The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1902-08-14


lies avid mind.
At the handball court No. 1914 was
not forgotten, and in many a hard
fought contest with his honor and
Bunt I missed his quick eye and inde-
structible hands, for he had few equals
at the sport. One day nearly six
months after his disappearance, when
the Judge and were arguing point
single handed while awaiting Bunt
and a fourth man, there burst in alb
ruptly sailorman in bad repair. So
close behind him as to suggest vio-
lent, propulsive force came the prize
fighter.
"He didn't come when l fOist asst
him." painted Bunt, $50 had to jolt up
his Manners" indicating cut lip and
a badly banged eye which the visitor
was ruefully rubbing. II caught him
down here on the river front. He was
tellin' about Johnny Hannerty. Speak
up, We dago Swede, or I'll hand yer an
other"
II donno about no Johnny Hammer
ty," said the sailor doggedly, but with
an eye to Bunt's twitching left. II was
tellin' some mates about a crazy man
what flew aboard the Giovanna"-.
"Wait a moment" interrupted the
Judge. "Let us get this straight. What
did you say he didY'
"He said he flew aboard" said the
sailor. II donno if he spoke true. l
never seen him fly, but 1 donno no
other way he could have got aboard"
"Tell the rest of it-tell the rest of it,
or I'll tear yer ear OFF, vociferated the
ferocious Bunt.
| "Hahno," said his honor quietly, cor
der a drink for our seafaring friend,
please, and let him spin his yarn unin-
terruptedly."
Being refreshed, the sailor proceeded
with better grace: ''We'd passed un-
der the bridge about midnight, on our
way out, last April fools day. Twas
a high tide, for we just scraped under
with our maintop gallant mast down.
It was my watch on deck. We was
just gettin' into the bay when see
man comm down the mainmast rat
lines. He wasn't no man we'd shipped
an he didn't have no clothes only shirt
an drawers an shoes. l was mighty
surprised, an so was the mate. He up
to hit the man, but the other feller let
him have it, an the mate didn't wake
lup for near an hour. He hit a queer
lblow-kinder like this And the sailor
Igave a very fair imitation of the driv-
ing blow peculiar to handball players
and a thing to keep out the way Of.
''Theh he done queer thing. Our tug
was just putin back. He walked to
1.-THE rail an threw oyer q little white
IvHn alyo To +I,o +xrcs Tot xr,1o
it belongs, will We? he calls, an goes
down after the crew."
'That was the badger exclaimed.
'But there is very slim proof that
this was No. 1914" objected his honor.
'Tell him about the scrap; tell it just
like you told it before" cried .Bunt.
"Wait till you hear that, Judge"
"Oh, the fight" said the sailor. "He
done his best. 1t took near the hull
crew to get him in irons. l got a
cracked rib from it," And he rubbed
his side.
"a short left jolt, wasn't ity' cried
Bunt
II guess it was. Anyhow, it was
when was up close an it finished me.
He hit awful quick an awful hard an
tween his teeth like a snake"
"John Hannerty, by heavensw' cho-
rused the three Of us Except that
Bunt put it little stronger), for there
was no mistaking that kissing expul-
sion Of the breath which followed
every one of No. 1214's most effective
drives.
"But how on earth could he have
got aboard when he was on the bridge
five minutes before midnightW' de-
manded the judge.
tSaid he flew aboard like bird" re-
asserted the sailor positively. "Never
seen him fly, but he must ha' got there
somehow"
"May it please the court" said, 81
can clear this mystery. Here was the
, Giovanna going out into the world and
. there on the bridge was No. 1914 with
Il soul full of yearning. 1t was only
Il step from the bridge roadway to
the ships maintop masthead. The soul
, full of yearning gets the best of 1914
and he makes the step, casts away his
, uniform and becomes q mysterious dis
appearance"
, "But what has become of himY'
, asked the judge
"Quit us at Bonos Airs" said the
sailor "Found a lot of dagOes there
, battin' little baseball round room
with their hands. Went in an played
! one of 'em, then two of 'em, then three
, of 'em, an got all their money. When
we sailed, he was fixin' up place OF
, his own, an said he'd be an alderman
, in six months if they had 'em there"
= "That is No. 1914 beyond reasonable
doubt" said the judge. 'Shall we re
, port the matterY ..... d
: ''Nit," said Bunt. "He might want
!, to git back his job on the police some
day."
So we held our peace, and on the po
lice records No. 1914 is still down al
, missing.