"You can read, can't you?"
"Yes, if the words ain't too long."
"And write?"
"Well, I wouldn't like to say I really could, 'cause it's just puttin' down letters same as they're printed."
"Didn't you ever go to school, Amateur?"
"No, sir."
"Why not?"
"'Cause I've allers had to hustle for my livin,' an' it never seemed as though I had the time; but now since you've begun to talk I know I might have done it evenings, instead of hangin' 'round with the fellers, or sleepin'. If I'd known folks had to go to school before they could be firemen, I'd been studyin' these last two years."
"I believe you, my boy, and if you had put into the work at books anywhere near as hard as you have on what you call 'picking up points,' you'd have been pretty well along by this time. Howsomever, we can remedy that, though we can't call back lost time. Jerry Walters and I'll figger up what's to be done, and explain further as soon as we've settled matters, 'cause you see, Amateur, you belong to Ninety-four, an' we ain't of the mind to have you fail in what you set out after."
"Shall I have any chance to see you?"