Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-01-06
OvERPoWERED AN UNRULY BOY.
Dainty Truant Officers Fight With a
Young Hoodlum.

Working in the slum district of New
York as truant school officer is the
tiniest, daintiest and prettiest bit of
femininity that one may find in
days travel. She is Mrs. Mary Alger,
and though in point Of size and weight
she is not much to look at she never
theless possesses great muscular
strength. 1t was her duty on one oc-
casion to find out why a boy named
Henry Haupt was not at school and,
accordingly, went to his house to in
CURE the cause from his mother Now,
Henry is an over-grown 14-year-old
boy, and being tall, strong, stubborn
and OF vicious tendencies has resisted
bis parents attempts to make him at
tend school. He has become a terror
to the neighborhood and is the leader
OF gang Of boys who bid fair to de-
velop into thugs of the first water.
When Mrs. Alger reached Henry's
home and inquired of that hopeful's
parent for the reason of his not at
tending school she received the an
swer: Il want him to go to school,
ma'am. l try to catch him and hold
HIN, but he always gets away from
me; he is so strong"
"Pll get that boy" said the de-
tetmined woman with sparkle in her
brown eyes that meant business. She
found Henry in bakery on Eleventh
avenue, near Fifty-seventh street, sur
rounded by his chums. She marched
up to him without hesitation.
Come with me, Henry" she said,
resolutely.
II won't. You'll have to fight the
whole gang to get me-"
Mrs. Alger didn't waste another
word. She caught the boy by the col
lar and dragged him out to the side
walk before he realized what had hap
pened. But he struggled and kicked
and used his fists and his friends gath
cred around the plucky little woman,
trying to loosen her hold of him. But
she had no notion of letting him go.
She just grasped that boy by the collar,
only she knows, thrust out dainty
little foot and in moment that boy
was lying on the pavement He came
down on his head and for few mo-
n ents saw so many stars that he didn't
quite know where he was. Mrs. Alger
marched him to his home.
But there was a fresh dilemma. She
had caused summons to be served on
Henry's father to appear in court and
show cause for not obliging his boy to
attend school. How was she to keep
the boy? The mother disclaimed al
responsibility and the trio sat in th>
one room which constitutes the Haupt
abode and looked at each other with
varying emotions. A bright idea
flashed through Mrs. Ayers BRAIN
She proceeded to put 1t into execution.
Henry, take off your clothing!" she
commanded. The boy was too thor
oughly conquered to think of resist
ance now, so while his mother wept
and Mrs. Alger looked serious garment
after garment camepff and was tucked
under the little officers sturdy arm.
The trio waited an hour for the father
to appear. Then the boy was COM
manded to dress again. This time
Mrs. Alger let the father exercise his
muscles in dragging the boy to court
but she stood guard over him, so that
escape was impossible Magistrate
Flammer heard the history Of the case
and at once remanded the boy to the
reform school. Usually Mrs. Alper ac-
companied the delinquents herself, but
she looked about the courtroom and
saw three members Of the gang and
heard their whispered plan to attack
her and rescue their leader as soon as
the party left the courtroom. So she
pressed two burly officers into service
feeling that she had done enough for
one day.