Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 183, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 August 1914 — Page 2

IN THIRTY SECONDS

By GEORGE FOXHALL.

(Copyright.) Anderson, night man at Mlddlevllle, "New York, pat his feet on the telegraph table and sighed for the exciting times when he had os'd three trains a day on tho fringe of the Arizona desert. “Nix on the heart of New York State," said.he. “ ’Tis a dull and drooplag wilderness; a high-sounding delusion. There Isn’t enough doing in the heart of New York state to —” The outer door swung open and a' big fellow in overalls stepped in quickly. Keeping his back to the door he turned the key in the lock, the sharp click betsaying the movement to the surprised but untroubled night man. "Much obliged, bo’’’ said he, without taking his feet from the table. “Did you put the cat out ’fore you locked the door?" For answer the stranger stepped to the office door and kicked it open, a gun In his hand, frowning churlishly upon the facetious operator. “Do you feel like keeping up the comedy?’’ he asked grimly. The operator was made of the real stuff. Two years at a tiny desert station is a better test of a man’s nerves than a battlefield. Anderson eyed the big man coolly. Realizing that he could never get to the gun on the shelf by the tleket window, he kept his feet on the table and looked bored.

.“Oh, I don’t know,” said he, “what’s the play?” ■ "I Bee you’ve got a safe here." Anderson grinned. “1 reckon you’re going to monopolize the comedy yourself,” he said. "There’s three twocent stamps anr-the American Railway Association book of rules In that safe. I’ll lock It If you like* then you can go ahead an’ blow It open.” “Don’t worry, little man, I never expected they’d trust a man your Bice with real money. I ain’t wanting to take nothing out of your safe. I want to put money In it” “Oh!” Anderson paused to get the point of the joke. It eluded him. “Me an’ the New York Central’s awful proud-spirited,” he went on. “We won’t let nobody give us money unless *they pull artillery on us. But if you Insist—” “Sit still.” The stranger stepped forward and slipped the office pistol ilnto his pocket “Stand up,” he commanded. His hands pressed swiftly •on Anderson’b various pockets, but nothing In the way of arms was evident

The big fellow dug his hand Into the bosom of his overalls and pulled •out a small tin cash-box with the lid •smashed. , "There’s two thousand, nine hundred dollars in this little box," he said, “an’ I’m going to put it in your Base. Get a hustle on. Open it" The safe door was not locked. Anderson pulled it open. The man put the box on a shelf, Blammed the door shut and whirled the combination knob around. “Now show me the combination so’b I can get it if I happen to shoot you." “I’d hate you to lose your money by my demise," grinned Anderson. He twisted the knob slowly and the other made a note of the figures. “Now I’ve a few words of instruction, then you can unlock the outside door. I’m going to sit behind that gauze screen that conceals your washstand until the New York train comes along at 3 o’clock. There I can see without being Been* “If anybody comes an’ tells you about a man having bu’sted into the big boarding house down there you don’t know nothin’ about it, an’ you haven’t seen no sign of a stranger about If they find me behind the screen I’m a friend of yours on the - road, dropped off the west-bound for a chat an’ now taking a snooze. “Finally, the stuff in your safe will be evidence against you as much as me after you’ve tried to screen me, an’ if they should take it into their head to search me an’ you try to peach when I’m not in a position to shoot I'll turn state’s witness." / The big man laughed at the completeness of his protection. “Regular Raffles, ain’t you?" commented Anderson, a tlnge -of disgust marking his cool easiness. “Hadn’t we better open the door an’ let a breath of fresh air in no'W?” The burglar frowned and stepped through the office door. “You’ll just tom the key,” he snapped. “If you open the door Fll let fresh air into that fresh brain of yours. You’re going to stay here. Now sit right down in your chair. I’ll sit on this one, an’ unless the screen’s bullet-proof, mind how you move about an’ how, you pound that key. I know Morse. “All right, bo,” said Anderson. “An’ now I reckon your voice must be tired. Give it a rest.” "You nervy little fiend. I don’t know but I’d better shoot you ’Store somebody comes in. You’ve got too much nerve." “Don’t bother. I'm no qheriff. I’m going to sleep. If you hear my call just fire your gun in the Air to wake tne.” Anderson pretended to compose himself for sleep, the burglar watching him with a mixture of anger and admiration. They had kept their respective positions for perhaps 20 minutes, when the handle of the station floor rattled uncertainly; an#, after

