[COPYRIGHT STORY.] The Preserver of the Piece

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIX, Issue 21, 23 November 1907, Page 36

[COPYRIGHT STORY.] The Preserver of the Piece

By

R. LANGBRIDGE,

Author of “ The Ambush of Young Days,” Etc.

CHRISTINA O’DONNELL was on a visit to her aunt in Cork. Although she had been apprenticed to a dressmaker in Tralee for several years, Christina had only just put up her hair. Also, it was the first time she had ever stayed alone in a strange house. Therefore the visit was a great occasion to Christina. She said so to her aunt directly she was set down witli her small trunk in the hall. " Do ye say so? ” replied Mrs. Magee. “ Then ye shall have reason to remember it. me dear.” Mrs. Magee did not fall short of her word. “ My aunt is very kind,” Christina wrote home to her mother; “ she says girls will be girls, and what they want is nice things to wear and plenty of young men. So she has given me a new dress. You would think it very pretty, dear mamma: blue serge, with a white vest, and my aunt says if she was a young man she would be mad about me. Do not think me conceited, dear mamma, but I must say it is nice to see them jump to open the door for you, though you never thought of going out at all, and yesterday when I dropt my handkerchief two young gentlemen at an afternoon tea party 1 was at stooped for it at tile same time and -knocked their heads together. Though I was sorry for there pain I could' ‘not help being glad to see they were anxious to be polite to me. I like having, my hair up very'much, and I like the Cork gentlemen very much; men are much nicer than women, they are not so mean. Dear mamma, 1 have been to so many funkshunts, as my aunt calls them, I could not tell you how many, but there is one gentleman their I do not like, his name is Mr. Hogan. I do not like to be incivil to him, but he follcrs me about and is not, shy of me like the other gentlemen I meet, his eyes arc bold. I don’t know why, but I meet him everywhere. I do not like to be treated as if I belonged to someone I don’t belong to, only 1 don’t like to hurt his feelings by treating him unkind. Dear mamma, you must have some experience in young men. having married my father, and I would be thankful to you if you would tell me how to get rid of the young gentleman without being incivil to him. —- Your afl’cc. daughter, Christina O'Donnell.’’ Mrs. O’Donnell replied to this letter by return of post. ■■ Dear Chris, with regard to the young gentleman you mention, 1 would tell him plainly I had no further need of his attenshuns. I have sonic experience of such matters, as though you may not think it I was much trubbled by eorters before 1 marrid your father. So do not Bcroople to give him your mind and tell him such as him is not for the likes of you that comes of a resneekalde famly. Excuse haste, your affec. Mamma B. O’Donnell.’’ Eortilied by this advice, Christina put on her must enticing elothes, and set out boldly from her aunt’s for the very house when- -he was most certain of meeting the bold-eyed gentleman in question. She had been invited to play games at Mrs. Connelly's. Christina arrived rather late: they were in the middle of “ I had a little dog. and he won’t bite you,” and Mr. Hogan was going round outside the circle, and saying. “ But he won’t bite you, ami he won’t bite you.’’ They made a place for Christina, and she jointed hands between the two young men who had

