Evening star., 1924-03-30

more patrolman had turned
in his star rather than invade the
territory of the Forty Strong Gang.
y new victim must he provided
They call this fellow the Jack of
Clubs" explained the sergeant. He's
supposed to be the best batter in the
department. The night of the steve
dore riot in Cesarc's place he walk ed
in with the cuffs wrapped around his
left fist and his nightstick in the
other, and before they got him out he
registered seventeen home runs. Babe
Ruth can't knock 'em any farther"
Sounds good" admitted Capt. NAL
low. Young, is he?"
Twenty two, and built from the
ground up. He thinks John L. Sulli-'
van founded the department and the
dove of peace is something you put
in a potpie."
Malloy chuckled.
1--WE seen the type. Not any notion
of a peace officer, but sometimes they
turn out to be good men. These old
fellows let the hoodlums play marbles
an their coat tails. Jack of Clubs,
you say? I'll see will Central Sta
ton let us have him
honored principle, When in doubt,
lead trumps," took a young cop by
the scruff of the neck and chucked
him into 4 game of high, low. jack
and the queen"
John Francis Foley, police officer
421, hlue-eyed. jaunty, and with a
very conspicuous chip on his shoul-
der, reported to Capt. Malloy, and
found himself assigned TO a. 4-o'clock-
to-midnight watch in n territory with
which he was unfamiliar.
along 54th to Sanchez" instructed
his superior, "up Sanchez to Seaview.
north to Vernal. and east to point of
commencement"
Then privately he explained to the
new man:
spike kennedy's fight club is up
there, and the young pugs are in
clined to congregate on the corners
or in vacant lots. Keep 'em dispersed
for your own good"
YES, sir" said Foley Seems like
heard about that gang. I'm to bust
II up, captain?"
The muscles around Capt. Malloy's
lips twitched moment.
81 said 'disperse,'" he reminded.
''Tis the proper police term. and it
means to cause to separate You can
use your own Judgment"
= = = =
A T the corner of 52d and Hollis.
where the First Christian Church
rears an immaculate white steeple
opposite Pete Rizzolis very dirty coal
yard, officer Foley encountered the
proprietor of the latter establishment
and recognized in him Il brother
Knight of Columbus.
lilo" said Peter. "Wh3t you do
up here"
Just looking for a little exercise"
Erinned the Jack of Clubs. Know
anything about a gang of toughs
hangin' around"
The proprietor Of the coal yard
hitched at his trousers and swore
dolefully
They take five ton of coal out my
back yard and chuck every bit
through the windows of Schmaltz's
butcher shop"
Did, Ell? You know where any of
'em live?"
II know where they all live" said
Pete. Some day | put 4 bomb in
each sack"
well, give me their addresses
suggested Foley, "and maybe you
won't need no bombs.
Pete complied readily.
In that lot next to the carbarns."
he volunteered. you find 'em now.
They meet there every day for plan
a lii dev'ment."
Foley pocketed his address book.
I'll walk down there and look 'em
over Much obliged, Pete"
Foley srtnned and tapped the coal
dealer on the chest.
You remember where the lady
found Moses? Well, those are the
only kind of flowers for a cop
Pete looked puzzled.
"Bullrushes" exploded the Jack of
Clubs. so long"
He sauntercd off. cap over one eye
and lips pursed in a whistle that chal-
1enged the world. Mr.. RizzoIi gazed
:.dmiringly at the officers retreating
figure.
That's one tough young cop, all
right" he commented Il think
something soin' bust around here
pretty quick
The prophecy was fulfilled only ten
minutes later, when eight husky
members of the Forty Strong Gang
seated on a lumber pile, viewed with
Tnfeigned interest the approach of a
new cop. Most officers would have
needed the old proverb, Let sleeping
dogs 1ie," but the Jack of Clubs had
his own ideas regarding the impor-,
lance of first impressions. He vaulted
the low fence and advanced stiff
legged, after the manner of a terrier
approaching strange dog. The
gathering on the lumber pile was
mildly puzzled, but no one moved.
officer Foley continued his advance.
Still they sat there, watching him.
When an Irresistible cop encounters
an immovable tough, what is it that
happens? Never mind The Jack of
clubs selected the biggest man in the
lunch.
What you doin' around here?" ne
demanded.
The one addressed favored his in
1errogator with a languid glance be-
fore looking dreamily off into space.
oh" he dwarled. Il guess we can
sit around here ii we wanta."
Whang! The descending nightstick
smashed a brown derby and sent its
owner rolling backward off the lum-
Der pile.
The Jack of Clubs grabbed two on
lockers and banged their heads to-
gether The others fed. He made no
effort to pursue, contenting himself