l temper at being thus
thwarted in his efforts to do a favour.

"You'll be blamed lucky if you get anywhere, except to jail."

"But what's the difference if we go over to Jersey? It ain't much
further to the Weehawken Ferry than it is Thirty-fourth Street way."

"All right, go there, then,--anywhere, so's you get a move on."

Master Plummer took the precaution to gather up such provisions as
remained in the cupboard, and, after one long look around at the home he
might be leaving for ever, shook Joe gently.

"Come on, old man; this thing's got to be done, an' the sooner we start
the better. There's no show for you to give yourself up 'less I'm with
you, 'cordin' to what Dan says, an' you can bet I ain't countin' on
goin' to jail so long as it can be helped."

Joe rose to his feet obediently, still holding the princess tightly in
his arms, and Dan ordered Jerry to precede them into the street, in
order to make certain the officers of the law were not in the vicinity.

"If you whistle once, we'll know nobody's there, an' twice means that
we're surrounded."

Jerry, looking as important as the occasion demanded, set about doing
the scouting for the party, and an instant later a shrill call rang out
on the morning air, telling that the coast was clear.

Dan and Plums ranged themselves either side of Joe; Tim marched in
advance, wary as an Indian hunter; and in this order the little party
gained the street, the princess in high glee because of the numbers who
were escorting her.

Joe neither spoke nor looked back. His heart was as heavy as though the
shadow of a real crime hung over him, and, had he been going directly to
prison, could not have appeared more despondent.

On the other hand, Dan Fernald was enjoying himself hugely.

Aiding a desperate criminal to escape from the clutches of the law was
to him a most exciting adventure. He had always believed he possessed
remarkable detective ability, and this was the first time an opportunity
of establishing such fact had presented itself.

"If I don't get you two fellers out of this scrape, then I'm willin' to
lay right down," he said, as Tim and Jerry led the way towards the west
side of the city at a rapid pace. "I've kept myself posted on the
detective business pretty sharp, 'cause I've made up my mind to go into
it before long, an' by the time we finish this job I guess the perlice
will find out what I'm made of. I ain't so sure but I shall join the
force af