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 a
detective or not, Sam has a way of snoopin' 'round an' gettin' at things
that other fellers don't want him to know. Do you reckon I can show
myself down-town now?"

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

"There's no reason, Jip, why you can't come out an' earn your livin' so
long's you walk straight, for I don't b'lieve anybody will try to 'rest
you, 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 up
against you."

"Look here, Seth, I know I did a mighty mean thing when I set fire to
the shed in Baxter's yard, an' whether you believe it or not, I was
terrible sorry the minute the shavin's caught fire; but don't think I
ain't been served out. It's awful to stay all night on this boat; I hear
all kinds of noises an' it seems to me as if the place was reg'larly
ha'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 Barney
I'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 lodgings
round about that locality, and then came the question as to how it would
be possible for him to start in business again, for he confessed that
all 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 tough
week for me," Dan said thoughtfully; "but I'll be willin' to chip in a
nickel toward helpin' you along, Jip."

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

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

"Of course you can, Jip," Seth said soothingly, "and there's no need of
your tellin' us 'bout it