fool he'd left her in town. It jest makes
my blood boil when I think of his havin' a kid taggin' 'round after him,
an' every detective in New York on his track!"

"I don't believe he'd be willin' to leave the princess, not even if he
knew he was goin' to be 'rested the next minute."

"He's got to, or I'll throw up the job of tryin' to save him. Now we'll
go up to this Dutch woman's house that you've been talkin' 'bout, an'
snake him out. All I hope is we'll get away in time."

Master Plummer turned to walk out of the hallway in obedience to this
command, when Dan, clutching him by the arm, brought the boy to a sudden
standstill.

"What kind of a way is that to go out when the streets are full of
detectives huntin' after you?"

"How else can I go?" Plums asked, in surprise.

"I'll show you. Watch out on what I do, an' act the very same way. I'll
go on one side of the street, an' you on the other, so's folks sha'n't
know we're together."

Master Plummer was puzzled to understand why it might work them mischief
if the public knew they were acquainted with each other; but Dan was so
peremptory in his commands that the boy did not venture to ask a
question.

Then Master Fernald went out from the hallway, in what he evidently
believed was the most approved detective fashion of walking, and, as
Plums confidentially told Joe later, "he acted like he was a
jumpin'-jack, with some one pullin' the string mighty hard."

The two went slowly up the street, one on either side, and such of the
citizens of Weehawken who saw them were mystified by their singular
method of proceeding.

Dan quieted down somewhat after half an hour had passed, for no slight
amount of labour was required to continue the supposed detective manner
of walking, and, before arriving at the house where Joe had taken
refuge, he behaved very nearly like other and more sensible boys.

"No, I won't go in," he said, decidedly, when Plums proposed that he
call upon the old lady. "You don't catch me showin' myself 'round this
place any more'n I can help, 'cause there's no tellin' when the perlice
will be here askin' questions, an' I'm goin' to steer clear of trouble."

"Shall I tell Joe to come out?" Plums asked, timidly, for Dan's superior
wisdom awed him.

"Of course, else how can I see him? Don't let that kid tag on behind,
for it's mighty dangerous to be on the street with her. That
advertisement about you had in it that you was last seen with a litt