The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1902-08-14
e KIT /
NO. 1914
BY ELIAS LISLE

Z - A - i
q BY ELIAS Isle Z
Copyright, 1901. by 7. G. Mcclure +
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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
lightweight prizefghter, and although
his honor played a 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-
lished our competition as a regular
Saturday afternoon event thereafter.
Later l met 1914 on his beat on the
big bridge, and when l was kept late
in my Office that spring 1 would walk
across for the sake Of the talk with
my big police friend. A master Of
hand eye and temper already knew
him to be; now 1 came to know him
as 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 ye look at her now, walkin'
like great lady an with the shape
of oney' he would cry, with kindling
eye to the curve Of the full bosomed
sails. can where might she be
bound, l dunno? But it's well I'd like
to go with her." E
"And leave your place on the forceT
I 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 thenY'
"Ah, where? That's a thing no man
knows, meself least of ALL"
| One Friday evening as 1 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 I know that his
honor Is too much of a gentleman
Whisht! What's that, now?" he inter
rupted himself as dark shadow shot
in front Of us.
"a nighthawk out collecting insects ~
said 1.
'Ts 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
belafe that we was once some kind OF
animal or crature?"
'It Is a very old belief, John," said
'Thin, if there's breath of truth in
it think I was some crature that few
before l was born this time to be a
policeman. There's times, sir, wher
I'll be beyant by the rail there an I'll
be loOkin' an longin' an lOngin' an
lookin' till could leap out to take my
chances with the sea birds there"
With such vehemence did he speak
that l was disturbed. "Why, John,
said 1, you'd do well to ask for 6
transfer. Gazing down hundred ode
feet till you want to leap isn't safe
diversion"
"An' We needn't to be worryin
about that, sir, thank ye," said III
quietly. 'I'll not take the jump-nO
before the birds tache me to fly"
"We'll need to be in our best trim
, for them tomorrow afternoon" said
} as he turned back to his beat. "St
keep your head steady, john"
Il When 1 reached the court on the fol
lowing afternoon, / found the light
weight, who rejoiced in the cognomeI
of Bunt Hahno, serving long ones int
the left hand rear corner, which wal
the supreme courts weakest point. No
}, 1914 did not appear, and / had to picl
np recruit, whereby the bench ant
the ring won hollow victory. On thu
!, following morning the newspaper
:, printed paragraphs to the effect tina
Patrolman John Hannerty was miss
ing, and the evening papers exploited
into a mystery. 1t seems that the off
Ger had disappeared from his beat OF
} the bridge. That he did not leave a
! either end seemed certain, for he woul'
, have had to pass several brother off
GERS At 11:55 he had been seen nea
the railing; at three minutes after mid
,, night he had gone, leaving neithe
trace or clew. There seemed to be bu
one inference and five evening paper
3 printed pictures of the alleged suicid
I which were chiefly remarkable frOI
a the fact that no two Of them We're 1
, the faintest degree alike. What littl
element Of mystery there was left wa
considered to be destroyed by tn
washing ashore of policeman's Goa
and trousers on the following morning
That evening the mystery had sue
' den revival. for police badge No. 121
: reached the bridge police station b
y mail. Detective work, amateur an
!. professional. got no further than tn
4 fact that the badge had been mailed
plain white envelope in mailbo
near the water front. Theories WEI
advanced, refuted, defended and r
placed by new theories until sen