human
Hello, Amateur! It seems to me you've knocked off work kind-er late to-night?
gpt
Mr. Fernald, the man who runs the gymnasium, told me I was to go away every night at six o'clock----
human
So Josh has taken you in hand as he promised, eh?
gpt
He's given me a chance up in the gymnasium, where I can't help seein' a good deal of the drillin' even when I'm workin', an' it seems as though it was a mighty soft snap.
human
Josh ain't a man who'll make it very soft for any boy. You've got to toe the mark pretty straight with him, Amateur; but if it so be you strike him just right things will move along in great shape. Why didn't you leave headquarters as he told you?
gpt
I did, sir; but Teddy Bowser was waitin' outside to tell me that Sam Barney has had Jip Collins 'rested for settin' fire to the lumber-yard.
human
So, so! He has, eh? I thought you shipped that bloomin' detective over to Philadelphia?
gpt
That's what we did, Mr. Davis; but he managed to get back, an' tumbled to the trick we played on him, so the very first thing he does is to get Jip pulled.
human
Well, whether it be boys or men who go wrong, sooner or later they've got to pay the penalty in some fashion, and perhaps it's just as well this Collins chap should square matters now as at any other time.
gpt
But it seems terrible, Mr. Davis, to have him sent to jail for nobody knows how many years.
human
It'll be a good many if he's convicted on the charge of arson; that I can give you as a straight tip.
gpt
I was in hopes you'd feel kind of bad about it, Mr. Davis,
human
Meaning to say you counted on my trying to help pull him through after he destroyed valuable property and come pretty nigh being the death of you and your partner?
gpt
Well, you see, he's awful sorry----
human
Yes, most of 'em are after the crime has been committed.
gpt
But I don't b'lieve Jip really meant to do anythin' like that. He'd been blowin' 'bout how he'd serve us out, an' a good many of the fellers told him he didn't dare to so much as raise his hand. That kind-er started him, an' if he goes to jail now the shame of it will allers stick to him.
human
Then you believe he'd work 'round and be a decently square kind of a boy if he got out of this scrape?
gpt
I'm almost certain of it.
human
Well, look here, Amateur, it ain't for a fireman to go here and there, trying to defend them as have started a blaze; but I wouldn't wonder if we could find some lawyer to take charge of his case. Perhaps we can get him off on the same plea you're using now--that it would serve to make a criminal of him, rather than work the proper kind of reformation. There'll be plenty of time, lad, because you and your partner are bound to be called on as witnesses even on the preliminary examination, so until the officers find you two nothing can be done, for I don't reckon your imitation detective has any knowledge of what happened.
gpt
He's heard the rest of the fellers talk 'bout it.
human
That don't cut any figger; all he can testify to is what he's seen himself, or something the prisoner may have told him. I'll turn this thing over in my mind, and call on Jerry Walters and Ben Dunton for their advice. When you come 'round to-morrow night we'll be able to say what can be done. Now tell me everything you did to-day; that's of more interest to us of Ninety-four's company than the arrest of the firebug.