The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1922-01-03
The Green Flag
That Was Red

fourteen years OF STEADY QeSK WOrh
and when one Ii approaching forty
and conscious Of an increasing garth,
Is enough to distress any ordinarily
constituted policeman. Dennis fla
herty was NO exception to the rule.
He told his wife the news at dinner
They haven't got q grudge against
you. Dennisr she asked. fearful as all
women are at the thought that theil,
husbands positions are insecure. :
mo, It's Commissioner Everett. bad
luck b him." said Dennis. "Nine-
teen Of us, Nora, woman, turned out
Of our berths and set to pound the
sidewalks" .
"But, Dennis" suggested his wife
eyes wasn't At for patrol duty and
you'd have to do desk duty instead?
"That was Doc Flanagan. as good
Cork man as ever breathed. The new
docs a Scotchman."
eff I can't do desk work I'll show
'em they've got the best cop in town
down at the quay. Nora" he said to
his wife at the end Of the first day.
They've never put you on post
down therew exclaimed his wife In
horror.
The Quay was the name locally
given to the bridge which crossed the
river between two factory districts.
The strikers had constantly endeav-
IN In h1t
time they had been repealed. How
ever, on the morrow. as they had pub
Iicly advertised. they meant to march
over the bridge in a grand procession
to the city hall. And this the mayor
had sworn they should not do.
'ThereTI be nigh on a hundred Of
us, Nora" answered Flaherty. 81
guess I can take care Of meself, wo-
man."
He felt prouder than ever Of his
uniform on the next day when, stand
ing in a platoon with his comrades. he
watched the mob forming In the lower
section of the town. There was the
sound of distant music. Flaherty
started and frowned. Why, this was
sacrilege. The band was playing "The
Wearing Of the Green"
Ffaherty gripped his club tighter.
He looked at the lieutenant In charge.
He had ordered tho men to disperse
to their own posts. Did he not know,
This was Flaherty's post, here on the
| bridge
that tuneS he s muhsareda "TFfh fine 1 CROWS SRs
had gathered into a well-organized de-
tachment and started toward the
| bridge. In front OF IT marched two
men. each carrying q huge red flag
On they came. toward the center OF
the bridge. where Flaherty stood. The
music sounded loudly, the flags waved
cheers and yells came from the
threats Of thousands. The sidewalks
were lined with spectators A faint
ness overcame Dennis. He strobe for.
ward with uplifted club.
"Stop that |" he yelled. "StOp RICH.
there. boys. The first man that sets
his foot forward, I'll bate his brains
| out"
The crowd surged backward and
forward. and then, at word of com
mand from it's leaders, advanced
again. The men with the flags smiled
coolly and contemptuously. Dennis
felt his wrath overcome his reason
He srrang forward and began club
| yiph Inff Ia hr
nearest flag. The mob beat against
him like an invading sea. A thousand
voices clamored for his blood. The
flag was wrenched out of his hand
Then the mob surged forward over
his PROSTATE body
"Flaherty, the Caps waiting to see
you," said the man who was bathing
his forehead. =
Dennis opened his eyes. The swim.
ming room was the district police
quarters. Then this battered. aching
man on the cot must be himself. Den
MS Flaherty. But he had done his
| duty. He rose to his feet and stag
gered into the captains room-to con.
front not the captain alone, but the
| police commissioner.
'D:unk and ran amuck right into
the midst Of them. commissioner" he
heard the captain saying.
"You are accused of attacking the
parade Of Loyal American Hibernians
Flaherty," said his captain. "Also of
attempting to purloin one flag, the
property Of the organization. What
have you to say~
"'Twas the strikers wild their red
flags fought and alone" cried Fla
herty.
"Red f1ag!" snorted the commission.
er. "Since when has the red flag been
the symbol Of Ireland's glory, my
manf That flag was as green as the
emerald grass Of Ireland"
"'Twas as red as-as that!" cried
Dennis, pointing to a tattered en-
blem IN a corner Of the room.
"Begorra, that's the very flag ~
yelled the captain. "He's drunk still.
Commissioner"