The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-06-29
CHAPTER VI

CHAPTER VI
 State Troopers McFee, Callahan and DanZg were returning to head quarters from having quelled riot in a roadhouse. But perceiving two apparently disabled trucks, flock of chickens littering up the highway and what looked like a heated argu- ment. they paused in their home ward flight. Halting their motorcy- cles in the middle of the road but still straddling them, they gazed upon the recent debaters with in- terest. State Trooper McFee, unde- niably the strongest personality or the trio, spoke first.
 "Now then" Inquired State Trooper McFee, whats goin' on here?"
 To MT. Antonio Giuseppe Tar antino the advent of the constab- ulary had been as the coming of Butcher to the Duke of Yelling ton. Just a moment ago he had watched helplessiy as the Ford backed of the telegraph pole pre- paratory to resuming speed. Now it appeared that all operations would be halted.
 "Deesa guy ." began MT. Tarantino, pointing to Joe.
 He got no further.
 "Shut up," commanded State Trooper McFee. I'll do the talkin' here"
 Before beginning he studied the aSsemblage. He was a little non- plussed by it. Antonio Giuseppe Tarantino looked what he was, an excitable Italian. Kelly and Joe looked collegiate. Ed the Weasel looked like nothing on earth. State Trooper McFee scratched his head in perplexity, trying to reconcile the association of the three in the Ford.
 "You," he said at last, indicat- ing Joe. What happened here?"
 Briefly Joe told him.
 And, he finished, "this fellow expects us to pay for his chickens when the accident was his fault"
 Hell" said State Trooper Cal lahan, who hated being left out of a discussion, whats the sense of payin' for em? They're here, ain't they?"
 "Thats more or less what we tc3d him, said Joe.
 State Trooper McFee made up his mind to brook no interference with his cross-examination. He indicated State Trooper Callahan and Dandg. ..
 Examine that truck over there" he ordered frigidly.
 Coerced by MT. McFee's force fitness, State Troopers Callahan and Danzig did as bidden. They returned presently to report the truck in fair condition, save for a slightly -dented radiator.
 "Itll run, won't it?" asked State Trooper McFee.
 "Sure. Amt nothin' wrong with the engine"
 "Then take it away" said MT. McFee to Antonio Giuseppe Tar antino. We can't have no such thing blockin' up the road"
 Antonio Giuseppe Tarantino wrung his hands. Things were not going to his liking. It looked as If he were going to have to pay for the wandering chickens out of his own pocket.
 But da chicks?" he remon- strated.
 "Cluck cluck," said a kibitzing hen, as if to help remind MT. : McFee that feathered folk were present.
 State Trooper McFee gazed dis approvingly down at the hen. Then, with a sudden movement, he bent and scooped her up, much as MT. Frank Crosetti is wont to scoop up 8 grounder.
 "There you are," he said tri- umphantly, presenting the hen to MT. Tarantino. That's the way to catch a chicken. Why, gee" :" he added disgustedly, T could catch these here chickens myself in five minutes. Without maxim all this rumpus."
 At this juncture State Trooper Callahan took umbrage. For a long time State Trooper Callahan had been fed up with the over bearing department of State Trooper McFee. After all, he and State Trooper Melee were ot equal rank in the force. And he was getting a bit sick of MT. Nc Fees domination and general braggadocio. It was all right, he thought, as long as State Trooper McFee confined his dictatorship to police matters. But catching chick ems was something else. And State Trooper Callahan had caught chickens on farm, man and boy, for 9 years.
 Wherefore State Trooper Cal lahan insinuated himself into the picture.
 'In bet you a dollar" said State Trooper Callahan, eyeing MT. McFee evenly, that I can catch more of these chickens than you can."
 State Trooper McFee looked at him pityingly, then with mounting anger. His status as chicken catcher had been impugned. And by one over whom he had long been accustomed to lord it.
 Why, you poor sap," he said,