Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1908-07-11
THE BADGE OF
POLICEMAN OROON
By o. HENRY.

women have looked upon one an
other for the first time and be
come instantly cnamored. 1t is a
risky process, this love ut first sight
before she has seen him in Bradstrcet
or he has seen her in curl papers. But
these things do happen, and one in
stance must form a theme for this Sto-
ry, though not thank heaven, to the
overShadowiug of more vital and i'm
portant subjects, such as drink. po-
liccmcn. horses and carldomS.
During certain war Il troop calling
itself the Gentle Riders rode into his
tory and one or two ambuSCadcS. Th"
Gentle Riders We're recruited from the
aristocracy of the wild men of the
west and the wild men Of the ariS-
tocracy of the east. In khaki there Is
little telling them o.e from another
so they became good friends and com
radeS all around.
Ellsworth RemSen. whose old Knick
erbockcr descent atoncd for his modest
rating at only ten millions, ate his can
ned beef gnyly by the camptlres of the
Gentle Riders. The war was a great
lark to him, so that he scarcely regret
ted polo and pIankcd shad.
One of the troopers WAS a well set
up. affablc. cool Young man who called
himself O'Roon. To this Young man
RctnScn took an especial liking. The
two rode side by side during the ia
nous mooted uphill char: c that was
1,,, IN- I1n
Spaniards and aftcrward by the Demo
Gratis.
After the war RcmscM came back to
his polo and Shad one day a well
set up, alfable, cool young man dis
turbed him at his club, and H. and
O'Roon We're soon pounding each other
and exchanging opprobious epithr.s
after the manner of long lost friends
ORoon looked sccdy and out of luck
and perfectly contentcd. But it seem
ed that his content was only apparent
"Get me a job, Ecm%cn," he said
"I've just handed a barber my last
shilling"
NO trouble at all" said Rcmscn.
Il know a lot of men who have banks
particular line YOU fancy"
Yes" said O'Roon with Il look of
interest Il took Il walk in your Cen
trail park this morning I'd like to be
one of those boobies ON horseback
That would he about the ticket Ee-
sides, it's the only thing could do. |
can ride Il little, and the fresh air suits
me- Think YOU could land that for
me-"
Remsen was sure that he could. al |
in a very short time he did. And they
who were not above looking at mount
ed policemen might have seen a well
set up. aifablc. cool young man on a
pranCing chestnut Stced attending to
his duties along the drivcways of the
park
And now, at the extreme ri * of Wei
rying old gentlemen who carry leather
fob chains and elderly ladies who-but.
no; grandmother herself yet thrills at
foolish. immortal Romeo there must
be n hint of love at first sight.
1t came just as RemSen was Strolling
into Fifth avenue from his club few
doors away.
A motor car was creeping along foot
by foot, impeded by a frcshet of vchi-
clcS that filled the street. In the car
were a chauffeur and an old gcntlem1n
with snowy side whiskerS and a Scotch
plaid cap which could not he worn
while automObiling except by a per
sonagc. Not even wine agent would
dare do it. But these two were OF no
consequence except perhaps for the
guiding of the machine and the paying
for it. At the old gentleman'S side sat
a young lady more beautiful than
pOmegranatc blossoms more exquisite
than the first quarter moon viewed at
twilight through the tops of OleanderS.
Remsen saw her and knew his fate.
He could have flung himself under
the very wheels that conveyed her, but
he knew that would be the last means
of attracting the attention of those
who ride in motor cars. Slowly the
auto passed and, if we place the poets
above the autoists. carried the heart of
Rcmscn with it. Here was n large city
of millions and many women who at a
certain distance appear to resemble
pOmcgranate blossoms. Yet he hoped
to see her again. for each one fancicS
that his romance has its own tutelary
guardian and divinity.
Luckily for RcmSen's peace of mind,
there came Il diversion in the GuiSe of
a reunion of the Gentle Riders of the
city There were not many of them,
perhaps a score and there were waSSail
and things to eat and speeches, and
the Spanard was bearded again in
recapitulatiOn. And when daylight
threatened them the survivors prepared
to depart. But some remained upon
the battlefield. One of these was
Trooper O'Roon, who was not seasoned
to potent liquids. His legs declined to
fulfill the obligations they had sworn
to the police department.
I'm stewed, Rcmsen," said ORoon
to his friend. "Why do they build ho-
tells that go round and round like cath
crime wheels? They'll take away my
shield and break me. | can think and
talk con-con- -cOnsec-s sec -secutiVely, but
| s-s-stammer with my feet. I've got
to 90 on duty in three hours The jig
is up, Remsen; the Jig is up, l tell
you"
Look at me-" said RemSen, who was
his smiling self, pointing to his own
face Whom do you see here?"
GOO fellow" said O'Roon dizzi!y,
GOO old Remsen."