The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-07-01
Select StOrp.
Eom he San Fraaeiseo Rosf.
A DEBT OF HONOR.

BY DERRICK DoDD--tfitANA 'AoSA"Ah.y
PART Ia cRUNB TO MOUSE
II was the wet forenoon Of January
day, just two years ago, when the usual
gang Of idlers that hang about the ferry
wharves were delighted at having the mo-
notony Of gazing ous from under the drip
ping awning broken by the singular move
ments Of couple Of policemen One OF
these weIl-fed guardians Of the peace was
on his knees beside a hole broken in the
flooring of a neighboring dock, and engag-
ed IN angrily issuing evidently disregarded
commands to some fugitive concealed be-
meath. while has fellow, with equal profan-
ity and perspiration. endeavored 10 pry mp
q loose board further along. for the pur-
pose Of also gaining access to the offender.
whats up? What's the matter
asked the bystanders, crowding up, while
the passengers coming of of the just
landed ferry-boat stopped TO look on
The policeman, however, ignored the IN
.auiries leveled at thea, but when bust
6ng citizen, who was evidently a merchant
aud taxpayer, paused and said hrusque-
.Iy;-aH Hello, there, Mike What are you
after Pat p one Of the blue and brass la-
minaries looked up and growled
Nothing bat wharf rat. EUR.
s.Then why dOa't you send in a dog If
it's . rat p returned the merchant inno-
gently. But the contelnptuoas criticism
Of his Ignorance about to be made BY the
officer was interrupted just then BY the
cries of the rodent in question, which aP-
peared il the s-mentioned aperture Ia
consequence Of vigorous clubbing admin
istered by one Of the policemen, who had
finally succeeded in removing the plank.
The captive thus secured was an indeserib-
ably dinainntive and preposterously dirty
urellia, with the blackesf eyes and reddest
head imSeinablc. As the policeman drag
eed him isao the Daylight by his fhread-
bare collar and perched him. trembling and
whimpering on , bsle near at hand, shout
of apI reciative gratiieetion went up from
the hystanders. Nothing tickles the risa-
hIes Of our ordinary street crowd % much
as a little genuine pain and suffering ex-
hibited gratis
Looking at the spectacle in this popular
and kindly fashion, there was indeed much
cause for merriment Nothing sadder or
more pitif0l could be imagined than that
little hrnger-pinched, bare-footed, ragged
figure, white with despair AZ the consan-
nation Of the one terrible dread of its own
er's brief life--he had been took up.
whats he done ? asked the seyere-look-
ing man earerlv. Not been fighting dogs,
Ell p
The bye is't. responded one Of the
blue-coated magRates, ieisurely putting up
his club. A0hl he's only wan 'eT thin
wharf rats, As lives beneath the wharf here
an stales from the projoose schooners
o'night. We be running thin all in for
vaerancy, an ondacent exposure, By raison
ov thin going IN swimnlin' every foiye
minutes widout their clothes. It's after
this divil we've been for wake or more.
It's no use thryin' ter catchwan o thin
fellows in the wather They sehwim loike
fish, begorra thin does. and they We more
holes to schlip inter than the eels them
selves. 80 they have
Ahn said the severe-looking man, who
was an oficer of 5. p. G. A.; Il was in
hopes il was a case for me. and he walked
off much disappointed.
The wharf rat ceased his low, terrified
sniyeling long enough to put in plea that
he was not a yagrant, but sold papers; that
he only slept underneath the wharf because
It didn't cost anything; that he didn't know
il was any harm 20 go in swimming, and
other excuses common 70 great criminals.
One of the officers strolied off to look up
an express wagon to convey their captive
to headquarters. This be did partly be-
cause it would involve los q dignity to
convey 20 insignificant prisoner through
the streets and partly because he had
friend in the express Office who was always
good for the '.divyyr on these little Jobs.
The other guardian majestically reposed
after his exertions on hawser post, after
impressing upon the ckild that an immedi-
ate cessation Of It's blubbering would obvi-
ate the necessity Of having his head caved
In with club.
Meanwhile several other passers to and
from the ferry loitered to gaze at the strong
hand of the law in full operation and ask
the prisoners ofFense. One Of these was
sleek and benevolent minister of an up
town church, but as he was hurrying home
to write pathetic sermon on the text of
the good Samaritan, he had no time TO
waste upon latter-day Phillistines, and so
he passed on BY the other side.
Another was a great mining capitalist,
but it always made him angry to look at
people that were poor, and dirty and vul-
gar He had been poor and dirty and
vulgar himself once, and now he regarded
all such attributes as direct personal reaec-
tions, 50 to speak. So he stepped frOwn-
ingiy into the fine carriage that was in
waiting and ratified him off,
The next citizen who stopped to look on
was a political economist, who spoke three
times a week on ameliorating the condition
Of the working masses His soul sickened
at the injustice of society, he used to say,
and, pausing long enough to make shirt
cuff note on tie fearful increase of crime
among children, he to went off shaking his
head
An then another millionaire passed by--
one Of those constantly haunted by the
fear Of being themselves left in poverty and
want some day despite their present wealth.
And SO this one clutched his purse tighter