t his comrade wanted him to
look out of the window, and when he did realise this fact sufficiently
to do as Plums wished, he saw that which disturbed him not a little.

Dan was making his way up the lane from the road in the same ridiculous
fashion which he appeared to think necessary a detective should employ,
and Joe was positive aunt Dorcas would be seriously alarmed, if she saw
Master Fernald indulging in such antics.

"Go out, Plums, an' make that bloomin' idjut keep away," he whispered to
his comrade. "I won't have him dancin' 'round here in that style, an' if
he does very much more of it I'll tell aunt Dorcas the whole story. I'd
rather be arrested ten times over than have her scared 'most to death."

It was evident this was not a mission which pleased Master Plummer, for
he feared to incur the anger of one who professed to be so powerful, and
he asked, tremulously:

"S'posin' he says the same thing he did this forenoon?"

"Tell him to go back to the city, or I'll make it my business to send a
reg'lar detective here to fix things up."

"If he gets mad, Joe, there's no knowin' what he might do."

"He sha'n't stay 'round here, an' that settles it; tell him I said so,
an' I mean it."

Plums stole softly out of the kitchen, but aunt Dorcas was so intent on
her thoughts that he might have made very much noise without attracting
her attention.

Looking through the window, Joe could see Plums as he performed his
mission, and, judging from the gestures in which the amateur detective
indulged, it was quite evident he was displeased at receiving such a
command.

After conversing together a short time, the two climbed over the fence,
and disappeared in the orchard, going, as Joe believed, towards the
barn.

The threat had failed of immediate effect, and there came into Joe's
mind the thought that it was necessary he go out to make it more
emphatic, when aunt Dorcas, having finished the work in hand, seated
herself by the boy's side as if for a chat.

"Where is George?" she asked, and Joe looked about him in astonishment,
not recognising the name for an instant. Then, finally understanding to
whom she referred, he explained that Plums had gone out for a few
moments, and proposed to summon him.

"There is no need of that, for it is with you I want to talk. I've been
thinking about that little child, Joseph, and wondering what you could
do with her. You said the German woman had promised to keep her only a
wee