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