Amateur Fireman

by William Henry Giles Kingston

  CHAPTER VII.

  NEW LODGINGS.

  Dan was so eager to see the new lodgings that he could not wait with anydegree of patience until Seth had fully satisfied himself regardingcertain matters connected with the leasing of them, but insisted onsetting out at once, and his partner felt obliged to accompany him.

  Arriving at the address given them by 'Lish Davis, they found affairsexactly as he had stated.

  The room which had been offered at such a low rental was in the attic ofan old-fashioned, pitch-roof house, and although it was not such anapartment as could readily have been let to adults, to the boys itappeared as the acme of comfort and even luxury.

  Mrs. Hanson, the mistress of the dwelling, had provided a fairly goodbed for the lodgers, and the clothing on it looked so rest-inviting thatDan declared that it was hard to resist the temptation to "turn in" atonce.

  There were two chairs, a rude stand on which were a water-pitcher and abasin, a small mirror, and an old table.

  The window boasted of a curtain; but the floor was carpetless, save fortwo well-worn rugs.

  Dan, fearing lest Seth might refuse to hire this very swell apartmentbecause of the suspicion that some of Ninety-four's men had agreed topay a certain portion of the rental in order that it might be offered atan exceedingly low price, promptly announced his willingness to take theroom, and when this had been done it seemed to Master Bartlett as if hewas in duty bound to ratify the bargain.

  "We'll pay in advance," he said, as he counted out the required amount,thereby reducing his cash account to an exceedingly small margin.

  "There's no need of your doing anything like that," Mrs. Hanson repliedkindly. "Mr. Davis says he'll guarantee that the rent is paid promptly,and that should be enough for me, without taking money before it isdue."

  "Mr. Davis is mighty good, but there's no reason why he should back acouple of boys who are able to pay their own way. The rent is so cheap Iwas 'fraid he'd been puttin' up money on our account, so's we couldafford to hire it."

  "He said you were mighty independent, and I guess he's right; but youneedn't be afraid of getting any more than you pay for. This roomcouldn't be let to many people, and those who would be willing to livein such a place we would not want in the house, except in a case likeyours, where a friend of ours says everything is as it should be. Mr.Davis is a very nice man."

  "You can jest bet he is," Seth replied emphatically. "He's been mightygood to me."

  Then, having counted the money and promised to give a receipt in dueform for the same, Mrs. Hanson left her new lodgers, and Dan cried whenthey were alone:

  "Say, Seth, this kind-er knocks the spots out er Baxter's shed, eh? Itain't costin' me but ten cents a week more'n the other place did, an'that bed is worth three times them figgers. Talk 'bout fifteen-centlodgin's! Why, the best I ever saw wasn't a marker alongside of this!"

  "It's fine, an' no mistake; but we've got to put up twenty-five centsevery week for it."

  "That'll be all right. I owe you a quarter for this week's rent, an'I'll pay it to-morrow or next day; I've got enough in my pocket now, butkind-er reckoned on havin' a swell lay-out to-night for a celebration.Hold on here, an' I'll go after some grub."

  "Do you s'pose we ought'er thank Mr. Davis now for findin' the room forus?"

  "It'll do jest as well in the mornin', an' you're so 'fraid of hangin''round the engine-house that it don't seem as if you'd better go therefor nothin' else but to tell him what we think of the place."

  Seth would have been pleased could he have told Ninety-four's driverwhat he thought of the new quarters, but Dan's suggestion as to "hangin''round" was sufficient to prevent him from venturing out.

  Then he tried to dissuade Dan from squandering his money on a feast,arguing that it would be wiser to keep what he had lest there should bea sudden lull in business; but Master Roberts refused to listen.

  "Unless you're 'fraid to trust me for my share of the rent, I'm goin' tospread myself to-night. It's too bad we hadn't known 'bout this beforewe come up-town, for then we might er knocked the eyes out er some ofthe fellers by showin' it to 'em."

  "I don't believe we'd better have too much company, or Miss Hanson willmake a kick. It ain't likely she's willin' to have a crowd of fellersrushin' in and out for fifty cents a week."

  "I s'pose that's so; but all the same I'd like to have the gang see howwe're fixed."

  Then Master Roberts went out to make the purchases, and Seth was leftalone to familiarize himself with his seemingly luxurious surroundings.

  Fully half an hour elapsed before Dan returned, and then he wasaccompanied by Master Dean.

  "I found Bill hangin' 'round Ninety-four's house lookin' for you, an'thought the best thing I could do was to bring him right up here," Dansaid as he ostentatiously placed half a dozen small packages on thetable.

  "Ain't you fellers slingin' a terrible lot of style?" Bill asked, as hegazed around him. "It strikes me that business must be boomin' if youcan afford all this."

