The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-02-10
A PoL1CEMAN'S STORY.


pedestrians moved hastily to avoid freez-
ing. 1t was one of those clear and crispy
nights in which the stars seem to shine
with preternatural brilliancy, and to send
forth their beams of light as from minia-
ture globes of FURNISHED fire. A night
upon which those having generous fires
and cozy homes adhered to them, and those
having business abroad transacted it speed
lily as possible, and returned to their domi-
Giles with feelings of more than usual sat
isfaction and contentment.
Tap, tap, tap.
Come in p growled the guardsman,
who was doing lazily by the over-heated
stove. "This is neither a place for com
pliments, nor yet school for polite man.
ners. r, ,,..,.., lid ,.,
But there was no. response to the sum
. mons, lra, giy, tre .ris ..r
m, See who is there, " said the chief,
sharply. ,-9h,4uro ua..i
The door1man, started from his seat,
swung the door wide open, and disclosed
.thinly clad and emaciated woman, with
two little halG-frozen midgits of children
clinging to her skirts, while she carried an
infant in her arms.
"Come in, said the door man, in his surly
way. tBummers for lodgings, 'spose,
and we are about full now"
The woman turned upon him with a re-
proachful look.
"Not bummers for lodgings" she said,
"but a poverty-stricken woman seeking
redress"
There was an air of superiority and
some dignity in the manner in which this
was said that attracted the chiefs atten-
tion, as well as my own and that Of the
other members of the force seated about
the room. The chief addressed her kindly,
and inquired her errand.
"I live," she replied, Gin a tenement
house, in Mott street, near Chatham, my
rent is six dollars monthly have had no
employment for some time past, and am
unable to pay. Neither nor my little
ones have tasted food for the past twenty
four hours. The landlord says must pay
the six-dollars tomorrow, or he will re-
move the doors and windows. If SO we
must perish. My neighbors told me to
apply to the police. Can he do that,
sirP"
Unfortunately, madam, landlords have
that power They can make such altera-
tions in their property as they see fit, and
we have no authority to restrain them.'
The woman almost tainted as the chief
said this, and even the surly door-man was
affected at her evident distress, and he has
tened to provide her chair. There was a
general fumbling around pockets, and pres
emily small change representing few dol
lars was laid on the desk.
While this was going forward, tall,
well-formed and spruce-looking man, per-
haps seven-and-twenty years of age, who
had been seated near the stove, arose and
advanced to the desk. He was one of the
most expert thieves that infested the me-
tropolis. Not low sneak thief, who rob-
bed sewing-girls and workingmen. Oh,no,
he would scorn to do that, but he was a
thief, nevertheless, and was known to us as
Jerry Darrell, a member of the "swell
mob,"a "high toby-man," which terms
being translated signify a thief who selects
his victim from among the wealthy classes,
and picks the pockets of those he thinks
can afford to lose. He would despise a
thief who would rob the laboring classes,
but considers the higher ones his legiti-
mate prey. In fact, he prides himself on
being the aristocracy of thiefdom. This
man was one of the cleyerest of his class.
He had been found on Broadway that after.
noon, while some large procession was in
motion, and had been arrested on suspic.
ion and was detained until morning. He
gazed on the woman thoughtfully for a
moment and turning to the chief said re,
spectfully:
"Will be out of here in the morning 2''
eyes and it is to be hoped that you
may so conduct yourself as not to be
brought in again very soon.'
Darrell glanced contemptuously at the
loose change lying ON the desk.
"That is not enough" he said to the
woman.
"What hour is your landlord to call"
"Nine o'clock"
"wm be be out then, sirg'-this tc
the chief
"Yss you can go at six o'clock roll
call"
"Thank you. Now, my good woman
you take this money living here. and gel