The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-05-22

The officer did not even look al
Dicky.
THAT line right there" he said with
a jerk OF his thumb OF the nlassei
column OF people, and went on talk
ing to his brother officer.
| Dicky's temper is Away hung upon
a hair trigger. and this proved 700
much for him.
/ do you mean to tell me-" he said
| angrily, that all the people In that
line hold reserved seat checks? It's i'm
possible! The lines haven't been prop
erly guarded that's all. And they're
not moving forward step. Why are
not the doors open as they adver-
| tised they would be from 8 o'clock ou?"
The officer turned his attention TO
Dicky with an ugly frown upon his
face. I shivered a little. I have
deadly fear OF getting into any contro-
| versy with a police officer, and I think
the man saw me, for his face relaxed
| and slow grin crept over it, But his
tone was truculent-
See here, young fellow" he SAID,
| and there was the ring OF conviction
| in his tones. ''yon be thankful you're
, living tonight without worrying about
these lines being properly guarded.
Now toddle along and get IN line or
else beat il quick. Can't have any
lettering around here. None of your
| lip, now" he exclaimed savagely as
Dicky opened his mouth to protest
"Get in line or beat it. Take your
choice quick"
Don't Get ,Frightened.D
Dicky had TO obey. He had no other
choice. Privately thought him rath-
er childish in the side play in which
he INDUCED looking fixedly at the Of
ficer's number and then writing i
down in his notebook. But the police
man took no further notice of him, and
we Joined the rear rank of the massei
people in line.
"Oh. Dickyi" I exclaimed. clutching
his arm. Look, See how many people
are back of US. Isn't this dangerous
Dicky turned, looked, and then
scowled at me.
DO you mean that you want to get
out Of here?" he asked, and his voice
and manner Were distinctly unpieas-
ant / looked round nervously to see
If any one near us had heard him.
IF you do, you'd better say so right
away, so we may get out while we
cam
The last phrase of his little speech
terrified me. / saw as clearly as he
did that in a few minutes escape from
the crowd would be almost impossible.
But there was such latent scorn in
Dicky's voice such contempt for my
lack of "gameness" in not wishing 70
finish something 1 had begun, that IN
spite of my real nervousness and fear
decided to see the thing through no
matter what happened.
Il was not aware that I requested
you to get me out OF the crowd" I
replied with dignity. 81 simply asked
if it were not dangerous"
"All right. I'll forgive you this time"
Dicky answered with one of his quick
smiles, and then 1 saw him lift his
hat and incline his head to some one
in front of US and to the left, near ths
street.
followed his eyes, and saw two
very pretty. but delicate boxing girls
looking appealingly at him. One had
only to look at them to see that they
Were of the frilly, helpless, clinging
vine type which so appeals TO mascu-
line protection. The faces Of both
wore frightened look.
We'll! What do you suppose pos
sessed those girls to come into this
mob?" he asked himself. and then he
called across to them encouragingly:
Don't get frightened. I'll see you
through"
/, / felt little pang at my heart He
had snapped at me when I had asked
If the crowd were dangerous, and here
was he encouraging the unspoken ap-
peal of these strange girls.