s literally impossible for Joe Potter to make any reply to Dan
Fernald's positive statement that he must run away in order to escape
punishment.

As a matter of course he knew he had done nothing of a criminal nature,
and yet the advertisement, which seemed to stand out more conspicuously
than any other item in the paper, could not be construed either by
himself or his companions to mean anything else.

The fact that it was signed by attorneys seemed to Joe and his friends
positive proof that a crime had been committed; otherwise why would
representatives of the law have appeared in the matter?

Dan Fernald, as Joe's oldest and nearest friend, took it upon himself to
act as master of ceremonies in the affair, and, understanding that his
comrade was so overwhelmed by the impending danger as to be absolutely
incapable of intelligent movement, led him towards the shanty, as he
said, gravely:

"Never mind what it is you've done, Joe, us fellers are goin' to see you
through, an' it won't do to hang 'round here very long, if you plan on
givin' the perlice the slip. I reckon they'll be hot after you before
nine o'clock, an' by that time I'm countin' on havin' you hid. Got
anything here you want to take with you?"

Joe shook his head; but Master Fernald seemed to consider it necessary
they should enter the building, and his two comrades followed close in
the rear.

Once inside the shanty, the visitors, as a matter of course, saw the
princess sleeping on the straw, and, despite the fact that her garments
were not as cleanly as on the day previous, making a most charming
picture.

"Well, I'll be blowed! Where'd you get that?"

Joe had been so bewildered by the terrible knowledge that the officers
of the law were probably on his trail, as to have forgotten for the
moment that the princess was in his charge, and he stood for an instant
staring at her vacantly before making any reply, which odd behaviour
served to strengthen the belief in the minds of his friends that he was
guilty of some serious crime.

"Oh, that's the princess. She lost her folks somewhere near the _de_pot
last night, an' I was countin' on findin' 'em for her this mornin'.
Plums an' me had to take her in, else she'd been layin' 'round the
streets."

Dan looked at him sharply, while Tim and Jerry raised themselves on
tiptoe to gaze at the sleeping child.

"Well, what you goin' to do with her now?" Dan asked, after waiting in
vain for his friend to s