Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1902-09-02
e KIT
NO. 1914

BY ELIAS LIsLE


N.i1NtfNo pttNtd dS paItiieiS dSdiiSL Z
/ judge of the supreme court and q
lightweight prizefighter. and although
his honor played a pretty rough game
we beat them by a close score; sc
close was it, in fact, that spirit of ri
yally was engendered which estab.
lished our competition as a regular
Saturday afternoon event thereafter
4 Later | met 1214 on his beat on the
big bridge, and when | was kept Late
in my office that spring l would walk
across for the sake of the talk with
my big police friend. 4 master of
hand, eye and temper ! already knew
him to be; now l 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 rugged ships, inbound with all
sails set or outbound for the great
unknown world. stirred the very soul
of him.
sWill We look at her now, walkin'
like a great lady an with the shape
of oner' he would cry, with 81 kindling
eye to the curve of the full bosomed
sails AN where might she be
bound, dunno? But it's well Ia like
to- go with her."
and leave your place OH the forcey'
/ asked.
An III be dom it one of these
days. Why not2 | have no wife nor
family an a tidy sum IN the bank
And where will you 20 them
"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 a lit
tie overland for his point" No. 1914
had been saying: that backhander
he took me over the Jaw. now. an me
tust reachin for the bali, A referee
wud ha' called hinder on him. Ac-
cidental? Sure, don't | 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 1t. now? | think witches vas In
vinted whin the first Irishman capped
on to one of thin birds. DO We think.
sir''-he spoke diEidently and after a
pause-.'that there is anything in this
Ii
animal or craturef"
ut is a very old belief. John" said l..
''rhin. if there's a breath of truth ia
it think WAS some crature that flew
before | was bern this time to be Il
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 | could leap out TO take my
chances with the sea birds there"
With such yehemence did he speak
that | was disturbed why. John, .
said /, you'd do well to ask for a
transfer. Gazing down hundred odd
feet till you want TO leap isn't safe
diversion
AN We ncsdEt 70 be worryin
about that. Sit. thc.k ye'' said he
quietly. I'll rot take the jump not
before the birsss tachp me to fly"
We'll need to he in our best trim
for them tomorrow afternoon" said |
as he turned back to his beat so
keep your head steady. Joha.''
When | reached the court Oh the fol
lowing afternoon. | found the light
weight. who rejoiced in the cognomen
of Bunt latino. 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 a recruit. Wig elsy tha bench and
the ring won a Ia,i.cw victory On the
following nora.ag lie newspapers
printed paraerahts q TIE effect that
Patrolman John iianlerty was miss
ing. and the eseiang paIs RS exploited 1t
into a mystery. 1t seems HAT the Off
Ger had disas1cared fro.sl lis beat on
the bridge That be did not leave at
either end seemed certain for lie would
have had 90 pass several brother Off
GERS. At Il::.5 he had heea seen near
the railing: nj three minutes after mid-'
night he had gone. leaving neither
trace or clew. There seemed to be but
one inference. ard Use evening papers
printed pictures Of the alleged suicide
which were chiefly remarkable from
the fact that 10 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 4 pclicFman's coat
and trousers on the following morning.
That evening tic mystery lad d 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
a ptain white envelope in a mailbox
near The Nsses front Theories were
advanced. refuted. defended and re-
placed hy new theories Until some
newer matter came TO occupy the pub
lies avid mind.
At the hanaI;ali court No 1914 was
not forge teri. and In n1auy Ii bard
fought ecii.est With bis honor and
Bunt | missed his quick eye and indie
struetible hands. for he had few equals
at the sport. One day nearly six
months AFTER his disappearance. when
the Judge ard were arguing ri po:nt
s.n1ie handed while awaiting Bnnt
and i fourth man. there burst iii alb
rflpsly j slilornan In lad repair. So