Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1893-12-08
sICKlM's REFORM.
BY MCPHERSON FRASER.

The police force is not the place for q
nan with much physical strength and
little moral principle. His impulses will
run riot and some time or other cause
aim to ovcrstep his official authority, and
commit perhaps, murder. That is q rule.
Here is the exception to prove it.
Jim Sickim was a heavily built young
fellow and possessed a vast amount Of
hidden genial blackguardism, and he
lwelt in a section of the city which con-
sained the concentrated essence of all the
;niquity and all the vice in the universe.
One day-it was long before African
reese were deposited in Back Bay Park
one day this fellow Sickim wa slouching
ap an alley in his neighborhood, swing
.ng a big stone jug, which was to be
.harged, along with Mr.. Sickim, at the
aandiest saloon. Suddenly there was a
great h%ullabaloo in the street on which
The alley opened. Sickim scented trouble
aud made tracks, but was Disguised to
discover only a hot headed horse trying
70 turn a back somersauk over on top Of
! little fat man in a buggy. The little
nan was scared to death, and shouted
ind yanked at the reins hard enough to
twist the beasts head of, but it was of
40 use. The horse had evidently made
ap his mind to slay him. Sickim enjoyed
the fun for a while. then set his Jug on
the sidewalk and went over and pulled
,he horse back to earth again. For which
ae expected a quarter, but when the lit
lie man got his breath he simply thanked
Sickim profusely, and asked him to call
,ext day at the Office of the park COM
nissioners.
"Are you one o. them?" asked Sickim.
II am. My name is Smythe," said he
Who had been scared, and drove away.
Sickim picked up his jug and went on
ais way, deep in thought. He was
thinking so hard that only the jug was
allied at the saloon.
Now, it had often been truthfully said
that Sickim liked many things better
;han he liked work, and, moreover, he
was President of the Sons of Rest, a
.ocal society distinguished for its phil
harmonic principles. So he wondered
whether the possible reward for saving
The commissioners life would pay for
extreme trouble Of going after Il. a
happy thought settled the whole Argyll.
nent. 1t occurred to Mr.. Sickim that
the street railroads granted-on the quiet
free passes over the city to all Sons Of
Rest. He decided to go.
Next morning Sickim increased his
apparel by a white shirt aud a collar,
and presented himself before the COM
missioner. Who promptly rewarded
him with q five-dollar bill.
"Now," said Mr.. Smythe, as he looked
his rescuer over, "what is your occupa-
toni"
sickim was dszed, for beyond an oc.
c~asional impulse to get drunk he had but
one view in life-he wanted to be a
policeman. He said: ST am not dom
anything now, cir, but I'm goin' to try
Tor the police some day."
The commissioner put up his eyebrows.
How would you like to try now? We
require q good solid man like you for
Back Bay Park. think I q secure
your appointment at an early date. You
will be given a nice gray suit with brass
buttons, and you will get invigorating,
wholesome employment at good wages.
What do you say?"
"Tm agreed, sir" Sickim answered,
tnsanely, and It was all over. :
The commissioner complimented him.
self for his usefulness to the park depart.
ment, and then pulled the string which
woke up the, other commissioners and
the police department. Whereupon
eickim underwent g mentaland physical
examination" and "quali6ed." The
machine mqyed very smoothly, you zee,
and made the man who was being run