bumped their heads together in picking up her handkerchief. “Excuse me holdin’ your hand,” said the young man on the right, “but it’s the rule o’ the game, you see.” “I don’t at all mind, thank you,” sail Christina; so he squeezed Christina’s hand, and she squeezed back. “I’m ’afraid my hands are rather damp, Miss,” said the young man on the left. “No, they’re not, they’re just right,” said Christina; so he pressed Christina’s lingers, and she pressed his. At this moment Mr. Hogan said: “But he’ll bite you,” and he dropped the handkerchief beside Christina. Everybody cried “Run!” And when she said “Where?” and they answered “After him!” Christina stood still and Baid: — “No, I’m not going to run after him.” Then they all laughed. “Ah, I think we’re tired of ‘I had a litthe dog,” said Mrs. Connelly, “we were playing it a good while before you came in, Christina. Come on downstairs, all of ye; 1 think mamma has the tay wet.’ No one was sorry to hear that it was teatime. A polite sigh of satisfaction escaped from everybody there.. “Let yez sort yourselves,” commanded Mrs. Connelly, as she hastened downstairs in advance of the company, to see if her mamma had fulfilled what was expected of her. Christina turned sharply; something had poked her in the side. Mr. Hogan was standing close to her, his arm crooked coolly for the receipt of her’s. “Come on down!” said Mr. Hogan. “I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s cold meat. You stick to me, Miss, and ye won’t go far wrong!” “If ye please, Mr. Hogan.” said Christina, “was that your elbow in me side?” “Well now I come to think of it,” said Mr. Hogan, imagining that he was very funny. “1 believe it was!” “If ye’ll please to keep your elbow to your own side, Mr. Hogan,” said Christina, with her head held very high. “I’ll keep my aim to myself!” And she walked downstairs alone. Mr. Hogan burst out laughing. He thought that this was Christina’s way of getting on with him. Downstairs in the parlour, Mrs. Connelly and her mother stood beside the tea-pots with welcoming smiles. The old lady wore a cap with little frills round it. and a little shawl crossed over her bosom, and she nodded and beamed at the sight of the young people with their fresh cheeks and their shining eyes. When they perceived how elegantly the table had been set. the young women looked almost afraid for the minute, and the young men uncomfortable. But when their eyes fell on the coll ham. the marmalade standing in a glass tumbler and the slices of very yellow cake, with exceedingly bi’ack currants in it. ami a pa th-way of rich brown al-mond-paste, meandering through the middle of it. their awe fell from them, and the talk burst out again. Christina had bestowed herself, to her relief, upon the next chair to that occupied by the young man who had thought* fully •apologised for tbp dampness of his ha nd-a. But the *eat upon her left was empty. She had turned her head in speaking to her partner on the ii_’ht, when someone lumped down heavily in-

to the empty ehair beside her. It was Mr. Hogan. As their eyes met, he grinned cheerfully at her, not at all depressed by their last conversation. “Now then, Miss O’Donnell, ham, or jam, or what?” he said. Christina addressed appealing eyes to her partner on the right. “This young lady is under my care,” said the damp-handed young man, rising with unexpected magnificence to the occasion. “Don’t mind him, miss,” he added to Christina. “All right, so,” said Mr. Hogan, “but if ye’ll excuse me givin’ you a tip, Miss O’Donnell, put in a word early for the ham.” The young man on the right took upon himself to wither Mr. Hogan. Mr. Hogan refused to be withered. When the marmalade had sunk low in the tumbler, and the ham was reduced to rind and bone, Mrs. Connelly suggested an adjournment to the room on the next floor. “What’ll we play now?” she said, when they were all upstairs. “Let’s have ‘Postman’s Knock,’” said Mr. Hogan. “I’ll be postman.” “I’ll answer the door, so,” said Mrs. Connelly. Mr. Hogan went outside and knocked. There was whispering between him and Mrs. Connelly. “There’® a letter for Miss O’Donnell,” she said, “and there’s a shillin’ to pay on it.” “I’m not expectin’ a letter, thank you,” said Christina. “No matther,” said Mrs. Connelly, “ye must pay what’s due on it.” And she pushed her by sheer force outside the door. “Come, Miss O’Donnell,” said Mr. Hogan, standing in the passage, “ye know what’s owin’ to me.” “If ye please, Mr. Hogan,” said Christina, putting her back to the wall, “an’ you know what’s owin’ to me.” “Ay, I think I do, Miss,” answered Mr. Hogan with a chuckle. “An’ that’s respect, Mr. Hogan,” said Christina. “Twelve respects,” replied Mr. Hogan. “I don't want to be incivil an’ hurt your feelin’s, Mr. Hogan,” went on Christina, “but—” Mrs. Connelly opened the dcoi' and looked out: “That postman’s gettin’ later an’ later on his rounds,” she remarked. “The delivery’s a bit late,” returned Mr. Hogan with a grin. Mrs. Connelly shut the door. “—But I don’t want to be squeezed by you,” said Christina. “All right, Miss O’Donnell,” returned Mr. Hogan anxiously. “I won’t squeeze you, if you’ll let me walk home with you.” “No, I won’t,” returned Christina. She began to quote readily from her mother’s letter. “Though you mayn’t think it. me only havin’ just put up my hair, I have some esperience in such matters, an’ I do not scruple to tell you, Mr. Hogan, that 1 have no further need of your attentions.” She opened the door. “Au’—an’ I hope you consider that suflieient, Mr. Hogan,” Christina added with much dignity. The whole room burst out laughing. “To judge by the time ye’ve kept us,” said Mrs. Connelly, “I should say it was quite sulli< ii-nt, Miss O'Donnell — for the time bein’.”

