The P.C's Goose

Hawke's Bay Tribune, 24 December 1910, Page 1 (Supplement)

The P.C's Goose

—and how he nearly •‘COOKED’* IT.

"He can’t 'ave forgotten me!" P.-c. 71)9Q looked at his watch for the- twentieth time in five minutes, and peered down the hill towards the lights ci the market. The road was lonely, on the outskirts of a. busy suburb. It was Christmas Eve, and for many years past tha constable had, on that night, been the recipient of a magnificent goose from Jenkins, the poulterer, in return lor general attention during the year. Onlv that day Jenkins li.ad assured the policeman that the boy would bring the bird straight to him just before the hour of closing. But it was already 10.35, and 709 Q was getting un-

‘‘Anirell be hero in a minit, an' I can’t sc? no signs of that boy!" he mutt cred.

Annie was his daughter, and ho hnd arranger) that she should meet, him at his post at a ouarter to elevon to enrrv home what was to be the mainstay of the morrow’s fea‘t. “ Allo, BUI! Got yer goose?*' Tiio constab'e turn'd to face the now. comer. 1+ was his mate, Joe Sanders. P.-c 15( : Q. ‘No. mate.’’ replied Bill. "An’ I wish vou would just stay hero and look out for mo for a while, an’ I’ll b? off an’ look it up before ole Jenkins closes "

When Fill n’r’ve'l at th? poulterer’s .sbon. ho found the proprietor vorv knsy with kite customers. He pl?cod himself care * non or-si v in th? doorway, and coughed grimlv to attract the little shopkeeper’s attention. Looking un from bis strenuous exertions. Jenkins met .the constable’s stony glare, and hurried to him A FRFITLESS JOURNEY. r ' u njn t. forgot?’’ Bill whispered. “Wby,’’ answered Jenkins, “the boy ii.orc sent with it full twenty minutes since, end told to bring it up the hill to yau ’’

, "Y/ 1 '- T ’avan’t soon nothin’ of | im I grumbled the policeman. “Suppose. I must a missed ’im.’’ And, roj reiving a second assurance from Mr. j Jenkins, he bad? him good-night, and , letnrned up the hill to liis mate. . "Can’t stop no longer. Bill," was th? Ft'or' greeting. "Got something to J do meselt , yon know." I f’yas followed him, and grew ■ wide with wonder. As his mate reached the further side of the street some- | thing iriiite slipped down and dangled | to and fro just beneath his cape -snme- ; thing that to P.-c 709 Q looked sus|.i r .'iously like the head of a large bird wrapped in paper. " "AYhat!" muttered Bill. “Surely it I can t be' Aes ; it must lie mine!’’ And. ■ aroused by his friend’s perfidy, h<-c’os-ed the road, and followed Saunders. who was walking very fast. ‘Guilty conshunsP muttered Bill. Close upon his quarry as he passed the next street-lamp, the pursuing officer keenly scrutinised the daiiglino- • white object. Sure enough, it was the I head of a goose. Bill reached out and seized it. and gave a violent null. With l a s exclamation of surprise, Joe released his hold on the bird, and turned to , meet his assailant. But Bill’s temper i was up. and, swinging the weighty i bird aloft he brought it down with , force and precision upon his mate’s helmet. ! The blow was a heavy one, and crushj Cd th? helmet over its wearer’s eves, ; and Im dropnod ! And long before be could extricate : himself from th? battered head-dress the tr.nmphant Bill was in full roh-e-it back to his post, swinging the prize in , n:s doucrlitv fist.

“I’ll leam ’im !’’ he shout'd “I’ll show ’im-robhin’ a man of his Christmas dinner!’’

Two fi-urcs approached him. ns he leached his beat again. Thev were a lad and a girl.

‘ Father." said th- latter—his daughter Annie— "here s Mr. Jenkins’s l>ov with vour goose. We were waitim? till ' Mi were alone.” °