Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-12-10
POLICEMAN NO. 1,414.
His Narrow Escape and Final
Good Fortune.

Policeman Kyle. No. 1,414, assigned
for duty at the odorous lumber-docks,
had been forced to take his own mind
into custody, so to speak, and to arrest
it on suspicion. 1t had shown tend
ency to resist the authority of Officer
Kyle, and he had determined to subdue
it. In spite Of repeated warnings and
admonitions it constantly associated it.
self with forbidden company. Dainty
Mamie Trussel, who had given her
name to as trim a lumber vessel as
ever sailed the lakes, was the tempter
of Officer Kyte's hitherto law-abiding
mind. For many years Officer No,
1,414 had been counted the most zeal
Gus of policemen. He appeared to have
no thought beyond his duty. He went
his rounds with enthusiasm. The most
pugnacious lumber-shover and the most
whisky-loving sailor had a wholesome
awe of him. They referred their dis
putes to him and knew that, in spite of
his severity, they would be settled with
unerring judgment. He was more
ready with reprimand than war
rant, but he never broke his word, and
a threat once made was sure to be exc
cuted. The Justices complained that
he usurped their prerogative, which
was true, for he settled many quarrel
offhand upon the spot without troub-
ling lawyer or Justice. If he had diff
Guilty with any of the men who loafed,
worked, or fought, according to the
,ln no 4 ho
his club and went in to fight it out man
to man with the worst of them. But
though he gave hard blows and dealt
severe penalties, he was popular alike
among workmen and employers, and
whenever he had been transferred to
another beat, a petition had been for
warded to the Superintendent request
ing that Officer No. 1,414 might be re-
instated in his work on the docks.
HaIf-a-doZen times he had saved some
drunken sailor whose uncertain equi-
librium had given him bath, which,
out for the assistance of Officer Kyle,
would have been fatal.
Ii had been his luck-long before his
mind had taken to showing hayward
tendencies-to save the life of Captain
James Trussel one night when the lat
ter. ..half seas over" was attempting
to board his vessel. Two years later
that unfortunate mariner, being in a
similar condition, fell overheard in
thirty fathoms of water two hundred
miles from officer Kyte's beat. He
left his widow three substantial frame
dwelling houses, whose rental, together
with the profits from her share of the
ship, afforded her a very comfortable
living Officer Kyle, having an interest
in the widowed and orphaned, was
often at the house of the ''relict of the
late Captain James Richard Trussel."
as that lady proudly styled herself. He
listened with patience to her endless
"reminiscences, and unf1inchingly eX-
pressed establishment every time she
tod him how she was about to embark
npon the Lady Elgi the last time that
ill-fated boat left the shore, and how
she had been prevented by the merest
accidcnt-the full details of which were
invariably given.
The men about the dock began to
notice a decided change in the personal
appearance of this good-natured guard
ian of the law. His generous boots
shone with overwhelming polish. his
white cotton gloves were changed
oftener than before, and his good-nat-
ured face was clean-shaven every
morning. This unusual elegance grew
to assume the proportion of a joke to
his free-and-easy critics at the lumber
market They would have found it
greater joke yet could they have seen
him off duty, with his star inside of his
coat and its place usurped by pink
rose. his uniform brushed till j. was
guiltless OF spot or vagrant thread, and
his club laid aside for frivolous-look-
ing rattan cane. He picked his way
with elaborate ightness up the front
steps of Mrs. Trussers dwelling. He
asked for-well, he asked for Mrs.
Trussel. She was in. He hung his
helmet in the hall, reluctantly balanced
his. cane in the corner, and resigned his
empty hands to their fate, which was
very awkward one. The widow re-
ceived him with profuse politeness.
Well. now, Mr.. Kyte?" she protest
ed, smiling, 81 haven't seen you for
those days and days" Tense was a
point upon which Mrs. Trussel was apt
to be confused The visitors eyes were