The evening times., 1895-12-18
HEARD BY THE DESK SERGEANT.

worn shoes; with cold hands and ears, ana
sorrowful eyes peering from hungry faces
that ;httle George Washington and Dick
Lee colored children of seven and eight
years of age, respectively, entered police
station No. 4 one snowy night and stretching
up their arms that they might reach the
brass railing that separates the desk ser
geaut from the mob. said, in timid tones:
"Please Mister Policeman, can we sleep
here tonigbt?"'
Desk Sergeant Voss Lieutenant Vernon,
Sergeant i,aiy and Policeman Gohi were
piaying peanuckle in the squad room and
did not remark the incident at the time OF
its occurrence, but Acting Desk Sergeant
Rink had seen the green leather doors Oh
the station open and now leaned his great,
brawny Iurni over the rail- to look down
and discover if he could see what the matter
was and whence came that sobbing, choking
speech: please, Mister, eau We sleep
here tonight?"
We'll. you bet you can," said Rink, over
looking the grammar OF the application and
with such hospitable yigor in ms voice that
the ticking oil the clock was husked, and the
snortlng OF al Vernon's steed could not be
heard.
Some of the prisoners in "Oid Cherry"
ciunked ticir Cell doors and Mr.. Voss was
saying, Twenty, thirty, sixty" Lieut..
Vernon stated Diamonds is trumps,"
Sergt. DAILY said, II will raid that pot"
and Mr.. Mohl SAID he thought he ''Schmelt
schmoke." During all this police coniIno-
tion the little boys had sought shelter be-
hind the doors of the ward-room, where on
one side they could hear the traniping OF
the booted officer and the jingle and ciat-
ter OF their accoutremcnts as they buckled
on their belts. and on the other side they
could hear the row that the inmates OF the
several cells Were ina nakiig-aiwa s making
When the station had quieted down they
emerged from their hiding place and re-
sunled their interview with Rink.
"where do you live, said Rink" as
call from Blooufield came in and the wagon
rolled away.
1--WE don't live nowhere, ain't got no
place to live" said George Washington,
who was spokesman of the duo and whose
black face had big tear stains under the
eyes and around the nose, Notwithstanding
that every few seconds he passed his coat
sleeve over his face and nopped those tears
away.
where's your mammy?" said Rink, be-
coming somewhat affected despite the
police heart that it is claimed still beats
under his brass and blue.
I'VE amt got no nanny, and we amt
had nothing to cat. Nanny did live down
In Willow Tree, but 1 don't know where
she's gone. and Dick Lee this here boy.
never had no nanny"
By this time the crowd in the back room
had come cut to see the strange case"
anil Mr. Voss said:
'Have you boys had supper"
mo. sir, and no breakfast neither
Mohl took Off his hat and passed 1t
around, everybody in the gang chipping
ip and in q few minutes one OF the nearby
lunch houses was turned inside out in
providing the boy tramps with supper
that would have made glad any of the
curlea dariirgs who bask in the sunshine
of dollars and ride in nurse girl laps.
Every steepye, every chimney, everyhouse-
top was crowned with coronet OF sky
born crystals and the city slept under
Covcrlid as white as anangers Wig. Every
sound of the night was muffled by the snow.
All was still at station No 6, and the last
man on duty had turned in his l O'Clock
call.
Desk sergt. Garner loiled back in mis-
easy chair, dreaming of that celestial
realm where station clerks will receive
their Just reward "Old Tab. the station
mouser, was snuggled near the stove.
The storm door of the station parted
slightly, grated on its hinges, and the rush
of cold air reused the dosing man. He
yawned rubbed his eyes, looked, lowered
his feet from the table, and looking again,
saw young woman leaning on the raii.
She was hatless. her hands were clasped
over the brass Hing, her pretty head was
bowed in grief upon her small ungoved
hands, and over all, n tang.ed mass of
blonde hair fell in picturesque confusion.
A thin shawl. which she had worn, had
fallen to the floor She did not speak to the
stern old desk sergeant, bit from under that
fluffy treasure of tangled hair, sob, fol-
lowed BIZ j sigh, welled forth. and penitent
tears tricEled 10 the planking. We'll,
what is it?' commanded the officer in the
mechanical tones with which station Off
GERS, aCce stoned to piteous sights, are wont
70 ask these questions.
The bowed head raised slowly and faced
the man behind the desk
There. there, brace up, girl, brace up
ard sing oGt what's wrong" said Garner,
sorlening apd beginning to feel that the
case in front of him was not of the usual
character. With this invitation. the girl
did brace up. ami between her sobs, which
she tried valiantly to stifle. she told this
story:
II am ashamed, to acknowledge what I
have 80 tell. butSif am ever again TO
be honest. l might just as well begin
right here. / want to redeem myself as
much rs woman. fallen from the state
of Innocence. can. I want transportation
to my home. w1ere sRall tel the story
OF my troubles and my sins into n mothers
ear. and where l shall pray for the for
givcress or those I've harmed. Please
help me-"
'a"Eirl said this in way that made the
old sergeant bend forward to catch it.
When the narrative was finished Garner
did not say one word. He drew his hand
acros; his eye, walked over to tie key
rack. took the key to the witness-room,
lead the way and the girl followed. Not a