Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-26
A DEBT OF HONOR.
PART I.
PARI /.
A CRUNIB TO A MOUSE.

1t 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
monotony of gazing out from under the
dripping awnings broken by the singular
movements of a couple of policemen.
One of these well-fed guardians of the
peace was on his knees beside hole
broken through the flooring of a neigh
boring dock, and engaged in angrily
issuing evidently disregarded commands
to some fugitive concealed beneath,
while his fellow, with equal profanity
and perspiration, endeavored to pry up
a loose board further along, for the
purpose of also gaining access to the
offender.
"What's up? What's the matter %
asked the bystanders, crowding up, while
the passengers coming off the just-landed
ferry-boat stopped to look on.
The policemen, however, ignored the
inquiries leveled at them with all the
haughtiness peculiar to the municipal
official of the period. But when
a bustling citizen, who was evidently a
merchant and taxpayer, paused and said
brusquely, "Hello, there, Mike! What
are you after, Pat?" one of the blue.
and-brass luminaries looked up and
!growled:
"Nothing but wharf-rat, zur."
..Then why didn't you send in dog
If it's rat?'' returned the merchant,
innocently. But the contemptuous
criticism of his ignorance about to be
made by the officer was interrupted just
then by the cries of the rodent in ques-
ton, which appeared at the tirst-men-
toned aperture in consequence of Wig.
~orous clubbing administered by one OF
the policemen, who had finally succeeded
in removing the plank. The captive
thus secured was an indescribably di.
minutive and preposterously dirty
urchin, with the blacklist eyes and
leddest head imaginable. As the police.
man dragged him into the daylight by
his threadbare collar, and perched him,
trembling and whimpering, of bale
near at hand, shout of appreciative
qualification went up from the bystand-
ers. Nothing tickles the risibles of your
ordinary street crowd SO much as little
genuine pain and suffering exhibited
gratis.
Looking at the spectacle in this popu-
lar and kindly fashion, there was indeed
much cause for merriment. Nothing
sadder or more pitiful could be mag.
med than that little hunger-pinched,
15are-footed, ragged figure, with its I'm,
timely aged and withered face, white with
despair at the consummation of the one
terrible dread of its owners brief life
he had been 'stOOk up"
"What's he done ?" asked a severe
looking man, eagerly. "Not been fight
ing dogs, ell ?"
The bye, is t, responded one of the
blue, coated magnates, leisurely putting
up his club. ooh, he's only wan O. thin
wharf rats that lives benath the wharves
here, and atales from the projoose
schooners o'nights." We be runnin
thin all in now for vrgrancy and onda
cent exposure, by raison ov thin goin
in schwimin, very foive minutes widout
Their clothes. It's afther this divil we've
been for wake or more. It's no ust
ttryin' 10 catch wan O. thin felleys il
The waiter hey schwim loike fish
begorra, thu Toes. and they've more
holes ter sc.i.' inter than the cells them
selves, SO they nave"
"Ah!' SAID the severe-looking man
who was ~ officer of the S. P. C.'s,
was in hopes 1t was case for me-" ant
he walked of much disappointed.
The wharf rat ceased his low terrified
-sniveling long enough to put in pie.
that he Was not a vagrant, but sold pa
pers; that h. only slept underneath tn,
wharf because it didn't cost anything
That he didn't Know it was any harm to
go in swimming. and other excuses com
1non to great criminals.
One OF the officers strolled off to lool
up an express wagon to convey thei1
captive 80 headquarters. This he die
partly because he would involve a loss O
dignity to convey so insignificant pris
oner through the streets, and partly be
cause he had friend IN the express of
fee who was always good for ''divvy
on these little jobs. The other guard
an majestically reposed after his exer
tons on a hawser post, after impressint
upon the child that an immediate cessa
ton of his blubbering wonld obviat
the necessity of having his head cavet
In by club.
Meanwhile several other passenger
IN and frCy,, al,o forrx, 1o;{oroJ r. rvovo q