The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1900-03-16

with all thy might. No man shoult
feel above assisting from time 10 tim,
in matters of the household, especial,
in cases Of emergency"
And Professor Prentice disappeared
around the house, 10 reappear pres
eutly with the Just then important
ashcan. He placed il carefully jus'
inside the gate and then reconsidered
"It will be more convenient on the
sidewalk. be thought, and suiting the
action TO the thought he moved il tc
the outer edge OF the sidewalk. And
that was his fatal error.
Across the street, strolling slowly
along, was Policeman Murphy, mem
Der OF the small but watchful band
which guarded the lives and property
OF Professor Prentice's townspeople.
The Law Society had once complained
OF Policeman Murphy for being of
post, and Policeman Murphy had since
"had il in for Prentice and all his
gang" Murphy reached point op.
posite Professor Prentice's house inst
az that individual finished his labors
with the ashcan. And at the same
moment, walking rapidly down
the street, came William Reed, Presi.
dent Of one Of the two banks in the
town. Mr.. Reed had also had his lit
tie time with the Law Society, as a
result OF which he had paid so for
fast driving on Lincoln Boulevard.
Since. which time he, too, had been
awaiting his revenge.
Fur the love Of hivin, Mr.. Reed,
dye see that?' gasped Policeman
Murphy.
"See what, Murphy" said Mr..
Reed, looking up and down the street.
"It's the Professor. He's putin
that ashcan on the sidewalk"
Mr.. Reed grasped the situation in.
stantly. Arrest him, Murphy; I'm
your witness"
Murphy needed no second hint.
With one stride he crossed the street
and placed his hand on Professor
Prentice's shoulder.
"Y're under arrest, Mr.. Prentice, -
said he.
What's that" calculated the Pro-
fossor, too surprised for the moment
TO comprehend what was going on.
II arrest you, sir" repeated the
triumphant Murphy, firmly.
What, arrest me? Are you intoxi-
Gated, sir, or insane?"
"Just what ] say" was the com
forting answer. "You know the
arridnance forbids ashcans on the
sidewalks"
"Why, didn't know that, faltered
the unhappy prisoner, looking up and
down the street as n wild thought Of
escape flashed through bis brain.
What Didn't know that?" cried
Officer Murphy, gloating over tho
downfall of the common enemy.
Wasn't it y'rself that complained TO
the commissioners last month that the
police were Gllowin' ashcans on the
sidowalk?'
Come on, " he added gruGly. 81
can't fool with you all day"
The first intimation that Magistrate
Warner, sitting at the local fountain
of wisdom, had that the ordinary
routine of two dollar cases with fifty
witnesses on side was to be dis
turbed was when laughing mob
stormed the outer door, filed all the
benches, to the great discomfort of
the daily auditors, who from long at
tendance had begun to feel q pro
prietary right TO the coupSA~oom. and
overflowed to the windows and all the
| open spaces outside the rail.
Magistrate Warner, who was a very
digniiied man himself, had likewise
very pronounced opinions about pre-
serving the dignity of the bench.
Curiosity is fatal to dignity. SO Mag
istrate Warner leaned over his desk
and under cover of searching for n
mislaid paper inquired of Officer
Johnson what the inrush meant.
~ don't know, y'r amer" returned
! Officer Johnson in n hoarss whisper,
that carried half way over tLe room,
despite the confusion Of voices.
Both the magistrate and Officer
Johnson were at once enlightened. A
stir at the door, crauing of necks
and whispers of Here he is" an.
nounced the entrance of n prisoner oil
note. Professor Prentice's trip from
his house to the court had been rapid
In consideration of his prisoner
feelings Officer Murphy had compro
missed with his duty so far as TO allow
the prisoner to walk to the police sta
tlon ten PAGES or so ahead. At the
police station, stop made necessary
by the police regulations, the sergeant
at the desk, almost beside himself
with Joy, had put to the distinguished
but miserable Professor all the usua
and numerous questions as TO name
age, religion and so on, and had os
tentatiously recorded each snswe
in the big book provided for that pur
pose.
Then, "a a parting fling, he sal,
when he had finished, Take him NJ
20 court And be careful he don
get away from you he added
II the Professor had hoped by an,
strategem, however, TO keep the new
! OF his arrest from his admiriug fello,
citizens. Mr. Reed had already tskei
full measures to provide an audience
On his way thither lie had industri
ously circulated the news OF Professo
; Prentice's downfall, and as the Pro
fessor stepped in the court room door
: with Murphy close behind, he slmos
dropped 20 the ground with sham
. and confusion 20 find awaiting hiI
- business men, lawyers aud all th
{ components Of a crowd raised q. shor
notice from the street. His hesiia,io
was not for long. Murphy touche
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