Page 55 - An Amateur Fireman

for slumber closed his eyes shortly after he lay down, and the day had fully dawned before he was again
aware of his surroundings.

But for Seth, Master Roberts might have slept until noon, and even when he was aroused the desire to linger
in that rest-inviting bed was so great that he proposed to neglect work in order to remain there.

"You go over to the engine-house, an' I'll stay here till you've finished your job there. I don't b'lieve papers
will sell very well to-day."

"See here, Dan, if you're goin' to loaf in bed half the time it'll be best for us to stop swellin', else we shan't
earn enough to pay the rent. You must come down to business, an' might as well begin now, for it won't be
any easier to get up to-morrow."

Dan was disposed to grumble a little at thus being forced to arise; but once he had plunged his face into a
basin of cold water his indolence vanished.

The boys made a hearty breakfast from the remains of the previous night's feast, and then Dan hurried away to
purchase his stock of papers while Seth went to the engine-house.

"Well, how did you sleep last night?" the driver asked as he entered.

"Great! That place is away up in G; but the only trouble is that I shan't know when Ninety-four goes out."

"It won't hurt if you don't. I've about made up my mind that such business must be stopped."

Seth looked at 'Lish in pained surprise, and there was an ominous quivering of his lip as he asked:

"What's the reason I can't turn out at the fires? I'll never get ahead if I don't pick up points."

"That isn't the best way to do it, my boy," the driver said in a kindly tone. "I've been thinking about your plan
of getting into the Department, and come to the conclusion that, seeing's you're so set on it, we'd better lend a
hand."

The expression of sorrow on Seth's face changed very suddenly as the driver ceased speaking an instant, and
in its place came a flush of joy so great as to seemingly prevent him from speaking.

"Yes, Amateur, all of us have taken up the idea that you're to be a fireman, though I don't say as it's the kind
of a life a boy should hanker for, and we've been working to get you into a place where you can learn the
business."

"Do you really mean that?" Seth cried, fearing lest he had misunderstood the words.

"I shouldn't be saying it if I didn't, Amateur," Davis continued, gravely. "Of course you can't expect any
promise of a place in the Department till you've got more years on your head; but we've struck a plan which
will work all right if you're the lad I've always taken you to be."

Seth was literally breathless now. It would have been impossible for him to speak, and seeing how great was
the suspense Mr. Davis added quickly:

"We've got a job for you up at headquarters. You'll be called on to sweep floors, wash windows, build fires,
and do odd jobs generally; but at the same time you'll be in what's called the general school of
instruction--where the men who want to get into the Department are put on probation, so to speak. It's been