The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1941-03-08
For the Love of Pat!
g
By JAMES III. DUDLEY
Mcclure syndicate-wNU Service
-" 4 ND she had the gun, sure

enough" Patrolman Hanney
continued; strapped in a holster
above her knee. What a handful!
The air was full of heels and finger
nails-like wrestling with a cent?
pede. And when this punk horned
in, had to take time out to cuff
him one"
''Holy Saint Peter!" thought Ser
geant Duggan. "They get younger
every day" He shifted his massive
bulk in the chair and appraised
the two prisoners, then picked up
his pen.
whats your name?" he asked
the girl Her lips closed firmly.
"The dame that tipped me off,"
volunteered Hanney, "called her
Pat"
Maybe her pal will oblige us aft
er we work on him a Bit" The ser
geant pushed button and as a
buxom police matron appeared,
"Take her away" he ordered.
LET her go and I'll talk" said
the boy CURLY.
mo, Frankie!" Hanney limped to
the matron's aid. The girls resist
ance collapsed and she went out
quietly. With the closing of the
door, the boy lost his air of aloof
unconcern.
"All right. My names Frank DAN
ton. Get Sergeant Robinson, from
Scott precinct, and I'll spill every
thing"
Robinson! Why?" asked Duggan
suspiciously. Confronted by an OBJ
stinate silence, he yielded to his in
ward curiosity and dialed with a
stubby finger.
Hello, Scott? Duggan, from
Dawson. Get Sergeant Robinson,
will you? hello, Robbed Say,
we got a bird here called Frank
Danton, alias Phantom Frank, who
refuses to talk unless you're present
what? . what's the joker"
Duggan scowled into the mouthpiece
=. "Oh, yeah! You better come
anyway . okay."
Sergeant Robinson, round-faced
and apple-cheeked, entered chuck
ling. He clapped the boys shoulder
and peered quizzically at the dam
aged eye.
list, tst, Frank! Who hung the
sinner on your"
He started something and got
himself slapped" Duggan said
shortly.
Somebody's kidding you, Bill.
I've known Frank ever since l was
pounding beat twenty years ago."
How about this?" Duggan slid
the gun across the desk. His girl
was carrying it," Robinson's eyes
sobered
cts like this, Sarge" explained
the boy, shamefacedly. "Pat-she's
Patricia Fahey-is crook crazy.
Nothing wrong she's just kid
and . well, IL fell for her and
was afraid to tell her l was soda
jerker So l made up this story
about being wanted l even
bought the gun for her to carry.
Trouble was, Sarge, she musta boast
ed to some dame about the"-the
boy blushed and swallowed-"the
price on my head That's the truth,
| swear"
Sergeant Robinson's chins gave a
preliminary culver.
Maybe she's had a lesson" he
said doubtfully. Duggan reached for
the battery of push buttons.
Wait" Robinson dried his eyes.
''You going to tell her the truth,
|, Frank"
She'll be off me for life," replied
Frank, disconsolate.
pats a good kid" insisted the
boy Loyalty. "She works in a five
and-ten and hands all her dough
over to her folks. She's only seven
teen, Sarge. She'll get over it.
"Wen, if you're sure sayI"
Robinson beamed. 1--WE got it."
A quietly understanding matron
and the terrifying impersonality of
a cell had done much to eradicate
Patricia's anti-social propensities.
She came in, cast an anxious,
frightened glance at the blue uni
forms, and sped to Frank. Ser
geant Duggan cleared his throat.
Remember, Phantom!" he
rasped ''You may have been clev-
er enough to play a lone hand and
fool the police of-of two continents,
but sooner or later you'll slip. The
Federals suspect you of wounding
those Omen in Iowa and if they
ever get proof, God help you'll You'll
be Public Enemy Number ="
he eyed Robinson uncertainty.
Three" prompted the latter.
Number Three" Duggan went
on. "And you know what that
means"
Either get job or leave town."
warned Robinson sternly. "We'n be
watching you, Phantom"
Get out!" roared Duggan. Both
of you'll"
Frank seized Pats wrist. The
way to the door and freedom was
clear.
Mad at me, Frankie?" she asked,
timidly.
NAV" Pat pressed closer, her
immature bosom swelling with re-
lief and alteration. If only-no, she