"Say, sergeant, let me ask you one question: Have you received orders to test our department by these false alarms?"
"No, sir, I'll swear and prove that there came an alarm of fire from this house."
"That's what your men said down at the tenement house. I reckon it's a night off for the police department, or else they all want a night off. But let me tell you, if you didn't receive orders to give these fake alarms I'll know the reason why you did give them; that's all."
The sergeant was clear beat out. He apologized to the owner of the house, went down among his men and asked:
"Did you men hear those screams?"
"We did," came the answer.
"Did you hear the cries of 'fire, fire?'"
"We did," came the answer.
"All right; we'll find out about this."
"How are you going to find out all about it, sergeant?" popped in the roundsman.