The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1898-07-16
A TEMPORARY
POLICEMAN.

TIME clock in a neighboring
church had struck n but a few
minutes before. A policeman
was leaning over the fence on the river
side of Basset street, staring out into
the darkness. He heard IA door slam be-
hind him, and, turning around, saw a
boy coming across the street.
rs 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; 80 | slung
on my clothes and come out to see what
was goin' on. What do you suppose Is
the matter, Mr.. FitzgeraldY'
Il don't know" said the officer. "lt
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 or some
ones making believe drown" said Fltz-
gerald. But | can't stand it any long
err; 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
rousers and began to unlace his boots.
Are you going TO swim out there?'
Peter asked.
'Of course, / am. Die you think |
was going to church in my under
clothes? Now, Peter. l want you to do
something for me. You take these
clothes of mine down to the station
house-No. IA, you know. The tides
running out strong, and If swim out
to the fool oYer there I'll surely get car
ried as far as the station house before
| get back to shore-if ever do get
back. | 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 comlng!'
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 coming." 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 to pick up his burden.
Peter was IA and large for his age,
but when he started on his journey he
found the clothes a very uncomfortable
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 n
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 foo
at the bottom, shifted his suspenders
from his old trouser to his new ones
put on the blue eoat with Its thick PAD
ding and glorious brass buttons, set til,
helmet on top of his car, strapped oil
the black belt with the billy in II. VIVA
Joy to carry a billy, II only for a few
minutes. He pulled It from the bel
and belabored a few imaginary heads
He really felt himself to be a police
man, so far as appearance went. As t
courage, size and strength, he felt tina
he was hardly up to his position.
AS soon as he was started on his tr
umphal progress he began to explor
his pockets. In the trousers he found
dirty handkerchief, a bunch OF keys,
silver dollar, "A book of rules and regl
lations of the police force. He opene
this book under a lamp post and rea
one of the rules.
ARTICLE II. 1t shall be the duty {
every man on the force when asked h
a stranger or other person the way
u point in the city to direct such pc
son definitely and politely to the poll
desired"
I'm afraid | shouldn't know whel
It was" said Peter to himself. II dor
believe many strangers or other persol
will ask me any questions tonight"
In the breast pocket of the coat the
was a revolver. Peter took 1t Out al
! looked at II, but to tell the truth he w
a little afraid of It, so he put 1t ba'
! again. He felt something heavy in q
tails of his coat, and when, after sor
! difficulty, he had found his coat t;
; pockets. he discovered In one of them
pair of handouts. With a billy. the
yolver. the book Of rules and the han
cuffs he felt himself a match for
q whole gang of thieves.
His high spirits, however, did not Ia
. long. II was very lonely In the stree
VI a city at l o'clock in the mornlr
more lonely and sometimes more sile