n you'll talk different."

"I won't if I live to be twice as gray-headed as ever Methuselah was,
for it's a downright shame to let him go with money in his pockets after
tryin' to kill us."

"He was hungry."

"It would do him solid good to starve to death."

"He turned in the alarm, an' if he hadn't done that we'd been burned to
death."

"I notice he didn't do it till the fire got a mighty good start, an'
then I reckon it was only 'cause he grew scared. If you're so 'fraid of
gettin' your name up for fightin', you might er stood still and let me
have a whack at him. I don't see how that could have hindered your
slippin' into the Department. I wouldn't be quite so mad if you hadn't
given him the money."

"He was hungry, Dan, an' I'd do that much for the biggest duffer in the
town."

Dan made no reply to this remark; but with his hands plunged deep in his
pockets walked swiftly away in the direction of City Hall as if his one
desire was to be free from his partner.

Seth was not minded to let him go while in a temper, but at the same
time he knew full well that it would be useless to attempt to stop him
with words, therefore he followed without further remark, biding his
time until the proper moment should come when the "soft answer" could be
given.

Without looking to the right or the left Dan continued on, much as if
bent on running away from his partner, until ten minutes had elapsed,
when he halted suddenly, wheeled about and addressed Seth with his usual
friendly manner:

"There's Sam Barney over by that alley!"

Glancing in the direction indicated by Dan's outstretched finger, Seth
saw the would-be detective moving cautiously along, looking stealthily
around, and otherwise behaving as if he had suddenly taken leave of his
senses.

"Do you s'pose he's countin' on findin' Jip Collins in that fool way?"

"I reckon he thinks he's doin' the detective act in great shape," Dan
replied with a laugh, all traces of ill-humor having vanished. "He says
a feller in his line of business has to keep his eyes open every minute,
an' sneakin' along in that style is what he 'most likely calls bein'
wide awake."

Sam had arrived at the corner of the alley, and instead of walking
boldly in to make a search, was standing where he might be partially
screened by the building, craning his head forward for a single glance,
and then drawing it back suddenly, repeating these movements about every
thirty seconds with great r