Reaching over she began to remove the food from the table.
Mary sprang to aid her.
"Let me carry the things into the pantry," Tim said. "Maybe if I walk round some it will shake down what I've eaten."
"Are you laying to eat another course?" derided Carl.
"Aw, quit it!" growled Tim. "I'll bet I haven't made way with any more than you have. Here, fork over that pie! I'll put it in the closet."
"Can we trust you with it?" called Captain Dillingham.
Tim put up his hand.
"Say, I wouldn't touch that pie if you were to go down on your knees and beg me to," Tim declared. "Millions wouldn't hire me!"
"Give it to him, Carl; he sounds perfectly safe," asserted the lad's mother. "And put those apples and figs away, too, dear, if you are going into the pantry. Mary, you and Carl pile the dishes. What an army of them there are! I believe we have out every plate we own. Martin, do take the babies into the next room where they will be out from under foot. And watch that Nell doesn't eat the candles off the tree. She's always thinking they are candy, the witch!"
"You must let me help," urged Uncle Frederick, rolling up his sleeves.