ool to-night, an' so I can't go," Seth
replied mournfully.

"How long are you goin' to keep up sich a racket as that?" Dan asked, as
if personally aggrieved because such a course was to be pursued.

"'Cordin' to the way Mr. Davis talks I'll have to stick at it till I'm a
reg'lar fireman, an' perhaps a good bit after that."

"Then I'd give up tryin' to get into the Department!" Master Roberts
replied emphatically. "I wouldn't do all that funny business if I never
'mounted to anythin' more'n a bootblack!"

"It's jest what you ought'er do, Dan, if you ever expect to own that
Third Avenoo store."

"I'd like to know why?"

"Now, that's a foolish question. S'posen you got the shop this very
minute, an' wanted to write a letter, or figger up how much anythin'
cost? What kind of a fist would you make of it?"

Dan did not reply, but changed the subject of conversation by asking
Bill:

"What er you goin' to do 'bout Sam Barney?"

"You an' me will hunt him up, an' by the time we're through with the
chump he won't borrow money in sich a way ag'in, I reckon. Who'll write
to Joe Carter 'bout it?"

"If Seth is goin' to school he ought'er do that much, 'cause it'll come
right in his line of business."

"I'll do the best I can at it," the amateur fireman replied readily, and
added as his friends turned to leave the room. "Now, don't have a
reg'lar row with that chump. It'll be enough if you show him up to all
the fellers as a reg'lar fraud, and then you won't stand any chance of
gettin' into trouble with the perlice."

"We'll 'tend to the business in proper shape," Bill replied in a meaning
tone, and Seth was not sadly disturbed in mind as he understood, or
thought he did, that Sam Barney would spend a very unpleasant evening if
these two acquaintances chanced to meet him.

When he was alone Seth set about making preparations for beginning his
pursuit of knowledge, and the prospect before him was by no means
pleasant.

'Lish Davis was awaiting his arrival when he reentered the engine-house,
and immediately began laughing heartily at the expression on the boy's
face.

"It ain't going to be half as bad as you're counting on, Amateur," the
driver cried as soon as he could control his mirth, and then the two set
out.

Mr. Davis had but one remark of importance to make during the journey,
and that impressed Seth more than anything which had been said to him
that day.

"If I'd spent half or even a quarter of my spare t