some fumbling, the door slowly opened and a well-dressed, elderly, woman entered. “It’s an old lady," muttered Anderson, raising his chin and peeking through the ticket window. "1 suppose I can get up?" "Of course.” Anderson arose. "Good morning, madam," he greeted cheerily. "You’re about early.” "Yes, but I could do no other. Oh, It’s a terrible business, Mr. Anderson —I think that’s what they said your name Ib, up at the Laurels?" Anderson confirmed it “The Laurels was broken into about an hour ago. My room was the only one that yielded anything worth while. The thief got all I had in the world.” The old voice trembled a little, but did not break. “Nearly three thousand dollars,” she went on. “My son’s in the Jewelry business in New York and he sent it to me last week In cash. Ue wrote me to have a good time for a few weeks, and then invest the rest In a cottage or something that would bring me In a little for the rest of my life. That’s why I came to Middlesvllle for a holiday.—— — : — ,-i “But I’m wandering from my business. I said I was coming to the depot to ask if you had aeen a strange man around, but of course 1 know he would keep out of sight That was only an excuse. I’m running away, really.”

Anderson smiled. There was something distressingly brave about the old lady’s half cheerful, half heart-broken tones. “Running away?” he asked. “Why are you running away? You didn’t rob yourself, did you?” He smiled afresh at his own feeble humor. "No, but I’m going to rob the Laurels,” said the surprising old lady. “You see I haven’t a' cent left to pay them with, and I can’t face them, so I’m going to run away to my son In New York and he’ll send them the money. He’s a jeweler. Here’s a picture of his store. See the sign, ‘Thompson, Jeweler.’ Do you think you could give me credit for a ticket, Mr. Anderson, until my Bon sends you the money? I’m sure you can trust mo.”

Anderson’s face seemed to harden. The old lady shrank as the slow change crept like a mask over the features. He gripped the counter as If he would have crushed It to tinder. He smiled, a ghastly, strained contortion. He laughed and his strained nerves ceased- themselves, “I wouldn't run away If I were you, Mrs. Thompson,” he said soothingly. “I can do better than that for you.” He walked toward the safe, talking as he went to shut out the horror of the crash and stinging agony that sang Its message In his expectant brain. If be could only get the safe open before the man made up his mind to shoot! Would the thunder never come! He was twirling the combination! He was still alive! In another fraction of a second he would be dead, but —

The safe swung open. He had talked, and felt, and worked, and descended into hell in 30 bursting seoonds. “A man In overalls, an honest-look-ing fellow,” he was saying with seeming cool facetiousness, though fear almost stilled the beating of his heart, “came in and asked me to take care of this, which he said he had found in the road. Pectfiiar how things happen, isn’t it? I suppose this must be your cash box. There’s two thousand, nine hundred dollars in it That’s all right, now. Don’t cry. No, my safe isn’t a good one. You’d better take the money right home. Good-by.” The old lady put a withered hand through the ticket window and laid it on Anderson’s icy cold one, too overwrought to notice its Iciness. “God bless you,” she whispered, with difficult articulation. “God bless you.” And she went out. There was a movement behind the screen. Anderson turned to comfort the burglar. His pistol was still in his hand. “Ain’t you a fool to risk your life like that for an old woman?" he asked curiously. “I didn’t care a hang for your gun compared to her,” said Anderson belligerently. “I’ve got a mother myself." “So have I," said the big fellow. “She just went out of that door.” The New York train sounded in the distance. Anderson stared dumbly at the other’s outstretched hand. “I’m going to leave &e Jewelry business, old man,” said Thompson gravely as he went to the train.

