Part 14 (1/2)
”I'm lookin' for more'n one in this town, an' counted on finis.h.i.+n' up two or three little jobs in the detective line before I lighted out to nab Jip Collins.”
”Do you know where he is?” and Seth appeared disturbed.
”What kind of a detective do you allow I am if I don't know that? I've got it all figgered out, an' most likely I'll take a spin over to Philadelphy to-night. If I do, you'll see him in court to-morrow mornin'.”
”Oh, has he gone over there?” Dan asked with a great show of interest, pursing his mouth into shape for whistling to prevent an outburst of laughter.
”That's about the size of it; but he needn't think he can run away from me.”
”Look here, Sam,” and now Seth spoke in a serious tone; ”Jip didn't try to hurt anybody but Dan an' me, an' we don't want you to bother him.
We're willin' to give him a fair show, 'cause he'll take a big turn after this.”
”I can't help what you want,” the detective replied obstinately. ”When I know that a feller has been burnin' up houses it's my business to run him in, an' I'm goin' to do it.”
”What is it to you, so long as we're satisfied?” Dan asked sharply.
”See here, ain't I a detective?”
”I ain't so certain of that,” Master Roberts cried promptly.
”I guess other people know it if you don't, 'cause I've had more'n one case in this town. Now, so long as that is my business I'm bound to take up anythin' I hear about, an'----”
”Other detectives don't do that; they wait till the chief sends 'em out, or somebody hires 'em.”
Dan's reply staggered Sam for an instant; but he soon bethought himself of what seemed to be the proper answer, and replied:
”That would be all right if I was on the force; but so long as I ain't it stands me in hand to work my way along, same's Seth's tryin' to do in the Fire Department. If I can catch Jip Collins and send him up the river, it'll be a big feather in my cap.”
”Would you be willin' to send a feller to jail so's you might get ahead in the business?” Seth asked reproachfully.
”Course I would.”
”Ain't there anythin' we can do to stop you from tryin' to run Jip down?”
”You might talk till you was black in the face, an' then I wouldn't let up.”
Understanding that it was useless to hold any further converse with this obstinate detective in the hope of turning him from his purpose, Seth motioned to Dan, and set off down-town without a word to Sam by way of adieu.
”I'll be in Philadelphy to-night, an' to-morrow mornin' Jip Collins will be in the lock-up!” Master Barney shouted vindictively, and, glancing back, Dan saw him approaching the alley once more with cautious steps, as if it were beneath his dignity as an officer of the law to move in any other fas.h.i.+on.
”It'll be all right if he goes to Philadelphy,” Dan said sagely; ”but I'm mightily afraid he won't get money enough to buy a ticket on the cars.”
”I don't believe he ever thought of goin' there till we talked with him, an' then only said it to let us believe he knew where Jip was. Sam ain't any kind of a detective; but he can make a lot of trouble for Jip.”
Seth was disturbed in mind because of the possibilities that Master Barney would work mischief for Jip Collins, and Dan shared in such forebodings, although in a much less degree.
The two were walking on in silence, each trying to devise some plan whereby it would be possible to divert the amateur detective from his purpose, when they suddenly came face to face with Bill Dean.
”h.e.l.lo, where are you fellers goin'?”