Page 64 - An Amateur Fireman

b'lieve anybody will try to 'rest you, now Sam is away from the city; but remember what Mr. Davis said, that
if you should do anythin' more crooked, this would all come up against you."

"Look here, Seth, I know I did a mighty mean thing when I set fire to the shed in Baxter's yard, an' whether
you believe it or not, I was terrible sorry the minute the shavin's caught fire; but don't think I ain't been served
out. It's awful to stay all night on this boat; I hear all kinds of noises an' it seems to me as if the place was
reg'larly ha'nted. I'd almost rather go to jail than stay here any longer."

"But you've got to live somehow, Jip."

"It won't be here. I've been thinkin' if I could get rid of Sam Barney I'd go over by the Thirty-fourth Street
Ferry. Nobody knows me there an' it ought to be a good place for sellin' papers."

Bill Dean thought this a wise plan, providing Jip could find lodgings round about that locality, and then came
the question as to how it would be possible for him to start in business again, for he confessed that all his
money had been spent in the purchase of food.

"What with helpin' Sam Barney off, layin' out for a spread last night, an' gettin' money together to pay the
room-rent, this is kind of a tough week for me," Dan said thoughtfully; "but I'll be willin' to chip in a nickel
toward helpin' you along, Jip."

Bill and Seth made the same generous proposition, and when the money had been handed to the fugitive it
was as if he found it difficult to swallow a certain lump which had arisen in his throat.

"You fellers have been terrible good to me after I come pretty near killin' you, an' I want you to b'lieve I'm
goin' to be straight. I'll try to show that I can be decent."

"Of course you can, Jip," Seth said soothingly, "and there's no need of your tellin' us 'bout it. Jest plug right
ahead an' do the best you know how; then things will come out all right, I'm certain. By the time Sam gets
back we'll take care he don't meddle with the case, an' I reckon Mr. Davis will fix the balance. When you goin'
to leave here?"

"Jest as soon as I can. I made up my mind this noon that I'd let Sam Barney lug me off to jail rather than stay
any longer."

"Then come with us, an' there'll be time for you to get in some of the evenin' trade if we hurry. Bill an' Dan
will go over with you an' see if there's any fellers 'round the Thirty-fourth Street Ferry that might make
trouble, an' most likely I'll see you again to-morrow."

At this point Dan would have told the firebug of Seth's good fortune, but that the latter checked him, believing
at such a time the information had best be withheld, and the three Good Samaritans with their penitent friend
set out for New York.