MIXTURE MAKES FOR TROUBLE

Chlorate ofPotaah Tablets Must Not Be Carried In Pocket With “Safety" Matches. Recently a serious fire was started in a coat pocket Of a man who carelessly placed two chlorate of potash tablets in the pocket with a box of safety matches. Brushing against the side of the door, he pressed the tablets against the coating on the outside of the match box, with the result that an intense fire was started in his coat pocket, and he was severely burned. Red phosphorus is used in the manufacture of safety matches and is placed on the box, Instead of on the head of the match. The head of a safety match contains chlorate of potash, which, containing much oxygen, flares up strongly when rubbed against the phosphorus on the Bide of the box. Thus the careless practise of carrying chlorate of poteßh tablets, commonly supposed to be entirely harmless, in the same pocket with a “safety” bos, may result in serious injury.—Popular Mechanics.

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN. RENSSELAER, IND.

PITCHING THE FAMOUS “FADEAWAY” BALL

Here is the record-breaking left of Rube Marquard and the famous right of the "Peerless” Matty, holding the little horsehide-covered pill just before delivering their famous “fadeaway” ball. The lower photo shows the south wing of “Rube” Marquard and the upper photo shows the arm of Christy Mathewson, the twlrler for the Giants. %

NAPS HAVE BEST SOUTHPAW

Eddie Collins Calls Vean Gregg of Cleveland Team “the LeftHanded Walter Johnson.” “The left-handed Walter Johnson.” That’s what Eddie Collins of the Athletics callsVean Gregg, Nap southpaw. In an article in the American Magazine Collins discusses Gregg and other pitchers under the general subject of “Pitchers I Have Faced.” Of Gregg, Collins says: “Vean Gregg of Cleveland Is one of the best southpaws I ever faced. The best-compliment I can think of is to call him a left-handed Johnson. To Gregg pitching comes natural; he possesses abundant speed, but it is a wonderful curve ball that rounds him out as a great pitcher. He gave more bases on balls last year tShan any pitcher except Houch of the Athletics, yet his control was always perfect Gregg’s ‘wildness* 4s not a handicap; on the other hand, it is often an asset Let me show you what I mean: “One afternoon last year the Cleveland battery was Gregg and O’Neill. They seemed to be having a lot of trouble with their slgnalfe, and Gregg was having difficulty In locating the plate. Finally O’Neill walked out to the box and said something to Vean. I never knew what It was, but I felt the effects when I came to bat the next inning, with two runners on base. Before I knew it I had ‘three and noth-

Vean Gregg.

ing* and I figured that a base on balls was inevitable. Then Steve O’Neill, who was crouching behind the bat, shouted to him: “ ‘Come on, now, Vean! Remember what I told you!’ “Whereupon Gregg threw three curve balls in succession—mind you!— and they all cut the middle of the plate for clean strikes, after which I took a drink of ice water. “That is where Gregg’s mastery lies. If he had to, he could almost put that curve ball of his through a knot hole. It seems to have a break on It like the letter S, and whenever you see him on a sweltering hot day, wearing a bright red flannel shirt, look out! —as that is his luck combination.”

Punched Into Politics.

When Jack O’Connor last season put Umpire Jack McNulty out of base ball with a punch that broke his jaw he put him into politics. The former arbiter, after ten years’ service in a dozen leagues, has quit the game and is cow running for recorder of deeds on the Democratic ticket in St Louis county, Missouri.

New Contracts Costly.

Manager McGraw says that it has cost the New York club $25,000 to get all of the Giants to sign new contracts this summer with the ten-day clause eliminated. He thinks that is cheaper than going to court and fighting the cases after the players bsrrjumped. —-

