Page 90 - An Amateur Fireman

"But it seems terrible, Mr. Davis, to have him sent to jail for nobody knows how many years."

"It'll be a good many if he's convicted on the charge of arson; that I can give you as a straight tip."

"I was in hopes you'd feel kind of bad about it, Mr. Davis," Seth said, hesitatingly.

"Meaning to say you counted on my trying to help pull him through after he destroyed valuable property and
come pretty nigh being the death of you and your partner?"

"Well, you see, he's awful sorry--- "

"Yes, most of 'em are after the crime has been committed."

"But I don't b'lieve Jip really meant to do anythin' like that. He'd been blowin' 'bout how he'd serve us out, an'
a good many of the fellers told him he didn't dare to so much as raise his hand. That kind-er started him, an' if
he goes to jail now the shame of it will allers stick to him."

"Then you believe he'd work 'round and be a decently square kind of a boy if he got out of this scrape?"

"I'm almost certain of it."

"Well, look here, Amateur, it ain't for a fireman to go here and there, trying to defend them as have started a
blaze; but I wouldn't wonder if we could find some lawyer to take charge of his case. Perhaps we can get him
off on the same plea you're using now--that it would serve to make a criminal of him, rather than work the
proper kind of reformation. There'll be plenty of time, lad, because you and your partner are bound to be
called on as witnesses even on the preliminary examination, so until the officers find you two nothing can be
done, for I don't reckon your imitation detective has any knowledge of what happened."

"He's heard the rest of the fellers talk 'bout it."

"That don't cut any figger; all he can testify to is what he's seen himself, or something the prisoner may have
told him. I'll turn this thing over in my mind, and call on Jerry Walters and Ben Dunton for their advice. When
you come 'round to-morrow night we'll be able to say what can be done. Now tell me everything you did
to-day; that's of more interest to us of Ninety-four's company than the arrest of the firebug."

Seth gave a detailed account of his movements from the time he entered headquarters until the hour of
leaving, and every man on the floor listened eagerly to the narration of unimportant doings, which was the
best proof they could have given of the deep interest felt in the amateur fireman.

"I reckon you'll pull through all right," 'Lish Davis said approvingly when Seth brought the story to an end,
"and now there's a word to be said about your behavior here this morning. You'll have plenty of work to do
'twixt 7 A.M. and 6 P.M. without hustling over here before daylight and blacking our boots; consequently
we're going to hire another boy so's to remove the temptation from your path."

"Don't do it, please don't do it, Mr. Davis," Seth cried imploringly. "It don't seem like work to me. So long as I
can be here every mornin' an' do somethin' of the kind, it 'pears as if I belong to the company. S'posen you get
another feller to do the shinin' an' I come 'round evenin's to tell you what's been goin' on? Why, it would only
look as if I was a visitor. I don't want to give up all my hold here, an' that's what will happen if somebody else
does the shinin'."

There could be no question but that Seth was deeply in earnest, and more than one of the men nodded to the
driver as if to say that the boy should be allowed to do as he pleased.