Part 31 (1/2)
”Dan Roberts said you carried a lawyer down to see poor Jip, Mr.
Davis,” the amateur began, and instantly the look of pleasurable excitement faded from 'Lish Davis's face.
”So I did, Amateur, so I did. Jerry and I allowed we might do that much for the kid, even though he ain't deserving of any man's attention.”
”Will he get out of the sc.r.a.pe?”
”Not before having a trial, Amateur, and then all must depend on the judge. It seems he owned up to the whole business when they first nabbed him, and the only thing he can do now is to plead guilty. The evidence that can be given by the kids from Brooklyn will be enough to convict him, even if he finds somebody to help him make a fight, which wouldn't be good sense.”
”Then there's nothin' for the poor fellow but to go up the river?” and Seth's voice was tremulous with sorrow.
”That ain't altogether certain, lad. The lawyer thinks, and Jerry and I have the same idee, that if he owns up to the whole thing like a little man, it may be possible to have sentence suspended during good behavior.”
”What do you mean by that, Mr. Davis?” Seth asked in perplexity.
”Why, it's jest like this. When he's put on trial let him tell the truth. We of Ninety-four can testify that it was he who sent in the alarm, showing he was sorry as soon as the deed had been done. Then will come the time for the lawyer to get in his fine work. He'll do a lot of chinning 'bout the boy's being young, and that it'll most likely make a criminal of him to be sent up. In some such way as that the judge may be brought to believe that it'll be the wisest course to suspend sentence--that is to say, hold the conviction over him, but at the same time letting him go free. If he behaves himself, well and good; if not, he's brought before the court and sentenced on this same charge at some future time.”
”Are you certain that can be done?” Seth asked, growing more hopeful.
”No, Amateur, we ain't certain; but the chances are it can be fixed that way, and we'll do our best at it, if for no other reason than to show how good we're feeling because you're doing us so much credit up at headquarters.”
Seth had hoped that the members of Ninety-four's company would be able to effect the firebug's release, and it was a great disappointment to thus learn that nothing could be done save through the clemency of the judge; but, as he would have kept silent had it been himself who was in danger, he refrained from giving words to his sorrow.
Understanding what was in his mind, 'Lish Davis added in a kindly tone:
”Don't take it to heart, Amateur, for we'll do all that is possible, and I'm allowing it'll all come out straight in the end. It wouldn't be well if he pulled through too easy.”
”If only he don't have to go to jail for two or three years!” Seth cried, and then fearing he might say that which would sound like a complaint, he took his leave after promising to report next evening.
”Well, I begun to think you was goin' to stop there all night,” Master Roberts cried irritably when his partner appeared. ”Seemed like you was havin' a mighty good time along at the first of it.”
”That was when I was tellin' how I'd been gettin' on up at headquarters.
Say, Jip will have to be tried in court!”
”What? Can't Ninety-four's men stop it?” Dan cried in surprise, for he had believed the firemen could do whatsoever they would, and Seth repeated all that 'Lish Davis had said, adding in conclusion:
”You'd better try to see him again, an' tell the poor fellow how things stand.”
”He'll take it mighty hard.”
”I'm 'fraid so; but there's nothin' else that can be done. Is Bill over to the room?”
”He allowed he'd have to stop down-town quite a spell to-night, an' I agreed to see him there after I'd met you. Why not take a spin as far as the post-office?”
Seth was not opposed to a stroll through the city, even though wearied by his labors of the day.
His heart was so sore because it would be impossible for him to do anything in Jip's behalf that he had no inclination to spend the time in his lodgings, where he could do nothing save dwell upon the painful situation of the boy who had tried to injure him.
After a short time Dan succeeded in partially banis.h.i.+ng his partner's sorrowful thoughts by speaking of his own plans regarding the prospective store on Third Avenue, and broached the subject by paying to Seth his share of the room-rent.