Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1930-10-17
Officer Maloney
on Duty
By HELEN ST. BERNARD
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...... (Copyright)

l
Z" John, old timer, what's the mat
- ter? You haven't been acting
like yourself for weeks. Sick?"
Officer John Maloney continued to
shine the badge on the front of his
coat with his sleeve.
"Sprlng fever, mebbe, lieutenant.
Besides, I'm gettin' old"
The men gathered in groups about
the police station looked up and
laughed. Lieutenant Sladen, at the
desk, shook his head
"YOu old, John? Never! Just as
young as the day you Joined the
force-thlrty-one years ago
a bridegroom of two days"
"'N' Maggie n me didn't take a
honeymoon for eight years
when the little tad was just year
old" N#E
He sat down heavily and refused a
proffered tin of tobacco. AS Maloney
was about to leave. Lieutenant Sladen
called to him:
"Better see doctor, John. We
can't afford to lose John Maloney aft
er thlrty-one years of duty. You want
to think about Maggie, too, and the lit
tie tad"
John Maloney smiled and swung his
night club jauntily.
"Just you quit your worryln' about
me. Faith, and I'm younger than all
rest o. you. Night"
Sladen laid down his pen and
strolled over to a group of officers.
81 say, fellows, have you noticed
anything wrong with Maloney? He's
been actin queer lately"
ave noticed 1t, but he won't talk
about it. Says he's all right. met
Maggie in the grocery store yesterday
and she looked as If she had been
cryin', But when told her she looked
younger than she did twenty years
ago, she said I'd been kissln' the
Barney Stone. A fine woman, Maggie
Maloney."
"What's the kid doing nOw?" asked
Ryan as he bent over and tied his
shoe. Hope he makes them proud Of
him. They sacrificed lot to give him
an education. John said one thing
that boy must have was learnln'l He
certainly was proud Of those report
cards :"
"I'm told he isn't all John and Mag
gle would have him be-" said Smith
over his evening paper. Don't keep
jobs regular shelk and dance
hound and John wanted him
to be real mani But the kid Is
young, not twenty-five yet. He should
turn out all right with folks like John
and Maggie"
The night heightened. One by one
the men left headquarters. Two de-
tectives drowsed in an adjoining Office.
chairs tipped back against the wall.
Outside, Klein, the driver, whlstled
softly as he sprawled on the front
seat of the patrol wagon. Then came
the harsh ring Of the bell, and every.
one was galvanized into action. Klein
came to the door and awaited orders.
"Maloney calling" announced Lieu
tenant Sladen swiftly. "Greenvlew
Oil Station; Greenwich and Sixteenth
holdup one got away
attendant injured :"
It was scarcely ten minutes before
the reverberating clang Of the bell an
nounced the return Of the patrol wag-
on. The men grouped themselves about
the desk as the prisoner was brought
in, Klein on one side, Maloney, strange
ly old and whlte-fnced, on the other.
He was scarcely more than q boy
the prlsoner-dressed In clothes OF the
latest mode tweed cap pulled at
rakish angle over his ear, a cigarette
between his fingers. They stationed
him before the desk.
"Take off that hat p snapped John
Maloney. The young man looked up
quickly; obeyed.
"One got away" said Maloney short
ly. II was patrOlling Greenwich when
the machine ran into the oil station.
heard the attendant call out once,
as this one" with Jerk Of his thumb
towards the prisoner, got out. They
were there last week, y'know. He
plugged him through the leg
hospital" lie was speaking
jerklly. "The fellow In the car
yelled as ran up then drove
off. This one turned n
beat him to the draw. He
he :" John Maloney leaned
heavily against the desk, his hands
fumbllng at the buttons Of his coat.
The boy had been watching him
closely, twisting the dapper tweed cap
between his hands. Murphy brought
glass OF water but Maloney re-
fused It,.
"I've been layIn' for these fellows.
Knew I'd get 'em sooner or later.
This one Is bad one he
don't care for nobody
but himself. He'd Kill his
own folks TO get away. :"
lie turned and walked slowly to the
detectives office and let himself down
into an armed chnlr
Lieutenant Sladen opened the book
on the desk, and picked up his pen.
"Well John" he said slowly, "any-
thing to say for yourself? I've been
on the force many years bur this Is
the hardest thing I have ever done
to put John Maloney's little
tad behind the bars. You have killed
something tonight. You have killed
the spirit IN your fathers heart. Ills
little tad ."
snake It snappy lieutenant. I've
got II comm ! guess, but I didn't
think the old man would take me In.
sweG. didn't ="
"John Maloney has never nlnched ut
doing his duty for thlrty.One