s to be done with the kid who started the fire?"

"I repeated to the captain all the "amateur" told me, so I reckon he'll
be attended to. Is Ben Dunton in the house?"

"Upstairs asleep."

"Then I'm going out for a bit. I want to see the battalion-chief."

"Going to strike for Seth while the iron's hot, eh?"

"That's what I'm thinking of, Jerry," and while Seth Bartlett was making
ready to continue his business of blacking boots, 'Lish Davis began in
his behalf the efforts which he believed would result favorably, so far
as the boy's ambition was concerned.

CHAPTER IV.

SAM THE DETECTIVE.

The sidewalk merchants in the vicinity of the post-office were well
informed of Seth Bartlett's loss by the time he arrived in that section
of the city.

Those who had not heard the story from Dan Roberts read an account of
the destruction of Baxter Brothers' carpenter-shop in the morning papers
during the early part of the day before the business rush began, and
thus it was Seth found himself the centre of a sympathizing crowd of
acquaintances as soon as he crossed City Hall Park.

Master Barney had but just returned from a journey supposed to have been
taken in search of the boy who had robbed him, and he immediately cast
aside his own business troubles in order to "work the case against Jip
Collins," as he expressed it.

Sam was among the throng gathered to meet the homeless bootblack, and
when others would have asked for further particulars regarding the
conflagration, even though Dan had given all the information in his
possession, the amateur detective checked the curious ones by saying
sharply:

"This ain't any time to talk foolishness, 'cause if I'm goin' to take up
this case I must get right down to it before Jip has a chance to run
very far."

"What do you mean by takin' up the case?" Seth asked in surprise, and
Dan Roberts replied quickly:

"Sam says he's willin' to go after Jip Collins, an' will stick at it
till he catches him."

"That's what I've 'greed to, an' I'm in dead earnest, Seth. Of course
you can't afford to pay a reg'lar detective a whole lot of money jest to
find Jip for you; but I can do the work as well, an' you needn't put out
a cent more'n I'm called on to spend for expenses."

"What do _you_ want of Jip?" Seth asked in surprise.

"To have him 'rested for settin' fire to your shed, of course."

"_I_ don't want anythin' of the kind. I reckon he's sorry enough for
what he did w