Page 110 - An Amateur Fireman

"I'm counting on it, Amateur, and I'm also reckoning that you'll come to me again when that's gone, else you
and me will have a settling that won't be pleasant to one of us."

Then Seth started down-town with a smile on his face, as he repeated again and again to himself:

"Folks are mighty good to me, mighty good!"

When he arrived in that locality where he formerly transacted business, his old friends welcomed him heartily,
and every one who claimed the slightest acquaintance had a great many questions to ask concerning his
position at headquarters.

Not until nearly the hour set for the witnesses to be at court did Seth find an opportunity of speaking privately
with his partner, and then he repeated what 'Lish Davis had said as to the possible effect their evidence might
have in the case.

"We must be careful to tell the truth, Dan; but there's no need of our rubbin' it in very bad."

"That'll be all right," Master Roberts replied confidently. "Jest wait till the judge begins to pump me, an' you'll
see how slick I'll make it for Jip."

"Don't put it on too thick."

"See here, Seth, I reckon I know how to run this thing. Don't you worry 'bout me; but be kind-er thinkin' up
what you'll say."

"I don't s'pose we'll have a chance for anything 'cept to answer questions."

"I'll bet I can sneak in a good word now an' then, never mind how hard they try to stop me. Say, have you seen
Sam Barney?"

"No; is he goin' to the court?"

"'Cordin' to the way he's been swellin' hisself out this mornin' you'd think he was countin' on runnin' the whole
thing. He told some of the fellers that the trial wouldn't begin if he wasn't there, 'cause he's the only one who
can send Jip up the river. Bill wanted me to go in with him for usin' the chump so rough he couldn't more'n
crawl, an' that would fix things for Jip; but I was 'fraid it might make talk in the court so's you'd get the worst
of it."

"It's better to let him alone, though I'm awful sorry he's so set on this detective business, 'cause if it hadn't
been for that, Jip never'd been 'rested."

At this moment Bill Dean joined his friends with the information that the would-be detective had already
started for the court-room, and proposed that they set out at once.

"I'm goin' to get a seat close to that duffer, an' let him know he'll get his face into trouble if he tells any more'n
is called for. I wonder why he couldn't be yanked up for lyin' to Joe Carter when he borrowed that money? If
he should have a dose of it in jail, I reckon he wouldn't be so hot to see Jip sent up."

Dan was uncertain whether a charge might not have been brought against the would-be detective because of
what he had done in Philadelphia, but dismissed the matter without very much study, on the ground that it was
now too late to render such a course of advantage to the firebug.