Evening star., 1925-02-08


block distant on the other
In between, owing to the peculiar
curve OF park and streets, there were
six corners on which children could
gather for the dash across.
Good night" said Capt. Collins.
Whoever gets that post will have
to put mirrors on his ears. Even
then, he'll get cock-eyed. How many
children did you say there were?"
six hundred said Sadie. "and
none of them are older than 12-
some are as young as five. They come
streaming in from all directions in
the morning, at the very hour when
people are hurrying to work In their
machines. Most of them go home
at noon, return to school, and then
are dismissed at various hours in the
afternoon. That means four cross
ings for each child. And If the
children are late, they're running,
and they don't look
Enough pleaded Capt Collins.
"'Tis my idea of a fine job for a man
who's looking for trouble. Sergeant,
who have We got on the discipline
list that needs soft boiling? L want
one of these brave club-swingin'
buckos who--who--oh, wait
minute. Never mind, sergeant: I've
got just the man. That glass-headed
pin is Officer James Patrick OMalley,
and may heaven have mercy on his
soul. He'll be there at o'clock il
the morning. Miss Smith"
Sadie smiled her thanks. II think
1t would be wise for him to come up
to the assembly room at 10 o'clock
and make a short speech to the chill
dren at that hour. That way they'll
know him, and he can impress upon
them the Importance of obeying sig
nails"
Capt Collins eyes twinkled "A
speech" said he. You want him to
get up and talk to 500 children?
Oh, fine, I'd give my back teeth to
be a Kid again in your classroom.
Good bye, Miss Smith; I'm glad you
called"
The little teacher went out the
door, and Sergt. Patterson grinned at
his superior. Jim will turn in his
badge ON next pay day." he predicted.
Capt Collins looked at the vacant
spot on the wall where once an en-
bossed card had hung. You're
wroag," said he Big fists and little
hands go well together, and Sadie
Smiths kids will be the making Of
O'Malley."
MO timid tyro mounting the rostrum
TO recite "Curfew Shall Not Ring
Tonight" had anything on Police
Officer O'Malley as he faced the 600
youngsters and heard Miss Sadie
Smith say at his elbow: Now, chill
dren, this is the good. kind police
officer who has been detailed to take
care of you at the crossing: he Is going
to say a few words to you on the sub
ject of safety. and l want you all to
listen very carefully
lad acrir oil n
speaker, who bowed. cleared his
throat, and ran a huge finger around
his wilted collar. He had stayed up
half the night preparing for this
moment, but now he could not recall
line of what he had written.
Ladies and gentlemen7," he
stammered II mean, boys and girls!
1t gives me great pleasure to appear
before you, and-and-"
He half turned toward the girl
teacher. "What-whatT 1 say?" he
whispered.
Tell them who you are" she
prompted. realizing when all else
fails a man can usually talk about
himself.
I'm James Patrick O'MaIley." he
announced, Officer Four Hundred and
Forty-four" He would probably
have given his age and physical
L
his panic-stricken eyes were caught
and held by little girl in the front
row who smiled up at him with such
friendly encouragement that 1t was
as though she were saying aloud:
Don't be scared, Jimmy; I'm your
friend
The solemn lines on OMalley's face
melted. He smiled at the little girl.
His smile grew wider. So did hers.
or
over the room, swelling into a gale
Of delighted laughter that was led
heartily by an officer of the law and
ably seconded by young school
principal. The ice was broken for
ever!
Say, listen" said O'Malley, as the
nearer children crowded around him
with the single exception of the
little girl in the front row. She still
smiled at him, but she made no move
to arise My name is Jim, and I'm
you friend. Let's all be good kids,
and love our teacher. and be very
careful in crossing the street. How
bout it? Are you with me?"
The walls rang with their answer.
l. came into his inheritance, a trust
tUdI Gnu uOCpNhOu 90 eAAS
days went by, until it was the talk
of the whole neighborhood. Digni-
fed business men would pass up
street car after street car, just for
the pleasure of standing on a corner
and watching a blue-coated shepherd
at his morning devotions. He seldom
crossed the street without ten children
hanging to either arm, and dozen
more clinging to his coat tails and
trampling all the polish off his shoes
They clustered on the six corners
waiting for him to suspend traff1c
from first one direction and then the
other At his CHEEKY cry, Here y
are" accompanied by a beckoning
hand, they left the safety of the curb
and headed for their protector as
fast as they could leg it. His Gus
tomary procedure was to stand in
the center of the boulevard until he
had collected a full consignment from
three corners; then he headed for the
other shore, entirely surrounded by
cha altering youngsters.
Not always did they obey his sig
nails promptly. Sometimes a tiny lass
in pinafore, more timid than the
others, would turn back after she
y