Christina became very red. “If you please, Mrs. Connelly, I think I’ve taken cold, an’ I’m not feelin’ very well—an’ my aunt will be expectin’ me,” she stammered out. “An’ I’m thankful to ye for the invitation, an’ I enjoyed meself very much, an’ now I’ll be sayin’ good-bye to you.” Mr. Hogan began to button up his eoat. “I remember now I have an appointment for live-thirty,” he said, “an’ ’tis five-twenty now, Mrs. Connelly.” Everybody seemed in possession of a common joke. “Oh, yes, hurry on now, ’twould never do to be late for th’ appointment, ye know,” said Mrs. Connelly with a wink. Without taking leave of any of the guests, -Christina scuttled down the stairs, opened the hall-door for herself, and skipped out into the street. Mr. Hogan opened the hall-door, shut it, and strode after her. Christina turned round upon him; she was frightened. “Go away!—horrid man!” she said. “Ah, go on,” replied Mr. Hogan, in what he considered to be irrestible accents, “ye know ye don’t think me too horrid.” “My mamma,” said Christina, panting, “said I was to tell you, such as you, Mr. Hogan, wasn’t for the likes of me that comes of a respectable fam’ly—” “Now, now, little girl—be good!” said Mr. Hogan, “an’ I'll let you off with half of what’s owin’ to me still.” He put his face close to hers. Christina screamed and struck him in the face. Then she took to her heels and ran. that part of the town was badly lighted, but she could just make out the figure of a huge policeman standing at the corner of the road towards which she ran. Christina ran into his arms, and took hold of his big woollen-gloved hand. “Oh!” she gasped. “I’m so frightened. Will you—will you take care of me, sir?” The policeman looked a long way down into her face. She could see that he had big blue eyes and a fair moustache. “With the greatest o’ pleasure, Miss,” said the policeman. “A man,” she gasped, “a horrid man has tried to kiss me.” “An unpardonable liberty to take,” said the huge policeman, “an infringement of the law —and if I could ketch him, he wouldn’t try that on again!” “I hit him on the nose,” said Christina. “The best thing you could have done, Miss,” he replied. “I hope I’ve made it bleed,” Christina added. “That, Miss.” replied the policeman, “is a consummation devoutly to be desired.” Christina drew a breath, and looked up in his face. “I—think I’m afraid of going home—alone,” she murmured. The big policeman drew himself up until he looked much bigger. “Havin' put yourself beneath nie protection, Miss; it is me solemn duty to escort you thither.” he replied, buttoning his collar firmly. “An’ your address?” “It's 24, Geraldine Villas,’’ said Christina. “Thank you. sir, vou’re verg kind."

"Doa’t mention it, Miss,” replied the policeman. They stepped out together. “Oh,” said Christina, “are you going this way?” “I am,” he answered, “why, Miss?” “I know of a much shorter way,” she •aid. “Up Sarsfield-road.” “I shouldn’t think,” said the policeman sternly, “of taking a young lady through such low purlieus as them." Christina paused. “I see,” she said, “you are very considerate, Sergeant.” The constable drew himself up again, and coughed importantly. “I feel sure ye are a Sergeant,” Christina said, “by the knowledge of the law you show.” “Pooh, Miss,” said the constable, “that’s a trifle to what I do know.” “Oh, indeed,” said Christina humbly. She added, “It must make the world seem a very wicked place, Sergeant, to know so much about thieves and drunken men, and such as them.” “Ay, Miss,” returned the constable, his sense of protection causing him to keep very close to her, “but a tender young lady like yourself would have no notion of the crime we —ahem, sergeants of the force control.” Christina sighed. “There’s a terrible amount o’ wrongdoin’ in the world,” said the big policeman. and at that moment Christina felt a strong support creep round her waist. She started. “Sergeant,” she exclaimed, “isn’t that your arm ?” “Yes, miss,” replied the constable. He coughed. “Ye may not be aware that in the exercise of me duty,- it is incumbent on me to place the arm round any young lady who has put he?self into me guardianship.” “Oh, I see,” exclaimed Christina. “I beg your pardon. Sergeant,” “Not at all, Miss,” he replied. “The laws of the force, ye know, are. very binding.” “So I suppose,” she-murmured. - “Any infringement o’ the regulations,’* continued the policeman, “is visited by a heavy fine, Miss.”- -

