The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-08-31

n bNlIlt hlltHt bCuHioi INC Ouub MI
on one slde-then two men go dumb
ly TO the corner, the M In blue with
brass buttons stepping with all the
stolId decision his dragging charge
permits. A word whispered into u
police patrol box. A qrick.drawn.
staring crowd, men and boys, women
and girls, thrlsting heads forward,
peering with slckenlng curiosity, some
almost lingering the shrinking victim.
The clangor Of a rapidly approaching
gong.
As 1t comes nearer the boy pulls
out a decent handkerchief and covers
his face from the disgusting audience.
lie 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.
tlOn.
Here comes Mr.. volstead!" cried
one.
The tableau being enacted below
was getting to be an ordinary oc.
currence to the girls.
"Oh, dearl Isn't 1t too bad"
"He looks so ashamed"
Eyes, and he's well 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. . e.
Scant Of breath and weak of voice,
but resolute, she entered the nearest
police station. Question and answer
followed, short and direct. Her de.
scrlption was exact. The man was
there.
But what do you want with hlm7
Do you know him?"
The girls cheeks famed. ooh, MOI I
couldn't come, you know, II I did. I
thought am sure 1t 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, "and l understand things. l
know how to talk to them"
"Oh, we'll" thought the officer, q"
might as well let her do something.
She'll go quicker" SO: Hes 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 solicltude talk. He took the pa.
per, thanked her indlferently, waited
for her'to go. IF you'll write quickly"
she coaxed him, "Ill mail H."
Il can't" he faltered. MY head
It's all mixed up-aches horribly .
what did you come here forg' This
last with sudden interest.
ITO help you. I'll write 1t for you,
You tell me what to say. Do you want
TO send for s%omeonef"
This reused him. For heavens
sake, no! Don't you tell her." he
cried.
Then he began to sob, weakly. After
that he talked. For sympathy, per-
haps, or perhaps he yielded to the
girls stronger will. AS he talked she
wrote. adrolt questioning giving her
what she needed to know.
IL was always no good" he told
her, "untll the war, I'm not a coward.
l volunteered. Went to France. 1914.
] was a lieutenant when 1t finished
by promotion. She knows that. l 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 mine
"FOr yours? You mean thatY"
Frightened at the thrill In the mans
voice-at the thrill In herself-she
turned to 60. He dropped to his knees
His lips pressed the hem of her dress
you'll com agaln?' he entreated.
Perhaps"
The next day the city police boat
collided with a ferry boat while cross
Ing the harbor. Above the dull thuC
! Of the impact, the spllntering of woot
and women's screams, came the cry
Of "Woman overheard"
On the police boat a man, madly
curslng, fought his keepers, flung them
aside and plunged into the churninl
water. But a few hours before a CIR
had summoned him to new llfe-tC
prove his manhood, and now
90, God, let me save her" HI
prayed.
=
They were both conscious whef
lifted into the lifeboat.
"You," she whispered, In wonder.
"Oh, I'm glad-I'm gladr"
Quick, your name" he urged
eha1l 7 find vou-uFter thro,