"Mr. Daniel Roberts has, without knowing it, done us of Ninety-four a mighty good turn in bringing the meeting to a close. We'd feel kind-er sore to go before it was all over, and yet we couldn't stay many minutes longer because we only had leave of absence for three hours, and that time is about up. So if you fellows will look pleasant we'll do the same, and on the day Ninety-four's kid gets appointed to the Department I'll set out another spread in this same place for every one that's here to-night."
This generous proposition could not have failed of its purpose, and Lish' Davis was cheered to the echo, he and his two comrades taking their departure during the tumult which ensued.
The entire company escorted Mrs. Hanson's lodgers to their home, and before parting gave three hearty cheers and a series of yells in 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."