Page 104 - An Amateur Fireman

CHAPTER XIV.

THE SUBPOENA.

Impatient though Seth was to talk with 'Lish Davis and his roommates concerning what had been done by
Sam Barney in the matter of borrowing money on the account of others, he made no attempt to leave
headquarters a single moment earlier than usual.

When the hours of labor had come to an end, however, he did not linger, and with a cheery "good-night" to
Mr. Fernald, for by this time the teacher and his pupil were on excellent terms, he set off at full speed for
Ninety-four's house.

Unless they were out on duty, this particular company, since Seth went to work at headquarters, could always
be found on the lower floor of the building at about six o'clock in the evening awaiting the arrival of "their
kid," and here Master Bartlett found them.

From the expression on his face all hands understood that something unpleasant had occurred, and 'Lish Davis
asked in a tone of anxiety:

"What's gone wrong, Amateur? Haven't been getting into trouble with Josh, I hope?"

"Mr. Fernald is mighty kind to me; he says I shall go in the yard next week for half an hour each day, an' then
you know I'll have a great chance to pick up points."

"Once he starts you in there the road is pretty straight up to a job in the Department. You look so kind-er
peaked I was afraid something had gone wrong."

"Read that, an' then I reckon you'll think somethin' has gone wrong!" Seth exclaimed as he gave the driver Joe
Carter's letter, unfolding the sheet that there might be no needless time spent in mastering its contents.

"Read it aloud, 'Lish," Jerry Walters cried, and the driver glanced toward Seth as if asking permission to do
so.

"Go ahead, Mr. Davis. Of course everybody belongin' to this company has a right to know all about my
business."

Davis did as he was requested, reading slowly as if enjoying the matter hugely, and interrupted now and then
by exclamations of surprise or amusement from his comrades.

"Well, what do you think of it?" Seth asked angrily when the driver, having come to the end, remained silent.

"It begins to look as if your friend the detective could manage to take care of himself by hook or by crook. I
can't see that either you or Bill Dean is bound by any such a transaction, unless you gave Sam permission to
borrow money on your account."

"Of course we wasn't such fools as to do that! It's a reg'lar swindle, that's what it is, an' if I'd known 'bout it
when Dan and me met him down-town, I'm 'fraid I'd punched his head, even if it would be fightin' on the
street!"

"What's that?" Mr. Davis asked sharply. "Something been going on that we haven't heard?"

"I counted on tellin' you; but it seems as if there's always a bother to talk 'bout, so I waited a spell."