Evening star., 1940-02-25


move. He stared in horror. He fancied that
the lieutenant, approaching, was gazing at
him curiously. Tango's body was rigid; his
palms we're sweating With tremendous
effort he restrained the wild impulse to plunge
away. He shuddered. Then. stiffly, with the
lieutenant no more than few feet from him.
he raised his arm and saluted.
The lieutenant casually acknowledged the
salute and passed by.
Tango stood peering after him. After a
moment, he felt a peculiar qualification.
"Say!" he said to himself. Say. you see that:
salute, and he salutes right back Say, that
- that's pretty fine!'
1t was extraordinary, the pleasure it gave
him. He almost wanted to run up to the
lieutenant and salute again. He threw back
his shoulders straighter than ever, and, erect
and proud, walked down the pavement At
the corner he paused and rocked on his heels
moment as all policemen do
Il guess looked good to him." he told
himself. Il guess he don't see many cops look
ing so good"
AFrER few more trips, he found an old
lady hesitating on the corner. He saw her
make two or three false starts to get across
and each time nervously come back.
Tango did not even notice the plump
looking purse in her hand He poised in front
of her, saluted, and offered his arm. She
looked up at him with sweet smile. "Oh,
thank you officer! she said.
There was no traffic visible, but Tango held
up his other arm majestically, as if halting
a horde of roaring trucks. With infinite dig
nifty they crossed to the other side. 1t was
pretty picture indeed.
Thank you 50 much, officer" she said.
please, Madame,'' Tango said. don't
mention it," He paused That's what we're
here for, you know, he added. And. gallantly,
he saluted again.
He stood proudly watching her retreating
figure. Before she had quite disappeared she
glanced back to regard him with another
smile. Tango stood 50 straight the cloth
strained across his chest. With flourish, he
saluted once more.
He went down the block saluting at inter-
vals An indefnable emotion was stirring in
him. In all Paris there could have been no
more perfect an example of the calm, strong,
resourceful guardian of law and order
A disheveled figure came weaving toward
him out of the shadows 1t was man, waving
his arms aggressively, shuffling his feet and
muttering savage but unintelligible epithets.
His glazed eyes fell upon Tango and he
scowled. YAH" he cried. Lousy cop!'
A deep sense of shock ran through Tango.
Here, here!" he said. Get along, get along.
Lousy stinkin' cop!' the drunk yelled.
Big bag of wind in uniform! Beat up the
little fellows and let the big crooks go! Thass
all y'good for - beat up the little fellows
an ="
A mingled emotion of outrage and anger
grew in Tango A flush rose to his face.
Il spit on you" the drunk declared scorn-
fully. Bah! There!" And he suited the action
to the words.
Something popped in Tango's head. His
face was purple. He seized the other with one
mighty hand, shook him ferociously and,
without any clear idea of what he was going to
do with him, dragged him off down the street.
Overawed, shaken out of his wits, the drunk
was now passive and silent. But Tango was
beside himself. and when, halfway down the
block. two figures came skimming over the
garden wall and landed on the pavement near
him, he was in no mood to stop.
''You fool what are you doing?" Mireault
said in a furious whisper You want to ruin