Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-02-01

sergeant Collins had leaped from
behind the desk of the precinct station
at the first shout which arose on the
street After years Of service at the
same station deep in the city's heart,
he could always distinguish, even
above the clatter and roar Of traffic,
that quality in sudden uproar which
indicated danger OF disturbance of
the peace.
As he rushed to the door, with old
Ben, the turnkey, pottering slowly In
MS wake he felt from sheer force Of
habit for his rear hip pocket to see
that his revolver was handy in case 1t
might be needed; and he swore vigor-
ously to himself as it flashed across
his mind that he had left it in the
Lieutenants locker--and that the
Lieutenant was then out for lunch.
When he reached the door, after
three hasty strides. he swore again and
then uttered a warning yell to some
children, who, bewildered by the cry
arising up the street, were standing
doubtfully in the gutter.
Git IN some store, there! Hurry.
youse!"
In one glance he had grasped tho
head high lifted, tail flashing its TANKS
and stepping swiftly forward few
mincinS steps at time, was O steer
one Of the swift, rangy animals which
occasionally escaped from the shipping
yards. a couple of blocks away, and
had their last taste Of wild freedom in
the city streets. Sometimes these ami
mails, frightened and blinded by the
viz oh
after their long journeys from the
West. were easily rounded up and
driven back by attaches of the yard.
Sometimes they ran amuck in a wild
fit Of desperation induced by terror.
And his first glance told the Sergeant
that this steer was Of the latter kind.
He sure means troubled" groaned
the Sergeant, frantically glancing
about the station to discover a weapon
Got gun, Benz"
Without waiting for the old mans
mumbled reply in the negative. the
Sergeant snatched UP heavy night
stick. only to throw it down with a
crash to pick up the rusty poker of the
massive stove, which stood cold and
detected in the corner of the big, bare
room throughout the summer. The
poker was huge affair, and. in case
OF necessity, he reflected, he could stun
a steer with it. In the meantime, he
f1uently blamed himself for leaving his
revolver in the locker. He had placed
It there, after cleaning, to give a free
dose Of oil a chance TO loosen the ac-
ton which had become frightened with
rust.
Ready as he was to do his duty, tho
Sergeant paused with critical eye as
he reached the open door. He was per-
fectly willing to attack the steer with
his simple weapon if need arose for
it. But he was also prepared to bide
the arrival of aid if it could be done
without danger to passersby. For he
knew that to assail the huge brute,
which stood paving the street sweep
ings. piled in the gutter. all the while
looking about in readiness for instant
assault on any thing or person which
seemed offensive, would be a desperate
affair indeed.
Vigorous shouts from the Sergeant
and Ben scared back two little girls
who were about to cross the street.
One man. issuing absent-mindedly from
the swinging door of saloon, glanced
up just in time, upon hearing the cho-
rus Of yells from the heads which
fringed all the windows in the block, to
leap wildly back to his refuge He
dashed through the swinging door just
az one thousand pounds Of beef and
bone hurtled in his direction. Had he
been observant, like Sergeant Collins,
he doubtless would have breathed
thanks that his pursuer was of the
long-horned variety Of range cattle
One eager, searching horn barely
reached his coat tails as he passed
through the door. The other spread.
Ing out widely, caught on the
door jamb and snapped off-but it
stopped the rush, although the big
brown and white body was whirled
sideways by the force Of its own i'm.
pact, banging against the brick wall
as the steer slipped on the sidewalk
The swinging doors, slamming on its
nose at the same moment, evidently
startled the animal, which backed off
snorted loudly and eyed the door men
acingly from the gutter.
III he's going to start chargin
around here" muttered the Sergeant
with a glance at the low store fronts
ON all sides, through which the refu
gees were peering, its goin' to be bad
or If he goes after thin horses"
He glanced to the next block where
a long line of drays were drawn up
the horses placidly eating their noon
day meal. while their drivers, hastily
arisen from the shady side of the
building where they had been eating
their lunch. were watching the excite
ment on the block and keeping within
safe distance of the factory doors.
"It'll be bad" the Sergeant repeated
as he took fresh grip on the poker
and started forth Then he stopped
with sigh of relief On the opposite
corner, sprinting toward the steer with
his revolver already in his hand. was
young Policeman Farrell, just elevated
to become a patrolman. after service
as a probationary.
Don't waste time! He's dangerous!
Let him have it," yelled the Sergeant
Policeman Farrell turned counte
nance toward him which was wreathet
in a smile of joyous excitement liz
waved a hand of recognition across
the street and dropped to brisk wall
as he approached the steer.
"He goes at him quick enough" re
marked the Sergeant, with note oi
admiration in his voice; "but the boy
oughtn't to go that close. He could
drop that damned brute from where HI
w."