"What is it you can't fix?"
"I want to get back some of the money I paid Mrs. Weber; but how am I goin' to tell her I'll carry the princess away for good?"
"She must know what you say, of course. Who ever heard of a woman what didn't understand how to talk?"
"But she's a German, you know."
"I can't help that. If you tell her right up an' down what you mean, she's bound to know it, 'less she's a dummy."
There was little in the way of advice to be gained from the alleged detective, and Joe began a pantomime which he intended should convey the idea.
He pointed to the princess's clothes, then out of the window; put on his hat, and, with the child in his arms, walked towards the door.
Then he opened the parcel aunt Dorcas had given him, displaying the food, and pointed up the street in the direction from which he had just come.
After a time, Mrs. Weber appeared to understand something of what he was trying to convey, and, with a volley of words which sounded very much like a protest, took the princess from him.
The child screamed violently, clinging to Joe with all her little strength, and the boy was seriously disturbed; but the smile on Mrs. Weber's face told that she did not consider the outburst as anything very serious.