Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1922-02-02
! he sy cen Flag
That Was Red
By WILLIAM FALL.

To be put back on patrol duty aftei
fourteen years of steady desk work,
and when one Is approaching forty
and conscious Of an Increasing girth,
is enough to distress any ordinarily
constituted policeman. Dennis Fla
herty was no exception to the rule.
He TOLD his wife the news at dinrcr.
4They haven't got a grudge against
you. Dennisla she asked, fearful as all
women are at the thought that their
husbands positions are insecure
IA mo. it's Commissioner Everett. bad
luck to, 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.
hopefully. didn't the doctor say your
eyes wasn't fit for patrol duty and
you'd have to do desk duty insteadT'
"'That was Doc Flanagan, as good a
Cork man as ever breathed. The new
docs Seotchman"
IF cant 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 therep' 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-
ored to cross it in parade, but each
time they had been repealed. How
ever, on the morrow, as they had pub
lIcly advertised, they meant to march
over the bridge in a grand procession
to the city hail. And this the mayor
had sworn they should not do
"There'll be nigh on hundred Of
us, Nora answered Flaherty. 81
gness can take care Of meself. wo-
man.
He felt prouder than ever Of his
uniform on the next day when, stand
ing in 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 1.-THE
Wearing Of the Green"
Flaherty gripped his club tighter.
He looked at the lieutenant in charge.
He had ordered the men to dispense
to their own posts. Did he not know.
then, that an attack was imminent?
This was Flaherty's post, here on the
bridge. f4
'1ll teach 'em, the dogs, playing
that tuner he muttered, The crowd
had gathered into well-organized de-
taehment and started toward the
bridge. In front Of it marched two
men, each carrying 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 thatw he yelled. "Stop right
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 a word Of com
mand from its leaders, advanced
again. The men with the flags smiled
coollv and contemptuously Dennis
felt his wrath overcome his reason.
He sprang forward and began club
hing right and left. He seized the
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.
@FIaherty. 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
mis- F'laherty. But he had done his
duty. He rose to his feet and stag
gered into the captains rooin--to con-
front not the captain alone, but the
police commissioner.
Drunk 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
FIaherty,n said his captain. "Also Of
attempting to purIoin one flag, the
property of the organization. What
have you to say?"
"Twas the strikers Wild their red
flags fought and alone" cried Fla
merry NJ 4 il-e4s;a..A
RED fiag1 snorted the commission
er. @Since when has the red flag been
the symbol Of Ireiand's glory. my
manf That flag was as green as the
emerald grass Of Ireland
Twas as red as--as thatir cried