Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-07-16
CHAPTER |.

~ y llht IiNlHb ~ "a MIMI
Families street, w. G., was certain
ly not attractive at twelve O'Clock on
that December night, for 1t had been
showing in the early part OF the
evening" that snow was suffering
from a fall OF blacks; and as evil
communications corrupt good man.
ners, the evil communication Of the
London SCOT was corruptng the good
manners OF the havenly snow, which
had become smirched by the towns
embrace, and was sorrowfully weep
Ing Itself away in tears beneath
sky
No, there was not any sky For
four days there had not been breath
of air to disspate the heavy mist,
and into this mist the smoke OF
million chimney had rolled, mingled,
and settled down in the streets In one
horrible yellowishblack mirk.
There was gas lamps In Families
street--here and there distinguishing
themselves by faint glow overhead;
but John Whyloy policeman on the
beat, WAS hardly aware Of their ex.
istencc TIL he laid his hand upon each
post.
Nov, only that Burglar Bill n Co,
aren't such fools as to come out on
such night az this, here's their
chance. why, they might burglc
every house on one side OF the street
while the whole division was on the
other. BIest If | know. hardly were
] ami"
j. w. stopped and listened, but 1t
seemed AZ II utter silence as we'll as
utter darkness had descended upon the
great city. But few people were
about, and whore vehicle passed
along neIghboring street the patter
OF hoofs ana roll Of wheels was
hushod by the thick snow
1T is puzzler," mutLered the man,
Blind mans bufT's nothing to 1t, and
no pretty gals to catch, Now, where
abouts am /? | should say I'm just
close to the corner by the square, and
well, look ut that!
He uttered low chuclIe, and
stared up from the curLstone at dun,
rcd glare that seemed like the eye OF
some fierce monster swimming In the
sea Of fog, and watching the man upon
his bent.
And If / didn't think was t'other
side Of the street! An, how you do
member mo OF old times" he con
tinuo apostrophizlng the red glare;
"seems llSo being back al Iogley, and
looking OF the station platform 10
see II YOU was burning all right after
ia been and lit you up, Red signals
4or trains signals for them as
wants help" he muttered as, with his
hands within his belt he stepped
slowly up under an arch OF iron scroll.
work rusting away, n piece Of we'll
forged ornamontntion, which had once
borne an oil lamp, and at whose Sides
were eXtnguishors, into which, in the /
bygone days when Families was n
fashionable street, footmen had thrust I
their smoking links, But fashion had
gone afar and Ichabod was written
metaphorICally upon the door OF that
old Queen Anne house, while really
there was furnished brass plato
bearing the inscription "Dr. Charley"
with blistered panels above aud below.
Arched over the doorstep was an
architects idea OF a gigantic she'll
supported by two stout boys whom
lively imagination might have thought
To be suffering from tho doctors
prescriptions, as they glared wildly at
the red bulls eye in the center of the
fanlight above the door
Nothing like Il red signal to show
you whore you are. said John
Whyloy. stepping slowly back on to
tho pavement. to the very edge OF the
curbstone, ana then keeping 10 1t as
his guide for few yards, TIL he hao
passed a second door, also displaying
the red light, and beneath II, In
letters nearly rubbed away though
certainly not from cleaning the word
Surgery"
That's whore that young nippor OF
buttons lives, him rs took sight
ut mo when | kotched him standing on
his head atop OF the dustbn down the
area. Hulloli"
John Whyley stood perfectly stll
and invisible IN the fog, as tho
surgery door was opened there was a
low scullling noise, and hurrieo
Whispering,
Get your arm we'll under him
Hold hard Shut the door, Mind he
don't slip down, It's dark MS pitch
Now then, como on"
At that moment a bright light shone
upon the scene in front OF DR.
Chartley's surgery door for John
Whyley gave n turn to the top 0r the
bull's.eyo lantern looped ON to his belt.
and threw mp the figures of three
men, two OF whom were supporting on
either side another. whose head hung
forward and sld2wise. whose legs
We're bent, ana his body In a limp.
helpless state. which called forth nh
the strength of the others to keep him
from subsiding in heap upon the
snow, He seemed TO be young.
iKY