Page 113 - An Amateur Fireman

"There he is! There's Jip!"

The prisoner was being led in by a burly policeman, who kept a firm hold on the boy's collar as if fearful he
might make some desperate attempt at escape, and there was not a person in the court-room, with the probable
exception of Sam Barney, who failed to feel a certain sympathy for the frightened lad.

"That's his lawyer--the little feller with the big nose," Dan whispered so loudly that not only his friends in the
immediate vicinity, but all the attorneys within the enclosure, set apart for their especial use, heard the words,
and much merriment ensued, during which the cause of it looked around in surprise, unable to discover the
meaning of it.

Seth and Dan, who had never before attended the trial of a prisoner, expected there would be considerable
ceremony, in which policemen would play a prominent part; therefore the case was begun and gone on with to
some extent before they were aware of the fact.

It is true they saw Jip Collins standing up while the clerk read from a paper a quantity of words which had no
meaning to them, and after a time, the prisoner was allowed to sit down again.

Then the "little man with the big nose" talked to the judge as if confiding in him some secret, after which the
clerk called loudly:

"Daniel Roberts! Daniel Roberts!"

Seth's partner gazed about him curiously, never once thinking the clerk referred to him, until 'Lish Davis,
coming swiftly down from his station near the door, leaned over and pinched Dan's ear as he asked:

"Why don't you answer to your name?"

"Is it me they mean?" Dan asked, and at that instant the clerk repeated the call.

Dan looked about him in perplexity, uncertain as to what he should do, until 'Lish reached over to seize him
by the collar, when he cried in a shrill voice:

"Here I be, Mister!"

"Come forward to the witness-stand," the official said sharply, while the spectators laughed heartily.

It was several moments before Master Roberts could be made to understand exactly where he should go, and
then, assisted by 'Lish Davis and the clerk, he finally gained the stand, where he stood gazing around with the
most friendly expression on his face.

For some reason no question was asked immediately, and after waiting two or three moments, Dan, believing
the judge was ready to hear his story, began earnestly:

"You see, it's jest this way: Jip, he didn't count on doin' anything off color, an' if it hadn't been for Sam
Barney--- "

"Silence in the court!" the crier called, and Dan looked up in surprise at being interrupted so soon.

"He didn't reckon on bein'— "

Dan stopped again as the same voice called loudly for silence in the court, and then the attorney employed to