Page 46 - An Amateur Fireman

"That would be all right if I was on the force; but so long as I ain't it stands me in hand to work my way along,
same's Seth's tryin' to do in the Fire Department. If I can catch Jip Collins and send him up the river, it'll be a
big feather in my cap."

"Would you be willin' to send a feller to jail so's you might get ahead in the business?" Seth asked
reproachfully.

"Course I would."

"Ain't there anythin' we can do to stop you from tryin' to run Jip down?"

"You might talk till you was black in the face, an' then I wouldn't let up."

Understanding that it was useless to hold any further converse with this obstinate detective in the hope of
turning him from his purpose, Seth motioned to Dan, and set off down-town without a word to Sam by way of
adieu.

"I'll be in Philadelphy to-night, an' to-morrow mornin' Jip Collins will be in the lock-up!" Master Barney
shouted vindictively, and, glancing back, Dan saw him approaching the alley once more with cautious steps,
as if it were beneath his dignity as an officer of the law to move in any other fashion.

"It'll be all right if he goes to Philadelphy," Dan said sagely; "but I'm mightily afraid he won't get money
enough to buy a ticket on the cars."

"I don't believe he ever thought of goin' there till we talked with him, an' then only said it to let us believe he
knew where Jip was. Sam ain't any kind of a detective; but he can make a lot of trouble for Jip."

Seth was disturbed in mind because of the possibilities that Master Barney would work mischief for Jip
Collins, and Dan shared in such forebodings, although in a much less degree.

The two were walking on in silence, each trying to devise some plan whereby it would be possible to divert
the amateur detective from his purpose, when they suddenly came face to face with Bill Dean.

"Hello, where are you fellers goin'?"

"To work."

"Kind-er late this mornin', eh?"

"Yes; but we'll make up for it by pluggin' in all the harder after we begin."

Bill hesitated an instant as if hardly daring to say that which was in his mind, and then asked in a meaning
tone:

"Seen anybody in partic'lar this mornin'?"

"Yes, we saw Jip, an' then run across Sam Barney," Seth replied.

"I suppose Sam still holds to it that he'll pull Jip in?"

"Yes, an' he counted on findin' him in Philadelphy, 'cordin' to his talk."