tayed there. Her father made us tell
all we'd done from the minute Joe found the kid, an' then he said a
thousand dollars was promised to the feller what would find her. Of
course we didn't s'pose he'd pay the money after givin' us a ride in his
team, an' settin' up the dinner; but he stuck to it like a little man.
Aunt Dorcas is to take care of the wealth, an' seein's how she told him
where we fellers was, he's to give her what the advertisement promised,
an' that's a hundred dollars apiece for the three of us. When all this
was fixed, the princess's father offered Joe a job, an' he's to have six
dollars a week, with a raise every year if he minds his eye. They're out
buyin' clothes now, an' I slipped down to see you fellers, 'cause we're
goin' back to aunt Dorcas's house this evenin'."

Master Plummer's friends were not disposed to believe what he told them,
until the story had been repeated several times, and all the details had
been given.

Then it appeared as if there could be no doubt, and each boy vied with
the other in his attentions to Plums, who was now a very desirable
acquaintance, since it might possibly be in his power to invite them to
that cottage of aunt Dorcas's, concerning which Dan Fernald had given
such glowing accounts.

[Illustration: "'McGOWAN'S RESTAURANT AIN'T IN IT ALONGSIDE OF WHAT WE
STRUCK UP AT THE PRINCESS'S HOUSE.'"]

Plums had promised to meet the little woman and Joe at the Weehawken
ferry-slip at seven o'clock, and since at that hour there was no
business to be done on Newspaper Row, his friends decided to accompany
him to the rendezvous.

To the delight of all the boys, aunt Dorcas and Joe arrived in Mr.
Raymond's carriage, and instantly they appeared, the assembled throng
set up such a shout of welcome as caused the little woman to grip Master
Potter's hand nervously, as she cried:

"Mercy on us, Joseph, what _is_ the matter?"

Joe had caught a glimpse of Plums's following before the outcry was
heard, and replied, with a laugh:

"It's only a crowd of the fellers come to see us off. Most likely Plums
has been tellin' 'em about the good luck that has come to me, an' they
want to give us a send-off."

"Do try to stop them from making such a noise, Joseph. What will the
neighbours think of us?"

"They'll believe you're a howlin' swell, aunt Dorcas, an' everybody will
be wantin' to look at you."

"Let us get out as quick as ever we can, or the policeman will accuse us
of m