A BRIBE.
It appeared very much as if Dan suspected Joe of treachery even in this
matter of reclaiming the princess, for he followed him to Mrs. Weber's
home, and there stood within a few paces of the door, where he might
overhear all that was said.
Now that the amateur detective was thoroughly alarmed concerning his own
safety, he had ceased his grotesquely mysterious movements, and behaved
very much like an ordinary boy.
Not until Joe had knocked twice at the door was his summons answered,
and then the old German lady stood before him, with the princess in her
arms.
He had hoped the child would recognise him, but was not prepared for
such a hearty greeting as he received.
The princess, looking less dainty than when he first saw her, because of
a coarse calico frock which the careful Mrs. Weber had put on, in the
place of her more expensive garments, leaned forward in the old lady's
arms, stretching out both tiny hands to Joe, as she twittered and
chirped, after her own peculiar manner, what was evidently a greeting
to the boy who had acted a guardian's part to the best of his ability.
"She really knows me!" Joe cried, in an ecstasy of joy, forgetting for a
moment his own sorrow, and, as the child nestled her face against his
neck, he kissed the curly brown hair again and again.
Mrs. Weber welcomed the princess's guardian in her own language, which
was as unintelligible to Master Potter as the baby's cooing, and only
served to arouse the amateur detective's suspicions.
"What's that old woman sayin'?" Dan asked, sharply. "You don't want to
try any funny games with me, 'cause I won't stand it."
Joe did not hear the unkind words; his heart had been made so glad by
the princess's joy at seeing him, that he would hardly have been
conscious of the fact had the officers of the law come forward at that
moment to make him a prisoner.
Mrs. Weber, observing Dan for the first time, addressed him in a kindly
tone, which only served to deepen the frown on the amateur detective's
face.
"I dunno what you're drivin' at, missis; but you won't pull wool over my
eyes by jabberin' away in that lingo."
It so chanced that Joe heard this remark, and, turning quickly towards
the boy who, he believed, held him in his power, he said, sharply:
"Now, don't make a bigger fool of yourself than you can help, Dan
Fernald! Mrs. Weber can't talk our way, an' is only tryin' to treat you
decent."
"I'm keepin' my eyes open, all the same, cause I don't count on gettin'
left the same as I was yesterday."
Accepting the invitation given by gestures, Joe entered the house with
the princess in his arms, and followed by the boy who considered himself
his master.
Now a serious difficulty presented itself.
Mrs. Weber's grandson was not at home, and it would be necessary to
dispense with the services of an interpreter.
"I don't know how I'm going to fix it," Joe said, speaking half to
himself, and Master Fernald believed he was addressed.
"What is it you can't fix?"
"I want to get back some of the money I paid Mrs. Weber; but how am I
goin' to tell her I'll carry the princess away for good?"
"She must know what you say, of course. Who ever heard of a woman what
didn't understand how to talk?"
"But she's a German, you know."
"I can't help that. If you tell her right up an' down what you mean,
she's bound to know it, 'less she's a dummy."
There was little in the way of advice to be gained from the alleged
detective, and Joe began a pantomime which he intended should convey the
idea.
He pointed to the princess's clothes, then out of the window; put on his
hat, and, with the child in his arms, walked towards the door.
Then he opened the parcel aunt Dorcas had given him, displaying the
food, and pointed up the street in the direction from which he had just
come.
After a time, Mrs. Weber appeared to understand something of what he was
trying to convey, and, with a volley of words which sounded very much
like a protest, took the princess from him.
The child screamed violently, clinging to Joe with all her little
strength, and the boy was seriously disturbed; but the smile on Mrs.
Weber's face told that she did not consider the outburst as anything
very serious.
"What's she goin' to do with the kid?" Dan asked, as the German woman
disappeared in an adjoining room.
"I s'pose she's gone to put on the princess's other clothes, 'cause it
seemed like as if she understood what I'd been tellin' her."
"It would be a precious good job if she didn't come back. That kid has
got you into a heap of trouble, Joe Potter, an' it'll grow worse instead
of better so long as you stick to her."
