Page 65 - An Amateur Fireman

CHAPTER IX.

THE UNIFORM.

When Jip Collins and those who had befriended him arrived at the point nearest Ninety-four's house, on their
way to the Thirty-fourth Street Ferry, Seth halted to take leave of his companions, and knowing what he was
about to do, Dan urged that he be allowed to accompany him.

"You're goin' down to get your uniform on, an' I want to see it the very first thing."

"So you shall, Dan; but I'd rather you wouldn't come with me now, 'cause there was nothin' said about my
bringin' anybody. Keep on with Bill an' Jip, an' I'll go over to our room jest as soon as I get through at the
engine-house."

This did not please Master Roberts; but Bill Dean urged that Seth was in the right, and was very emphatic in
the assertion that it would "be 'way off color to shove in" at such a time.

Therefore Dan ceased to insist, although it was with a very ill grace that he accepted the situation.

As a matter of course, once such a conversation was started, it became necessary to explain to Jip what
important business called Seth away, and he said with a sigh:

"I'm glad you're playin' in such luck, Seth, for you're mighty square. I s'posed after what I'd done nobody
would let me come 'round their houses, an' as for my gettin' into any Department, why there never'll be a show
of such a thing as that."

"Now don't you get down in the dumps, Jip, 'cause you'll soon pull up where you was before. All that's needed
is to go on straight from this out, an' show people you're sorry for meddlin' in such crooked business."

After this attempt at consolation Seth parted with his companions, and ten minutes later was standing before
'Lish Davis on the lower floor of Ninety-four's house.

"Well, what have you done with your firebug?" the driver asked, and such of the men as were idle gathered
around to hear the conversation.

"We've shipped Sam Barney, an' Jip's gone down Thirty-fourth Street way sellin' papers."

"Do you allow he'll run straight after this?"

"I'm almost certain of it, Mr. Davis. He feels terrible bad, an' if Sam gives him the chance he'll show that he
can be a decent feller."

"I hope so, because I hate to see a boy go wrong. Do you know, Amateur, that what's done while you're young
hangs on after you get to be a man. Then, when you're getting along swimmingly, up comes somebody and
tells of the mean trick you played when you was a kid. It always counts against a man. Now, I ain't saying that
your firebug won't pull out of this, but he's taking the chances that it'll be thrown up in his face a hundred
times 'twixt now and the next ten years, however straight he walks. If a boy would only bear that in mind I
allow he'd be a heap more careful about what he did. Howsomever, you ain't here for a lecture of that kind,
and what's more you don't need one. I allow you're counting on that suit of clothes?"

"I s'posed that was what you wanted me to come for, sir."