Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1902-09-05
MORNING. SEPTEMBER
EXT
NO. 1914
BY ELIAS Isle
Copyright, 1901, by T. @. Mcclure

- - -
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 a
judge of the supreme court and a
lightweight prizenghter, and although
his honor played pretty rough game
we beat them by a close score; SO
close was 1t, in fact, that spirit of ri
valry was engendsred which estab-
lished our competition as regular
Saturday afternoon event thereaf ter
Later l met 1914 on his beat on the
big bridge. and when l 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 l already knew
him to be; now | 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.
win ye look at her now, walkin
like a great lady an with the shape
Of Onep he would cry, with a kindllng
eye to the curve OF the full bosomed
sails AN where might she be
bound, dunno2 But it's well I'd like
to go with her."
And leave your place on the force"
l asked.
AN I'll be doln' 1t one of these
days. Why notP | have no wife nor
family an tidy sum In the bank"
And where will you go thenT
"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 lit
tie overheard for his point" No. 1914
had been saying; that backhander
he took me over the jaw, now, an me
just N
wud ha' called hinder on him. Ac.
cidental? Sure, don't | know that his
honor Is too much of u gentleman
Whishtl What's that, nOw2" he inter
rupted himself as dark shadow shot
In front Of us.
"a nighthawk out collecting insects"
said |.
as It, now? I think witches was In
vinted whln the first Irlshman clapped
on to one OF thin birds. Do ye think,
sir"-he spoke difildently and after u
pause that 'ysBap}ica nything IN this
belafe that we was once some KIND o.
animal or cratureT
1T Is a very old belief. John" said /.
"Thln, II there's a breath OF truth In
II | think was some crature that few
before | was born this time to be
policeman. There's times, sir, when
I'll be beyant by the rail there an III
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 | was disturbed. why, John"
said |, you'd do well to ask for
transfer. Gazing down q 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. "I'll not take the jump not
before the birds tache me to fly"
wen need to be In our best trim
for them tomorrow afternoon" said
az he turned back to his beat. 80
keep your head steady, John"
When | reached the court on the fol
lowing afternoon, found the light
weight, who reJolced In the cognomen
OF Blunt 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 recruit, whereby the bench and
the ring won hollow victory. on the
following morning the newsp
printed paragraphs to the effect
PatrOlman John Hannerty was
Ing and the evening papers explo
into a mystery. II seems that tn
Ger had disappeared from his b
the bridge. That he did not IT,
either end seemed certain, for he
have had to pass several broth
GERS. At 80 he had been SEE
the railing; at three minutes art
night he had gone, leaving
trace or clew. There seemed Il
one Inference. and five evening
printed pictures Of the alleged
which were chiefly remnrkab
the fact that no two OF them
the faintest degree alike. VII
element OF mystery there was
considered to be destroyed
washing ashore Of pollcema
and trousers on the following
That evening the mystery ha
den revival, for police badge
reached the bridge police ST.
mail. Detective work, amat
professional. got no further
fact that the badge had been M
a plain white envelope IN a -
near the water front. Theorie,
advanced. refuted, defended a
placed by new theories until
newer matter came to occupy ID
lies avid mind.
At the handball court No. 12l
not forgotten, and In many a
fought contest with his homo
Bunt missed his quick eye an,
structible hands, for he had few
at the sport. One day near
months after his DISAPPEARANCE
the fudge and I were arguing 1