Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-07-31
A STOLEN RESCUE.
BY Lincoln Steffens.

"
ers were loafing in one Of their room
across the street and the boy believe,
his chance had come to see the oil
man casually, yet alone. The onl,
doubt lay in the probability that tn
chief would drive up; then the other
would hear the cab. If he walked
The chief walked slowly into sigh
around the corner Of Houston stree
into Mulberry. He was pleasant per
son to see, if you did not know him
stout, but red and OILY; bold rascal
but a good fellow" AS he came alont
toward Mickey he said:
"'Lo Mickey"
"Lo chief!' the boy answered, with
out moving.
| The chief was passing, but he KEEP
his face turned to Mickey's and ther'
was a twinkle in his eye. They knew
each other well, these two; for the!
were old enemies, so old that they hat
queer sort of Irish affection for theil
feud. So now, though Mickey remain
ed perched on the rail and gave NJ
sign Of his wish to speak to the "bit
fellow" Sullivan understood. He halt
| ed, hesitated, then turned back.
"Out with it," he commanded, hu
morously. It's your play! What "
got in yer hand?"
Then Mickey spoke. Say, chief" hi
said, you know all those recent pro
motions for bravery"
More knockin', eh? What promo
tions for bravery? Which ones?"
"All Of 'em, but especially those
three friends Of yours-Brady, Cults
and Donegan."
We'll, what about 'em?" The CHIEF
was playing; the boy was hard at work
"Bogus!" said Mickey. Fraud, fake!'
What's fake, tn promotions?"
Nope, tn bravery"
"Ah, what ye givin me? Always
knockin', you are; always a-knockin,'
knew It,"
AS the chief said this he drew out q
cigar, and, leaning against the rail, he
scratched match and began to smoke
while he watched Mickey, evidently
getting much amusement out Of the
boys seriousness.
It's pretty good story, chief. Want
it?" Mickey said.
We'll, Sweeney" the chief answered
self appreciatively, we know I don't
like good stories as we'll as you fellers
do"
Not, after they're printed" Mickey
agreed, but how about before?"
The chief laughed in his hearty
noisy way.
We'll, I'll take it before. I notice you
always make me pay for a story you
give to me instead Of to the reporter
But fire ahead, give us your story"
It'll just about last out that cigar
yer smokin,' Got the time?"
"I'n make the time if you'll make it
interestin.'
We'll, chief" said Mickey, there's a
certain little old farmer cop over on
the docks at tn end Of this street, not
ed fer savin' lives. He's wonder. He's
pretty good swimmer, but it amt
that he's done some mighty fine work
at fires, too. The trouble with him is
he's all tn time sawin' wood, so, OF
course he gets lots O. chances t dis
tinguish himself.
What's his name?" the chief asked
"McKeever, down here from the
woods, a"
Roosevelt cop" the chief said, and
he hung himself by the elbows over the
railing comfortably.
"A Roosevelt cop" Mickey assented.
Believes what tn commissioner ulster
tell him, that if he does his little trick
like a little man he'll rise. And tn
commissioner KEEP his word, till tn
you an that sort"
go wan," said Sullivan, splitting
over his shoulder into the area.
We'll, McKeever, he saws wood and
good post because he'll report gamblin,
saloons open an all that. Obeys or
ders that amt meant to be obeyed. You
know tn sort"
Saw wood, Mickey, or me cigar
won't last"
That's the spirit" said Mickey, SOL
emnly. We'll, anyhow, along the river
front and around the station houses he
gets quite a hume for tn real thing;
none O. yer nerve, but genuine courage
see? Why, once l seen him rescue a
horse that fell overheard with deliv-
cry wagon. McKeever jumped right
into the tangle with knife an he cut
tn horse loose, but not till they'd drift
ed way out in tn stream. Then he
swan back leadin' the horse to where
some fellows with a derrick could
wasn't just the rescue liked. McKeev-
er was good to tn horse. The poor
beast was winded, so McKeever swan
back slow with him; didn't urge him;
and it was cold-whew! Then when tn
derrick fellows got made and in hurry
McKeever called up to 'em to take 1t
easy or he'd make 'em. Besides that
when they got tn horse out, tn driver
kicked about tn wagon bein more
valuable, and tn cop says to him. Mis-
ter he says, quiet and straight, II wet
my clothin' for tn horse, not for yer
property, see?" Just like that"
That's tn stuff" the chief exclaim-
ed. Straight goods delivered free,
McKeever, eh?"
Mickey's face beamed and he paus-
ed: he was glad.
Go wan" the chief commanded
chewing his cigar.
Yes" Mickey said, that's tn sort
of a copper McKeever is all alone over
there on tn water front in tn dark
with no friends but kids an horses an
drunken 'longshoremen an women an
citizens. Now, then, in the same pre-
cinct with him is a ward man, Snake
Snooks, an you know him. He was
fired out by tn reform board, kept his
mouth shut, took his medicine an
came back with you. Had to be re-
warded, so you make him ward man
and he makes tn graft Snooks is a
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