The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-12-24
An O. Henry
Story

fCopvsght, 1899. ~ Doubleday. Pace
& Co; paehshcd by special az
ruagsmenf 10Th the Wheeler Syn
dicafo. Ino,J
II was with much caution that
whlstlinR Dick slid back the door
OF the box car. for Article kTi6, city
Ordinances. authorized porhaps un.
constitutionallyl arrest on suspicion,
and he was familiar OF old with this
ordinance, SO. before climbing out,
he surveyed the field with all the
care OF a good general
lie saw no change since his last
visit to this big. aims giving. lonE'
suffering city OF the South. the cold
weather paradise OF the tramps. The
leyec where his freisht'car stood was
pimpled with dark bulks Of mcrchan.
disc. Tho breeze reoked with the
well remembered. sickening smell OF
the old tarpaulins that covered bales
and barrels. The dun river slipped
along among the shipping with an
oily gurgie. Far down toward chal'
mette he could sec the great bend
In the stream. outlined by tho row
OF electric lights Across the river
Algiers lay. a long. irregular blot,
made darker by tho dawn which
lghtened the sky beyond An indus
trious tug or two. coming for some
early sailing ship. gave a few appall'
Ing tootS that seemed 10 b. the sis'
nal for breaking day, The Italian
iuEgrr- were creeping nearer their
landing. laden with early Vegetables
and shcllfish. A vague roar. subter
ranean In quality, from tho dray
wheels and street ears. began 20
make itself heard and felt. and tho
fcrryboats. the Mary AIMS OF water
craft. stirred sullonly 10 their mental
morning tasks
Whistling Dicks red head popped
suddenly back into the BAR. A sight
too imposing and magnificent for his
gaze had been added TO the scene. A
vast. Incompatible policeman round.
od pile Of rice sacks and stood
within twenty yards of-tho car. The
daily miracle % the dawn. now heing
performed above Aigiers. received
the fiattering attention Of this speed
men Of municipal official splendor.
lie Eazed with unbiased dignity al
the family glowing colora until. at
last, he turned 60 them his broad
back. as n convinced that legal In
reference was not needed. and the
sunrise might proceed unchecked. 50
he turned his face 20 the rice bags,
and drawing a flat flask from an in
side pocket. he placed II 10 his lips
and regarded the armament
whIstllng Dick. professional tramp,
possessed a half friendly acansint
ance with this officer. They had
met several times before on the levcc
al night, for the officer. himself a
lover OF music, had been attracted
by the exquisite whEtling OF the
shiftless vagabond san. he did not
care. under the present circumstan
c~s. To renew tho acaua!ntancs-
There IL a difference between meet
| lnK a policeman upon a lonely wharf
and whlstling n few opcraue airs
with him. and being caught by him
crawling out of freight car. SO
policeman must move on sorne time
perhaps II Is a retrihutise law OF
nature-and before long big Fritz"
ma jegicaiiy disappeared between the
trains Of cars
Whistiing Dick waited M long as
his Judgment advised. and than slid
swiftly TO tho ground. Assuming as
far as possible the air Of an honest
laborer who seeks his daily toll. he
moved across the network Of railway
lines. with the intention OF making
his way by quiet Girod street to a
certain bench In Lafayette Square.
where, according 10 appointment. he
hoped TO rcjoin n pal known as
'ssiick," this adventurous pilgrim
having preceded him hy one day In
n cafticcnr into which n loose alat
had enticed hHn.
As whistiing Dick picked his why
where night stiii fingered among the
big. reeking. musty warehouses. he
gave way 10 the habit that had won
for him his title. subdued. ye, clear.
with each note as true and liquid as
bobolink's. his whistle tlnkled about
the dim, cold mountains OF brick like
drops OF rain falling into n hidden
pool. He followed an air. but II
swan nIstiiy into a swirling current
OF Improvisation. You could Gull out
the trim OF mountain brooks. the sfac-
cato OF green rushes shivcring above
chilly lagoons. the pipe OF sleepy
bgrda
Rounding a corner. the whistler
coilided with a mountain Of blue and
brass.
$50" observed the mountain calm.
~. you arc already pack. Und dere
viii not pc frost before two weeks
yeti Und you haf forgotten how 10
yistie. Dere was valsc note In dot
last bar
Watcher know about it7~ said
whistiing Dick, with tentative famii-
larity: you wit yer little Ghernan-
band nixcumrous chunes. Watcher
know about muslc7 Pick yer ears.
and listen agin. Here's de way I
whistled it--See2"
He puckered his lips. but the big
policeman held up his hand
"Shtop," he said. ''und learn der
right way. Und learn also dot roll.
ing sttone can't vistle for a cent"
Big F'ritz's heavy mops,ache round
ed into a circle. and from It's depths
came sound deep and mellow M
that from a flute. He repeated a
few bars Of the air the tramp bad
been whistiing. The rendition was
cold. but correct and he emphasized
the note he had taken exception to.
dot Is . natural. ind not . vlat.
Py der way. you peter pc glad j
meet you. Won hour later. und i
would half TO put in a gage 10 vistle
nit der chaii pirds. Der orders are
to bull all der pums after sunrise"
ITO whlchY'
TO bull der pums--everybody nit.
out fable means. Dirty days is der
price, or fifteen toilars."