The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-11-27
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
cncy 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
pugnacous 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 o reprimand than war
rant, but he never broke his word, and
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
season, about the docks, he threw away
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, 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.
Half-a-dozen times he had saved some
drunken sailor whose uncertain equi-
librium had given him bath, which,
but for the assistance of Officer Kyle,
would have been fatal.
1t had been his lucll-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 attemp, NO
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 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 unhinchingly ex-
pressed astonishment every time she
told him how she was about to embark
upon the Lady Elgin the last time that
Inflated boat left the shore, and how
she had been prevented by the merest
accident-the full details OF which were
invariably given.
The men about the dock began to
notice n 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 q
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 it was
guiltleSs of spot or vagrant thread, and
his club laid aside for frivolous-look-
ing rattan cane. He picked his way
with elaborate hghtnoss 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 a
very awkward one. The widow re-
ceived him with profuse politeness.
We'll, now, Mr.. KyteP" she protest
ed, smiling, ii 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
on far corner of the room, where a
small head with blonde braids appeared
above q stack of sheet-music which oc-
cupied corner of the piano
Il was just asking Mamie to look
out What Are the Wild Waves Say
ingp" continued the hostess, seeing
that her first remark elected no re-
Spouse. ''Sit right down and listen to
it / always did like to hear that, es-
pecially since poor James was lost.
Come, hurry up, Mamie, and find it. "
Mamie, nodding and smiling away
from behind the music, cried:
lit makes her feel so downhearted.
Mr.. Kyle, and if there's any way Ma
likes to feel it's downhearted"
Still confused. Officer Kyle said
nothing He could not understand how
one could feel downhearted iii the same
house with that face behind the music.
The widow spread out her hands in a
gesture intended to be very elegant
and dashing.
Now, leave it to you, Mr. Kyle, if
I'm not the cheerfulest personn
Poor Officer Kyle grew yet more con-
fused under this ELUSIVE style of con-
versation, but, finding it necessary to
make plunge into the talk, he he
marked boldly that Mrs. Trussel was,
indeed, as cheerful person as he ever
remembered to have met.
Mamie, who had as kind a little