the building, where was a small, shed-like structure, the end of
which was open, save for a pile of boxes and boards directly in front of
it.
"This is the place," Master Plummer said, with an air of proprietorship;
"an' seein's you've got the kid in your arms, I'd better light a candle
so's you can see the way, 'cause there's a lot of stuff out here at this
end. I've been countin' on clearin' it up some day, but can't seem to
find the time. Besides, it wouldn't make any difference to us,--it's
only 'cause we've got the princess to lodge with us that I'd like to see
it a little cleaner. Say, Joe, what _is_ a princess, anyhow?"
"Why, it's a--you see, it's--it's a--well, look at her, can't you see?
That's what it is. _She's_ a princess. Now don't be all night lightin'
one candle."
It did really appear as if Plums was even slower than usual, and so
awkward that two matches were consumed before the wick was ignited.
"You see I don't often swell out in so much style as to have candles,
an' it takes me quite a spell to get one goin'," he said, in an
apologetic tone. "She's all right now, though. Jest come 'round the end
of that box, an' look out for this pile of iron, 'cause you might trip.
There _would_ be a mess if your princess was dumped down on this stuff."
"You get on with the candle, an' I'll see to the rest of the business,"
Joe said, impatiently, for by this time his arms ached severely.
Master Plummer obeyed, and a moment later Joe and the princess were
surveying the home, which occupied six square feet or more in one corner
of the shed, was walled in by barrels and boxes, and furnished with a
pile of straw and a disreputable-looking gray blanket.
"I've slept here some mighty cold nights, an' I know jest how good the
place is," the proprietor said, proudly. "She's tight as a brick, an'
there can't so much as a sniff of wind get in. Then look here!"
He raised the lid of a small box, thereby displaying two tin tomato cans
in which were fragments of biscuits, a broken cup half full of sugar,
two wooden plates, a knife, a fork, and a spoon.
"When trade is dull, I buy stuff at the grocery store, an' bring it in
here. Why, Joe, things will keep jest as well in that box as they would
in one of your tony 'frigerators, an' I ain't sure but it's better. I
have had ice in there two or three days, though I don't know as it
'mounted to anything 'cept to wet everything."
Joe gave little heed to his friend's cupboard. He was looking around for
some spot where the princess could sit down without danger of soiling
her garments, but failed to find that for which he sought.
"See here, Plums, you'll have to spread some papers over that blanket;
it'll never do to put this little thing down where everything is so
dirty."
"I don't see what there is 'round here that's dirty. It seems like she
couldn't come to much harm on the straw. It's only been here two weeks."
"Put the papers down, an' we'll talk 'bout it afterwards. It seems as
though my arms would break."
Master Plummer obeyed, but with an ill grace, for this fault-finding
without reason was not agreeable.
There was no lack of newspapers in the house, and in as short a time as
Plums could compass it the straw was covered.
It was with a long breath of relief that Joe sat his charming burden
down, and then were the boys treated to an exhibition of the princess's
temper.
Cleanly though the couch was, she had no idea of sitting bolt upright
when there were two subjects at hand to obey her wishes.
She positively refused to be seated, but held out her hands as if for
Joe to take her in his arms once more, and when the boy attempted to
explain that it was necessary she remain there a few moments, the little
maiden made protest at the full strength of her lungs.
"I guess I'll have to take her up again," Joe said, with a long-drawn
sigh, "an' I don't know as she's to be blamed for not wantin' to stay
there."
"Well, I'd never believed anything so pretty could screech so loud!"
Master Plummer exclaimed, in a tone of wonderment. "She yells jest 'bout
the same's old Mis' Carter's kids do, an' there's nothin' swell about
them."
Joe made no reply. He was too deeply engaged in trying to hush the
princess to give any heed to his friend's remark, and fully five minutes
passed before the imperious little maid was reduced to silence.
Then she nestled down in his arms with such apparent content, and looked
so charming, that he was her willing slave, without one disagreeable
thought concerning her temper.
"If my face was washed, I'd kiss her this minute," he said, half to
himself, and immediately Master Plummer looked jealous.
