e me an invite I'll
chip in a dollar."

"Will you wear your uniform?" Dan asked eagerly.

"I'll put on every button I've got; but you are not to tell Seth I'm
coming."

"It's a go," Master Roberts replied gravely, and then the arrival of
Seth interrupted the conversation.

When they were outside the engine-house Dan insisted that his partner
give him the full story of the rescue, and he was not satisfied with a
general account, but demanded every particular from the time Ninety-four
left her quarters until Josh Fernald had taken his departure.

"Well, it's bound to be a big thing for you," he said, thoughtfully,
"even if you don't get a medal."

"See here, Dan, Mr. Davis has said considerable 'bout medals, an' I
don't understand it."

"Are you claimin' to be posted in the fire business, an' don't know
things like that are given to men who save folks from bein' burned up?"

"Of course I know it; but I'm talkin' about myself. I can't have a medal
'cause I ain't a fireman yet."

"If you'd read the _Herald_ as I wanted, you'd seen that the printed
piece said you earned one."

"I don't think I did, not even if I belonged reg'larly to the
Department. It was Jerry Walters who did the most of the work, 'cause if
he hadn't come jest then it would have been all day with me--I was
mighty near gone."

"Don't you make such talk as that to anybody but me, Seth Bartlett," Dan
cried sharply. "What's the use of givin' anything away when folks are
howlin' 'bout your bein' so brave? A feller is bound to blow his own
horn sometimes in this world, else he'd never get along, an' that's what
you must do now."

"If I can't get into the Department without it, I'll go back to shinin'
boots. Look at Sam Barney! He's always doin' that, an' what does he
'mount to?"

"Oh, a feller must have some sand to back him, else he won't pull
through, an' you know there's nothin' to Sam but wind. Here's where you
stop, an' I'll snoop back down-town. The fellers are countin' on givin'
you a racket to-morrow night, an' you must be on hand."

"See here, Dan, don't you spend good money when you're needin' it for
the store, jest for the sake of puffin' me up."

"I reckon what I'll put out won't bust me, even if we have 'greed to
whack up fifteen cents apiece. Bill, Teddy, an' me will chip in for Jip,
so's he can have a good time after all his hard luck, an' we'll make
your eyes stick out before it's over."

"I'd a good deal rather you didn't d