The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1898-05-26
A TEMPORARY
POLICEMAN.
TIME clock in a neighborine

TIME clock in a neighboring
church had struck but a few
minutes before. A policeman
was leaning ove the fence on the river
side of Basset street, staring out into
the darkness. He heard a door slam be-
hind him, and, turning around, saw a
boy coming across the street.
SIS that you, Peter" the policeman
inquired. What are you doing out
doors at this time Of night"
That screaming out on the river
woke me up" said Peter; $50 1 slung
on my clothes and come out to see what
was goin' On. What do you suppose is
the matter, Mr.. Fitzgerald"
Il don't KNOW" said the officer. cit
sounded like a drowning"
Here he was interrupted by a series
of cries far out On the river. He and
the boy looked at each other.
Either someone's drowning Dr. some
ones making believe drown" said Fitz-
gerald. But L can't stand it any long
er; I'm going out there. There's one
thing certain, though, and that is if that
-feller's only making believe drown he'll
get a good thrashing before ten min
uteS are over"
The policeman took off his coat and
trousers and began to unlace his boots.
"Are you going to swim out there?'
Peter asked.
was going to church in my under
clothes? Now, Peter, 1 want you to do
something for me. You take these
clothes OF mine down to the station
house-No. Il, you know. The tides
running out strong, and if [ swim out
TO the fool over there I'll surely get car
ried as far as the station house before
[ get back to shore-if ever l do get
back. l wish some of you folks kept
a boat. Now, don't drop anything from
the pockets"
The screaming began again. Help,
oh, help could be distinctly heard.
Keep Up, old Teller! I'm coming!r"
called Fitzgerald in a voice that must
have walked every sleeper in the neigh
borhood. He climbed the fence and
stood on the stone wall beyond, looking
down on the river ten feet below. "All
right. I'm comingw! he called out again,
and then he jumped into the water with
a great splash. Peter watched him
plow through the black waves till he
disappeared from sight, and then
turned 10 pick up his burden.
Peter was IA and large for his age,
but when he started on his journey he
found the clothes q very uncomfortab BILE
load. The shoes also were enormously
large and heavy. He stopped and tied
them on outside his own shoes. They
went on very comfortably. He laced
them up and pursued his way much
more easily than before. Suddenly a
thought struck him. Why should he
not put on the coat and trousers as well
as the boots? They would be much
easier TO carry when he had them on,
and what an imposing appearance he
would present! He pulled ON the trou-
sers, turned them up about half a foot
at the bottom. shifted his. %suspenders
from his old trousers to his new ones,
put on the blue coat with its thick paG-
ding and glorious brass buttons, set the
helmet on top of his CAP, strapped on
the black belt with the billy in it. What
Joy to carry a billy, if only for a few
minutes. He pulled it from the bait
and belabored Il few imaginary heads.
He really felt himself to be a police
man, so far as appearance rent. AS TO
courage, size and strength, he felt that
he was hardly up to his position.
As soon as he was started ON his tri-
umphal progress he began to explore
his pockets. In the trousers he found a
dirty handkerchief, a bunch of keys, a
silver dollar, a book of rules and regu-
lations of the police force. He opened
this book under a lamp post and read
one of the rules.
ARTICLE IL. 1t shall be the duty of
every man on the force when asked by
81 stranger or other person the way to
any point in the city to direct such per-
son definitely and politely to the point
desired"
Pm afraid I shouldn't know where
ii was,'' said Peter to himself. 81 don't
believe many strangers or other persons
VIII ask me any questions tonight"