Page 70 - An Amateur Fireman

be fanned into a flame--and the remainder of the men were ordered back to the house.

"It's what we may call a howling success, this first run of yours, Amateur," 'Lish Davis said as he drove
leisurely homeward. "We've beat 'em all out, had little work to do, and it wasn't much more than good
practice, with a precious fine record at the bottom of it. But don't you get puffed up thinking everything is
going your way just 'cause you've started in easy and slick."

"There's no reason why I should be puffed up, Mr. Davis, except that I've had a chance to do what I've been
longin' for--and that is to go out with Ninety-four as if I belonged to her."

"As if you belonged to her! That's what we allow you do, Amateur. From this out, unless it so be you turn
about wonderfully and go crooked, you're one of us--an honorary member, so to speak."

"Put down on the roll as the official mascot," Jerry Walters cried, whereat the remainder of the company
laughed heartily, and in this jovial mood was Ninety-four returned to her quarters; but Seth was not allowed to
take part in the washing-up lest he should soil his fine feathers.

"I'm counting on your striking in at headquarters lookin' just as fine as silk, which you couldn't do if we let
you hang 'round here helping with the dirty work," 'Lish Davis said when Seth would have claimed it as his
right to be allowed to assist in the labor. "You're to toddle straight home now, for you've hung 'round this
house long enough; stay there till morning, come over here for a bit about your usual time, and then take a
spell at swelling down-town until nigh on to twelve o'clock, when I'll be ready to go with you. Well, why
don't you start?"

"I wanted to thank you for lettin' me run with Ninety-four the first night I had my uniform on."

"You needn't do anything of the kind. The captain happened to be soft just as the alarm struck, else you
wouldn't have got away with us. Now clear out, and take care you don't get into mischief."

As Seth went toward his lodgings he wondered whether the people whom he met in the street were not
surprised at seeing him thus clad like a fireman, and so intent was he on walking erect with his shoulders
thrown well back, that he might the better look the part he hoped one day to play, that he failed to observe
Dan Roberts until the latter, suddenly recognizing his partner, shouted shrilly:

"Hi! Seth! Do you mean that's really you?"

"Don't make such a row on the street, Dan, 'cause folks will wonder what's the matter. But say, I do look
pretty fine, eh?"

"Fine? Why, that's no name for it, old man. You're out of sight! Where did you get 'em?"

"This is the uniform I was tellin' you 'bout. Mr. Davis gave it to me when I was over to the engine-house, an'
do you know I hadn't more'n got into it when there was an alarm, an' I rode to the fire on Ninety-four jest as if
I belonged to her."

"No!"

"I did for a fact."

"Well, if they let you do that there ain't much question 'bout your gettin' into the Department."

"Mr. Davis says it all depends on me now, an' you can bet I'll work mighty hard, Dan Roberts."