Joe made no reply. It is doubtful if he heard the words, for the
princess was crying so loudly he feared she might do herself an injury.
Five minutes later, Mrs. Weber reentered the room, bringing the princess
clad in her own garments, and the little maid ran with outstretched arms
to Joe, pressing her tear-stained face against his cheek in such a
manner as went straight to his heart.
After a prolonged caress, Joe said to Dan, as if answering the remark
which the amateur detective had made a few moments previous:
"No matter how much trouble she might get me into, I'd stick to this
little thing as long as I lived, if she needed me."
"Course you've got the right to be jest as big a fool as you like; it
ain't any of my business, so long's I don't have to starve to death on
her account. What about the money you was goin' to try to get from the
old woman?"
"I'll have to let that go, 'cause I can't make her understand what I
mean. Will you carry the cakes?"
Master Fernald seized the parcel with avidity, and straightway began
devouring its contents.
With the princess in his arms, Joe arose, put on his hat, and held out
his hand in token of adieu.
Mrs. Weber looked at him in surprise an instant, and then, after saying
something in German, hastened out of the room, returning a moment later
with several silver coins in her hand.
Joe hesitated, and then took from the outstretched palm fifty cents,
motioning that she keep the remainder.
The old lady shook her head, energetically, and literally forced him to
take all the coins, which amounted in value to ninety cents.
"You've only kept a dime," he said, in protest, "an' it isn't enough to
pay for takin' care of the princess two days."
Mrs. Weber smiled, kindly, patted Joe on the head, kissed the princess
affectionately, and by opening the door signified that she would not
accept further payment for her services.
"I'll come back some day an' square up for what you've done," Joe cried,
as he stepped down on to the sidewalk, and then he remembered that if
matters were arranged as seemed necessary, he would soon be in prison.
"Anyway, I'll come back as soon as I can," he added to himself, and
kissing the tiny hand which the princess had wilfully placed over his
mouth, he set forward, resolutely, on the journey, followed by the boy
who claimed the right to dictate as to his future movements.
During half an hour Joe walked steadily on towards aunt Dorcas's
peaceful home, listening to the princess's childish prattle, and
banishing all forebodings from his mind with the thought that the baby
trusted and loved him.
Then Dan, who had been walking a few paces in the rear, came to his
side, appearing a trifle more friendly than when they first met.
"At this rate you'll get back in time for dinner."
"It seems as though I ought to, but it's kind of hard work carryin' the
princess. Aunt Dorcas gave me the cakes so's we wouldn't need to hurry
on the road, an'--where are they?"
"Do you mean that little bunch of cakes you gave me?"
"Little bunch! Why, there was a stack of 'em!"
"It don't make any difference how many there was, 'cause I ate the whole
lot."
Joe looked at the amateur detective as if about to make an angry reply;
but checked himself, and Dan said, defiantly:
"The time's gone by when you can put on airs with me, Joe Potter. I
ain't goin' to starve to death when there's anything 'round I can eat."
"No, you'd rather let a little baby like this one go hungry. I wouldn't
have touched the cakes any sooner'n I'd cut my finger off, 'cause they
was for her."
"You make me tired with your bloomin' princess. She's stuffed jest about
as full as she can hold, an' I'm the same as starved."
Joe did not so much as look at the selfish boy, but walked more rapidly
than before until fully one-half the distance from Mrs. Weber's to aunt
Dorcas's had been traversed.
Light though the burden was, his arms ached from long carrying the
child, and it seemed absolutely necessary to come to a halt.
The princess was more than willing to take advantage of the opportunity
to search for flowers or wintergreen plums by the roadside, and Joe
stretched himself out at full length on the cool grass, keeping jealous
watch all the while over the happy little girl.
Dan seated himself near by, having once more assumed an air of injured
innocence, and Master Potter could not longer delay having an
understanding with this boy, who was bent on claiming even more than his
right.
"So you're bound on goin' straight to aunt Dorcas's with me?" he said,
after a brief pause.
