Part 25 (1/2)
”A little too much, I reckon, if it kept you till this hour.”
”I was told that I should knock off at six o'clock, but then I hadn't finished the job I was workin' on, an' so stayed till it was done.”
”How did 'Lish Davis swell 'round?”
”I didn't see anythin' of him after we got inside. He told a man there who I was, an' two or three of 'em hunted 'round to find work for me.”
”Well, how do you like it so far's you've gone?” Jerry Walters asked with a smile, and the remainder of the company gathered around to hear the reply.
”I'd like anythin' that was givin' me a show of gettin' into the Department. Of course it ain't so pleasant in the house doin' all kinds of work as it is out of doors layin' still when you want to, or talkin'
with the fellers.”
”Then you don't feel like backin' out yet?”
”No sir-ee! I'll never feel like that. Look here, I've got to be up at seven o'clock to-morrow mornin', an' why couldn't I s.h.i.+ne your boots to-night?”
”'Cause then is the time for you to rest, Amateur. Don't bother your head about our boots being s.h.i.+ned, for we'll tend to that part of it. I reckon there'll be as much work at headquarters as you can comfortably do, so there's no need to come 'round here except to make a friendly call. Of course we're expectin' to see you pretty nigh every evenin'
so's to have a report of how things are goin'; but so far's your blackin' our boots, that's all nonsense, and if 'Lish Davis was here this minute he'd tell you the same.”
”But I want to do it, an' Mr. Davis promised me I should, 'cause it'll make it seem as if I was tryin' to square up for what all of you have done for me.”
Jerry Walters tried to persuade Seth that he had better not attempt to do so much, particularly at the outset; but it could readily be told from the expression on the boy's face that he was not convinced, and Mr.
Walters refrained from making further efforts in that line.
After answering a few more questions and promising to visit the engine-house on the following evening, Seth, feeling even more tired than he looked, set out for home, and Mr. Walters said to his comrades:
”That kid will work himself down to skin an' bones for the sake of tryin' to show he's thankful for the lift we've given him, and as for making his way into the Department, why, there ain't a ghost of a show that he'll fail.”
And every member of the company appeared to share Jerry's opinion regarding the matter.
When Seth arrived at Mrs. Hanson's he found Bill Dean and Dan making ready to retire, and the latter cried in a joyful tone:
”I'm mighty glad you've come, Seth. Bill an' me was jest figgerin' that they'd fixed it up to have you sleep there nights.”
”There wasn't anythin' said about that, and I reckon they don't want boys 'round,” the amateur fireman replied gloomily, and Bill asked in surprise:
”Why, what's the matter, old man? Ain't gettin' discouraged so soon, are you?”
”I reckon it'll be all right after a spell, an' I wouldn't want any of Ninety-four's men to know that I wasn't jest as chipper as a sparrer; but things are different up there from what they are down here. They jest set you to work an' let you keep hummin' without sayin' a word. I don't believe a single one of 'em has spoke to me since Mr. Davis went away.”
”What you been doin'?”
”Cleanin' windows; an' I tell you they're so big that one of 'em makes considerable work. I hung on to it till I'd finished all on that floor, even though they told me to go home at six o'clock.”
”What are you goin' to do to-morrow?”
”I don't know. Anythin' that comes up, I s'pose.”