XV

THE  CASE  OF  OFFICER  FLANAGAN

TO centre all one's ideas and actions in the
singleness of one purpose often produces
a mental condition resembling mono¬
mania. We have so many proofs of this theory
that any additional instances would seem super¬
fluous. Still, I cannot refrain from telling you
the following story, because it promised so little
and ended so unexpectedly. Besides, it is true,
and is still lived by its principal actors.

No family among the humble folk in the Sixth
Ward enjoyed greater popularity than the Strep-
pers. It was a standing joke in the neighbourhood
than, eventually, old man Strepper would be the
father-in-law to most of the young men in the ward.
No jest ever perpetrated had a greater chance of
becoming a probability. The Streppers were blessed
with a family of six children, and they were all
girls.

There were some who pitied old Strepper for be¬
ing provided with such an abundance of femininity,
but he took it very philosophically.

"Ach,   what's  the  difference,"   he  would  say.

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