  "It'll only cost twenty-five cents a week for each one of us," Sethreplied, as if thinking something in the way of an apology wasnecessary.

  "What?" and Master Dean was so thoroughly astonished as to be unable tospeak for several seconds. Then he cried eagerly: "Say, you don't wantto take another feller in, I s'pose? I'd like to get sich a snap asthis!"

  "I don't know as Miss Hanson would want to take another lodger. Youmight ask her, though, after we've been here a spell."

  "Why not have it settled now?"

  "It seems to me as if you'd better hold off for a while till she seeshow we flash up. 'Cordin' to what she said, I don't believe we'd got inhere if it hadn't been for Mr. Davis."

  "I'd like to come mighty well," Bill said longingly, and then hisattention was attracted to Dan's movements.

  Master Roberts was busily engaged displaying his purchases on the tablein such a manner as to make the greatest possible show, and there was noquestion but that he had succeeded in "layin' himself out in greatshape."

  Fully a pound of bologna sausage cut in thick slices, four largecrullers, two smoked herrings, two ham sandwiches, a pint of peanuts,and four apples caused the shaky table to look as if literally ladenwith dainties.

  Dan pushed it toward the bed, that one of the party might sit there,placed the two chairs at either end, and invited his companions to joinin the feast.

  "Pitch in an' fill yourselves way up full! This is the first swell houseI ever lived in, an' I'm willin' to pay for style. After this I reckonSeth an' me will skin along for grub same's we've allers done, but I'mgoin' to have one blow-out if it takes every cent I've got."

  No second invitation was needed, and not until a goodly portion of theeatables had disappeared did either speak. Then it was Bill Dean whobroke the partial silence.

  "Say, I've raised money enough to send Sam Barney to Philadelphy, if youfellers come up with the nickels you promised."

  "How much will it cost?" and Dan began searching his pockets for thecontribution which had been promised in his name.

  "I can get the duffer over there for seventy-five cents, by sendin' himwith the emigrants. I gave him a big stiff this afternoon 'bout how wefellers would give him a chance to show how much of a detective he is,an' he puffed 'way up, allowin' there wasn't many men on the force inthis town who could beat him. He believes it's a great snap to go offhuntin' after Jip, an' hasn't got head enough to think of how he'll getback."

  "Here's my nickel," and Seth produced the money, Dan following hispartner's example. "I'll be glad if we can get rid of Sam; but I'm'fraid that won't settle things for Jip."

  Then he repeated all 'Lish Davis had said regarding the matter, and whenhe concluded Master Dean was looking remarkably serious.

  "If the firemen are goin' to run Jip down, there ain't much show we cankeep him out er trouble. Don't you s'pose the driver would kind-er helpsomehow?"

  "From what he said this afternoon it didn't seem as if he would, butperhaps he'll change his
mind after a while," Dan replied, not minded tocloud this first merry-making in the new home by disagreeable thoughts,and attempted to change the subject of the conversation by speculatingas to what sort of a welcome Sam Barney was most likely to receive fromthe Philadelphia boys.

  "They'll think he's a mighty good feller till he lets out strong on whathe can do in the detective business, an' then they'll tumble to him,"Bill Dean replied with the air of one who has closed an argumentfinally. "So long as he leaves town we needn't bother our heads abouthim; it's Jip I'm thinkin' of, an' it seems to me as if we ought'er seehim mighty soon."

  "Why?" Dan asked in surprise.

  "Because he must know what 'Lish Davis says, else he's likely to knock'round Ninety-four's house 'most any time."

  "Why don't you hunt him up?"

  "It's too late to tackle the job to-night; but what's to stop all threeof us from goin' to the Erie Basin after Sam Barney leaves town? Ofcourse you're countin' on seein' him off?"

  "I ought'er 'tend right out on business," Seth replied thoughtfully;"but perhaps I can waste time enough for that."

  "Course you can. If you don't get through with the shinin' at theengine-house as early as usual, I'll hold him over till the next train.Then we can skip up to the Basin, an' be back in time to start in withthe last editions of the evenin' papers."

  After some reflection and many misgivings as to whether he waswarranted in devoting so much of his time to others, Seth decided to doas Bill had suggested, and a place of meeting was agreed on.

  Then Master Dean took his departure, after congratulating the partnerson having found such pleasant quarters, and reminding them for at leastthe tenth time that they had promised to ask Mrs. Hanson if she wouldtake another lodger.

  When they were alone once more Seth set about clearing away the remnantsof the feast, and while he was thus employed Dan paced to and fro,admiring himself in the mirror as he passed and repassed it in suchattitudes as he believed befitted a boy who was the lessee of such aswell apartment.

