Arizona republican., 1911-11-27

Whatever ye do," his captain had cautioned him, "don't so to drinki.. with any of thim loafers around here. There's a rule on the departmint that an officer mustn't inter saloon excipt on duty. Ye can see it's a dead letter But it'll be hard for ye if ye get in a row some time, in one of thim places. If ye want sup of beer occasionally, take it when ye're of duty"
 But few days of watching told him that Farrell clearly was not obeying his mandate-or, rather, was not fol- lowing his advice. The policeman was of a sociable disposition apparently, thought his chief disgustedly, but he refrained from speaking to him on the subject. Farrell never showed the eff fleets of liquor. except in slightly heightened color, always called up promptly and followed the routine of his station in methodical fashion. But he remained a good deal of mystery to his commanding officers.
 Do you believe Farrell's stringin' in with that bunch on the next block?" Hagerty once demanded of Sergeant Collins in secret conclave. It'll be a bad thing for him if he is. They've got too many black marks against them. Young Connor, one of that gang is in the pen now. Yet here's Farrell comin' in night after night, without ever havin' trouble with thim."
 The Sergeant shook his head in slow perplexity.
 Hes a decent, well-spoken boy" he remarked in a worried tone; but cant size him up some way. I don't think he's stringin' in with that gang. But I mind a few nights ago-I was making the rounds on the upper end of the precinct-that I heard some of that bunch up at Grogan's maxim cracks about him as he walked past. He heard em all right. But he never batted an eye. You know how those fellows stand in with tn administra. ton? Well. I'd told him not to beat any of them up if he ever made a pinch, just as a matter of policy. But l didn't tell him to stand for them abusin' him any. One of them chucked half brick right near him-he threw it into a puddle Farrell was passin' and did it on purpose to splash the water over him. It splashed all over his trOu sers. Yet he made out he didn't no tice and walked on."
 Yet I saw him takin' a drink with one of thim fellers, not long since, said the mystifed captain, as he slammed down his desk. There's somethin' don't like about that man.
 Even faint whisper spreads-anG oft times with considerable speed. II was not long before a hint or two that Farrell was letting himself be "bluffed" by the tougher element of the region began to percolate through the night squad And this was made certainty when, after walking in pairs on Saturday evenings as was the GUS. tom in the precinct on account of its turbulence on pay nights, Farrell's va rious companions had all brought back stories which. small enough in them selves. seemed to justify the whispered suspicion that he was of color"
 Any man who would let them fellys on the north edge of the beat talk back to him needs to be taught somethin'." said a srizzled patrolman of long expe- rience in the ward. as he conversed with a few fellow officers. "Whin I wint past there with him last Saturday, he first suggested walkin' on the far side of the street. told him l wanted to see who was in that gang on the cor her. Whin we passed they commenced maxim remarks about brass buttons and solid bone heads. l turns quick enough an grabs one of them. askin If he means me. He says, No, sor, scared like, for I was gettin' my night stick ready l gives him a shake and asks if he means tn other officer. He hesitates a minute, so l shakes him and he says no again. But there's Farrell--younger man than l am stands there sayin' 'ah. come on Why, that's just encouragin' them guys. An l didn't like the way he acted walkin' back down the beat"
 Hes afraid. that's what he is," said a quiet voice from the rear of the room. where the wagon-man was smok- ing his pipe.
 An, come, Jim-don't say that give him a chance" burst from the others. For to accuse a policeman oi being afraid was in the minds Of every loyal officer at once the worst insult and the one which needed most proving in the entire category of accu sations Never in the history of their department had any man been sum moned before the board on charges oi cowardice in spite of numerous cases reported of neglect of duty. When g solitary case had been reported in an