The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1895-10-24

Within the year three things had hap
pened at Squawhollow that had never
happened there before. 1t had, so to
speak, been born anew. That is, it had
been incorporated by legislative act. II
had erected new court house and Jail.
Lastly, it was head over heels in debt
Amid the glories OF its new existence as
q miniature city, the heads Of its officials
ewelled so rapidly that the mayor and
council soon ordered larger and finer hats
silk tiles mostly. As for the city mar
shall, Solomon in all his splendor would
have had to take back seat had his
ancient lines been projected within the
modern influence of Squawhollow's mu-
nicipal radiance. At least that is about
the way Pete Turner felt as he swung his
baton and aired his blue regimentals be-
fore an admiring public.
But the new born city, like the expir-
ing village, remained perversely peace
able. For a month or more the brand
new steel cage in the brand new jail had
been shown by Pete to approbative visit
ors, but 1t was always empty. This grew
monotonous. People at last limited strange
things. Some grew sarcastic. A few
wanted to know what was the use OF
such costly structure Anyhow? Pete
was in despair. Might they not at last
begin to question the utility of his own
high Office?
Such a contingency was too dreadful to
be thought OF long at time. Moreover
the emoluments of his office depended
largely upon fees. Fees would not mater
ialize without arrests and prosecutions,
and as vet Marshal Turner had been able
to swing his baton only through the
empty air. There were no tramp shoe
soles to rap, no DRINKS to drag into the
lockup--not even stray dog to shoot
betimes.
eff somebody don't do something
pretty quick" he growIed to the mayor
one evening as they watched down
freight" slow up in passing the station,
'blame me If don't arrest myself"
But at that very moment fate was pre-
pairing to be more kind than hitherto. A
box car door was stealthily opened, and a
dingy bundle OF humanity dropped itself
almost at the city marshal's feet.
The train passed on. The new arrival
looked battered, tattered. frowsy and red
nosed. Filth enyeloped him like a gar
ment; he reeled as he walked, while his
breath suggested rum, garbage and gen.
eral decomposition.
Stealing rides, eh ?" said Pete as he
collared the tramp. "Well, you've sorter
lit into the wrong town."
Then he walked him off to the brand
new Jail.
In the morning the mayor. wearing the
first blithe smile which his official c1un'
tenanee had acquired in week, fined
Bunkdown Bob s25 for vagrancy, with
the alternative OF six months in the work
house.
'Inasmuch," continued his honor
blandly, las Squawhollow has not COM
pleted her workhouse, the prisoner, il
unable to pay bis fine, will be incarcerat-
ed in the county Jail for the same period. "
This allusion to the fiction OF Squaw.
hollow's probable workhouse made some
of the skeptics smile, but it sounded good
So Pete waltzed his prisoner back and
ushered him into the brand new cage a.
gayly as if he were accompanying al
angel to St. Peters gate.
"Tell you what. boys" remarked hi
that same night to group Of politica
chums, "Jailer Jones lowed last weel
that he'd got a sinscure. Nothing to d.
but pocket his pay every month. Reckon
I've changed the tune. That vagran
can't pay nickle. He'll serve his tint
and Jones wife will have to cook his Wit
ties. Makes me feel good all over.
squawhollow's no place for tramps, nov
we've got the new cage up"
As the days rolled by Bunkdown Boil
worried not, but made himself comfort
able. Three meals day, warm bed 4
sleep in, no work to do and hard win
ter coming on, presented a combination
of fortunes favors that was quite as allur
ing as they had been hitherto inaceess
ible.
When his first month OF official servic
as boarder of the city's prisoner was up
Jailer Jones walker round to the cit,
treasurer's Office and presented his &C
count. The treasurer looked over tn,
items.
"H-m-m-ml Flour, cornmeal, sugar
cofee--what's this, rye! hope vol
don't mean whisky, Mr.. Jones. whisk.
for prisoner? Why, that is scandal
GUS"
THE fellow vas on the verge Of tn
jims when he came. Saw snakes tn
first night. Had to give him toddy o
two to taper off on. That's all"
81 suppose it will be all right. Blu
you will have to wait on us little. Cit
government is rather expensive whe
you first start in, with such burg as thi,
We need more crime and general rasea
ity to bring in the fines and fees. How
ever. we'll liquidste later on, hope
Take good care of your prisoner, Jones
Squawhollow is going to get on bool
shortly, and We want even the prisoner
to look peart and sassy"