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.