The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-09-01

| 90. 1922. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.)
A swift, silent scuffle, the odds all
on one side-then two men go dumb
ly to the corner, the one in blue with
brass buttons stepping with all the
stolid decision his dragging charge
permits. A word whispered into a
| police patrol box. A quick drawn,
staring crowd, men and boys, women
| and girls, thruSting heads forward,
peering with sickening curiosity, some
| almost lingering the shrinking victim.
The clangor Of rapidly approaching
| gong.
AS it comes nearer the boy pulls
out a decent handkerchief and covers
his face from the disgusting audience.
He had been drunk befOre-he didn't
mind that so much-Or the corrective
hand of the law; but those staring
faces!
AT the first sound of the gong on
the patrol three girls in an office high
above the street gave interested atten-
ton.
"Here comes Mr.. Volstead!" cried
one.
The tableau being enacted below
was getting to be an ordinary &C.
currence to the girls.
"Oh, DEAR Isn't it too badw
"He looks so ashamed"
Yes, and he's we'll dreSsed-and
clean. 1t makes me want to do some.
thing"
All the afternoon the last speaker
tried in vain to forget the scene.
By closing time the desire to do
something" obsessed her. She ceased
combating it. She let it lead her.
Scant of breath and weak of voice,
but resOlute, she entered the nearest
police station. Question and answer
followed, short and direct. Her de-
scriptiOn was exact. The man was
there.
But what do you want with him?
Do you, know him?'
The girls cheeks famed "Oh, no!
couldn't come, you know, if l did. 1
thought am sure it must be the
first time. Perhaps he'd like to send
for someone"
mo, ma'am, it's not the first time.
It's the third time in two months"
The girl had done war work-many
kinds of war work.
you ought to see that I'm not like
most girls. I'm older" she told the
officer, land 1 understand things. 1
know how to talk to them"
"Oh, WELL" thought the officer, 81
might as well let her do something.
She'll go quicker" So: He's a queer
duck. Always wants paper and pencil.
Bring him some, if you want to-"
1t was not easy to make the object
of her sOlicitude talk. He took the pa
per, thanked her indifferently, waited
for her to go. eff you'll write quickly"
she coaxed him, "rll mail it."
Il can't" he faltered. "My head
it's all mixed up-aches horribly ,.
what did you come here for?" This
last with sudden interest.
'To help you. I'll write it for you.
You tell me what to say. Do you want
10 SEM 1Or someone!
This reused him. For heavens
sake, no! Don't you tell herw he
cried.
Then he began to sob, weakly. Afte,
that he talked. For sympathy, per-
haps, or perhaps he yielded to the
girls stronger will. AS he talked she
wrote, adroit questioning giving her
what she needed to know.
81 was always no good" he told
her, until the war. I'm not a coward.
I volunteered. Went to France, 1914.
/ was lieutenant when it finished
by promotion. She knows that. 1 tell
her all the good things
Still following impulse, the girl
countered: you said you were not a
coward. Prove it. Make a fight for
her sake-and NINE"
For yours? You mean that?"
Frightened at the thrill in the IN ms
voice-at the thrill in herself-she
turned to go. He dropped to his knees.
His lips pressed the hem of her dress.
you'll come again?" he entreated.
Perhaps"
The next day the city police boat
collided with ferry boat while cross
ing the harbor. Above the dull thud
of the impact, the splintering of wood
and women's screams came the cry
of woman overheard"
On the police boat a man, ma dly
cursing, fought his keepers, flung them
aside and plunged into the churning
water. But few hours before girl
had summoned him to new life--to
prove his manhood. and now
20, God, let me save her." he
prayed.
They were both conscious when
lifted into the lifeboat.
"You," she whispered, In wonder.
ooh, I'm glad-Im gladr'
"Quick, your name," he urged.
where shall / find you-after three
months?"
She answered, then closed her eyes
in a happy stupor. Gently, with in
finite respect, they led him away.