Evening star., 1925-02-08
The Story of a Hard.Boiled
Cop and His Conquerors

your man, inspector. His little girl
is comm in with the teacher. Danny,
you wanted evidence, did you? Well,
stand back in that corner and you'll
get it,
He prodded the shrouded figure that
represented O'Malley.
"stick your head out, you big turtle!
Quick, now-both your girls are
comm in here with candy and
flowers"
He spoke just in time. O'Malley
looked up to see Danny's small daugh-
ter standing in the doorway, her
arms filled with flowers. Margie,
made timid by the presence of stran-
gers, hesitated a moment. Then she
saw the welcoming light in blue eyes
and forgot the carefully prepared
speech. Danny's daughter dropped
to her knees by o'Malley's bed. The
flowers fell unheeded to the floor.
Small arms went around his neck.
Thank you for saving me, Officer
Jim, and hope you're not hurt bad.
and-and-- Her voice wavered
and the hot tears of childish grief de-
scended. "Oh, Jimmy" she sobbed,
'he came and I missed himi Mamma
| says he's gone back to the North
P-Pole. and now I'll have to wait all
over again. 1t wasn't any use s-sav-
ing me at all"
she sobbed bitterly.
There, there!" comforted o'Malley.
| Your mother might be mistaken,
darlin'-" He looked up at Capt. Col
Inns, and the latter, with wave of
one hand, relegated all authority TO
| his subordinate. OMalley patted the
| head of his favorite. Kiss big jim"
he whispered, "and I'll tell you some
| grand news. He came down to see
| his little girl and he lost his way, so
| h1 a fn To 10 -kp
| are lost do that, you know. He's in
this room. darlin'. Dry your eyes
| now, and see if you can pick him out
| They wanted me to identify him, but
| somehow couldn't seem to do IL"
y x =:
lMARGIE didn't have much trouble,
A'A for as she turned around young
Danny the Dude crumpled TO his
| knees and held out his arms.
Take him home, sweetheart" said
| Capt. Collins, "and see that he don't
lose his way again. Inspector, I
| guess you and 1 might as we'll be
| goin'.''
| They paused moment on the porch
| to acknowledge the cheers Of the
| children.
| Look at that, will you" said Capt.
Collins. There's the finest testino-
| NAL ever given an officer in the his
1 tory of the department. Wen have
| no trouble with that crop of citizens"
Sadie appeared in the doorway, her
| eyes moist and her lips trembling.
Where do you think you're goin'?'
| said thefhead of the central station.
| we came out on the porch to give
| you and Jim a chance"
| The pink deepened in Miss Smiths
! cheeks. live got to march the
children back to the yard before L
| can dismiss them"
| Me and the inspector will do that"
| said the captain. go on back and
| give a deserving officer the decora-
| tion that's comm to him."
| Orders are orders" said Sadie,
| turning back.
Capt. Collins descended the stairs
| and consulted with the leader of the
| band. DO you know the wedding
march? Well, you better learn it,
All right, kids, fall in! About face!
! Squads right. Forward, march!
Heads up, everybody! Shoulders
back! Eyes straight ahead! All,
that's fine! Watch your step! Hay
foot, straw foot, belly full Of bean
| soup. Hay foot
The band played Freedom For
| ever" and down the street marched
| Sadie Smiths kids, four abreast, and
| led by two veteran upholders of the
| law. Capt. Collins head moved
| jauntily to the beat of the drums
| and his countenance was serene. He
rightly guessed that in the cottage
| on the hill a blushing young school
! teacher was at that moment applying
the finishing touches to the making
of O'Malley!
Copyright, 1881