ot
until it was brought to a close did 'Lish Davis give his opinion.

"I'm allowing that you can't afford to raise a brawl, Amateur," he said,
deliberately. "If that imitation detective 'mounted to anything the case
might be different, and though I'm free to say that every man or boy
should defend himself when it's necessary, there's no wisdom in raising
a disturbance while it's possible to walk on. The trouble is that too
many of us are apt to think we can't get away from what appears to be a
bad scrape without coming to blows; but in nine cases out of ten that
isn't the truth."

"But what am I to do 'bout this money he borrowed from Joe Carter?" Seth
asked as the driver ceased speaking.

"I can't see that you've got any call to disturb yourself. Write and
tell the boy in Philadelphia that the imitation detective had no
authority to borrow money in your name, and let that settle it."

This did not appear to Seth the proper course, for he felt that he was
in a certain sense bound to prevent Joe Carter from losing anything by
being thus confiding; but yet he would not have questioned the driver's
decision.

"It's mighty aggravating, Amateur, I'm free to confess," 'Lish Davis
added as he noted the expression on the boy's face; "but you must
remember that the poorest way to settle a difficulty is by fighting.
When you're where it's got to be done in order to save yourself from
being hurt or robbed, then put up your hands like a man, first making
certain there's no other way out. If it's all the same to you, I'm
counting on toddling down to Tenth Street to-night."

"Do you mean that I'm goin' to school now?"

"I reckon the time has come when you may as well begin. Jerry Walters
and me have made the trade, so after you've slicked up a bit, drop in
here and we'll start."

"All right, sir," Seth cried as he hurried away to make ready for what
he knew must be a trying ordeal. He understood that he was remarkably
ignorant for one of his years, and had an idea that every pupil in the
school would make sport of him.

When the amateur fireman arrived at his lodgings he found his roommates
awaiting him, and in the fewest possible words made known Sam Barney's
misdemeanor, producing Joe Carter's letter in proof of his assertion.

It can well be imagined that both the boys were angry and surprised by
the information, and Bill insisted that all three set out at once in
search of the offender.

"I've got to start in on sch