'll read a chapter, and then you can go to bed. I will wash
the dishes afterwards."

Reverentially the little woman took a well-worn Bible from the small
table beneath one of the windows, and while the two boys who were
fleeing from the officers of the law, as they believed, gazed at her in
wonderment and surprise, but not understanding that which they heard,
she read one of the psalms.

Then kneeling, she prayed in simple language which reached their hearts,
for the homeless ones within her gates.

Joe's eyes were moist when she rose to her feet, and Plums whispered, in
a voice choked with emotion:

"She's a daisy, that's what's the matter with her!"

CHAPTER VIII.

A HUNGRY DETECTIVE.

When aunt Dorcas had ushered the boys into the "room over the kitchen,"
and left them with a kindly "good night," they gazed around in such
astonishment as can best be depicted by Master Plummer's emphatic remark
shortly after the little woman went down-stairs.

"I've always thought swells had a pretty soft snap when they went to
bed; but I never counted on its bein' anything like this. Do you s'pose
she means for us to get right into that bed, an' muss it all up?"

Joe did not reply for several seconds, and then said, doubtfully:

"It seems as if that's what she must have meant, else why did she tell
about her best sheets bein' in the other room? I thought the old German
woman's house was mighty nice; but it wasn't a marker 'longside of this.
If the princess was only here!"

"You can bet I don't bother my head 'bout no princesses when I've got a
chance to crawl into that nest. I almost wish now I'd had sense enough
to use one of them towels we had on the table, 'cause my hands look
pretty dirty when you get 'em side of that sheet."

"Well, see this, Plums! If you'll believe it, here's a pitcher full of
water, an' soap, an' everything! Let's wash up now, will you?"

Ordinarily, Master Plummer would have met this suggestion with a decided
refusal; but, being surrounded as he was by so much luxury, it seemed
necessary he should do something in the way of celebrating.

It was not a very careful toilet which Plums made on this night, for he
was in too great a hurry to get between the lavender-scented sheets to
admit of spending much time on such needless work as washing his hands
and face; but he was more cleanly, and perhaps felt in a better
condition to enjoy the unusual luxury.

"Say, Joe, it's a mighty big pity