Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-06-10

OF them in there together and 20
get a vision OF slim white hands
trying 10 hold the filth away
The two ears careened together.
almost touching-the taxi driver
swearing loud and plaintively I'M
possible TO put on the brakes with
the street a skating rink. The
clank OF slipping chains. the cease
less vibration Of his wheel con-
fused him and the ugly Black Maria
chung there like a beetlel NO
night for racing. The taxi driver
glanced almost pleadingly ar the
rusher trying TO crowd him into the
curb and then ne tried IN run for
It. Two CHASTITY car-oeS bound for
the same port; never to reach
there.
Sirensi No time ~ turn. No
where TO 20. Hurting through
emptiness. the long red shining
truck dotted with cllnging figures
OF men was upon them. One mo-
ment the terrible truck wheels were
against the opposite curb and then
the front ones piowed their way
through a splinter uf wood and
glass and bodies that tumbled like
rag dolls here and there upon the
bitter pavement.
Two wrecked cars and "A hook 4
a~nd-ladder equipment slowly rights
ing itself under the inpatient
guidance Of men anxious 10 be on
their way To the work ~ saving a
few floors and walls from d threat
ened blaze.
A policeman taking charge nod
ded the permission % go on. No
body's fault. or course. Hystericnl
women were crying; some az them
cursing bitterly between their sobs.
A curious crowd. retrieved from
pool halls and third-clasS sta
rants. pressed eagerly forward
The accident was bad enough TO
draw them from their warm shell
tiers.
The patrol wagon rested Er0tes-
quely on two wheels and a bent
axle. hut tho taxi was a complete
disaster. Somebody was wlpin.
blood from the drivers head and
declaring over and over again that
he wasn't dead, as II he was the
only "A that mattcred.
whats this. \" The policeman
bent down 10 look ut two figures
That lay side by side. The mans
coat. fallen open. displayed a
badge shining on his breast. The
d%iscoverer was impelled 10 a more
vital interest. a. man from Cen
trail Office he cried. aghaSt.
Detective Jimmy O'Hara opened
his eyes slowly. His mind was
perfectly clear, because his head
had not been injured at an. The
rest III him was dead. quite dead.
ana he had seen enough or death
20 know this for himself.
lie knew what had happened. too.
The crash ar impact still fingered
In his mentality. His brain was
clear and as resonant as a bell
which has Just been runr. but his
numb body was conscious NJ n
heavy weight pulling against one
shoulder. He managed 10 turn his
eyes downward and saw a face
there-n dead face with dead vel
low hair and spots VII red naint I'm
the cheek bones. A horrible thing
to be dragging n man down.
who was with you. offlcerT' de-
manded the policeman, with ITS
notebook under HIS nose. did you
have a p~rlsoner?'
Jimmy O'Hnra remembered. lie
remembered perfume, white hands
and soft sIenderness. fine as silk.
lying against his shoulder for n
second ms the crash came. He re-
membered duty. Tie lifted hts
heavy eyes again and saw her Ike
n dream standing over him. pity
ing. like a person too Mortified TO
owe And he remembered duty
again. But what n n mans duty7
Is II the thing he has promised
other men 10 do. or the prompt Of
that intimate stranger who sits III
judgment when the body sleeps
Jimmy O'Hara. who al his life
had done the right thing as ri-ht
n accepted. beheld now n sort of
white light. a highway opening H.
side his narrow path Nearly
everything was dead-as the world
calls dead-about him. hint thts
was the clearest vision Nv HAD ever
known.
"Here she IS" he said with q
weak motion toward ftt hrlvr
thin. upon his arm. and shut hi-
eyes for good and all.
60 BE CONTINUED