n the shed; that would keep
them out."

"I wouldn't like to do it, 'cause you see I've got an idea the carpenter
has forgot all about my sleepin' there, an' perhaps if I was to flash up
so fresh askin' for a lock on the bedroom door he'd think it was 'bout
time for me to skip."

"Well, look here, Seth, you might as well give me a shine, and while you
're doing that I'll see if I can think of a way out for you. I'm
inclined to believe the same as your detective friend does, that it
stands you in hand to keep a pretty good watch, and I'll speak to the
cop on this beat."

Seth set about his professional duties without delay, and by the time
one boot had been polished so perfectly that it reflected surrounding
objects almost as well as a mirror, the fireman asked abruptly:

"How old are you, kid?"

"Fourteen, accordin' to the way I figger it."

"Don't you know?"

"Well, you see, old Miss Washburn--she was the woman that claimed to
bring me up, though it's precious little she did towards it--wasn't no
ways certain herself, but that's what she allowed, so it's good enough
for me."

"Haven't got any folks, eh?"

"Well, I did have a mother, you know, till I was a couple of years old,
so Miss Washburn says."

"Where's your father?"

"You see, I never had one, leastways not what you would call a real
father, 'cause when a man is a reg'lar gin-pig, no decent feller is
goin' to own up that he's his relation. The last time I saw him he was
goin' down on the Island for ninety days, an' that was as much as three
years ago."

"You've still got the fool idea in your mind that you're going to be a
fireman?"

"It ain't any fool idea, Mr. Davis, 'cause it's a fact. That's jest what
I count on bein'."

"Look here, my son, I've been thinking about you a considerable bit
since I found it was no use trying to scare you out of the plan, and in
a year's time or so, I reckon, between the captain and Walters and me,
we can get you in up to headquarters. Now, don't jump so! I didn't mean
we allowed you could go there as a recruit; but the captain was saying
the other night that we might work it so's you could get some kind of a
berth there--sweeping floors, washing windows, and the like of that,
which, if you keep your ears and eyes open, would amount to the same as
if you went into actual training. You ain't the lad I've got in my eye
if you couldn't soon work your way into one of the classes."

"If I only might!" Seth replie