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

　　ruptured1 at the arm-pit and a stream of sawdust poured from the

　　wound. He was a stuffed Chief of Police.