OCR Text |
Show A 5TADISG J.1UIT OF OXE. THE ilYCrDtrOCII FOMUKR WHO WALKS OS CCAB1J llff moripv, Weeks ago a platform flfly fed lorn? ?2! fcl".cl on the roof of a six story buildlss cTfibe corner of Sixth avenue and 0D8 cf t!-j cross streets. It is a corner where the elevated railroad drops and takes up many thousand persons dalij j and the cross slteet Is as greatly crowded as any other thoroughfare In the great city. On the day after Uie platform was put In place, at 10 o'clock In the mornlns;, a old!er fully armed and uniformed, with martial tread and pikelike rigidity, appeared hpon the platform and began to keep guard over the city. He wore (and still eirs) a nlue coat, with white trousers, white gloves aud accoutrements accoutre-ments and a while helmet. Whenever he reaches cither end of the platform ha presents arms, then shifts his piece to Uie other shoulder and once mere Ivzlns his patient march. He lias probably been stared at more curiouly and longer than any oUur man has been stared at In this town. Passers by do not Uuow w hat to make of it. They stop and stare and gaze around lorsomeoneto help them out. and then return and gaze again. Whether he guards u jww-der jww-der magazine, or whether he Is there tn look for ships of war approaching ap-proaching up the Sotitld. or toire-vent toire-vent au invasion of the city by for-, vlgn foes creeping In over the roof tops no one can tell. What he sees and what he thinks about as he-paces he-paces up and down, and up aud dow n the pUUcnu.auii goes through his little act at each turn, may not be known. He never stops to look dowu at the crowd gaping up at him from below, and he never falters in his walk, even though tbe moke and clnlers puff up in his face and choke him. He goes on duty at 10 o'clock, takes an hour off at 12 and leaves at 5. In these six hours he walks the platform over 1, 1 W times aud shifts his gun 720 times. No one relieves him. No corporal's guard leave another man to fill his place. He Is a solitary standing army, and lie - drills, reprimands, promolts anil court-martials himself. Who ho is nobody can tell: the Slan In the Iron Mask was uo greater mystery. Uut while he keeps up his steady tread Uie city Is secure, for the Army of Sixth Avenue watches over it. Aeir York Shciting Sun. |