Seth's
honor which aroused, if it did not alarm, the neighborhood, and brought
nearly every policeman in the vicinity to the scene of the parting.

Dan and his partners escaped to their room before the blue-coated
guardians of the city's peace arrived, and from their window watched the
small throng as it scattered in every direction to avoid possible
contact with the officers.

"It's what I call a howlin' success," Master Roberts said in a tone of
satisfaction as he turned from the window after the last of his friends
had disappeared. "It was a big mistake not to have had a lot of
newspaper fellers there so's the whole thing would be in the mornin'
editions."

"We can fix that straight enough," Bill replied carelessly, as if
familiar with such methods. "I know a feller what helps clean up the
_Herald_ office where all the stuff is wrote out, and I'll get him to
print a slat about the blow-out."

This appeared to satisfy Master Roberts that his mistake could readily
be rectified, and he gave himself wholly up to a review of the late
proceedings until Seth suggested that they retire.

"I had a hard day's work, an' it'll be jest as bad, if not worse,
to-morrow, so I've got to turn in."

"It's too bad to wind up so soon," Dan suggested with a sigh; but Bill
finally settled the matter by saying:

"If you an' I ever expect to have that Third-Avenoo store we've got to
hump ourselves all the time, an' settin' up nights ain't the way to do
it."

Two minutes later Dan was in bed, and as Seth extinguished the gas the
former raised himself on his elbow to say:

"We'll have the store jest 'bout the time you get into the Department,
old man; but you can bet the shop will be shut up when 'Lish Davis has
his blow-out."

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE EXHIBITION DRILL.

Seth Bartlett ceased to be an "amateur fireman" when he was admitted to
the probationary class, even though he had not received an appointment,
and, therefore this narrative was concluded, or should have been, with
an account of the "blow-out" designed and arranged by Dan Roberts.

In case some of the readers care to know how Ninety-four's kid
prospered, however, a brief account of his doings up to the day when he
was honored even above any member of his own particular company, shall
be given.

First, however, let it be said that Dan Roberts and Bill Dean did not
abandon the idea of going to school.

On the night after the very pleasing entertainment o