th of every one who saw him.

"He thinks reg'lar detectives go snoopin' 'round in that style," Bill
said in a whisper to Seth, "an' jest as long as he keeps up such a fool
idea he'll never 'mount to anythin'. I ain't sayin' but what he might
turn out to be quite a feller if he would only act decent."

Sam appeared to think it necessary that he remain by himself during the
short voyage, and when the boat arrived at the Jersey City slip refused
to go on shore until after having satisfied himself, in his own
grotesque fashion, that there were no enemies in the vicinity.

He entered the depot much in the same manner, and peered into the car
fully five minutes before venturing to take a seat, after which he said
in a tone of satisfaction to his companions:

"I reckon I've done this thing pretty nigh right so far, an' if I don't
bring Jip Collins back with me it'll be 'cause some of them Philadelphy
people spoil my game."

"Are you reckonin' on stayin' there till you catch him?" Bill asked with
a wink at Seth, and Master Barney replied confidently:

"I can put my hands on him within an hour; but it may be we'll stay
overnight so's I can bring him into town in the mornin'."

"How are you countin' on gettin' your ticket to come back?" Seth asked.

"Oh, I've got that figgered out. You see, jest as soon as I've nabbed
Jip I'll go to police headquarters an' tell 'em who he is, an' of course
they'll see that I get back."

Bill had considerable difficulty in keeping his face straight during
this portion of the conversation, and, fearing lest he might
inadvertently betray the secret, made short work of the leave-taking.

[Illustration: SAM GOING TO PHILADELPHIA. _Page_ 146.]

Sam was in the car with the ticket in his hand, and it was hardly
probable he would do other than proceed to his destination as had
been agreed upon, therefore Bill said in an exceedingly friendly tone:

"Well, we'd better be goin', old man. I'll see you when you get back."

Until this moment Seth had not realized that by supplying Master Barney
with the means of transportation to Philadelphia, they were virtually
exiling him from his home, and his heart misgave him as such phase of
the case suddenly presented itself.

"Look here, Sam, s'posen it turns out that you don't find Jip, how'll
you get home?" he asked, and there was in his mind the thought that he
would divide his scanty store of money with the alleged detective; but
the latter soon made