g us liars."

Again Seth tried to speak, and again he failed, whereupon 'Lish Davis
said gruffly:

"I reckon you want time to think it over, Amateur. Take a spin 'round
town closing out your boot-blacking business, and flash up here this
evening. Remember, there's to be no more running to fires except you get
a straight invitation from some of Ninety-four's men."

"Of course I'll black boots here same as I've allers done?" Seth said in
a tremulous voice.

"It won't look well, Amateur, it won't look well."

"But I'd a good deal rather, Mr. Davis. You an' all hands here have been
mighty good to me, an' there's no other way I can show how I feel about
it."

"You can keep your eyes wide open up to headquarters, and that'll do us
more good than if you kept our boots in a regular patent-leather polish
all the time."

"Please let me do somethin' for you, Mr. Davis. I'll get on up at
headquarters as fast as any feller can; but I want to keep my job here
so's to show how I feel on account of what you're doin' for me."

All the members of the company who were on the lower floor had listened
to this conversation, and now, when 'Lish Davis hesitated to give the
desired permission, Ben Dunton cried:

"Let Amateur manoeuvre as he likes, 'Lish. I don't wonder he wants to
do what he can, an' so long as he doesn't black boots anywhere except
here, I can't see that it'll work any harm."

"All right, Amateur," Mr. Davis said after a brief hesitation; "you
shall do as Ben thinks is right, though there must be no more of that
business outside of this house, 'cause you've just the same as begun to
hatch into a fireman, and we can't afford to have it said we couldn't
ante up enough to keep you going."

Seth was delighted at receiving such permission, for by thus being
allowed to work for Ninety-four's men it was as if he occupied a
definite place among them; whereas if this had been denied it would have
seemed almost as if he had been cast out.

He blacked every pair of boots he could find, and at first refused to
take pay for the labor; but 'Lish Davis prevented such gratuitous work
by saying sternly:

"Take your pay like a man, Amateur, and look pleasant about it. There'll
be no chance for you to handle the city's money until after being at
headquarters a month, and in the meantime you've got to pay your bills.
I did count on lending you enough to pull through on; but perhaps this
will be the best way. What about that fireb