an' what kind
of show would I stand if there was a record like that against me?
Fellers who get up a name for fightin' don't 'mount to very much,
'cordin' to what I've seen, an' that's why I said I was 'fraid I might
thump Jip. You see, what's done now will stand against me when I'm old
enough to be a fireman, an' I've got to look out mighty careful for
that. Now, so far's puttin' Jip in jail goes, I don't want anythin' to
do with it."

"I can't see how that's goin' to give you a bad name," some one of the
throng cried.

"I reckon it couldn't; but it might stand against Jip when he grows up,
an' if I should let Sam take the case I'd be hurtin' Jip more'n he did
me, so it wouldn't be fair."

"But you don't allow folks can go 'round settin' fire to houses an'
tryin' to burn other people up without havin' to pay for it?"

"Course I don't, an' Jip ought'er get it hot for what he's done; but I
won't be the one to send him up the river."

"If that's the way Seth feels 'bout it we haven't got any right to
kick," Dan suggested, and Sam Barney cried sharply:

"I say we have! Jest 'cause Seth is gettin' so awful good on account of
wantin' to go into the Department, there's no reason why we should let
Jip Collins sneak away after what's been done, an' I'll take up the case
on my own hook rather than see him wiggle out of it."

"Have you got the feller yet what stole your money?" Dan asked in a
meaning tone, whereat the remainder of the company set up a loud shout
of derision, much to the amateur detective's discomfort.

"If I haven't that's no sign I can't. I reckon I know enough 'bout the
business to handle two cases at the same time, if I want to, an' you'll
see if I don't pull Jip Collins over the coals before I'm a week older."

Then Sam stalked away with the bearing of one who feels that he has been
injured, and the remainder of the party discussed the events of the
previous night without further reference to the arrest of the evil-doer.

When the subject had been exhausted Seth made inquiries concerning any
bootblack's outfit which might be for sale, and half an hour later he
was once more the owner of a box and brushes.

"The fire has cost me seventy cents, besides the breakfast we lost when
the place was burned," he said to Dan, and the latter replied
mournfully:

"I'd have been willin' to give a good deal more'n that right out of my
own pocket, poor as trade has been, than to lose the snuggest
lodgin'-plac