Page 97 - An Amateur Fireman

"That ain't altogether certain, lad. The lawyer thinks, and Jerry and I have the same idee, that if he owns up to
the whole thing like a little man, it may be possible to have sentence suspended during good behavior."

"What do you mean by that, Mr. Davis?" Seth asked in perplexity.

"Why, it's jest like this. When he's put on trial let him tell the truth. We of Ninety-four can testify that it was
he who sent in the alarm, showing he was sorry as soon as the deed had been done. Then will come the time
for the lawyer to get in his fine work. He'll do a lot of chinning 'bout the boy's being young, and that it'll most
likely make a criminal of him to be sent up. In some such way as that the judge may be brought to believe that
it'll be the wisest course to suspend sentence--that is to say, hold the conviction over him, but at the same time
letting him go free. If he behaves himself, well and good; if not, he's brought before the court and sentenced
on this same charge at some future time."

"Are you certain that can be done?" Seth asked, growing more hopeful.

"No, Amateur, we ain't certain; but the chances are it can be fixed that way, and we'll do our best at it, if for
no other reason than to show how good we're feeling because you're doing us so much credit up at
headquarters."

Seth had hoped that the members of Ninety-four's company would be able to effect the firebug's release, and it
was a great disappointment to thus learn that nothing could be done save through the clemency of the judge;
but, as he would have kept silent had it been himself who was in danger, he refrained from giving words to his
sorrow.

Understanding what was in his mind, 'Lish Davis added in a kindly tone:

"Don't take it to heart, Amateur, for we'll do all that is possible, and I'm allowing it'll all come out straight in
the end. It wouldn't be well if he pulled through too easy."

"If only he don't have to go to jail for two or three years!" Seth cried, and then fearing he might say that which
would sound like a complaint, he took his leave after promising to report next evening.

"Well, I begun to think you was goin' to stop there all night," Master Roberts cried irritably when his partner
appeared. "Seemed like you was havin' a mighty good time along at the first of it."

"That was when I was tellin' how I'd been gettin' on up at headquarters. Say, Jip will have to be tried in court!"

"What? Can't Ninety-four's men stop it?" Dan cried in surprise, for he had believed the firemen could do
whatsoever they would, and Seth repeated all that 'Lish Davis had said, adding in conclusion:

"You'd better try to see him again, an' tell the poor fellow how things stand."

"He'll take it mighty hard."

"I'm 'fraid so; but there's nothin' else that can be done. Is Bill over to the room?"

"He allowed he'd have to stop down-town quite a spell to-night, an' I agreed to see him there after I'd met you.
Why not take a spin as far as the post-office?"

Seth was not opposed to a stroll through the city, even though wearied by his labors of the day.

His heart was so sore because it would be impossible for him to do anything in Jip's behalf that he had no