"Is that so?” exclaimed Christina. “I would rot like to get you fined. Sergeant. Were you ever fined yet?’ “No, Miss, never,” he replied. “How silly of me to ask,” said Christina, “policemen, an’ more especially a Sergeant, never can do wrong, of course.” “Ye are right, Miss,” said the constable, “they can’t.” “So don’t be thinkin’,” Christina murmured reassuringly, “that the exercise of your duty is at all unpleasant to me.” “I am greatly gratified to hear ye say so, Miss,” said the constable, “it makes ■the performance of it a pleasure.” “You’re very kind to say so,” returned Christina, bowing her head. They proceeded thus in silence for a little time. Suddenly the policeman stooped towards the pavement. “What are ye doin’?” she asked. “Quenchin’ a lighted match,” said the constable, “they’re a menace to the safety of the public.” “The publie owes you a great deal!” said Christina, sighing. “A fair share, Miss,” the constable admitted. “I am afraid,” said Christina, “that I am takin’ up too much of your time. Sergeant. Should you not be at your post ?’* “My post, Miss,” returned the constable, “is wherever female beauty is in distress.” Christina inclined her head again. “You are very good to say so, but are ye sure, Sergeant, that I’m not takin’ you off your —don’t they call it—beat?” No, Miss,” he answered, “this is within me beat.” “Indeed,” said Christina, “what a nice long one you have!” “It is considered, Miss, I believe, ’ he answered, “though I say it that shouldn’t, to be the most important beat in the force.” - ' “Really?” said Christina. She looked up at him suddenly. “I used to be afraid of policemen—but I don’t think I am —now.” “An’ what made ye afraid of them, Miss?” he asked. “They seemed so big,” returned Christina, “and so cold hearted.”

“Ay,” said the constable, nt. ■ .1 ii.i lc that blunts the feelings. Miss—nuirehin* prisoners to gaol, an’ puttiu* th. Inin'cuffs on ’em, and knockin’ a few men senseless with .your Imton, an’ little things like that—some o' the men in the force, they gets so hard-hearted, they’d han’t nil their own mother without shedding a tear.” Christina shuddered. “The wretches!” she said. “But you’re not like that, Sergeant?” “No, Miss,” he answered, “it went the other way with me. It’s just Ijke bein’ a doctor belongin’ to the force; it . makes your heart as savage as a mad bull, or as gentle as a new-born lamb.” “I’m sure your heart,” said Christina, “isn’t savage, Sergeant.” The constable sighed very deeply. “You’re right,. Miss,” he answered, “but sometimes 1 I wish it was.” “Why,” said Christina. “Here is Airs .Magee’s house! Dear me! —;t didu'.t seem such a long way after all.” The constable looked up at the door. He was registering the number m his head. Christina glanced down suddenly. “One of the tails of my fur has come off,” she exclaimed. “I must have dropped it in the street: it was always loose.” - - ■ ' -' : The Sergeant bent, and felt .aiioui, oji the doorstep. “Was it a valuable tail. Miss?” he asked very seriously. - ' “Not very, only imitation squirrel” said Christina. “ Tis of no consequence, only the fur was given me by my—” The constable looked up sharply. “Was it?” he said. “My mamma,”'said Christina. “Ah,” said the big policeman, “now ye touch a tender chord. Miss.” “You might come across it on your beat,” Christina murmured, hesitating to ring the bell. “That,” said the constable, “is highly probable, Miss. “I shall institute .a search,” he. coughed—-“an’ if the said tail .be found, take steps to return it to its lawful possessor.” Christina took a step towards her aunt’s door, and stopped.

