a chief of police who had seen an officer beating a thug was very indignant, and said he must not do so any more on pain of dismissal.

“don’t be too hard on me,” said the officer, smiling; “i was beating him with a stuffed club.”

“nevertheless,” persisted the chief of police, “it was a liberty that must have been very disagreeable, though it may not have hurt. please do not repeat it.”

“but,” said the officer, still smiling, “it was a stuffed thug.”

in attempting to express his gratification, the chief of police thrust out his right hand with such violence that his skin was ruptured at the arm-pit and a stream of sawdust poured from the wound. he was a stuffed chief of police.