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