Page 109 - An Amateur Fireman

"Now you can see the result of a good example, Amateur. If you had kicked against going to school, your
roommates never'd thought of trying the same game, and so by helping yourself you've gone a long way
towards helping others. Contrariwise, if you'd been cutting 'round town, raising rows and getting into all kinds
of trouble, you'd find them as would follow in your track, so it's a pretty sure thing that a boy is bound to walk
straight because of the effect it'll have on others, even if for no other reason."

Seth made no reply to this brief lecture; he was learning very much of life through his intercourse with
Ninety-four's men, and it seemed to him as if each day some new idea regarding a boy's work was to be
gained.

"Your firebug has his chance this forenoon, eh?" 'Lish asked after a short pause.

"Yes, sir, an' I'm hopin' mighty hard that he'll get off this time."

"I reckon a good deal depends on you and your partner."

"How do you mean?"

"If the firebug pleads guilty as his lawyer has advised him to, the judge will only call on you two witnesses to
tell how it happened, so's he can get an idea of about how hard Jip ought'er be punished."

"Then if we talk smooth he stands a better chance, eh?"

"That's 'bout the size of it, Amateur."

During the remainder of the time he spent in Ninety-four's quarters Seth was unusually thoughtful, and
immediately his work was finished he asked the driver if there was any objection to his going down-town.

"Now see here, Amateur, there's no call for you to come 'round me with a question like that. I'm only too glad
you've got a chance to get a holiday, and I advise you to spend all the time, till the hour for school, among
your old chums. I don't reckon you've got any big pile of money left by this time, eh?"

"Well, I don't need a cent, 'cept for my rent, an' that ain't costin' such a terrible pile."

"Have you got enough to buy your breakfast with?"

"I'll get whatever I need."

"See here, Amateur, how much money have you on hand?" 'Lish asked so sternly that Seth could no longer
evade the question.

"Well, I'm broke; but there's no need of my havin' a single cent. I ain't doin' much swellin' lately."

"Take this," and the driver thrust a dollar in Seth's hands. "I ain't giving it to you, so there's no call to kick.
You've got to borrow it, or go hungry, and that I'm not minded you shall do."

"I haven't done anything of the kind yet a while," the Amateur replied, with a hearty laugh, and then he began
to speak of Jip once more lest 'Lish Davis might take it into his head to ask how long he had thus been
penniless, for it was nearly a week since he had so much as a nickel in his pocket.

"I'll pay back the dollar as soon as I get my month's wages," he said, as, his work finished, he made ready to
go down-town, and the driver replied cheerily: