The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-08-08
Mulligan Does
His Duty
BY FRANK EVANS
G Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.
wNU Service.

Officer Tim Mulliga continued TO
shine the badge on the front of his
coat with his sleeve.
"Spring fever. mebbe, lieutenant.
Besides, I'm gettin' old"
The men gathered in groups about
the police station looked up and
laughed Lieutenant Murphy. at the
desk, shook his head.
"You old. Tim? NeverI Just as young
as the day you joined the force-31
years ago bridegroom OF two
days"
M Molly n me didn't take honey
moon for eight year when the
little tad was just a year old"
He sat down heavily and refused
proffered tin of tobacco. As Mulligan
was about TO leave Lieutenant Muir
ply called TO him:
Better see a doctor, Tim. We can't
afford to lose Tim Mulligan after 81
years of duty. You want TO think about
Molly too. and the little tad"
Tim MuIligan smiled and swung his
night club jauntily.
aust you quit your worryin' about
me. Faith. and I'm younger than all
the rest o. you. Night"
Murphy laid down his pen and
strolled over to group Of officers.
81 say. fellows. have you noticed any
thing wrong with Mulligan? He's been
actin queer lately"
"We noticed it-but he won't talk
about it. Says he's all right ! met
Molly in the grocery store yesterday
and she looked as if she had been
cryin'. But when | told her she looked
younger than she did 20 years ago.
she said I'd been kissing the barney
stone fine womb, Molly Mulligan."
whats the kid doing now?" asked
Koesting as he bent over and tied his
shoe. Hope he makes them proud of
him. They sacrificed lot to give him
an education Tim said one thing that
boy must have was learnin'! He GER
tainly was proud of those report
cards
I'm told he isn't all Tim and Molly
would have him be-" said Jones yer
his evening paper. Don't keep jobs
>. regular sheik ana dance hound d.
and Tim wanted him to be real man
But the kid is young. not twenty-five
yet He should turn out all right with
folks like Tim and Molly"
The night heightened. One by one
the men left headquarters. Two de-
tectives drowsed in an adjoining Of
fee, chairs tipped back against the
wall Outside, Cohen, the driver,
whistled softly as he sprawled on the
front seat of the patrol wagon Then
came the harsh ring of the bell. and
everyone was galvanized into action.
Cohen came to the door and awaited
orders.
''3Iulligan calling" announced Lieu
tenant Murphy swiftly. "Fairview Oil
station; Fairview and Edgemont j.. :
holdup -. one got away -. attendant
injured :"
II was scarcely ten minutes before
the reverberating clang of the bell
announced the return of the patrol
wagon. The men grouped themselves
about the desk as the prisoner was
brought in. Cohen on one side. Null
Iigan. strangely old and white-faced,
on the other
He was scarcely more than a boy
the prisoner-dressed in clothes Of the
latest mode, a tweed cap pulled at a
rakish angle over his ear, a cigarette
between his fingers. They stationed
him before the desk.
Take off that hat" snapped Tim
Mulligan- The young man looked up
quickly and obeyed.
zone got away" said Mulligan
shortly. 81 was patrolling Fairview
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" He was speaking jerk
lily. "The fellow in the car =. yelled
as l ran x :. then drove off. This
one turned n l beat him to the
draw. He he ~ Tim Mulligan
leaned heavily against the desk. his
hands fumbling at the buttons of his
coat
The boy had been watching him
closely. twisting the dapper tweed cap
between his hands. Koesting brought
glass of water but MulIigan refused
il.
I've been layin' for these fellows.
Knew I'd get 'em sooner or later. This
one is a bad one he don't care
for nobody but himself He'd kill
He turned and walked slowly &c the
detectives Office and let himself down
into an arm chair.
Lieutenant Murphy opened the book
on the desk, and picked up his pen.
well. Tim" he said slowly, ANY
thing TO say for yourself? I've been on
the force many years but this is the
hardest thing / have ever done =. TO
put Tim Mulligan's little tad behind
the bars. You have killed something
tonight. You have killed the spirit in
your fathers heart. His little tad -
Make it snappy. lieutenant I've
got it comm. / guess. but l didn't
think the old man would take me in.
l swear | didn't -"
Tim MuIIigan has never 1inched al
doing his duty . for 81 years
and he never will as long as he's or