"It's got to be that, or jail."
"I don't see why; there are other places 'round here besides hers."
"Yes; but I ain't sure of gettin' into 'em for nothin'. When you strike
a house where Plums is so contented, it must be a pretty soft snap."
"It ain't certain you can get in there, an' it's dead sure you're
drivin' the princess an' me away."
"I ain't doin' anything of the kind. You're gettin' on your ear 'cause I
want to be treated decent, that's the size of it."
"You know very well we can't ask that poor little woman to take care of
four, an' somebody must go, if you're comin'. Now, of course, I must
take the princess with me, an' I don't want to leave the very minute I
get there. Will you hang off a couple of days, an' give me a chance to
find out how I can fix things?"
"I'd starve to death in two days, an' you know it."
"That's all foolishness; you've got plenty of money in your pocket that
was borrowed from the fellers to help Plums an' me through."
"I haven't so much that I can go sportin' 'round the country like a
swell, have I?"
"You've got enough to keep you from starvin' for a week."
"All the same, I'm goin' to live with you an' Plums," Dan replied,
doggedly, and Joe remained silent while one might have counted twenty,
after which he said, with the air of a boy who has suddenly decided upon
a course of action:
"Mis' Weber gave me back ninety cents. Now I'll turn over seventy-five
of it if you agree not to show up at aunt Dorcas's until three o'clock
to-morrow afternoon."
"What kind of a game are you tryin' to play on me now?" Master Fernald
asked, suspiciously.
"It ain't any game. I'm hirin' you to stay away, so I can stop there
till that time, an' then I'll leave."
"Yes, an' you're goin' to tell her a whole lot of stuff 'bout me, so's
she won't let me stop there."
"I'll promise never to speak your name except to tell her you come as
far's this with us, an' was up behind the barn twice. Now with
seventy-five cents you can live a good deal more swell somewhere else
than at aunt Dorcas's, an' at three o'clock to-morrow afternoon you may
do what you please."
"How do I know you'll keep your promise?"
"'Cause neither you nor anybody else can say I ever went back on my
word, an' fix it any way you're a mind to, it's the best trade you can
make. I'm certain she wouldn't take in four of us, an' the only show
you've got is for me to leave."
"But where'll I find a chance to buy something to eat?"
"There are plenty of stores 'round here, an' you can get a lodging most
anywhere, for twenty-five cents."
"Hand over your money."
"Do you 'gree not to show your nose 'round there till three o'clock
to-morrow?"
"Of course I do."
Joe counted out the amount agreed upon, and said, warningly, as he gave
it to Master Fernald:
"I'm reckonin' on your keepin' your word, same's I will mine; but don't
make the mistake of goin' back on me, Dan Fernald, for if you come to
aunt Dorcas's before the time we've 'greed on, I'll make it hot. You
know I can do it, so be square, or you'll get into worse trouble than if
the detectives found you."
"That's right; threaten a feller when you think you've got him in a
hole!"
"I ain't doin' half so much threatenin' as you did, an' besides, I'm
payin' for the privilege when I give you pretty nigh all the money I've
got, an' you with a pocket full."
The amateur detective did not think it advisable to reply to this
remark, and the two remained silent until Joe believed the time had come
when the journey should be resumed.
The princess was weary with running to and fro, and willingly allowed
the boy to take her in his arms again.
"The next time we stop it'll be at aunt Dorcas's," Joe said, as he set
out, and then he halted suddenly, for Master Fernald was following close
in the rear.
"Where you goin'?"
"With you, of course."
"Didn't I buy you off till three o'clock to-morrow afternoon?"
"Does that mean I can't so much as walk up the road when you're on it?"
"It means you mustn't follow me to aunt Dorcas's house, an', after all
that's been said and done, I shouldn't think you'd want to do anything
of the kind."
"I'll keep my promise, an' I'll do whatever else I please. You better
not be too smart, 'cause I might back out of the trade."
