Page 59 - An Amateur Fireman

Seth was by no means averse to making known his good fortune, and very shortly afterward the two were
surrounded by a throng of incredulous news-venders and bootblacks, the majority of whom insisted that "they
wouldn't be stuffed with any such yarns, 'cause of course a feller as small as Seth Bartlett couldn't get a job in
the Department, even if it was only to sweep floors, wash windows, an' that sort of thing. Besides, if he was
taken on at headquarters, nobody would give him a show of learnin' the drill."

Bill Dean called Dan aside, and after first persuading him to cross his throat with his fingers in order that he
should be put on oath, as it were, asked regarding the truth of the statements made.

"It's jest as I said, an' he's goin' to have a reg'lar uniform, all but the buttons, to-night."

"Did you hear any of Ninety-four's men say so?"

"I wasn't there, of course; but you know Seth Bartlett don't go 'round shootin' his mouth off the way some of
the fellers do, an' you can hang up to everythin' he says; so I'm certain it's true."

"It must be," Bill replied in a tone of conviction, and then approaching Seth gravely he extended his hand,
saying as the amateur fireman grasped it:

"I'm mighty glad you've struck it so rich, old man, an' that's a fact. All of us know you've been runnin' to fires
pretty reg'lar; but we never b'lieved you'd really get into the Department."

"I ain't there yet," Seth replied modestly; "but Mr. Davis says it'll be my own fault if I don't get in, so you can
make up your mind I'll keep my eyes open mighty wide."

One by one Seth's business acquaintances followed Bill's example in the matter of giving credence to the
wonderful story, until it was a generally accepted fact that no more than the truth had been told.

There were some doubters, however; but they were so few in number that it seemed as if there was no longer
any question regarding the matter, and during the half-hour which followed Seth was kept busy answering the
questions of the curious and, perhaps, envious ones.

The astounding news brought by Seth and Dan had caused Sam Barney's friends and acquaintances to forget
for the time being that this promising detective was about to depart from New York; but Bill Dean, who had
taken it upon himself to thus aid Jip Collins, soon bethought himself of the business in hand, and reminded the
others of their duty by saying:

"Look here, fellers, we mustn't hang 'round here much longer, else there won't be a chance of gettin' Sam
away to-day. He's got to go on the emigrant train, an' the railroad folks will look for him jest as I said, 'cause I
made a good deal of talk 'bout his bein' a detective. You see I thought they'd be glad to have him go on their
cars if we could make 'em b'lieve half as much as Sam tells 'bout himself."

Thus reminded of their duty the young merchants set out in a body for the Cortlandt Street Ferry, much to the
annoyance of those pedestrians against whom they jostled and tumbled in their eagerness to make way
through the crowded thoroughfare.

The amateur detective was found at the corner of West Street, where he had promised to await Bill Dean's
coming, and one glance at the throng which had gathered to do him honor, as he believed, filled his heart with
pride.

"They're beginnin' to find out that I'm no slouch of a detective after all, hey?" he said in a confidential whisper
to Bill, and the latter replied in a matter-of-fact tone: