Amateur Fireman

by William Henry Giles Kingston

  CHAPTER VIII.

  JIP COLLINS'S RETREAT.

  So excited was Seth by this sudden and unexpected change in his fortunesthat he could not bring himself to walk demurely down-town as he was inthe custom of doing; but ran swiftly more than half the distance,repeating to himself over and over again:

  "I'm really goin' into the Department after all!"

  He was so highly elated when he met Dan that the latter instantlyunderstood something of the utmost importance had transpired, and askedeagerly:

  "What's flashed up on you, Seth? Got a big job?"

  "Indeed I have! I'm goin' into the Department!"

  "Wha--wha--what?"

  "I'm goin' into the Department. Mr. Davis an' the rest of Ninety-four'smen have got me a job up at headquarters where I'll have a chance tolearn all the business, an' then when I'm big enough, if my record isall right, I'll slip in for a fireman as easy as winkin'."

  "Look here, Seth, what kind of a stiff are you tryin' to give me?" Danasked sharply.

  "It's a straight tip, old man. Mr. Davis jest told me all about it, an'says I mustn't black boots any more except for Ninety-four's men. Hedidn't even want me to do that; but I hung on till Mr. Dunton backed meup, an' he finally gave in. Say, do you know they've bought a uniformfor me jest like they wear, only there's no brass buttons on it."

  "Oh, go 'way, Seth. You've slipped your trolley."

  "No, it's all straight goods, Dan. What kept me up there so long thismornin' was talkin' 'bout it. I'm to go to-night and get the clothes.The only thing that worries me is I can't pay for them myself."

  "Anybody'd think to hear you talk that was hard luck. Look here, Seth,if what you've been givin' me is straight, you've struck a terriblesnap, an' a feller who'd kick 'cause somebody gives him a suit ofclothes, ought'er go bare-backed."

  "It would look a good deal better, Dan, if I had the money to buy thethings, rather than let them give 'em to me."

  "I ain't so certain 'bout that. The biggest part of it is gettin' 'em,an' if they're willin' to put up I'd say let 'em buy anythin' theywanted. Look here, I can't quite get it through my head that things isthe way you tell, 'cause it don't seem likely a boy could get in atheadquarters."

  Seth repeated to his partner all that 'Lish Davis had said, and when thestory was concluded Master Roberts commented on it in this fashion:

  "You'll be out er sight, Seth; that's all there is to it!" Then,realizing how his brother news-venders might be surprised, he added,"Come on quick, an' let's tell as many fellers as we can before we go tosee Bill Dean ship Sam Barney to Philadelphy!"

  Seth was by no means averse to making known his good fortune, and veryshortly afterward the two were surrounded by a throng of incredulousnews-venders and bootblacks, the majority of whom insisted that "theywouldn't be stuffed with any such yarns, 'cause of course a feller assmall as Seth Bartlett couldn't get a job in the Department, even if itwas only to sweep floors, wash windows, an' that sort of thing. Besides,if he was taken on at headquarters, nobody would give him a show oflearnin' the drill."

  Bill Dean called Dan aside, and after first persuading him to cross histhroat with his fingers in order that he should be put on oath, as itwere, asked regarding the truth of the statements made.

  "It's jest as I said, an' he's goin' to have a reg'lar uniform, all butthe buttons, to-night."

  "Did you hear any of Ninety-four's men say so?"

  "I wasn't there, of course; but you know Seth Bartlett don't go 'roundshootin' his mouth off the way some of the fellers do, an' you can hangup to everythin' he says; so I'm certain it's true."

  "It must be," Bill replied in a tone of conviction, and then approachingSeth gravely he extended his hand, saying as the amateur fireman graspedit:

  "I'm mighty glad you've struck it so rich, old man, an' that's a fact.All of us know you've been runnin' to fires pretty reg'lar; but we neverb'lieved you'd really get into the Department."

  "I ain't there yet," Seth replied modestly; "but Mr. Davis says it'll bemy own fault if I don't get in, so you can make up your mind I'll keepmy eyes open mighty wide."

  One by one Seth's business acquaintances followed Bill's example in thematter of giving credence to the wonderful story, until it was agenerally accepted fact that no more than the truth had been told.

  There were some doubters, however; but they were so few in number thatit seemed as if there was no longer any question regarding the matter,and during the half-hour which followed Seth was kept busy answering thequestions of the curious and, perhaps, envious ones.

  The astounding news brought by Seth and Dan had caused Sam Barney'sfriends and acquaintances to forget for the time being that thispromising detective was about to depart from New York; but Bill Dean,who had taken it upon himself to thus aid Jip Collins, soon bethoughthimself of the business in hand, and reminded the others of their dutyby saying:

  "Look here, fellers, we mustn't hang 'round here much longer, else therewon't be a chance of gettin' Sam away to-day. He's got to go on theemigrant train, an' the railroad folks will look for him jest as I said,'cause I made a good deal of talk 'bout his bein' a detective. You see Ithought they'd be glad to have him go on their cars if we could make 'emb'lieve half as much as Sam tells 'bout himself."

  Thus reminded of their duty the young merchants set out in a body forthe Cortlandt Street Ferry, much to the annoyance of those pedestriansagainst whom they jostled and tumbled in their eagerness to make waythrough the crowded thoroughfare.

  The amateur detective was found at the corner of West Street, where hehad promised to await Bill Dean's coming, and one glance at the throngwhich had gathered to do him honor, as he believed, filled his heartwith pride.

  "They're beginnin' to find out that I'm no slouch of a detective afterall, hey?" he said in a confidential whisper to Bill, and the latterreplied in a matter-of-fact tone:

  "I ain't certain you'd have seen so many of 'em, Sam, if it hadn't beenthat they was all in a bunch listenin' to the news 'bout Seth Bartlett,an' after hearin' it was in good trim for anythin'."

  "What's the news 'bout Seth?" Sam asked with mild curiosity.

  "Why, he's goin' into the Department."

  "Who? Seth Bartlett?"

  "Yep. That is, it's jest 'bout the same thing. Ninety-four's men havefound him a job up to headquarters where he'll have a chance to learnthe business, 'cause there's what you might call a school for firemen upthere."

  Sam remained silent fully an instant gazing at his friend inopen-mouthed astonishment, and then he said emphatically if not a trifleviciously:

  "I don't b'lieve a word of it; that's one of Seth Bartlett's yarns!"

  "He ain't the kind of feller that goes 'round lyin', an' it would be achump trick for him to begin it now, 'cause if he don't flash up in thatuniform by to-morrow night we'll know he's been stuffin' us."

  "Well, maybe there's _somethin'_ in it," Sam replied grudgingly, after abrief hesitation; "but it seems to me the Fire Department must be prettyhard up when they'll take in a feller like Seth."

  "I don't know why he wouldn't make as good a fireman as you will adetective. He's been runnin' with Ninety-four for more'n a year."

  "What does that 'mount to? He's never done anythin' same's I have, toshow that he had the stuff in him."

  "They say he come pretty nigh savin' 'Lish Davis's life the other nightwhen them storage warehouses burned."

  "Oh, that's all in your eye. Dan Roberts told the yarn so's to makehisself solid with Seth."

  There was no further opportunity for Sam to cast discredit upon Seth'sstory, because the time was near at hand when he should take hisdeparture, and those who had contributed to this important event wereeager to hear in what way he proposed to distinguish himself.

  "I'll catch Jip Collins an' send him up the river for five or tenyears," he said in reply to the questions of his friends, "an' then Ireckon people will find out whether I 'mount to anything as a detective,or not."

  "Are you sure he's over i
n Philadelphy?" one of the boys asked of Sam.

  "Course I am."

  "How did you find it out?"

  "It wouldn't be any use for me to try to tell, 'cause you couldn'tunderstand it; but that's where the detective business comes in. I'vefiggered it all out, an' in less than half an hour from the time thetrain strikes the town I'll have him 'rested."

  Some of those who were in the secret smiled; but Bill Dean and hisfriends refrained from any display of mirth, lest Sam, grown suspiciousof his own wisdom, should at the last moment refuse to leave the city.

  The would-be detective had desired to purchase his own ticket, but tothis proposition those who had the matter in charge would not consent,and Bill Dean, in response to the suggestion made by several of theparty, proceeded, as he expressed it, to "ship off Sam."

  That he had spoken the truth when he told of having had a conversationwith the railroad officials regarding Master Barney's departure, wasproven when he approached the ticket-office, for the clerk recognizedhim at once, and when the money was placed on the ledge in front of him,immediately passed out that form of a ticket which would give to Jip'spursuer a passage to Philadelphia.

  Master Barney's companions were eager to see him on board the cars; butafter learning that such pleasure must be purchased by paying for apassage across to Jersey City and back, the majority of them decided theprice was altogether too high.

  "It'll cost pretty nigh a dollar for this whole gang to go over," DanRoberts said after making a hurried calculation, "an' Sam ain't worthit. I'd like to see how he swings hisself in the cars; but don't counton puttin' out my good money for it."

  There were very many of Dan's opinion in the party, and after somediscussion it was decided that Bill Dean and Seth Bartlett shouldaccompany the detective during this first stage of the journey, andthese two were instructed to "remember all Sam said, an' how he looked,so's to tell it to the rest of the crowd when they got back."

  The would-be detective gravely shook hands with his followers, and,after cautioning those who were to accompany him to remain at arespectable distance lest they interfere with his plans, stole on boardthe ferry-boat in a manner well calculated to attract the attention andexcite the mirth of every one who saw him.

  "He thinks reg'lar detectives go snoopin' 'round in that style," Billsaid in a whisper to Seth, "an' jest as long as he keeps up such a foolidea he'll never 'mount to anythin'. I ain't sayin' but what he mightturn out to be quite a feller if he would only act decent."

  Sam appeared to think it necessary that he remain by himself during theshort voyage, and when the boat arrived at the Jersey City slip refusedto go on shore until after having satisfied himself, in his owngrotesque fashion, that there were no enemies in the vicinity.

  He entered the depot much in the same manner, and peered into the carfully five minutes before venturing to take a seat, after which he saidin a tone of satisfaction to his companions:

  "I reckon I've done this thing pretty nigh right so far, an' if I don'tbring Jip Collins back with me it'll be 'cause some of them Philadelphypeople spoil my game."

  "Are you reckonin' on stayin' there till you catch him?" Bill asked witha wink at Seth, and Master Barney replied confidently:

  "I can put my hands on him within an hour; but it may be we'll stayovernight so's I can bring him into town in the mornin'."

  "How are you countin' on gettin' your ticket to come back?" Seth asked.

  "Oh, I've got that figgered out. You see, jest as soon as I've nabbedJip I'll go to police headquarters an' tell 'em who he is, an' of coursethey'll see that I get back."

  Bill had considerable difficulty in keeping his face straight duringthis portion of the conversation, and, fearing lest he mightinadvertently betray the secret, made short work of the leave-taking.

  SAM GOING TO PHILADELPHIA. _Page_ 146.]

  Sam was in the car with the ticket in his hand, and it was hardlyprobable he would do other than proceed to his destination as hadbeen agreed upon, therefore Bill said in an exceedingly friendly tone:

  "Well, we'd better be goin', old man. I'll see you when you get back."

  Until this moment Seth had not realized that by supplying Master Barneywith the means of transportation to Philadelphia, they were virtuallyexiling him from his home, and his heart misgave him as such phase ofthe case suddenly presented itself.

  "Look here, Sam, s'posen it turns out that you don't find Jip, how'llyou get home?" he asked, and there was in his mind the thought that hewould divide his scanty store of money with the alleged detective; butthe latter soon made it plain that he was, or believed he was, able totake care of himself.

  "Don't bother your head 'bout me, 'cause even if you have got a show ofgettin' into the Fire Department, you ain't very well posted on thedetective business. I'll get back without any of your help, an' I'llbring Jip with me."

  All Seth's sympathy fled, and without further attempt at leave-takingthe two walked out of the car, glancing back from the door an instant atthe alleged detective, who was looking as important and satisfied as aboy well could look.

  It was decided between Bill and Seth during the voyage across the river,that after having made a report to those who awaited their coming theywould visit Jip Collins in his retreat at the Erie Basin.

  "There's only a few of us knows where he is, an' of course we've got tokeep it a secret for a spell, so you, an' Dan, an' I must give the otherfellers the slip if we can."

  Seth agreed to this after having been assured that there would be nodifficulty in getting back to the engine-house as Mr. Davis hadcommanded, and once they were on the New York shore Bill fulfilled hisduty to his friends by giving a detailed account of all Sam had said anddone.

  Some members of the party--and there were a few who considered MasterBarney one of the most promising young detectives in the city--werefully satisfied with the manner in which he was reported to have bornehimself when he set out to bring to a successful close this his firstimportant case; but those who believed that Sam's ability existed onlyin his own mind were inclined to ridicule his fantastic behavior, andone of the company was applauded loudly as he said:

  "If Sam cavorts 'round Philadelphy the same way he went on board theferry-boat, they'll run him in for a lunatic, an' we'll never see himagain till he turns over a mighty big leaf."

  Then the would-be detective's acquaintances separated, each intent onhis own business or pleasure, and there was nothing to prevent thethree who were bent upon aiding Jip Collins, from proceeding on theirerrand of mercy.

  Now that Sam Barney's departure was an accomplished fact, Seth began toreproach himself with having aided in sending the boy so far from homethat it might be many weeks before he could return, and while walkingtoward Hoboken Ferry gave words to these thoughts.

  Bill Dean, however, was not troubled with any pangs of consciencebecause he had in a certain degree deceived Master Barney.

  "It ain't us who sent him over there. He spouted up and told how Jip wasin Philadelphy, an' we hadn't any call to tell him it wasn't so."

  "But how'll he get back?"

  "Well, if I was in that town, or any other where the railroad folks onlycharge seventy-five cents to fetch me home, you can bet I wouldn't hang'round the streets very long cryin' baby; I'd hustle an' earn money.That's the way Sam can get back, an' the more you feel bad 'bout him thebigger fool you're makin' of yourself. I ain't stickin' up for JipCollins, 'cause when he set fire to Baxter's lumber-yard he knew he wasdoin' what would send him to jail; but at the same time 'twixt him an'Sam I ain't certain but I'd rather give Jip a boost."

  Then Bill discussed the affair in its different phases, laying greatstress upon what was apparently to him a fact, that by giving Sam Barneyan opportunity of learning that he was not really a detective, they wereconferring a benefit upon him.

  As Master Dean presented the case, there had been no deceptionpractised, because they could only have convinced Sam of his error bybetraying Jip, who had placed himself in the hand
s of his friends, andMaster Barney never once asked for information, but, instead, assertedthat he knew where the fugitive was concealed.

  In this wise was the time spent during what was a reasonably longjourney, and Bill had hardly more than come to the end of his argumentswhen they arrived at the Erie Basin.

  "There's where Jip is hidin'," Master Dean said as he pointed to adilapidated boat lying at the opposite side of the Basin, and at thatmoment Dan and Seth saw what at first sight appeared to be adark-colored ball placed in the combing of the companionway hatch.

  When it suddenly disappeared, and a certain portion of it came againinto view, they understood it was the head of the young gentleman theyhad journeyed thus far to visit, and Dan shouted loudly:

  "Hi! It's only us! Don't get scared!"

  Not until he had assured himself by actual survey that there werenone other than these three friends in the vicinity, did thedisconsolate-looking firebug venture to show himself, and thenhe came out on the deck with a certain humility that was in markedcontrast with his former swagger.

  "Is Sam Barney still on my trail?" he asked piteously, and that he mightnot be kept in suspense, Bill gave a detailed account of the afternoon'sproceedings so far as the detective was concerned.

  A long-drawn sigh of relief escaped from the fugitive's lips as he said:

  "I was terrible 'fraid he'd find me out up here, cause whether he's adetective or not, Sam has a way of snoopin' 'round an' gettin' at thingsthat other fellers don't want him to know. Do you reckon I can showmyself down-town now?"

  Seth was forced to repeat what 'Lish Davis had told him, and again agloom gathered on the firebug's face, but it was lightened somewhat whenthe amateur fireman added:

  "There's no reason, Jip, why you can't come out an' earn your livin' solong's you walk straight, for I don't b'lieve anybody will try to 'restyou, now Sam is away from the city; but remember what Mr. Davis said,that if you should do anythin' more crooked, this would all come upagainst you."

  "Look here, Seth, I know I did a mighty mean thing when I set fire tothe shed in Baxter's yard, an' whether you believe it or not, I wasterrible sorry the minute the shavin's caught fire; but don't think Iain't been served out. It's awful to stay all night on this boat; I hearall kinds of noises an' it seems to me as if the place was reg'larlyha'nted. I'd almost rather go to jail than stay here any longer."

  "But you've got to live somehow, Jip."

  "It won't be here. I've been thinkin' if I could get rid of Sam BarneyI'd go over by the Thirty-fourth Street Ferry. Nobody knows me there an'it ought to be a good place for sellin' papers."

  Bill Dean thought this a wise plan, providing Jip could find lodgingsround about that locality, and then came the question as to how it wouldbe possible for him to start in business again, for he confessed thatall his money had been spent in the purchase of food.

  "What with helpin' Sam Barney off, layin' out for a spread last night,an' gettin' money together to pay the room-rent, this is kind of a toughweek for me," Dan said thoughtfully; "but I'll be willin' to chip in anickel toward helpin' you along, Jip."

  Bill and Seth made the same generous proposition, and when the money hadbeen handed to the fugitive it was as if he found it difficult toswallow a certain lump which had arisen in his throat.

  "You fellers have been terrible good to me after I come pretty nearkillin' you, an' I want you to b'lieve I'm goin' to be straight. I'lltry to show that I can be decent."

  "Of course you can, Jip," Seth said soothingly, "and there's no need ofyour tellin' us 'bout it. Jest plug right ahead an' do the best you knowhow; then things will come out all right, I'm certain. By the time Samgets back we'll take care he don't meddle with the case, an' I reckonMr. Davis will fix the balance. When you goin' to leave here?"

  "Jest as soon as I can. I made up my mind this noon that I'd let SamBarney lug me off to jail rather than stay any longer."

  "Then come with us, an' there'll be time for you to get in some of theevenin' trade if we hurry. Bill an' Dan will go over with you an' see ifthere's any fellers 'round the Thirty-fourth Street Ferry that mightmake trouble, an' most likely I'll see you again to-morrow."

  At this point Dan would have told the firebug of Seth's good fortune,but that the latter checked him, believing at such a time theinformation had best be withheld, and the three Good Samaritans withtheir penitent friend set out for New York.