"It would be a sorry job for you," Joe said, threateningly, and, turning
once more, he continued the journey without heed to Master Fernald's
movements.
[Illustration: "THE PRINCESS SUFFERED AUNT DORCAS TO KISS HER."]
It was not yet eleven o'clock when Joe and the princess arrived at aunt
Dorcas's home, and the little woman cried, in delight, as Master Potter
led the child towards her:
"What a sweet little darling! What a beautiful baby! Why, Joseph, I had
no idea she was such a lovely child as this!" and the princess suffered
aunt Dorcas to kiss her rapturously.
"There's no flies on her, anyhow," Joe said, with an air of pride.
It is doubtful if aunt Dorcas heard this last remark. She was as pleased
with the princess as a child would have been with a doll, and behaved
much after the same fashion.
Joe and Plums listened with greatest satisfaction to her words of
praise.
The little maid and the little woman had apparently conceived a most
violent admiration each for the other, and straightway it seemed as if
the boys were entirely forgotten, for the two went into the house
without so much as a backward glance.
"'Cordin' to the looks of things, I guess they'll get along pretty well
together," Plums said, in a tone of satisfaction. "I'm mighty glad
you've come back, 'cause aunt Dorcas kept me humpin' myself ever since
you left. Why, I've finished up the whole garden, an' it seems to me as
if I'd done the work of four men. Did you get the money from the German
woman?"
"Yes; but it didn't do me any good;" and then Joe told in detail of the
meeting with the amateur detective, and the bribe he had been forced to
give.
"It seems as though Dan must be pretty smart if they're advertisin' for
him, too," Plums said, reflectively. "I can't make out what them lawyers
are up to, offerin' a whole hundred dollars for either one of us, an'
when it comes right down to dots, I don't s'pose we're actually worth
twenty-five cents."
"I can't understand it, either, and I expect aunt Dorcas will think I'm
a terrible bad feller, when I tell her the story."
"But you ain't goin' to do anything like that?" Plums cried, in alarm.
"Yes, I am; I won't go away from here without tellin' her the truth, an'
I've got to leave before three o'clock to-morrow afternoon."
"Now, look here, Joe, this ain't right to let Dan Fernald drive you off.
Where'll we find another place like this?"
"I don't reckon we ever can; but it's got to be done. I'd be 'shamed
enough to die if Dan should settle hisself down here, after we've
brought the princess. That would make four of us for aunt Dorcas to
feed, an' we know she has 'bout all she can do to pay her own bills. It
seemed pretty tough when you an' I come; but I said to myself it was
only for two or three weeks, an' we could patch it up somehow, after we
got back to town."
"But Dan's a fool!" Master Plummer cried, excitedly. "It's no dead sure
thing aunt Dorcas will take him in same's she has us, even if you do go
away."
"But he thinks she will, so it 'mounts to the same thing."
"Where are you goin'?"
"I don't know," Joe replied, mournfully. "Perhaps it'll be better to go
straight to town, an' let 'em arrest me. Aunt Dorcas will tell me what's
best, an' I shall do as she says."
"You ain't goin' to talk to her to-night?"
"No, Plums, I'm countin' on holdin' out till to-morrow mornin', an'
enjoyin' myself all I can, 'cause it ain't no ways likely I'll ever have
the chance of stoppin' again in sich a place as this."
Master Plummer was silent for a moment, and then a different aspect of
the case presented itself to him.
"Why, what's goin' to become of me?" he cried. "I don't believe aunt
Dorcas'll keep me after you leave, an' what'll I do?"
"If I let the lawyers get hold of me, that'll ease up on you, 'cause I'm
the only one they'd want to arrest, an' you can go back to town."
"Yes, perhaps I can; but I'll hate to, mightily. That shanty of mine
won't seem half so nice, after we've lived here, an' I'll have to go to
work sellin' papers!"
Master Plummer was now so absorbed in the contemplation of his own
unfortunate position as to be wholly unable to sympathise with his
friend, and the two sat on the greensward just outside aunt Dorcas's
door, in painful silence.