“Then, supposin' 1 was to require your —protection again. Sergeant—” “Ask for Constable —er—ask for Hannan at the George Street Bai racks, Miss,” he said. He looked up at the fan light over the door. “In the prosecution of my duty 1 am frequently stationed outside your aunt’s house, Miss,” said Constable Hannan. “Are you?” said Christina. “Dear mellow safe we shall feel!” She held out her hand. “Good-night, Sergeant, you iiave given me very exalted notions of the—the force.” “Your notions, Miss,” said Constable Hannan, “could scarcely be too exalted.” “That’s true,”, murmured Christina, “don’t they- call you a Preserver of the Peace?” “Yes, Miss,!' said the Constable, “that .-is the humble place 1 occupy in the world’s.history,”—Christina thought site Jieard him chuckle faintly—“an’ 1 shall • be . hapgy, to prove to ye, Miss, at no very distant date, that my title .describes lue.with accuracy.” Constable Hannan, saluting and disappearing round the corner, became aware of the -figure of a small man gliding silently before him. It turned suddenly beneath a lamp post, and stared the constable in the face. .- “Good evening. Constable,” said the man. “Could .ye. tell me if that is the residence of Mrs. Magee?” “An’ what might ye be wantin',” sail the Constable, “with Mrs. Magee?" “Nothin’—er—nothin’,” said the man. The Constable whipped out his notebook. “Name an’ address!” he roared. “Michael Hogan, 32 Tanner’s-lane—-what harm was 1 doin’ an’ what business is it of yours” the man half-whimpered ■in a breath. “In pursuance of the Law, a’ in the interests of the Preservation o’ the Public Peace,” said the Constable, “it is me duty to discover the intention of all persons found lingering.near any house -or-houses, without any apparent business with the said house, or visible reason for delay on the part of such per•sons.” He laid his hand on Mr. Hogan’s

•hou’der, and Mr. Hogan shrank beneath the grip of his great hand. “In terms less strictly legal,’’ said Constable Hannan, marching Mr. Hogan forward, “I’m your man, if ye desire to be directed to any premises where ye are wanted—but I’m even still more your man, if ye need to be directed from -any premises where ye’re not wanted.” • t The following evening Christina squared lier elbows on the table, dipped her pen deeply in the ink-pot, and set to woik upon a letter to her mamma. She had just written a few lines, when something drew her gaze to the window. Christina saw a motionless helmet through the glass. vj;. She ran to the door and opened it. “&h,” 'he said. “So you’re on duty, Sergeant?” “Yes, Miss,” he said. “I told me aunt about your kindness to jne last night,” said Christina, “an’ she. said to ask you in, if ye felt it was not desertin’ your post.” The Constable stepped inside: — “In the prosecution of me duty,” he said, “I am as often inside houses as outside ’em. Thank ye, Miss.” “My aunt is busy,” said Christina, taking him into the. sitting-room, “but if ye’ll stay a few minutes, she’ll be dressed by then.” She asked the Constable to sit down, and found it difficult to think of topics to discuss. “I was just writin’ to my man.ma,” she went on, “when 1 noticed you on duty. I’d got as far as —” she 'motioned towards the table — f‘ ‘Dear mannnn, my aunt said I should have reason to remember me visit to her, an’ I am glad to say that I have since had reason—’ ” ' The Constable bent over the sheet of note pa pei. “Ye write a fine hand, Miss,” he said, “an’ speakin’ o’ your mamma, reminds n.r I Lave a little business to transact with you.” He unfastened two or three buttons on liis chest, and felt with his hand inside, his coat. Then he handed her a folded envelope, s-w j • “Me squirrel tail!” said Christian. “Sergeant, where did you find it last, night ?” “Here. Miss,” said the Constable, laying his hand on the left side of bis chest. Christina looked down. “Oh!” she said, “did you really?” Hannan, bending nearer to Christina with a chuckle," “do ye comprehend the full-significance, of the title Preserver of the. Piece?” Christina said slie thoh£ht’’she did-. A few minutes later Mr. Hogan, strolling with studied indifference past the house of Mrs. Magee, perceived a bright light shining from the unshuttered window of the sitting-room. > Temptation assailed Mr. Hogan. and he peeped through the window. Then he drew back with a groan. For he. had seen Christina sitting on the Constable's knee. ■'*