Grips of Two Noted Pitchers

FIRST TO USE THE SPITBALL

Uncle Mike Scanlon- Gives Credit to Pitcher Tommy Bond Rather Than to Elmer Stricklett. Washington, D. C., has a man a baseball magnate of the old school—who slips the noose over the head of the supposedly authentic dopester who credits Elmer Stricklett with inventing the spitball. Uncle Mike Scanlon is the person who Shatters the the fans of today, and he Is more commonly known as “The Little Judge.” Whenever a player or fan of modem times who is in Washington attempts to credit Stricklett with the spitball Introduction, some one will bob up to discredit the story, and In proof Uncle Mike’s name will be dragged into the argument. As a result, a trip to “The Little Judge’s” home 1b planned, and he is always ready to spill his story. "L cannot just-remember who was the first pitcher to use the spitball,” said the “Judge,” “but I do know that I saw It used before Elmer Stricklett ever pegged professionally. The first spitballer of whom I have a distinct recollection was Tommy Bond, when he pitched for me In 1873. At that time I managed the New Bedford club of the Eastern league. “Tommy had a great spltter,” added Scanlon. "He used to carry a bottle of glycerin In his hip pocket, with the cork out, and he would put a drop or two on his fingers before delivering the ball. The sphere took some freak jumpß with the Bond application of glycerin, and although spittle was not used I have always held that Tommy was the first spitballer.”

Birdie Cree Illustrates the fluctuating value of baseball players. At the end of last season no team would pay the Yankees the waiver price- for his services, and he was sent to the Baltlmore International league club. Cree has hit around .400 with Baltimore and has shown such general good form in his work that the eyes of all scouts are already fixed upon him. Four National league clubs have bid for his services, and one manager, believed to be Fred Clarke, Is said to have offered $14,000 for the release of the former Yankee.

The reports of threatened Federal league raids frightened filler Huggins of the St. Louis Nationals, and he has signed ex-Plrate Rube Robinson to a new two : year contract with the ten-day clause cut ont

STORIES OF THE DIAMOND

Charles Herzog has corraled another outfielder. The newest arrival ia McLaughlin of Colgate university. • • e Fred Clarke is not In favor of umpires alternating behind the bat and on the bases. He says they should stay in one place. • • e Jimmy Murray, Buffalo International league star, who was purchased by the Braves, Is playing only fair ball and is hitting occasionally. • * • .* v ' What is the matter with Tris Speaker? Ever since he signed the famous contract calling for $18,500 a year Tris haß not looked himself. Manager GrilSth* believes he has a good scheme to keep bis players from pulling off bones. He says he’ll fine every ma& that shows he is nbt thinking. i • • * Artie Butler of the St Louis Cardinal club has always wanted to play in the outfield. He worked in the garden a few months while at St. Paul and during that time batted over . • V , ' ’ . '

Ball Players Fluctuate.

Huggins Takes No Chances.

WILL STICK TO WHITE SOX

Ray Demmltt Admits He Gazed on Federal League Gold, but Was Weaned by President Comiskey. Ray Demmltt wHI cavort about in the uniform of the White Sox In 1815 and 1816. He will not play with a Federal league team as planned, having changed his mind after a conference with President Coihlskey. Demmltt admitted he had Federal league aspirations and that he was negotiating with the outlaws, but said these faded before the eloquence of the Old Roman, who convinced him that his dollars would go just as far as those of a Federal league magnate. The Sox regular left fleider admitted the lure of Federal league gold had no fascination for him now and that he was bound to play for Comiskey by an Iron clad contract that was binding. The ten-day clause is eliminated from Demmitt’a new contract “I can play just as yell for Comiskey as for the Federal leaguers,” said Demmltt. “I have a contract that suits me. I like Comiskey and Chicago and the Sox club, and after thinking it over carefully I’d be foolish to

Ray Demmitt.

sign with a Federal league club for the same money. “Comiskey And Callahan have treated me fairly and given me the chance to make good, which I did not get in Detroit, and that is another reason why I should tie to the Chicago club. We have a binding contract and I want it to be binding.” He was one of the most promising outfielders in the Minor leagues when he played for Montreal in the International league. He was signed by Hughie Jennings and accompanied the Tigers on the spring training trip of 1914 and waivers were asked on him because he couldn’t (hit. The Sox left fielder was formerly a member of the New York Highlanders and turned back to the minors. As a member of the Sox, to which he came because Manager Callahan refused to waive him out or the league. Demmltt has made good as a fielder, batter and all around player. He is said to possess the greatest tbrewing-arm -of any player coming-to the big show from the minors in several years. Was a member of the Montreal club for fdur years and played a star game, but failed to Impress the big leaguers until he came to the White Sox. Flirted with the Federal leaguers, but was signed this week by President Comiskey at a salary said to be $5,000 a year.

