9 flew open
and the head and face of a man appeared; it was the head and face of
Commissioner Dent.

"This friend of mine," said Editor Woodsit, sternly, "complains that he
can't get your department to connect the pipe with the water main in
front of his property. My friend is a Republican, Dent, and he is a
reformer. What excuse have you to offer for neglecting him?"

Commissioner Dent turned very pale and he vainly tried to stammer an
apology.

"This is a pretty kind of reform!" cried Editor Woodsit, savagely. "If
a similar complaint occurs again I shall have your case investigated by
my legal and spiritual counsellor, Joshua Selah, and may be have you
impeached. Now see that Mr. Baker's reasonable demands are complied
with at once."

With these words Editor Woodsit touched another button, and the head
and face of Commissioner Dent disappeared and the top closed down over
the box. It was all the work of two or three minutes, and it was
certainly the most marvellous experience I had ever met with. My
wonderment increased when I learned an hour later, upon my arrival
home, that less than fifteen minutes (as I figure it) after I left
Editor Woodsit's office an employe of Commissioner Dent's department
came galloping up to my place on a foam-flecked steed, and, vaulting
from his saddle, unswung his melting-furnace, soldering-irons, and
other tools, and, quicker than you could say a pater noster, tapped the
water main and made the desired connection with the pipe that fed my
premises.

"I guess you must have a pull at the City Hall," said Uncle Si; and
then he went on to tell me how people who have no pull have to wait
weeks, sometimes, before their just requirements are answered by the
municipal authorities. If what Uncle Si tells me is true I cannot be
too glad that I have what is even more efficacious than a pull at the
City Hall--a friend in Editor Woodsit.

XIV

THE VICTIM OF AN ORDINANCE.

And now that a plentiful supply of water was provided, it seemed proper
to celebrate by giving the lawn (poor abused thing!) a deluge of the
refreshing element. The exceeding ardor of the sun and the absence of
rain had wrought havoc with the grass and shrubbery. The drought
seemed determined to finish the work of destruction which the workmen,
with their picks and spades, had begun. With a joyous heart,
therefore, I applied myself to the task of rescuing the fainting
vegetation. I borrowed Mr. Tiltman'