The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-21

VI tight.
He heaved deep sigh Of relief as the car
ieveled itself over the top Of the hill and he
realized that he was out Of immediate dan
ger.
Summit" shouted the conductor.
The man who may or who may not have
been from the country looked around with an
expression that was half scorn and half pity.
Say" he remarked audiby to the passen-
ger next to him. where is that fool who
thinks we imagine we have been going down
hill?"
There have been ''Dagoes" on the police
force In other days. There was the Dell
'osso, OF medieval memory, whose name had
been source Of terror to the Dagoes on the
Hats. even as In other days the DelpOsso
gonfalon had been terror to the enemies
of Florence.
Then there was that other son Of the South
who had not got quite as far as place on
the force, but whose ambition had led him to
add two inches to his stature-on paper. He
stuffed his shoes. But the only present mem
Der OF the force who had to abjure Humbert
or Italy when he became an American citi-
zen Is now attached to the central station
and he is quite as full of vaulting ambition
as though the eyes of all Italy were upon
him. And thereby hangs this Ger true tale
He has not been long on the force. He is
enthusiastic. He has visions of himself
passing through the various grades of coop
pership," and attaining finally to the I'M
penang dignity of seat In the swing chair
that occupies the inner sanctum 1t was
necessary that he should inform himself of
small matters in the line of duty, and he
would not expose himself to rdicule by ask
ing questions. There is, even to the man OF
no emotions, something mysterious about a
fire alarm box. Who has not felt a desire
to ring in fire alarm, and have those pranc-
Ing steeds come dashing up as though in
response to the waving Of magician s
wand?
The Italian copper had a key to the alarm
box, but 1t had not as yet been his proud
privilege to summon the fire department. He
didn't quite know how he would act when
some night he saw flames bursting from the
roof OF building, and it lay with him to
become the savior of life and property. He
experimental. 1t was about In the morn
ing He picked out box on lower Seventh
street. 1t. the box, fastened we'll I'D on
pole, and he speculated. He had a key that
would fit the box. The key was attached to a
chaln, and the chain was fastened to the star
tnat adorned his overcoat. 1t would be well
to inform himself of the working of the box
turned it part way. And just then he heard
the whistle of the sergeant block or more
away. and he tried to respond.
The key would not come out of the box
These boxes are so made that when the key
is inserted it cannot be taken out until the
chief in command of the fire department,
comes and releases it,
The copper didn't know this, and he worked
at the key.
Again came that whistle.
He got desperate; the sergeant would think
ne was neglecting his duty, and still the key
would not give way. He felt like a man
| chained in the midst of rising waters, He
could not release the chain from the star
He muttered "cospetto,' "sapristi'' and "ca.
ramba,' or whichever of these remarks is
appropriate for utterance under like cir.
cumstances.
Another Shrek from that warning whistle
and he had an inspiration. He slipped out
OF his coat, and, leaving it hanging to the
box, tore madly off up the street to where
Sergeant Ross stood.
Where were you?" growled Ross, as the
Italian came to the salute.
S1gnor Sergeant-a. l maka de bada mis-
take l lose-a de coat; l soak-a de key
And Ross had to send for the fire depart
ment to get the key out of soak