Page 127 - An Amateur Fireman

"A reg'lar spread with plenty to eat, an' it won't cost Seth a cent. Bill an' Teddy Bowser are rushin' 'round
seein' to it now. Folks think we fellers don't count for much, but some of 'em will sing a different tune after
readin' what he did! You can bet we're reckonin' on givin' him a great send-off."

"Look here, Dan," Joe Black whispered. "I wouldn't mind seeing how you lads get up a thing of that sort, and
if you'll give me an invite I'll chip in a dollar."

"Will you wear your uniform?" Dan asked eagerly.

"I'll put on every button I've got; but you are not to tell Seth I'm coming."

"It's a go," Master Roberts replied gravely, and then the arrival of Seth interrupted the conversation.

When they were outside the engine-house Dan insisted that his partner give him the full story of the rescue,
and he was not satisfied with a general account, but demanded every particular from the time Ninety-four left
her quarters until Josh Fernald had taken his departure.

"Well, it's bound to be a big thing for you," he said, thoughtfully, "even if you don't get a medal."

"See here, Dan, Mr. Davis has said considerable 'bout medals, an' I don't understand it."

"Are you claimin' to be posted in the fire business, an' don't know things like that are given to men who save
folks from bein' burned up?"

"Of course I know it; but I'm talkin' about myself. I can't have a medal 'cause I ain't a fireman yet."

"If you'd read the Herald as I wanted, you'd seen that the printed piece said you earned one."

"I don't think I did, not even if I belonged reg'larly to the Department. It was Jerry Walters who did the most
of the work, 'cause if he hadn't come jest then it would have been all day with me--I was mighty near gone."

"Don't you make such talk as that to anybody but me, Seth Bartlett," Dan cried sharply. "What's the use of
givin' anything away when folks are howlin' 'bout your bein' so brave? A feller is bound to blow his own horn
sometimes in this world, else he'd never get along, an' that's what you must do now."

"If I can't get into the Department without it, I'll go back to shinin' boots. Look at Sam Barney! He's always
doin' that, an' what does he 'mount to?"

"Oh, a feller must have some sand to back him, else he won't pull through, an' you know there's nothin' to Sam
but wind. Here's where you stop, an' I'll snoop back down-town. The fellers are countin' on givin' you a racket
to-morrow night, an' you must be on hand."

"See here, Dan, don't you spend good money when you're needin' it for the store, jest for the sake of puffin'
me up."

"I reckon what I'll put out won't bust me, even if we have 'greed to whack up fifteen cents apiece. Bill, Teddy,
an' me will chip in for Jip, so's he can have a good time after all his hard luck, an' we'll make your eyes stick
out before it's over."

"I'd a good deal rather you didn't do it."

"There's no use to kick now, 'cause it's too late. I wouldn't wonder if it was all fixed by this time. You see, Bill