Page 116 - An Amateur Fireman

been committed did all in his power to repair the mischief.

Then two or three others had something to say; but they appeared to be talking privately with the judge, rather
than conducting the case, and to the great surprise of all the small spectators Sam Barney was not called to the
witness-stand.

The fact that he had compassed the arrest of the prisoner was not even mentioned, much to the delight of Dan
and Bill Dean, each of whom leaned forward from time to time to ask in a cautious whisper as to when the
"big detective work was goin' to be showed up?"

After a time it seemed to those in the front seats as if the prisoner had been forgotten by the court, for nothing
was said to or about him, and Bill was on the point of asking Seth if the trial was concluded, when the judge
ordered Jip to stand up.

Then he lectured him severely on the crime of arson, explained how many years of his life would be spent in
prison if the provisions of the law were carried out to their fullest extent, and finally announced that sentence
would be suspended during good behavior.

At this point 'Lish Davis left the court-room as if he no longer had any interest in the proceedings, and after a
certain time the attorney led Jip out of the building, the latter's acquaintances following in a body.

"Is it all over?" Dan cried, seizing the attorney by the arm in order to hold his attention, and before the
gentleman could speak, Sam Barney cried vindictively:

"You can bet it ain't all over! I've been buncoed by a lot of cheap firemen, an' don't count on holdin' my
tongue. You'll see Jip Collins in jail again before he's a day older."

"Yes, it is all over," the attorney said in reply to Dan's question. "So long as Jip behaves himself, nothing
more will be done; but if he should go wrong, sentence for this crime will be pronounced, and most likely he
will be given the extreme penalty."

"Can Sam Barney have him arrested?" Dan asked.

"No one can trouble him on this charge while he lives an honest life."

"Then I'll see that that duffer holds his tongue!" and Bill started toward the would-be detective in a threatening
manner; but the latter was not minded to take any chances of an encounter.

He turned and fled instantly Bill made the advance, and did not halt until he was half a block or more away,
when he shouted:

"Wait an' see what I'll do to all you chumps who think you're so awful smart!"

"I'll give you a chance of seein' what I'll do, an' without much waitin', if you make any more cheap talk!"

With this threat Bill turned his back on the disappointed Sam, and Seth begged of him to remain quiet.

"It's all right now," he replied complacently. "I've had my say, an' if Sam knows what's good for him, he'll
keep his tongue quiet. There ain't any reason why I shouldn't fight, an' he'll soon find it out."

Then Seth turned to the attorney, who was yet talking with Jip, and asked: