n. "So
long as Jip behaves himself, nothing more will be done; but if he should
go wrong, sentence for this crime will be pronounced, and most likely he
will be given the extreme penalty."

"Can Sam Barney have him arrested?" Dan asked.

"No one can trouble him on this charge while he lives an honest life."

"Then I'll see that that duffer holds his tongue!" and Bill started
toward the would-be detective in a threatening manner; but the latter
was not minded to take any chances of an encounter.

He turned and fled instantly Bill made the advance, and did not halt
until he was half a block or more away, when he shouted:

"Wait an' see what I'll do to all you chumps who think you're so awful
smart!"

"I'll give you a chance of seein' what I'll do, an' without much
waitin', if you make any more cheap talk!"

With this threat Bill turned his back on the disappointed Sam, and Seth
begged of him to remain quiet.

"It's all right now," he replied complacently. "I've had my say, an' if
Sam knows what's good for him, he'll keep his tongue quiet. There ain't
any reason why I shouldn't fight, an' he'll soon find it out."

Then Seth turned to the attorney, who was yet talking with Jip, and
asked:

"How's he goin' to pay you for lookin' after him?"

"I don't expect he can. The bill was settled by some firemen belonging
to Ninety-four engine."

With this the lawyer, after advising Jip to call upon him from time to
time, went his way, and Mrs. Hanson's lodgers stood looking at each
other as if expecting some important proposition was about to be made.

"It won't do to take you up to our house, Jip, 'cause there are three of
us already, an' the boss of the place can't have all the boys in the
city runnin' in an' out there for sixty cents a week," Seth said
hesitatingly, wondering what could be done with the lad who had been put
on probation.

"I ain' thinkin' you could take me there," Master Collins replied
promptly. "Now I'm out, I'll begin to sell papers down by the ferry
again, 'cause I've got fourteen cents left, an' if Sam Barney leaves me
alone, I'll pull through all right."

"If he so much as looks crossways at you, I'll give him something to
remember me by," Bill cried.

"It's a good thing to get right at your work," Seth said approvingly.
"Stick at it, an' us fellers will come to see you whenever we get a
chance."

"You've been mighty good to me, all three of you, an' I only wish I
could----"

It was i