The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-08-07

boxes the key would enter the lock, but
would not turn. and In still other boxes,
opened. the .'pull-down hook" that sends
In the alarm would not pull down.
Now Chief KELLOGG prides himself on the
efncicncy Of his department. from alarm
boxes up. and he said: These things cam
not be-"
But" retorted numerous irate citi1ene
they are. and your old IRE boxes might
just an well be IN the mountains Of the
moon so far as being OF service TO earth
" mortais In Seattle Is concerned; that II.
we mean 10 say, In our neighbofhoods =
The chief Jumped into his buggy. and
with City Electrician Pinckney started on
tour Of inspection. At the first box COM
planned Of the key would not enter the
lock. and the door to the box had TO be
broken. In the keyhole OF the lock was
found, neatly fitted. the shell of 2-cali-
Der cartridge. The work of q mischiev.
Gus small boy. beyond question, and the
chief swore softly under his breath, and
promised to do things to small boys that
would have q tendency to reduce the pop
ulatton. But only three boxes, all In the
same locality. were found stopped up with
cartridge shells. and the work was evf.
IDENTIFY that OF one boy. II didn't take
long 20 md out the only boy in the neigh
borhood owning a 2e-caliher rife. and the
chief made a note Of his name and the
residence Of his parents. During the COM
ing week papa will either pay for the
doors OF several hre-alarm boxes or hts
young hopeful viii be taught lesson
that win keep him from using his rife
cartridges for experimental purposes.
Then other boxes out OF order were
visited. The doors OF these boxes opened
readily. but the hook wouldn't pull down
far enough 10 "trip the box and send
in the alarm
The chief hIessed the small boys, indi-
yiduaIiy and collectively. and wW SAYING
things the small boys mammals wouldn't
have cared 10 hear. when Of Sudden
the electrician. who was working away
at the box. exclaimed: well. ri be
blessed
What is ftss yelled the chief and had
small boy appeared on the scene at
that moment hts scalp would surely have
been taken
Lock here said the electrician.
pointing to an obscure corner OF the box
where 10 the recess under the pull dewn
hook
The chief locked and there saw a solid
column ~ hard mud built M under the
hook from the foar Of me box II was
80 hard as rock and II took a hammer to
clear n away.
yellow Jackets said the electrician.
well. III b~ BANKED " said the chief
ard he mentally apolagsxsd 10 all ,hS-smaii
boys. bst one. for what he had been say
Ing and thinking about them.
II was the yellow Jackets. sure enough.
The insects had erawted through the key
hole of the heck ard but. their mud
houses inside the box. Protected from she
wsFd fain. etc. their rests had hardened
almost inta stone and rendered the h0x
useless Tor IRE alarm purposes. Tn other
boxes IL was found ERE insects had built
their Rests within tbs snrks ara while
the key could be inserted, the harss~
sned mud prevented the lock from work
inx In several boxes i've Insects were
faana ia mud cells and Ia other boxes the
botsom was ssr<wn with the dead bottles
If fssia-wrnwn yeiiow~ Jackets. which, after
completing saesr tahoss. had lain down
ard flied
We overhsussd all the boxes.' said
Thief Kellogg. ami they are All working
row. ess Il nay department has rot 80
ssAs yellow Jackets In order TO get
Alarms and then nxhf the nre besides. Trs
Ersrg to ask for another assistant ss he
kns~n Oh the Ray rual ss the hug hunter
3Sssfng kskss aside 5mss think what
might have happened from the work as 50
sfssxnlheant y thing ~ d yellow Jacket
Come 20 think 81 IL. ks no laughing mat
$50 Wa can Ssacn IL email eoya md