Page 133 - An Amateur Fireman

The honored guest was shown to a seat near Ninety-four's driver.

Dan and Bill took places opposite, and the former called in a loud, commanding voice for the benefit of Teddy
Bowser, who was stationed at the door:

"Let 'em flash her up; we're all here!"

Teddy cried to some one below, and during the next ten minutes two waiters were kept busy bringing upstairs
sandwiches, bologna in generous, thick slices, sauerkraut without stint, potato salad, and a variety of small
cakes plentifully besprinkled with tiny seeds.

While this feast was being placed upon the table no one spoke, but instantly Teddy gave a peculiar sign by
crossing his throat and winking one eye, Dan cried:

"Now pitch in, fellers, an' fill right up! We're doin' this 'cause Seth Bartlett has got into the Department, an'
the one what don't eat all he ought'er will have trouble with me."

If Master Roberts had been a veritable giant seeking whom he might devour, the boys could not have shown
more fear lest his command should not be obeyed.

Every fellow present felt that it was his duty to eat a generous portion of each dish before him, and he did it
hurriedly lest Dan might have cause for complaint.

Nor were the guests who had paid "their cold dollars," as Dan explained, idle.

All three ate heartily to the evident satisfaction of the others, and 'Lish Davis even entered so thoroughly into
the spirit of the affair as to suggest that they send for another dish of sauerkraut.

In ten minutes or less the hunger of the guests was in a measure appeased, and as they dallied with the dainties
Dan set in motion that portion of the entertainment which, in his opinion, was to be the crowning feature.

[Illustration: THE BLOW-OUT Page 298.]

"It ain't many times that duffers like us has a chance to rub up against Ninety-four's men, an' we want to show
'em that we know what's what," he had said privately to Bill the evening previous, and now was come the
moment when the exhibition should be made.

After making certain that all were giving him their attention, he rose slowly to his feet, looked round as if to
collect his thoughts, and said in a loud tone, much as though repeating something he had committed to
memory:

"Fellers, an' Ninety-four's men are in it, too: We spread ourselves on this 'ere blow-out 'cause Seth Bartlett has
got into the Department owin' to havin' saved a kid, and now if all hands are 'way up full we'll have a little
speech from Mr. 'Lish Davis, driver of Ninety-four engine, who's one of the three what gave up a big cold
dollar for this lot of stuff."

Then Dan sat down with a complacent smile upon his face, as if believing he had said the right thing in the
right place, and Mr. Davis actually appeared embarrassed.

He had come to the feast expecting to enjoy himself by listening to the sidewalk merchants, and found that it
was himself who would provide a goodly portion of the entertainment.