The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-06-01

ting silent. also eolored. For although
eowardice was not charged IL was i'm
piled.
There was silence for a moment as
the president concluded. Then he
arose.
"Ofhcer." he said. as he tore the
charges into slips. my colleague and
! have had n few minutes OF discus
no before We called you in after wit
Messing your work. In view OF your
recent performance. we not only dis
miss these charges. but will see IL
there is any ground for malice be-
hind them-wellT'
Patrolman Farrell ha6 risen to his
feet and in a husky v5.o5 that could
scarcely be heard had raised his hand
in interruption.
Those charges amt malicious. gen.
tlemen-they're true" he WHISPERED.
For several moments nothing could
be heard in the board room save the
heavy breathing OF the patrolman.
Once he raised an anguished face and
moaned:
"Gentlemen-if you'll give me a mo-
ment-if you'll give me a chance to do
what's right"
Again there was silence. Not a
member OF the board stirred as The
big policeman pressed his hands
gains his face in a strong effort TO
control his emotions. Then, with a
gulping sound. Farrell Strengthened
himself and commenced to speak in a
hard. expressionless voice.
Its the truth. gentlemen: I'm a
coward. I've tried not to show It, but
I've done 1t. I've always been that
way. When I was a boy. / had a STEP
father-he used TO come home drunk
and beat me-beat me I'll the doctor
said my nervous system was shattered.
At school. I vas bigger than most boys
OF my age-aa' stronger. Yet smaller
boys could lick me. Somethin' seemed
TO turn 10 water in me, when 1 went
TO fight back. would lose nv
strength. In all my fights. gentlemen,
! was licked. | grew up that way
and you don't know what Il means to
a boy, year after year. / lost conf.
dence in myself-couldn't do anything
as well as the rest. An it's told on
me. it's told on me-!
Il learned how TO use a revolver
the drill sergeant can show YOU my
record. When my mother and ! moved
here / HknrnhW "a Na..- 81 - -
life behind me. II didn't take any
bravery in me to kill that steer you
read about Just now! can shoot. 50
he never had a chance. I could have
dropped that drunken Niger out there,
before be ever raised a gun. That
wasn't bravery. Yet let hose fellows
up in my precinct blum me. because
! couldn't use a revolver in a little
scrap like that-an' IL I'd fought them
Id have been licked. strong as I am.
It's the old yellow streak. comm back.
Them charges are right. gentlemen,
I'm a coward"
The ofncer buried his face in his
hands again. For an instant no one
spoke. Then the president arose
softly. and put his hand on the police
mans shoulder.
NO man whose nervous system has
beer shattered can say he has a yellow
streak. after the way you've acted,
Farrell. he said. slowly. You've sim
ply been At a disadvantage al your
life and don't realize now that you are
on an even footing with any adver-
sary. You have the law behind you as
well. You are o a coward. either.
II took moral courage n tell ne what
you've Just done. and We need moral
courage In this department. Just a. We
need the physical Kind % bravery. You
haven't found yourself. that's All.
Now. listen. The charges are dis-
missed. I will see you are made a
desk man until you appreciate what I
say-that confidence I'm yourself Is
what you want and that you viii he
supported when you do your duty. DO
you want 10 Try this new rum"
Policeman Farrell lifted hls head
and his eyes we're vet.
I'D like 70. sir. he said simply;
and hope. God vilin'. that n I come
before 70 again. II won't be a. Farrell
the coward
II was At the next quarterly meeting
OF the board that the president. with
a grim chuckle. read the aocount % q
capture OF tao armed Italians. badly
wanted az Witnesses In a "black hand
case. BY a policeman who had knocked
them down with hts night stick ana
had draEged them 10 a patrol bor
through q shrieking mob Of the prison
ers friends. who had been deferred By
the omcsrs demeanor from trying %
rescue bis captives
The omcers name "a Farrell" r.
marked me president slowly. n rather
think. gentlemen. that the young maa
has found himself