"He tackled a burglar, an' got the best of him, that's what Joe Potter did. A feller has got nerve what'll jump on to a man in the dark, an' don't you make any mistake."
"Was there a real burglar in the house?" Dan asked, incredulously.
"Course there was, an' Joe knocked him silly. The feller come in through the kitchen window, an'—"
"I'd made up my mind that 'most everybody knew I was out here on your case," the amateur detective said, as if speaking to himself, and Plums asked, in surprise:
"What's that got to do with it?"
"Nothin'; only it shows that some folks don't know it, else the burglar never'd dared to show his nose 'round here."
"'Cause he'd be afraid of you?"
"He wouldn't run the risk of my gettin' on his trail," Master Fernald replied, with dignity, and Plums could not repress a smile, for he had already begun to question his friend's detective ability.
Dan pretended not to see this evidence of incredulity, for it did not suit his purpose to have hard words with Plums now, when he was, as he believed, about to become his roommate.
"See here, you've got to come right up to the house, 'cause aunt Dorcas wants to see that paper," Master Plummer cried, as if but just reminded of his mission.