"If you can do that, I reckon I can."
"Well, there won't either of us try it yet awhile, so s'posin' you go
after your supper, an' bring something for the princess when you come
back. Don't be gone any longer'n you can help, will you, Plums, 'cause
she must be gettin' hungry by this time."
"I'll take the cans an' get the stew in them, else I'd be gone quite a
spell if I waited to eat my share. Will I buy custard pie for her?"
"Yes, an' anything else you think she'd like. Don't get cheap stuff,
'cause she ain't used to it."
Then Joe emptied the contents of his pocket in Master Plummer's hands,
and the latter asked, in surprise:
"Are you goin' to spend the whole of this?"
"It don't seem as though you'd have to, an' besides, we ought to leave a
little something for breakfast. Do the best you can, Plums."
With an air of responsibility, the proprietor of the establishment
walked slowly out, and Joe was left alone with his baby.
Swaying his body to and fro to delude her with the idea of being rocked,
Master Potter did his best to please the princess, and evidently
succeeded, for in a very short time after Plums had departed, the
sleep-elves soothed her eyelids with their poppy wands until she crossed
over into dreamland.
Now Joe would have laid the tiny maid on the straw to give relief to his
arms, but each time he attempted anything of the kind she moved
uneasily, as if on the point of awakening, and he was forced to abandon
the effort.
"I must be a chump if I can't hold a bit of a thing like her till she's
through sleepin'," he said to himself, "an' I ought'er be mighty glad to
have such a chance."
It was monotonous work, this playing the nurse while seated on the
ground with no support to his back; but never for a moment, not even
when his arms ached the hardest, did Joe Potter regret having taken upon
himself such a charge.
He had given little heed as to how the princess's parents might be
found, because he believed that would prove an exceedingly simple task.
He had only to go to the railroad station in the morning, and there
deliver the child to her mother, who, as a matter of course, would be in
waiting.
There was never a thought in his mind that, by bringing her to this home
of Master Plummer's, he had in fact secreted her from those who must at
that moment be making eager search.
He had done what seemed to him fitting under all the circumstances, and
felt well satisfied that no one could have cared for the child in a
better fashion, save in the matter of lodgings, which last left much to
be desired.
After a time, Joe succeeded in so far changing his position that it was
possible to gain the use of one hand, and immediately this had been
done, he set about carefully covering the princess's garments with a
newspaper, lest he himself should soil the fabrics.
Then there was nothing to do save wait the leisurely movements of Plums,
and it seemed as if fully an hour passed before that young gentleman
finally made his appearance.
"If I haven't got all you fellers can eat, then I'm mistaken," Master
Plummer announced, in an exceedingly loud tone as he entered the
building; and Joe whispered, hoarsely:
"What are you makin' sich a row for? If you ain't careful, you'll wake
the princess."
"Well, I'll be blowed, if she ain't gone to sleep jest like any of Mis'
Carter's kids would do!" Plums said, in a tone of surprise, when he was
where a view could be had of the sleeping child.
"Of course she has. You don't s'pose swells sleep different from other
folks, do you?"
"I don't know, 'cause I never had a chance to see one close to, before.
Say, here's the stuff."
Plums was literally laden with small packages, and, in addition, had the
two tomato cans nearly filled with what he declared was "great stew."
"I tell you there's no flies on that stuff, an' here's the pie," he
added, as he took a parcel wrapped in brown paper from under his arm.
"I'm 'fraid it's got mashed a little, but I couldn't carry it any other
way. Takin' the stew an' that, with what other things I've got, it'll be
funny if your princess can't fill herself up in great shape."
Then, from one pocket and another, Master Plummer drew out two small
cakes frosted with white and sprinkled with red sugar, three inches or
more of Bologna sausage, a cruller, a small bag of peanuts, an apple,
and two sticks of candy which looked much the worse for wear, because of
having been placed in his pocket without a covering.
"Now if that ain't rich enough for any feller's blood, I'd like to know
what you'd call it? Three or four princesses like your'n ought'er get
through with a layout same's this, an' thank their lucky stars for
havin' the chance."