Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1916-01-27
"Been doin' that all the way from

"Been doin' that all the way from
Twenty-eighth street." gasped the ear
ly followers, proud in the possession
OF that much information. Hes told
the cop joke, an now the hickory
wielder is hittin' the trail with him."
At Forty-eighth street the police
man met the officer on the adjoining
heat, and hooking him by the arm he
whispered into his ear as he kept
pace with the fat man. The new po-
Iceman guffawed loudly, and again
the angry crowd looked vairlv for The
humor that seemed apparent 10 the
two guardians Of the peace. The first
n pl;ceman slackened speed. called out
n friendly Good luck" to the tlt man,
and then returned TO his own beat,
while his conraje trotted swiftly in
his place.
The fat man swung east, down Fif-
ty-thrd street, and new recruits
Joined the procession at every yard.
But all thirsted vainly fc- informa-
tion. Questions put by the newcom-
ers were met with the one answer:
Don't know: look at his hands. Been
twisting them round and round all
tie way from Twenty-third street"
Crossing Third avenue the Fat man
Lalted suddenly. He kneit down uIon
the car tracks, and the officers stoop-
cd beside him. The cro"A pressed
round till the swiftly swung nightstick
swept them back. The man in even
ing dress crawled across the tracks
and raked the ground with his fin
GERS.
Presently he leapt to his feet and
yelled out eXcitedly: ITS all right,
officer" he cried, and once again his
lands started TO. reyolye round each
other as he dashed towards the wa
ter.
Just here third policeman was In
itiated into the mystery that was
troubling the crowd, and with mer-
ry laugh he took up the position by
the side of the fat man. The crowd
cursed collectively. Here was mys-
terry that had been explained three
times TO bulky policemen, yet they
were kept in ignorance. 1t wasn't
fair. They had right to know why
the man in evening dress was doing
the windmill performance with his
hands, and why that stunt amused
the policeman. Much of then breath
was exhausted in strange phrases de-
nouncing the secrecy of the police, but
they were determined to see the end
Near Second avenue man stand
ing on the sidewalk turned when he
heard the noise of the charging squad
and contemplated the runners. Then
he stepped into the street and crossed
over. The fat man chuckled. He
whispered to the policeman at his
right hand, and the officer dashed
ahead, The man in front started TO
run, but his pursuer overhauled him
in dozen strides, and they rolled on
the pavement.
"Wot's the matter?" gasped the cap
t,:red one. "Wot are yer scrufIn' me
for?"
This gentleman wants his rubber
toor-mat." murmured the policeman.
relieving his captive of the parcel he
carried beneath his arm.
"Hully Gee!" exclaimed the prison
er, rubbing his eyes and staring round
him at the crowd. Where did yer get
the mob. an how did yer know had
it, anyhow"
81 had you on a string" explained
the fat man, holding up a black thread
in the light Of the street lamp. '1ye
caught five men who have tried to
steal that mat. It's attached to
thousand yards of strong thread, and
as they generally grab it when the
streets are quiet, the trail Is always
clear"