Evening star., 1919-03-09


lent ewagger. which marked
kim ~ an upper ONCE man." was
lacking. Enthusiastically he was in
haste.
The blus-e officers on duty here
locked up from their typewriters and
card indices at this debonair young
ehnt, ~ no hurried among them,
tnrortunity written on his hand.
sone face. They greeted him as he
want by; he answered only by wave
Of one large hand. His eyes were
hxsd ON the sergeant In charge.
@well, Tom. what's on your chest 2"
The sergeant put down the little wire-
tipped pointer with which he had
been counting the Zines on fnger-
print. and looked up over his shoul-
der.
Brennan paused beside the roll.
top desk. He cav the eyes of tho
other officers fixed on him. He smiled
Around on all Of them. then down
on the sergeant. q smile Of ineffable
ccmpiacency.
"Sorry for you, lads. working here
these nice days" His smile widened.
hAnd me Just goin' home to get ac-
duainted with my family"
i'Going to turn in your tools, Tom?
/ thought you were strong with the
commission" The Bertiilon man stop
ped on his way to the measuring
room long enough to deliver this
Brennan continued smiling imper-
turably. mot yet. Vacation for me.
Going to the country"
where you going this year. Tom 2"
The sergeant voiced inquiry for the
others.
Bennan shook his head. Sorry
can't tip the place off, sergeant. You
see"--his manner became exagger-
atedly confidential and included the
entire room--"it's Just little viii
lage where few Of the best OF us
bankers and business men. you know.
boys--take our rest. And--you un-
derstand how 1t is. of course--tf we
let down. the bars once. 1t would be
common"
Going to crush in with that faro
dealers front you're sporting today?
the Bertillon man inquired.
This sarcasm, which was directed
toward Brennan'a bIack-and-white
striped raiment, brought Joy to the
rest OF tho room. But Brennan ig-
DOr00 II.
Tomorrow morning. he said. slow
" and impressiveiy. II show in white
fiannels, Just like the lads down in
Burlingame when they line up to
watch a game Of polo" He chuckled.
You ought to see me when ] put that
suit on. IT took my wife week to
pick It out. When get into 1t. they'll
take me for somebody with a title
and make me pay my hotel bill in ad-
vance,"
He waved his hand at the departing
BertfIlon man and nodded to the 9TH
nier look Of haste; he fumbled in his
pocket.
Here, sergeant. before something
breaks that they'll want me to LOOK
after" He laid slip of paper on
the desk. That's the memorandum.
That fellow Kelly, booked to me and
Sullivan-I made him this afternoon.
He and his pal blew out here from
Chicago two weeks ago to tear off
some Of the country banks. We amt
got a thing on him. All we can do is
to show him to the watch and get him
a fioater."
He hurried on out, answering the
good -byes which followed him.
Downstairs In the Office. he was
slowing away his revolver and hand
cuffs In his locker. when another well
groomed Titan tried to buttonhole
him.
THAT boxman, booked to you and
Sullivan--I think can put you wise
to where you can get line on his
pal"
brennan slammed the locker door
and thrust his keys into his pocket.
II don't want him." He saw the look
of surprise on the others face. I'm
through with this place for two
weeks" He started for the door and
strove to fnd words to express the ex-
tent of his emancipation.
Listen, now" he said over his
shoulder. IF I was to see bunch OF
yeggs kicking their way into the Hi
bernia Bank tonight, do you know
what I'd dot" He paused as II, waiting
for an answer: then: I'D walk around
the block and wish them good luck.
I'm or to the country. and any one
that talks crooks to me from now un-
til the 1st Of September get punched
right in the eye."
With this declaration Brennan left
his astonished associate in the hall OF
Justice and hurried down kearney
street to catch car home.
1t was the 18th of August. Until
the morning Of September / Detec-
tice Sergt. Brennan was Just Tom
Brennan, or daddy. according to what
member of his family happened to be
addressing him. The hall of justice
would not know him.
For eleven months and sixteen days
Of the year he went every morning to
that huge gray building, through
whose wide main entrance men and
women pass in day-long procession,
I..xrAnnnA xuifh THAR NUN sbarna or