Page 44 - An Amateur Fireman

"There's Sam Barney over by that alley!"

Glancing in the direction indicated by Dan's outstretched finger, Seth saw the would-be detective moving
cautiously along, looking stealthily around, and otherwise behaving as if he had suddenly taken leave of his
senses.

"Do you s'pose he's countin' on findin' Jip Collins in that fool way?"

"I reckon he thinks he's doin' the detective act in great shape," Dan replied with a laugh, all traces of ill-humor
having vanished. "He says a feller in his line of business has to keep his eyes open every minute, an' sneakin'
along in that style is what he 'most likely calls bein' wide awake."

Sam had arrived at the corner of the alley, and instead of walking boldly in to make a search, was standing
where he might be partially screened by the building, craning his head forward for a single glance, and then
drawing it back suddenly, repeating these movements about every thirty seconds with great regularity.

Dan gave full rein to his mirth, for this method of playing the detective seemed to him very comical; but Seth
checked him whenever his laughter became boisterous.

"If he sees us pokin' fun at him we won't be able to make any kind of a trade, an' I don't want to stir the feller
up till things are fixed."

"What things?"

"I want him to promise that he won't go prowlin' 'round the town after Jip Collins."

"See here, Seth, are you countin' on keepin' that racket up?"

"If you mean am I goin' to give Jip a lift by tryin' to keep that imitation detective quiet, I'll say 'yes.' We both
have got good reason to be mighty ugly because he burned us out; but it's all over now, an' he's sorry. Let's
give him one more show--you an' I--an' if he goes wrong after this I won't say a word against your doin'
whatever you like."

The lines on Dan's face hardened as if he was determined nothing should turn him from his purpose of
punishing Jip in such manner as he believed the latter's misdemeanors warranted; but after one glance at his
partner the anger vanished.

"Go ahead, Seth, an' fix it up to suit you; I'll do what I can this time, even if it does rub against the grain. It
ain't because I'm feelin' sorry for Jip; but jest to please you."

"So long as you do what I ask it don't make very much difference whether it's for Jip or me, an' you won't be
sorry, old man. Now we'll tackle Sam, an' see if we can make him behave himself for a spell."

"I reckon you'll find that a mighty hard job. He's stuck on the detective business as bad as you are on gettin'
into the Department, an' this is the kind of a case he don't get a whack at very often. I s'pose he thinks that
catchin' Jip would put him way up on the top notch."

Seth did not spend any time arguing the matter with his partner; but called loudly to the would-be detective:

"Hi! Sam! Come over here a minute!"

Master Barney pretended not to have heard the summons, although the words rang out clear and distinct above