The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-10-31
e KIT
NO. 1914
BY ELIAS LISLl
Copyright, 1901, by r. c. Mcclure

~ BY ELIAS Isle 4
= Copyright, 1901, by T. C. Mcclure 7
Observation-Disclosures
My acquaintance with No. 1914
began in Phil Casey's court Hand
ball is the most democratic sport in the
world. One day No. 1914 and found
ourselves pitted as partners against
| judge of the supreme court and a
lightweight prizetighter, and although
his honor played pretty rough game
We beat them by a close score; so
close was it, in fact, that spirit of ri.
! valry was engendered which eStab-
| lshed our competition as regular
Saturday afternoon event thereafter.
Later I met 1914 on his beat on the
big bridge, and when l was kept late
in my office that spring l would walk
across for the sake Of the talk with
my big police friend. A master of
hand, eye and temper 1 already knew
him to be; now l came to know him
as Il poet in the rough, beset with long
ings and emotions which he did not
himself understand. The sight Of the
full rugged ships. inbound with all
sails set or outbound for the great
unknown world, stirred the very soul
of him.
will We look at her now, walkin'
like great lady an with the shape
of one he would cry, with a kindling
eye to the curve Of the full bosOmed
sails. AN where might she be
Haund, l dunno? But it's we'll I'd like
to go with her."
"-And leave your place on the force:"
asked.
An I'll be dom it one of these
days. Why not? 1 have no wife nor
family an tidy sum in the bank"
And where will you go them
"Ah, where? That's thing no man
knows, meself least of ALL
One Friday evening as l was walk
ing across with the big policeman the
talk suddenly shifted from the NOR
rows game.
Sure, think the judge plays a lit
tie overland for his point" No. 1911
had been saying; that backhander
he took me over the jaw, now, an me
just reachin' for the ball. A referee
wud ha' called hinder Oh him. Ac-
cidental? Sure, don't l know that his
honor Is too much of gentleman
WhiSht! What's that, now" he inter
rupted himself as dark shadow shot
in front Of us.
a nighthawk out collecting insects"
said l.
rs it, now? l think witches was in
vinted whin the first Irishman clapped
on to one of thin birds. Do We think.
sir'-he spoke diffidently and after a
pause-'that there is anything in this
bclafe that we was once some kind of
animal or crature?"
1T is very old belief, John" said l.
"Thin, IL there's breath of truth in
it think was some crattlre that flew
before l was born this time to be a
policeman. There's times, sir, when
Ill be beyant by the rail there an I'll
be lookin' an longin' an longin' an
lookin' till could leap out to take my
CIUllttS WIN lllc Sttl
With such vehemence did he speak
that l was disturbed. "Why. John"
said I, you'd do well to ask for
transfer. Gazing down u hundred odd
feet till you want to leap isn't a safe
diversion
can We needn't to be worryin'
about that sir, thank ye," said he
quietly. I'll not take the jump--not
before the birds tache ME to fly"
We'll need to be in our best trim
for them tomorrow afternoon" said l
as he turned back to his beat. $50
keep your head steady, John"
When | reached the court on the fol-
lowing afternoon, l found the light
weight, who rejoiced in the cognomen
of Blunt Hahno, serving long ones into
the left hand rear corner, which was
the supreme courts weakest point. No.
12l4 did not appear, and had to pick
up recruit, whereby the bench and
the ring won hollow victory. On the
following morning the newspapers
printed paragraphs to the effect that
Patrolman John Hannerty was miss
ing, and the evening papers exploited 1t
into mystery. 1t seems that the OIL
Ger had disappeared from his beat on
the bridge. That he did not leave at
either end seemed certain, for he would
have had to pass several brother OIL
GERS. At II 80 he had been seen near
the railing; at three minutes after mid
night he had gone, leaving neither
trace or clew. There seemed to be but
one inference, and five evening papers
printed pictures of the alleged suicide
which were chiefly remarkable from
the fact that no two Of them were In
the faintest degree alike. What little
element of mystery there was left WAS
considered to be destroyed by the
washing ashore of policeman's coat
md trousers on the following morning.
That evening the mystery had sud
den revival, for police badge No. 1914
reached the bridge police station by
mail. Detective work, amateur and
| professional, got no further than the
| fact that the badge had been mailed in
n plain white envelope in a mailbox
near the water front. Theories We're
advanced, refuted. defended and re-
placed by new theories until some
newer matter came to occupy the pub
lies avid mind.
At the handball court No. 1911 was
not forgotten, and in many q hard
fought contest with his honor and
Bunt l missed his quick eye and indie
structible hands, for he had few equals
at the sport. One day nearly six
months after his disappearance, when
the judge and l were arguing a point
single handed while awaiting Blunt
and a fourth man, there burst in alb
ruDtly sailorman In bad repair. So
close behind him as to suggest a vIo-
lent, propulsive force came the prize
fighter.
"He didn't come when 1 foist as'
him." painted Blunt, 80 1 had to Jolt VI
his Manners indicating cut lip and
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"
Z donna about ~ Johnny HsapsE