Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-07-20
CHAPTER !.

Families street, W. C., was certain
ly not attractive at twelve o'clock on
that December night, for it had been
showing in the early part of the
evening; that snow was suffering
from a fan OF blacks; and as evil
communications corrupt good man
ners. the evil communication Of the
London SCOT was cOTrupting the good
manners OF the havenly snow, which
hEE become smirched by the towns
embrace. and was sOrrOwfully weep
ing itself away in tears beneath a
sky
No. there was not any sky. For
four DAYS there had not been breath
OF air 10 dissipate the heavy mist,
and into this mist the smoke OF q
million chimney had rolled, mingled,
and settled down in the streets in one
horrible yellOwish-black mirk.
There was gas lamps in Families
street-here and there Distinguishing
themselves by a faint glow overhead;
but John Whyley, policeman on the
beat, was hardly aware Of their ex-
istenec till he laid his hand upon each
post.
Now, only that Burglar Bill & Co.
aren't such fools as 10 come out on
such a night as this, here's their
chance. Why, they might burgle
every house on one side OF the street
while the whole division was on the
other. Blest II l know hardly were
I am"
]. ". stopped AMI listened, but it
seemed as II utter silence as well as
utter darkness had descended upon the
great city. But few people were
about, and where a vehicle passed
along a neighbOring street the patter
OF hOOfs ami roll Of wheels was
hushed by the thick snow.
1T is a puzzler," muttered the man.
Blind mans buff's nothing TO il, and
no pretty gals 10 catch. Now, where
abOuts am 7? I should say I'm just
close to the corner by the square, AMI
well, look at that"
He uttered a low chuckle, and
stared up from the curtstone az dull,
red glare that seemed ike the eye of
some fierce monster swimming in the
sea Of fog, and watching the man upon
his beat
And If / didn't think / was t'other
side u the street, An, how you do
member me of old times he con-
tinUe, apOstrophizing the red glare;
seems like being back at Hogley, and
looking OF the station platform 10
see II you was burning all right after
I'd been and lit you up. Red signals
for trains-red 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. a piece Of well
forged ornamentatiOn, which had once
borne an oil lamp, and at whose sides
were exJinguisheTs, into which, in the
bygUne days when Families was a
fashionable street. foOtmen Lad thrust
their smoking links. But fashion had
gone afar, and Ichaboi was written
metaphOrically upon the door Of that
cid Queen Anne house, while really
there was a furnished brass plate
bearing the inscription DIR. Charley"
with blistered panels above AMI below.
Arched over the doorstep was an
architects idea OF a gigantic shell,
supported by two stout boys, whom a
lively imagination might have thought
TO be suffering from the Doctors
prescriptions. as they glared wildly at
the red bulls eye in the center OF the
fanlight above the door.
Nothing like a red signal to show
you where you are" sad John
Whyley, stepping slowly back on to
the pavement, 10 the very edge of the
CurbstOne, and then keeping 10 IL as
his guide fer a few yards, till he hao
passed a second door, also displaying
the red light, and beneath it, in
letters nearly rubbed away, though
certainly not from cleaning, the word
Surgery"
That's where that young nipper OF
a buttons lives. him as took a sight
az me when ketched him stanjing on
his head atop OF the dustbin down the
area HulloI!"
John Whyley stood perfectly still
ami invisible in the fog. as the
surgery door was opened: there was a
low scufHins noise. and a hurried
whispering.
Get your arm well under him.
Hold hard, Shut the door. Mind he
don't slip down. It's dark as pitch
Now then, come on"
At that moment a bright light shone
upon the scene in front of DR..
Chartley's surgery door. for John
Whyley gave a turn to the top OF the
bulIs-eye lantern looped on to his belt.
and threw up the figures Of three
men, two OF whom were supporting on
either side another, whose head hung
forward and sidewise. whose legs
were bent, and his body in a limp.
helpless state, which called forth al
the strength 81 the others to keep him
from subsidiug in a heap upon the
snow. He seemed TO be young.
heavily bearded. and. az far as his