  Seth was not in a mood for conversation. The question in his mind was asto whether he was bettering or weakening his chances for admission intothe Department by thus occupying regular lodgings.

  The argument was very equally balanced. In the first place, he hadfollowed 'Lish Davis's advice, and by so doing it hardly seemed as if hecould go astray; but as opposed to this was the fact that he was not aslikely to be awakened by Ninety-four when she responded to an alarm,and, consequently, his opportunities for getting points would scarcelybe as good.

  However, he settled the matter with himself finally by reflecting thathe had already taken the step, and could not well back out now afterhaving agreed to occupy the apartment, therefore it was unwise toindulge in misgivings.

  There was no trouble in Dan's mind; he was thoroughly well satisfiedwith the situation, and instead of discussing any possibilities, hecongratulated Seth and himself very heartily.

  "All this swellin' will cost us twenty-five cents a week, an' it standsus in hand to scoop the biggest good time out of it we can. I'm goin' toturn in, for what's the use of payin' for a bed if you only get into itfor the sake of sleepin'? I want 'er lay awake a spell so's to know whata great racket I'm havin'."

  He had made his preparations for retiring while Seth yet stood at thewindow looking out thoughtfully, and once beneath the clothing criedexcitedly:

  "Say, hurry up an' get in here! This is the greatest snap I ever struck!It's twice as soft as what we slept in over to Ninety-four's house, an'when trade is dull I'll come up here an' snooze all the time."

  "You'll stand a good chance of goin' broke if you do," Seth replied witha laugh, and then he joined his partner.

  Dan was not able to remain awake very long for the purpose of realizingwhat a "great racket" he was having, for slumber closed his eyes shortlyafter he lay down, and the day had fully dawned before he was againaware of his surroundings.

  But for Seth, Master Roberts might have slept until noon, and even whenhe was aroused the desire to linger in that rest-inviting bed was sogreat that he proposed to neglect work in order to remain there.

  "You go over to the engine-house, an' I'll stay here till you'vefinished your job there. I don't b'lieve papers will sell very wellto-day."

  "See here, Dan, if you're goin' to loaf in bed half the time it'll bebest for us to stop swellin', else we shan't earn enough to pay therent. You must come down to business, an' might as well begin now, forit won't be any easier to get up to-morrow."

  Dan was disposed to grumble a little at thus being forced to arise; butonce he had plunged his face into a basin of cold water his indolencevanished.

  The boys made a hearty breakfast from the remains of the previousnight's feast, and then Dan hurried away to purchase his stock of paperswhile Seth went to the engine-house.

  "Well, how did you sleep last night?" the driver asked as he entered.

  "Great! That place is away up in G; but the only trouble is that Ishan't know when Ninety-four goes out."

  "It won't hurt if you don't. I've about made up my mind that suchbusiness must be stopped."

  Seth looked at 'Lish in pained surprise, and there was an ominousquivering of his lip as he asked:

  "What's the reason I can't turn out at the fires? I'll never get aheadif I don't pick up points."

  "That isn't the best way to do it, my boy," the driver said in a kindlytone. "I've been thinking about your plan of getting into theDepartment, and come to the conclusion that, seeing's you're so set onit, we'd better lend a hand."

  The expression of sorrow on Seth's face changed very suddenly as thedriver ceased speaking an instant, and in its place came a flush of joyso great as to seemingly prevent him from speaking.

  "Yes, Amateur, all of us have taken up the idea that you're to be afireman, though I don't say as it's the kind of a life a boy shouldhanker for, and we've been working to get you into a place where you canlearn the business."

  "Do you really mean that?" Seth cried, fearing lest he had misunderstoodthe words.

  "I shouldn't be saying it if I didn't, Amateur," Davis continued,gravely. "Of course you can't expect any promise of a place in theDepartment till you've got more years on your head; but we've struck aplan which will work all right if you're the lad I've always taken youto be."

  Seth was literally breathless now. It would have been impossible for himto speak, and seeing how great was the suspense Mr. Davis added quickly:

  "We've got a job for you up at headquarters. You'll be called on tosweep floors, wash windows, build fires, and do odd jobs generally; butat the same time you'll be in what's called the general school ofinstruction--where the men who want to get into the Department are puton probation, so to speak. It's been promised us who run withNinety-four, that if you behave yourself you shall have a chance tolearn the drill, and once that has been done, Amateur, you'll be inshape to join us as soon's you've got size to your body."