Meyer to Stick to Springfield.

Sol Meyer’s heart has been touched by pleas of Springfield fans, and he makes it known that the Springfield team will not be transferred to Kokomo or some other jumping off place, Springfield fans have again promised to come to the aid of the club with some support in the way of attendance. This is about their dozenth promise of the sort, but Meyer is willing to go the limit with them and give them a few more chances.

Umpire's Unique Stunt.

Umpire Harry Johnson of the National league has Inaugurated a new stunt. Recently there was an argument as to whether a pitcher had his foot on the slab. The rubber was covered with dust and the umpire could not decide and quite a row resulted. Since then Johnson carefully keeps the Pitcher’s slab dusted off and carries bis whisk brOom, even when he is working on the bases.

Sunday Ball in Washington.

Sunday baseball in Washington was 'made possible by a decision of Justice Gould in the District of Columbia supreme court, that there no law to preVent it The decision was given in a suit brought by officials of the Federal league to restrain local authorities from interfering with Kaeekell QunhnT yiVtCDDIUIUIt UttSCUOU UU CjUUUttJ.

aiwWOEBURG jb JOYVILLE - 1 , From Woeburg to Joyvllle seems but a 4 lfttle waySome times; The road 1b very pleasant and the company Is gay—- - - . . Sometimes. You ca*> go there in a minute If a worn am who Is fair Sits beside you in a corner—or, well, almost anywhere, Hinting that you are a wonder from your toenails to your hair— Sometimes. From Woeburg to Joyvllle the trip la quickly made— . Sometimes; The road Is broad and rutless, with sj very easy grade— Sometimes. • * - You may Journey there as quickly aa a< hen may wink an eye If the people you’re afraid of have tho decency to die, Or the stock you’ve bought advances, or your child quits asking "Why?" Sometimes. From Woeburg to Joyvllle the way la long and steep— Sometimes; The rocks are big and Jagged and tho ruts are very deep— Sometimes. It Is hard to find a lodging on the tedious.) ■ dismal way, tailor treats you coldly andl your ventures fail to pay— When She casts you oft for having been — well, Just a little gay— Sometimes. From Woeburg to JoyvlUe there seems’ no way at all— Sometimes; Through the deep, dark, dismal vallejr hissing serpents seem to crawl— Sometimes. It may be, Indeed, that JoyvlUe is a figment of the air, A mirage out on the desert, but If so iti be I dare Still to thank the Lord for letting me bohold it gleaming there— ~ Sometimes.

FATHER’S FOOLISHNESS.

come back." “My good gracious! And him speculating in stocks the way he does! Why, we’re liable to wake up poor almost any morning.”

An Enthusiastic Believer.

“Do you believe in capital punishment?” asked the lawyer. , “Yes,” replied the prospective Jury- ? man, “I do. My wife has a big, husky brother who insists on living with us instead of getting Out and finding a Job, and he has threatened to lick me unless I furnish his board and look cheerful.” • < , \

Kindness.

His head was bald and wrinkles hung In folds beneath his chin; But, .fancying his look was young, He drew his Waist-band In. His shoulders drooped, his step was stow* His sight waa growing dim: He thought the knowledge a* It, though* Belonged alone to him. I did not tell him that I knew, Nor hint that I could see; It may be that some morning you Will be aa kind to me.

Approaching the Limit

“Mrs. Henpeck seems to have her husband so well trained that he'd Jump through a hoop if she held it up and gave him the word.” “It’s wprse than that. She even makes him help her celebrate the anniversary of her marriage to her first husband.”

Reminded.

“What poem does that very woman with the low-cut waist, which is held up by two narrow, straps over the shoulders, remind you of?” “Heavens! She doesn’t remind me of any poem. Does she you?" “Tea. lines on a Skeleton.’"

Hardly.

“Who was it said ‘Throw physio to the dogs** 1 don't recall his name; but I’ll hot

“What did father say when you asked him if you could have me?” “He told me to wait a year and then if I still wanted you to