idn't do so much as a flea-bite. If aunt Dorcas had been alone an'
heard the man sneakin' 'round, she'd been prayin' with him in less'n
five minutes, an' he'd gone away a good deal more sore than he did."

"I guess that's straight enough," Plums replied, with a sigh, for as it
was thus proven that the little woman did not stand in need of their
services, his heart grew sad.

"She can take care of herself, you bet, an' come up bright an' smilin'
every time. We've got to go back to-morrow, Plums, an' hustle for
five-cent stews."

"I don't want any more of it, after knowin' how aunt Dorcas can cook.
Are you goin' into the paper business ag'in?"

"I guess I'll have to, after I pick up enough cash to start in with.
I'll tackle the _de_pot, for that job was pannin' out mighty well till I
found the princess," Joe replied, and then he relapsed into silence, for
the thought that the child was no longer dependent upon him brought
more sorrow to his heart than had come to Plums because of being forced
to go to work again.

Then came the summons for which the boys had been waiting, and when they
entered the house, expecting to find aunt Dorcas alone, a disagreeable
surprise awaited them.

The amateur detective was in the kitchen regaling himself with a quarter
section of custard pie, while the little woman fluttered to and fro
between the table and the pantry, as if bent on tempting his appetite to
the utmost.

"Dan will stay here till morning," she said, cheerily, as the boys
entered, "and then we'll take him to the ferry in Mr. Raymond's
carriage."

"Are you goin' to keep him, after he set the barn afire?" Joe asked, in
surprise, as he shook his fist at the amateur detective, while aunt
Dorcas's back was turned.

"He didn't really intend to do me an injury, and feels sorry because of
harbouring such revengeful thoughts."

At that instant, aunt Dorcas saw Master Plummer making threatening
gestures, which were replied to vigorously by Dan, and she added,
quickly:

"I want you boys to be firm friends from this day. All three have made a
mistake; but there will be no evil result from it unless through your
own wilfulness. Joe, try, for my sake, to be good, and treat Dan as if
there had been no hard feelings."

Master Potter would have been better pleased if aunt Dorcas had asked of
him something which could only be performed after great suffering and
painful endurance; but with a slight show of hesitation he approache