Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1902-08-28
e 4 IT
NO. 1914
BY ELIAS Isle
Upright, 1901, by T. c. Mcclure

10-.00--0@-.-:-06> 0-.-.0e 0e-.-.6 3
(; My acquaintance with Ne. 1914
, began IL Phil Casey's court Hand
| ball is the most democratic sport in the
world One day No. 1914 and l found
ourselves pitted as partners against a
| Judge OF the supreme court and a
lightweight prizefghter. and although
his honor played pretty rough game
We beat them by close score; so
close was it, in fact, that spirit or ri
yalry was engendered which estab-
! lished our competition as a regular
| Saturday afternoon event thereafter.
! Later / met 1914 on his beat on the
big bridge, and when | was kept late
in my Office that spring would walk
across for the sake OF the talk with
my big police friend. A master Of
hand, eye and temper I already knew
him to be; now I came to know him
as a poet In the rough, beset with long
| ings and emotions which he did not
himself understand. The sight OF the
full rigged ships, inbound with all
sails set or outbound for the great
unknown world, stirred the very soul
of him.
"Will ye look at her now, walkin'
like a great lady an with the shape
of oner' he would cry, with kindlinS
eye to the curve Of the full bosomed
sails. "An' where might she be
bound, / dunno? But it's well I'd like
to go with her."
And leave your place on the force"
asked.
AN I'll be doin' it one Of these
days. Why not? | have no wife nor
family an a tidy sum in the bank"
"And where will you go then"
"Ah, where? That's thing no man
knows, meself least Of ALL"
One Friday evening as | was walk
Ing across with the big policeman the
talk suddenly shifted from the NOR
rows game.
"Sure, think the judge plays lit
tie overheard for his point" No. 1914
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 on him. Ac-
cidental? Sure, don't l know that his
honor is too much Of gentleman
WLishtl What's that, nowr he inter-
rupted himself as dark shadow shot
In front Of us.
"a nIghthawk out collecting insects"
said /.
'Ts Il, now? think witches was In
vinted whin the first Irishman clapped
on to one Of thin birds. Do ye think.
slr"-he spoke difiidently and after
pause-"that there is anything In this
belafe that we was once some kind OF
animal or cratureY
'It is a very old belief, John," said l.
"Thin, IL there's breath OF truth In
It think ! was some crature that flew
before / was born this time to be q
policeman. There's times, sir. when
III be beyant by the rail there an I'll
be lookin' an longin' an longin' an
lookIn' till I could leap out to take my
chances with the sea birds there"
With such vehemence did he speak
that ! was disturbed. "Why, John"
said /, "you'd do well to ask for n
transfer. Gazing down a hundred odd
feet till you want to leap Isn't safe
diversion"
"An' ye needn't to be worryin'
about that, sir, thank ye." said he
quietly. 'T'll not take the Jump-not
before the birds tache me to fly"
"Wc'll need to be In our best trim
for them tomorrow afternoon" said /
as he turned back to his beat. $50
keep your head steady, John"
When l reached the court on the fol-
lowing afternoon. / found the light
weight, who rejolced In the cognomen
Of Bunt Hahno, serving long ones into
the left hand rear corner, which was
the supreme courts weakest point. No.
1914 did not appear, and ! had to pick
up n recruit, whereby the bench and
tho ring won q 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 II
into mystery. IL seems that the OFF,
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 Off
GERS. At II 55 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 lye evening papers
printed pictures OF tho alleged suicide
which were chiefly remarkable from
the fact that no two Of them were In
the falntest degree alike. What little
element Of mystery there was left was
considered TO be destroyed by the
washing ashore OF pollceman's coat
and trousers on the following morning.
That evening the mystery had sud
den revival. for police badge No. 1914
reached the bridge police station by
mall. Detective work, amateur and
professional, got no further than the
fact that the badge had been mailed In
a plain white envelope In maIlbox
near the water front. Theories were
advanced, rcfuted, defended and ro-
placed by new theories until some
newer matter came TO occupy the pub
lies avid mind.
At the kandball court No. 1914 was
not forgotten, and In many n hard
fought contest with his honor and
Bunt missed his quick eye and inde-
gtructible hands. for he had few equals
at the sport One day nsarly six
months nftcr his disappearance, when
the judge md I were arguing a point
single handed while awaiting Bunt
and q fourth man, there burst In NIB
ruptly sallorman in bad repair. So
close behind him as to suggest vio-
lent, propulslve force came the prize
fighter.
"Hc didn't come when | foist nst
him." painted Bunt, 80 had to jolt up
his manners" indicating cut lip and
II badly banged eye which the visitor
was rucfully rubbing. II caught him
down here on the river front He was
tellln' about Johnny Hannerty. Speak
up, ye dago swede, or III hand yer an
other"
~ donno about no Johnny Hammer
ty," gaid the saIlor doRgcdly, but with
On eye to Bunt's twitchIng left. II was
tellint aotna fnnfea nbout n cFaZv mnu