Page 91 - An Amateur Fireman

Jerry Walters took it upon himself to say very decidedly:

"I think, 'Lish, Amateur is right, an' you've got no call to cut him off from what he wants to do, 'specially after
it's been once agreed upon. It ain't that I'm figgering to have my boots shined for nothing; but I'm feeling a
good deal as he does. I'd like to have him come 'round regularly, an' we'll be certain of it if there's work to be
done."

"Very well, very well," the driver replied. "He shall keep on for a spell, though it ain't to my liking. If
Amateur was a kid that spent his time kiting 'round the streets it would be different; but he's got to have some
little amusement, and how is it to be had if he starts in at daylight blacking boots, works until six o'clock at
headquarters, then spends his evening at the school? Why, it'll come nigh to using him up."

"He ain't on at headquarters Sunday, is he?"

"No; but that's only one day in seven, and so long as Amateur is in our charge, so to speak, I ain't going to
have him get an idea that he can spend the Sabbath cavorting 'round as some of his chums do."

"When I begin to take part in the drill at headquarters I shall have all the sport that's needed," Seth interrupted,
"and besides, even if I go to the night-school, I'll get an hour in here between six an' seven— "

"And a heap of fun you'll have with a lot of old cronies like us," 'Lish added with a laugh.

"I'd rather be here than anywhere else, sir, an' if you want to give me a good time now and then, an' I happen
to be 'round when there's an alarm, let me go out with Ninety-four; that'll be fun enough."

'Lish winked at his comrades as if this remark pleased him exceedingly, and put an end to the conversation by
saying:

"Look in here to-morrow night, lad, and we'll see whether it's possible to help out your firebug or not. Now go
home and turn in, for you can't get too much sleep while you're young."

Seth obeyed without delay what was little less than a command, and, hastening to Mrs. Hanson's dwelling,
repeated to his roommates and Teddy Bowser all the driver had said to him concerning the possibilities of
aiding Jip Collins.

The boys were sadly disappointed because there was no actual promise of assistance.

They had come to believe, because they hoped it would be so, that Mr. Davis could immediately devise some
plan whereby Jip might be released from prison, and since he did not appear to be sympathetic and
enthusiastic on the subject they feared he might fail to take any active part.

"I am certain he will get a lawyer for him anyhow," Seth said in reply to their complaint, "an' that's what we
couldn't do ourselves. If it wasn't for goin' to headquarters I'd try to see the poor fellow to-morrow. Of course I
wouldn't be able to do anythin' for him, but it would make him feel kind of good to know we was willin' to
help."

"I'll go there to-morrow," Dan cried, pleased at the idea of doing something, even though he could not hope to
effect any change in Jip's condition. "I'll tell him what we've tried to do, an' there'll be some satisfaction in that
anyhow."

Then Seth proposed that Master Roberts should hang around outside the Department headquarters at about six
o'clock in the afternoon in order to report the result of the interview, after which he would visit Mr. Davis