The sun., 1919-06-21

were wondering what the Mayor thought
OF him. There was negative evidence OF
sympathy, for Mayor could always get
rid Of chief OF police whom he did not
like, but after the positive assertion
public curiosity was completely satisfied.
When he decided that he was being
stiied In the brick mansion up on West
End avenue Devery removed his house.
hold goods to Far Rockaway. where ne
lived until his death, and began to In
terest himself In the real estate situa-
ton there. The place, although part
of the greater city, was then but loosely
connected with II In spirit. and the
neighbors saw in the coming OF Devery
character whom they were prepared
to welcome as q congenial townsman.
Kept out OF Politics.
But the best chief was aloof from the
beginning and while condescending to a
few friendships, made 1t point TO
choose his friends from among veteran
New Workers. who, like himself. had re-
tired from active work and set up their
homes In the suburbs. Local politics.
with perhaps the phrase exercising his
money" as an impetus, extended tho
hand OF welcome to him more than once.
but he evaded II without appearing to
evade II, and let II be known that his
real estate interests in Manhattan as
well as In his new homo would keep
him too busy to permit his adventuring
into any sort of Official life.
When he FIRST went to Far Rockaway
automobiles were few and Devery's per-
sonal equipage became familiar hgure
at the railroad station. It was not what
cognoscenu would consider the best form
in the way Of q country turnout, being,
In fact, a hanson cab. ornately gotten
up, with an excellent piece of flesh be-
tween the shafts and upon the high
drivers quarter deck q person dressed
in coachman's livery. but,~whose every
gesture and lineament bespoke his po-
lice history.
He had been Q detective most Of his
working years and was an ideal coach
man IN 30 far at least that no Sphinx
was ever endowed with more perfect
silence. When not driving his former
chief. he put in his time polishing the
hanson and the harness which went
with IL, and Of which the buckles and
housings were all gold plated and guar
anteed for twenty years.
Mr. Devery sold horse and cab after
few years. and until he set UP an auto
mobile. rode exclusively in hacks. Golf,
but he was an ardent fsherman. and In
day afternoons on the water.
1t In doubtful II any one at Far
Rockaway knows the exact extent Of
his realty holdings there. He has ad-
mitted once or twice that some Of the
parcels he bought turned out we'll and
some not 80 well. Anyway he was
always buying and selling and had a
real estate ONCE Of his own near the
railroad station SO that. for one reason,
he might not have to list his renting
property with other brokers and thus
''tip his mitt" as to what he had.
Mystery in fact always walked with
him. On the Far Rockaway trains
during twenty years he has almost In
variably occupied a seat alone and the
only policemen at Far Rockaway to
whom he ever addressed a word were
veterans whom he had known when he
was their man highest UP. But to his
dying day he carried a police badge.
whistle and book of rules in his pocket,
insisted that he would yet be reinstated.
and that until he was he chose to con-
slider himself a cop anyway.