The Trail of the White Mule

ay him nay. If any man objects, the traveler is by custom privileged to whip the objector if he is big enough, and afterwards go on his way with

en meeting. In Los Angeles Casey was halted and rebuked on every corner, so he complaine

Like the boy he was at heart, he was perfectly willing to make good resolutions-all of w

ed to lead henceforth a blameless life. It was time he settled down, Casey declared virtuously. His last trip into the desert was all wrong, and he wanted you to ask anybody if Casey Ryan wasn't ready at any and all times to admit his mistakes, if he ever happened to make any. He w

't, but so far no officer had yelled at him and he hadn't so much as barked a fender. Down across Grand Avenue he larruped, never noticing the terrifi

not desert, however. A car was coming behind Casey much closer than fifty miles; one of those scuttling Ford delivery trucks. It locked fenders with Casey when he swung to the left. The two cars skidded as one toward the right-hand curb; caught amidships a bright yellow, torpedo-tailed runabout

e crossing; and woe be unto the right-hand pocket of any man who failed to drive circumspectly around it. New traffic officers are apt to be keenly conscientious in their work. At twenty-five dollars

er near the end of his shift had pessimistically decided that the dri

resounded for blocks. When the dust had settled, he ran over and yanked off the dented sand of the vacant lot a dazed and hardened malefactor who had commit

uted the new traffic cop and sh

nutes. He licked the traffic cop rather thoroughly-I suppose because his onslaught was wholly unexpected-kicked an expostulating minister in the pit of the stoma

ipped cops rode with him and didn't seem to care if Casey's nose WAS bleeding all over his vest. A uniformed cop stood on the steps behind, and another rode beside the driver and kept his eye peeled over his shoulder, thinking he w

brief but disquieting. It merely said, "CASEY IN JAIL SERIOUS NEED HELP."

aight in the pulpit, the minister meant to preach a series of sermons against the laxity of a police force that permits such outrages to occur in broad daylight. M

rge against him was changed from something worse to "Reckless driving and disturbing the peace." Casey w

erity) to pay all damages to the two cars he had wrecked and to ask the minister's doctor what was his fee; a new uniform for the traffic cop was also suggested, since Casey had thrust his foot violently into the cop's pocket which was n

etback like that to his good resolutions. I was inclined to