Evening star., 1925-02-08
COAT.TAILS.

had got halfway. and then tie up
traffic while she stood on the curb
and tried to make up her mind
whether it was safe to go or not
About the time that officer Jim
would decide to wave the traffic on.
the small lady at the curb would
take 1t into her head to go. He was
always in hot water, and not infre-
quently his anguished roar could be
distinguished for threee blocks.
whoa! Whoa, All right. come
ahead; Well, then go back! Come
on. everybody! No, no! Not you!
Stand where you are! Stop! Go
ahead! Whoa! Whoa! Holy mack
erel!"
There was really not much danger,
for most motorists knew that cross
ing by now and approached it eau
tiously. Even so, Officer Jim, with
the perspiration beading his fore
head. futtered back and forth with
all the anxiety of a clucking hen.
BY this time he really considered
himself the daddy of the district. and
not without cause. Mothers brought
their little ones as far as the boule-
ward and introduced them to the
guardian of the crossing with the
solemn injunction: Now IL I'm late
in calling for you this afternoon.
don't you dare leave officer Jim until
i come"
Then they went downtown to do
their shopping, and were nearly al
ways late in getting back, so that
he found frequently as many as 20
youngsters parked with him long
after he was supposed to be off duty.
Very small ones, going to school
for the first time, were presented by
Dll Gle
Jim, this is my kid sister Ethel.
Shake hands with Jim. sis. And this
kid is Billy Dugan's brother. He
just got over the measles. Him and
me walk home together. His names
Tommy. That's his dog"
X u X
0F course he had his favorite. Uni
" formed monarchs always do. Her
name was Margie. and she was the
same little Miss Sunshine whose en-
| couraging smile had restored his
| composure on that opening day in
school He knew now why she had
kept her seat, while all the others
were standing. Margie was on
crutches.
The last remnant of roughness
| was squeezed from his huge bulk by
this crippled youngster who weighed
| scarcely so pounds. She alone could
not take his hand in crossing. be-
cause of her crutches, but whenever
he beheld her at the curb. he brought
| the whole world to a standstill and
| hurried forward
| They made a picture that every one
loved to watch; golden haired
Margie. swinging gayly to school on
| crutches, and big Jim O'Malley tip
| toeing awkwardly behind her with
| both arms widestretched in a pro-
| tecting shield. When they had
crossed to safety, there was always
momentary pause, while he held
| her crutches and she put both arms
| around his neck in childish en-
| brace
That morning commendation in
| spired Officer OMalley. He made
| bold to seek the aid of DR.. CONNER
| ford, a distinguished surgeon who
| lived in the neighborhood, and who
| had both skilled hand and a very
| big heart. The poor little thing"
| he explained, tells me it's something
| wrong in her kneecaps. She had a
| fall. Her mother is away workin',
| and her fathers dead, I guess, be-
| cause she says he's gone to the North
Pole. Her aunt takes care Of her.
but L could lay so month
| aside"
"Oh, you could, could you?" said
DR.. Commerford. We'll, go ahead
and do it. Put it in the bank, and
| don't let me or anybody else take it
| away from you. Where does your
| little friend live?'
Not long afterward surgical genius
| triumphed. Margie discarded her
| crutches and began to walk unaided.
Complete recovery came gradually, of
| course. but eventually she was able
| to beat all the others in a race for
Officer Jim and to spring like a. cat
| into his arms with a happy Shrek of
Catch me, Jimmy"
His cup of Joy was almost complete.
He would not have traded his job for
that of Capt. Collins, nor even that
of the chief. The youngsters showed
him their report cards each month,
and those that had fallen from grace
and failed to win promotion were
loud in their insistence that he arrest
their teacher. Some of them offered
him candy and then demanded:
whats the capital Of Cleveland?"
Hey, Jim, where was Lincoln born ?'
rs this the way you make capital
HY"
Because his own education had been
sadly neglected and he desired to re-