  Big tears of delight stood in Seth's eyes as he stammered and hesitatedin trying to give words to his gratitude, and understanding what was inhis mind, 'Lish Davis added:

  "Never mind about trying to say anything, Amateur. We don't want thanksnow, because we'll get them when you show yourself the kind of a boywe've claimed you are. It's a case of your picking up points all thetime; but you'll have plenty of hard work, and mighty poor pay. You'llget two dollars a week and your grub. Later I'm reckoning you can sleepin the building; but at the start it's a case of having a homeelsewhere, and Mrs. Hanson's house about fills the bill."

  "Two dollars every week is big money," Seth managed to say.

  "Not so much as it seems just now, because you'll need to come out a bitstronger in the way of clothes. We can't afford to have you go theretogged out the way you are, because we've said you were a kid thatbelonged to us. All hands here have chipped in to buy a full suit likeour own, with the exception of the brass buttons, and you must take itas a present from us. There'll be no squirming on account of acceptingt
he present, otherwise you don't go on the new job. We'll have the togsready in a couple of days, and from this out you'll do no more shining'round the town. Spend to-day and to-morrow in settling up yourbusiness, and then we'll launch you into the berth from which you'llcome out a fireman, if it so be you 'tend right close to work. We'vecracked you up mighty high, Amateur, and if you don't toe the mark it'llbe the same as proving us liars."

  Again Seth tried to speak, and again he failed, whereupon 'Lish Davissaid gruffly:

  "I reckon you want time to think it over, Amateur. Take a spin 'roundtown closing out your boot-blacking business, and flash up here thisevening. Remember, there's to be no more running to fires except you geta straight invitation from some of Ninety-four's men."

  "Of course I'll black boots here same as I've allers done?" Seth said ina tremulous voice.

  "It won't look well, Amateur, it won't look well."

  "But I'd a good deal rather, Mr. Davis. You an' all hands here have beenmighty good to me, an' there's no other way I can show how I feel aboutit."

  "You can keep your eyes wide open up to headquarters, and that'll do usmore good than if you kept our boots in a regular patent-leather polishall the time."

  "Please let me do somethin' for you, Mr. Davis. I'll get on up atheadquarters as fast as any feller can; but I want to keep my job hereso's to show how I feel on account of what you're doin' for me."

  All the members of the company who were on the lower floor had listenedto this conversation, and now, when 'Lish Davis hesitated to give thedesired permission, Ben Dunton cried:

  "Let Amateur manoeuvre as he likes, 'Lish. I don't wonder he wants todo what he can, an' so long as he doesn't black boots anywhere excepthere, I can't see that it'll work any harm."

  "All right, Amateur," Mr. Davis said after a brief hesitation; "youshall do as Ben thinks is right, though there must be no more of thatbusiness outside of this house, 'cause you've just the same as begun tohatch into a fireman, and we can't afford to have it said we couldn'tante up enough to keep you going."

  Seth was delighted at receiving such permission, for by thus beingallowed to work for Ninety-four's men it was as if he occupied adefinite place among them; whereas if this had been denied it would haveseemed almost as if he had been cast out.

  He blacked every pair of boots he could find, and at first refused totake pay for the labor; but 'Lish Davis prevented such gratuitous workby saying sternly:

  "Take your pay like a man, Amateur, and look pleasant about it. There'llbe no chance for you to handle the city's money until after being atheadquarters a month, and in the meantime you've got to pay your bills.I did count on lending you enough to pull through on; but perhaps thiswill be the best way. What about that firebug of yours? Has theimitation detective caught him yet?"

  Seth told of Bill Dean's plan to prevent Sam from working mischief, andthe story caused the men to laugh heartily.

  "That boy Bill must have quite a head on his shoulders," 'Lish Davissaid when his mirth had so far subsided that it was possible for him tospeak. "You can tell the firebug that he'd better give this section ofthe city a wide berth for a spell, and if he walks a chalk-line it maybe he won't be troubled about that crime of his. If he should get funnyin that way again, however, we'll bring this case up in a jiffy, andhe'll get a long taste of prison life."

  "Then you will keep the officers from arrestin' him?" Seth askedeagerly.

  "I didn't say that, Amateur. It may happen that he won't be troubledwhile he does what is right; but there's been no promises made."

  When Seth had finally finished the work of blacking boots to hissatisfaction, he put the box and brushes away upstairs, and approaching'Lish Davis, said in a whisper:

  "You've been awful good to me, an' I promise you shan't be sorry forit."

  "I believe you, Amateur, I believe you, else I wouldn't have turned ahand in the business, even though you did do me a precious good turn theother night. You're now in a fair way to get into the Department; butfrom this out it all depends upon yourself. Keep moving as you've beendoing since I first saw you, and it'll come out all right in the longrun."

  Then Seth left the building on his way down-town, and it is safe to saythat in all the city of New York there was not another as happy as he,for it seemed just then as if the goal he had set himself was very nearat hand.