AN OBSTINATE DETECTIVE.
Dan was in a fine temper when Seth finally released his hold, and after
understanding that it would be useless to pursue the fugitive he turned
upon his partner savagely.
"A nice kind of a chump you are! Let a feller burn your house down, an'
then pay him fifteen cents for doin' it! After that, when I make up my
mind to give him the dose he needs, you turn against me to help him! I
s'pose that's what you call bein' a chum of mine?"
"That's exactly what it is, Dan," Seth replied soothingly. "After you've
cooled off a bit you'll be glad I didn't let you pitch into a feller who
wouldn't raise his hands."
"He didn't 'cause he don't dare."
"If a feller had any spunk about him he would dare to do all he could
while somebody else was thumpin' him. Jip feels bad for what he did to
us, an' would stand still to let you pound him; but it couldn't have
done you any good, Dan. You don't want to get the name of bein' a
bruiser."
"I'd be willin' to take 'most any kind of a name rather'n let Jip
Collins off without so much as turnin' a hair on his head!"
"That's the way you feel jest now 'cause you're off your base; but wait
a couple of hours, an' then you'll talk different."
"I won't if I live to be twice as gray-headed as ever Methuselah was,
for it's a downright shame to let him go with money in his pockets after
tryin' to kill us."
"He was hungry."
"It would do him solid good to starve to death."
"He turned in the alarm, an' if he hadn't done that we'd been burned to
death."
"I notice he didn't do it till the fire got a mighty good start, an'
then I reckon it was only 'cause he grew scared. If you're so 'fraid of
gettin' your name up for fightin', you might er stood still and let me
have a whack at him. I don't see how that could have hindered your
slippin' into the Department. I wouldn't be quite so mad if you hadn't
given him the money."
"He was hungry, Dan, an' I'd do that much for the biggest duffer in the
town."
Dan made no reply to this remark; but with his hands plunged deep in his
pockets walked swiftly away in the direction of City Hall as if his one
desire was to be free from his partner.
Seth was not minded to let him go while in a temper, but at the same
time he knew full well that it would be useless to attempt to stop him
with words, therefore he followed without further remark, biding his
time until the proper moment should come when the "soft answer" could be
given.
Without looking to the right or the left Dan continued on, much as if
bent on running away from his partner, until ten minutes had elapsed,
when he halted suddenly, wheeled about and addressed Seth with his usual
friendly manner:
"There's Sam Barney over by that alley!"
Glancing in the direction indicated by Dan's outstretched finger, Seth
saw the would-be detective moving cautiously along, looking stealthily
around, and otherwise behaving as if he had suddenly taken leave of his
senses.
"Do you s'pose he's countin' on findin' Jip Collins in that fool way?"
"I reckon he thinks he's doin' the detective act in great shape," Dan
replied with a laugh, all traces of ill-humor having vanished. "He says
a feller in his line of business has to keep his eyes open every minute,
an' sneakin' along in that style is what he 'most likely calls bein'
wide awake."
Sam had arrived at the corner of the alley, and instead of walking
boldly in to make a search, was standing where he might be partially
screened by the building, craning his head forward for a single glance,
and then drawing it back suddenly, repeating these movements about every
thirty seconds with great regularity.
Dan gave full rein to his mirth, for this method of playing the
detective seemed to him very comical; but Seth checked him whenever his
laughter became boisterous.
"If he sees us pokin' fun at him we won't be able to make any kind of a
trade, an' I don't want to stir the feller up till things are fixed."
"What things?"
"I want him to promise that he won't go prowlin' 'round the town after
Jip Collins."
"See here, Seth, are you countin' on keepin' that racket up?"
"If you mean am I goin' to give Jip a lift by tryin' to keep that
imitation detective quiet, I'll say 'yes.' We both have got good reason
to be mighty ugly because he burned us out; but it's all over now, an'
he's sorry. Let's give him one more show--you an' I--an' if he goes
wrong after this I won't say a word against your doin' whatever you
like."
The lines on Dan's face hardened as if he was determined nothing should
turn him from his purpose of punishing Jip in such manner as he believed
the latter's misdemeanors warranted; but after one glance at his
partner the anger vanished.
"Go ahead, Seth, an' fix it up to suit you; I'll do what I can this
time, even if it does rub against the grain. It ain't because I'm
feelin' sorry for Jip; but jest to please you."
"So long as you do what I ask it don't make very much difference whether
it's for Jip or me, an' you won't be sorry, old man. Now we'll tackle
Sam, an' see if we can make him behave himself for a spell."
"I reckon you'll find that a mighty hard job. He's stuck on the
detective business as bad as you are on gettin' into the Department, an'
this is the kind of a case he don't get a whack at very often. I s'pose
he thinks that catchin' Jip would put him way up on the top notch."
Seth did not spend any time arguing the matter with his partner; but
called loudly to the would-be detective:
"Hi! Sam! Come over here a minute!"
Master Barney pretended not to have heard the summons, although the
words rang out clear and distinct above the noises of the street; but
continued his grotesque manner of reconnoitering the alley, and again
Seth shouted:
"Come over here, Sam! There's no need of your bobbin' 'round in that
style, 'cause nobody is in the alley except a couple of little kids,
who wouldn't be very much frightened if you walked right up on 'em."
This time Sam turned, affected to be greatly surprised at seeing these
acquaintances, and then crossed the street, apparently in an ill-temper.
"Don't you know any better'n to break up what a feller's fixin'?" he
asked angrily as he stood before Seth and Dan. "I was doin' some mighty
fine work, an' you've spoiled it all by yellin' so loud. Now the folks
in there know I'm 'round, an' won't so much as show theirselves."
"Do you reckon they believe you're a detective?" Dan asked, trying in
vain to check his mirth.
"Of course I do!" Sam replied hotly. "Folks have heard of me before
this, an' it stands me in hand to keep out of sight all I can."
"Who did you think was in the alley?" Seth asked.
"I'm lookin' for more'n one in this town, an' counted on finishin' up
two or three little jobs in the detective line before I lighted out to
nab Jip Collins."
"Do you know where he is?" and Seth appeared disturbed.
"What kind of a detective do you allow I am if I don't know that? I've
got it all figgered out, an' most likely I'll take a spin over to
Philadelphy to-night. If I do, you'll see him in court to-morrow
mornin'."
"Oh, has he gone over there?" Dan asked with a great show of interest,
pursing his mouth into shape for whistling to prevent an outburst of
laughter.
"That's about the size of it; but he needn't think he can run away from
me."
"Look here, Sam," and now Seth spoke in a serious tone; "Jip didn't try
to hurt anybody but Dan an' me, an' we don't want you to bother him.
We're willin' to give him a fair show, 'cause he'll take a big turn
after this."
"I can't help what you want," the detective replied obstinately. "When I
know that a feller has been burnin' up houses it's my business to run
him in, an' I'm goin' to do it."
"What is it to you, so long as we're satisfied?" Dan asked sharply.
"See here, ain't I a detective?"
"I ain't so certain of that," Master Roberts cried promptly.
"I guess other people know it if you don't, 'cause I've had more'n one
case in this town. Now, so long as that is my business I'm bound to take
up anythin' I hear about, an'----"
"Other detectives don't do that; they wait till the chief sends 'em out,
or somebody hires 'em."
Dan's reply staggered Sam for an instant; but he soon bethought himself
of what seemed to be the proper answer, and replied:
"That would be all right if I was on the force; but so long as I ain't
it stands me in hand to work my way along, same's Seth's tryin' to do in
the Fire Department. If I can catch Jip Collins and send him up the
river, it'll be a big feather in my cap."
"Would you be willin' to send a feller to jail so's you might get ahead
in the business?" Seth asked reproachfully.
"Course I would."
"Ain't there anythin' we can do to stop you from tryin' to run Jip
down?"
"You might talk till you was black in the face, an' then I wouldn't let
up."
Understanding that it was useless to hold any further converse with this
obstinate detective in the hope of turning him from his purpose, Seth
motioned to Dan, and set off down-town without a word to Sam by way of
adieu.
"I'll be in Philadelphy to-night, an' to-morrow mornin' Jip Collins will
be in the lock-up!" Master Barney shouted vindictively, and, glancing
back, Dan saw him approaching the alley once more with cautious steps,
as if it were beneath his dignity as an officer of the law to move in
any other fashion.
"It'll be all right if he goes to Philadelphy," Dan said sagely; "but
I'm mightily afraid he won't get money enough to buy a ticket on the
cars."
"I don't believe he ever thought of goin' there till we talked with him,
an' then only said it to let us believe he knew where Jip was. Sam ain't
any kind of a detective; but he can make a lot of trouble for Jip."
Seth was disturbed in mind because of the possibilities that Master
Barney would work mischief for Jip Collins, and Dan shared in such
forebodings, although in a much less degree.
The two were walking on in silence, each trying to devise some plan
whereby it would be possible to divert the amateur detective from his
purpose, when they suddenly came face to face with Bill Dean.
"Hello, where are you fellers goin'?"
"To work."
"Kind-er late this mornin', eh?"
"Yes; but we'll make up for it by pluggin' in all the harder after we
begin."
Bill hesitated an instant as if hardly daring to say that which was in
his mind, and then asked in a meaning tone:
"Seen anybody in partic'lar this mornin'?"
"Yes, we saw Jip, an' then run across Sam Barney," Seth replied.
"I suppose Sam still holds to it that he'll pull Jip in?"
"Yes, an' he counted on findin' him in Philadelphy, 'cordin' to his
talk."
"Look here, Seth, you've got good reason to make it hot for Jip after
all he's----"
"I wouldn't do a thing to hurt him, an' stand ready to give him a lift
if he needs it."
"You're straight as a die, Seth Bartlett, an' I'll bet you won't be
sorry for lettin' up on him, for I'm thinkin' Jip will run different
after this."
"I hope so; but he ain't out of the woods till somebody sets down on Sam
Barney. We've been tryin' to make him stop; but he won't, 'cause he
thinks it'll give him a big name if he arrests Jip. He's up by Sweeney's
Alley bobbin' round like a jumpin'-jack."
"Say!" Dan cried, as a sudden and what seemed like a happy thought came
into his mind. "Sam says Jip is in Philadelphy; now, s'posen all hands
chipped in enough to buy a ticket for him to go there? He'd never get
back, 'cause he don't earn a dollar in a month, an' Jip wouldn't be
bothered."
This plan appealed strongly to both Seth and Dan, and the latter asked
as to the probable cost of such a scheme.
This was a question neither of the boys could answer, and after some
thought Master Dean agreed to make the necessary inquiries without
delay.
"Dan an' me will ante up a nickel apiece to get rid of him, an' in case
you don't have to pay too much, the other fellers who wouldn't want to
see Jip sent to jail ought'er put in the balance."
Master Dean was quite as eager to aid Jip as was Seth, and without
waiting to discuss the matter further started off on his errand of
mercy.
Then the partners were at liberty to set about the work of the day; but
it was now so late that they could not expect to earn very much money.
"We'll come out mighty slim for supper, I'm thinkin'," Dan said grimly.
"You've got to knock off in time to meet 'Lish Davis at three o'clock,
an' the trade in evenin' papers won't be much more'n begun by then."
"You needn't go up with me if you don't want to--I can meet you after
the day's work is over."
"But I do want to go; I wouldn't miss knowin' what the driver has got to
say, not if I went without supper an' breakfast too."
"I could tell you all about it."
"Yes; but I want to hear for myself," Dan replied decidedly, and thus
the matter was concluded.
Seth worked industriously once he was in that section of the city where
certain rights he claimed were respected by his brother artisans, and
although the majority of the fraternity were fully occupied in
discussing the question of what Sam Barney might succeed in doing, he
refused to spend any idle time, however much interest he felt in the
matter.
Dan also attended strictly to business, regardless of the many
temptations to remain idle, and at two o'clock in the afternoon the
partners had earned as much as would suffice to provide them with food
during at least two days; but the question of lodgings yet remained to
be settled.
"We'll go up now to see what Mr. Davis wants, an' then we must hustle
for lodgin's. There'll be no more hangin' 'round Ninety-four's house
after dark, 'cause it looks too much as if we was beggin'," Seth said as
he met Dan, who reported that it wouldn't pay to buy another stock of
papers that day.
Master Roberts made no reply to this remark.
He secretly hoped that it might be possible for them to sleep in the
engine-house one more night at least, and believed Seth was foolishly
sensitive about the matter.
According to his views on the subject, there was no good reason why they
should not go even so far as to ask the firemen for a shelter, more
particularly since they appeared to be so well disposed toward Seth.
The two boys arrived in the vicinity of the engine-house ten minutes
before the time set, and Seth insisted that they should not present
themselves until the hour named, consequently both lounged around near
by until the clock struck three, when they marched boldly up to the open
door.
The driver was on the lower floor as if awaiting their arrival, and
greeted Seth in a manner both familiar and kind:
"So you've come, have you, Amateur? I was beginning to think you'd
struck a business rush, and I shouldn't see you before to-morrow."
"You said we was to come at three o'clock, so I waited 'round till
then."
"Afraid to get here ahead of time, eh?"
"I thought it was best to do as you told us, though we've been loafin'
outside for ten minutes."
Mr. Davis chuckled audibly, as if in the statement was something very
comical, and not until after several seconds had elapsed did he speak,
when it was to ask:
"Well, what have you two kids done about finding a place where you can
sleep?"
"We're goin' to hustle lively after we leave here. We had to earn a
little money first, an' it was pretty late when we got down-town, so we
couldn't do any huntin'; but you can make certain some place will flash
up before dark."
"I wouldn't wonder if it did, Amateur, I wouldn't wonder if it did. What
made you late in getting down-town? I thought you left here earlier
than usual."
"So we did, sir; but we met Jip Collins, an'----"
"The kid who started the fire in the lumber-yard?"
"Yes, sir, an' he's mighty sorry for what he did."
Then Seth repeated what had been said by the repentant boy, and gave a
detailed account of the interview with Sam Barney, all of which appeared
wonderfully amusing, not only to 'Lish Davis, but to all the men on the
floor.
"And are you allowing to adopt this 'ere kid who is setting himself up
as a firebug?" the driver asked when Seth had concluded the story.
"I'd like to give him one more show, for I don't believe he'll go wrong
again, an' if we can get Sam Barney so far away that he can't come back,
it may be done."
"But what about us? We're bound to give up all such information as we
may happen to run across, and it's a serious matter to keep a close
tongue on anything of that kind."
"Have you _got_ to get Jip arrested?" Seth asked in alarm.
"It's our duty, and I ain't so certain that he's reformed."
"But you never can know till he's been given a chance, an' it would be
mighty tough if he had to have it put down against him when he grows up,
that he's been in jail."
"I grant you all that, Amateur, yet the law says man or boy must pay the
penalty for arson, and it wouldn't be fair to make an exception in his
case."
"What do you mean by arson?"
"That's the name given to the crime of setting fires, and when the trick
is played in the night, in a building where people are living, it costs
the criminal a good many years of his life."
'Lish Davis was speaking very seriously now, and Seth literally trembled
with apprehension for Jip.
"Ain't there anything I can do to help the poor feller out of the
scrape?" he asked in a tone which told that the tears were very near his
eyelids.
"That's what I can't say right on the spur of the minute; but I'll think
the matter over, and it may be we'll see a way out if you're dead sure
he won't try any more such games."
"I don't believe he will, 'cause he's feelin' mighty bad, an' promises
to be straight after this."
"I've thought all along that he ought'er be sent up for startin' the
fire," Dan said with an air of exceeding wisdom; "but Seth has been
makin' such a row about givin' him another chance that I had to hold my
tongue."
"I wouldn't be surprised if the amateur was nearer in the right than you
are, Daniel, though the officers of the law may look at the matter in a
different light. However, the young reprobate hasn't been caught yet,
even if that keen-eyed detective of yours is on his track, and we'll
drop the subject for a spell. What I wanted to see the amateur about was
lodgings."
Dan's eyes sparkled, for he felt certain they were to be given quarters
in the engine-house, and Seth looked really distressed.
"What's the matter?" 'Lish Davis asked in surprise as he noted the
expression on the boy's face. "It don't seem to strike you right because
I'm thinking of where you'll find a shelter."
"I'm 'fraid it'll seem like as if Dan an' I were beggin' for a bed. We
can find one after a spell, an' it wouldn't be any new thing if we
knocked around the streets a few nights."
"Now, don't distress yourself on the score of begging," the driver said
with a hearty laugh. "I've come to know how thin-skinned you are on that
point, and ain't counting on giving either of you the value of a pin.
But it so happens that a friend of mine lives in the next block, and
he's got a room in his attic that he's just dying to let. I was telling
him about you kids, and he'll make what I call a fair trade."
"Do you mean that we're to hire a reg'lar room?" Seth asked in surprise.
"Why not, if it comes cheap enough? Now, this 'ere place I'm speaking of
ain't very swell, and I don't allow he could let it to any but boys like
you. He'll give a lease of it, with bed and such furniture thrown in as
his wife can scare up, for fifty cents a week. By blacking Ben Dunton's
and my boots five mornings a week you'll have the price earned, and
it'll pay a heap better than skinning 'round the streets, likely to be
moved on by a policeman a dozen times 'twixt sunset and sunrise."
Seth looked suspiciously at 'Lish Davis.
The possibility of hiring a "reg'lar room" at such a low price had never
before entered his mind, and he feared there might be something in
regard to the transaction which was being kept a secret from him.
"Now, then, Amateur, what are you staring at? Do you think I'd give you
any fairy story about the place? You'd better have a look at it before
thinking it's a very big bargain," and the driver leaned back in his
chair laughing heartily, although Seth could not understand what had so
excited his mirth.
"We'll be mighty glad to get lodgin's at that price," Dan said promptly,
and Mr. Davis handed him a card, on the back of which was written an
address, saying as he did so:
"Go to that place, and ask to see the room 'Lish Davis was talking
about. If it suits you, take it, and if it don't there's been no great
harm done."
"You're mighty good to think of us in this way," Seth said, feeling
almost ashamed because of his previous mistrust.
"Yes, I reckon I am; but we'll hope it don't spoil me," and again the
driver gave way to his mirth.