Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 253, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 October 1914 — Page 3

THE GOLD COUPLER

By AUGUST WITTFELD.

(ConJ right I Carlock Bjones was the star detec- • five of the Pole-to-Pole railway. When I stepped into his sumptuous apart* Meats and found him intently scrutinizing a coupling-pin, he gave me a quick glance, and said: “Ah, Watchem, I see you have lots of leisure; and as your wife has gqpe away,'l feel that I can depend on you to join me in this case." I gasped. “Remarkable!” I ejaculated. “It beats the time-table how you deduce these things that none but myself am aware of.” “Dead easy,” he replied. “You have on a bright red necktie. That fact proclaims to the world that your wife has gone tq the country. You generally shave yourself; but, as you have a

clean shave and-your face is free from gashes, I know that you have been to the barber’s. That, and the fact that you have been playing pool, is evidence that you have time to otter up on the altar of ennui.” "But how do you know I have been playing pool?” I asked in an awestruck voice. “Well,” he replied, “you have chalk on the lapel and tail of your coat, and also between the thumb and forefinger of your left hand. That can indicate nothing but that you have been playing pool.” "I might have been playing billiards,” I suggested. “Yes,” he replied; “but you don’t know how." “Carlock,” I commented, “you’re a wonder. What is the case you are working on ?” “This,” he replied, “is the most perplexing case that has come to my notice since I recovered my sanity. The time Pushem lost forty minutes on his run, and I was assigned to the task of discovering and returning them, was a kindergarten proposition to the problem that confronts me now.” He paused, and, filling his pipe with a piece of oily waste, he 1$ it. Then, baring his arm, he vaccinated himself with an ivory point. “I am doing this,” he said, “to make It difficult for me. to catch anything. I hate to work on an easy job.” "But what is this case that is baffling you?” I asked.

“Watchem,” he replied irrltatedly, ‘'how often have I told you that you should be more perspicuous in your remarks? I am not baffled. I am never baffled. I may be perplexed, but not baffled. Perplexity is what gives seat to my art “The only time I was baffled was when I was run over and cut to pieces by the night express. Then my skill In putting jig-saw puzzles together stood me in good stead, and I was quickly on my feet. What baffled me was the fact that people thought me a dead one when I was merely run down. “I received this coupling-pin in a letter this morning. Even with my wonderful power of perception, which I have cultivated with the latest approved patterns of cultivators, I might have overlooked it had it not dropped from the envelope and struck me on the pedal extremity. Had it struck me on the head, I would not have thought much, but I instantly reasoned that there was something on foot.”, He opened a sub-cellarette, and pouring out a glas of benzine, he tossed it .off neatly. Then, striking a lucifer, he ignited his breath, and his face was illumined.

“What is it?” I gasped. ,“Just a light luncheon,” he replied. When he had finished his naphtha lunch, he picked up the coupling-pin and gazed at it Intently. “Watchem,” he asked, “do you notice anything unusual about this coupling-pin?" I gazed at it quizzically. “Nothing,” I replied, “except that it Is a coupling-pin.” “Watchem,” he said, “I cannot see that the constant grind of domesticity has sharpened your wits appreciably. Cannot you see that it is made of Sold?" “Wonderful," I ejaculated. “But why should any one send you a gold coupling-pin?” I asked. ' “Let us reason this thing out by deduction,” he replied. “Had the sender wished me harm, he would have sent my a dynamite bomb or a safety razor. The fact that he sent me-a coupling-pin can indicate but one thing, and that is that he wishes to couple up with me. You don’t have to be link’s-eyed to detect that. But the motive? We must search that ont. What do you make of It, Watchem?” “I'm afraid I’ll have to give it up,” I ventured. “Yes, but I don’t propose to," he replied. “It’s not every day that some one sends me a gold coupling-pin, and I propose to keep it” “Did the letter give bo clue to the sender?** I asked. “Ah, Watchem,** he commented, “you are improving; I had forgotten to read it” He rescued the letter from the waste basket, where he had thrown it, and, shutting his eyes, he read it to me. ~ ; It ran as follows: Mr. Carlock Bjones, New York City. N. Y.: Dear Mr. Bjonea—l am ineloalng you a sample of our new coupling-pin, whlofa I

am desirous of having adopted by the Pole-to-Pole railway. Knowing of your conectlon with the railway In question, and having read of your extraordinary ability of fastening things upon those who. 'are unwilling to have things fastened upon them, I am sending you the Inclosed as a retainer for your services in having your road adopt this pattern of pin. The draft pins are made of the finest quality of Graft steel, while those which are intended for exerting a pull op the purchasing end are as you will notice, manufactured from 18-karat Graft gold. I will be pleased to see you at my hunt-ing-lodge ■ In the Arrewdondacks this evening, when we can discuss details. Very respectfully, ■/ - E. Z. GRAFT. “There is" more in this,” said Carlock, “than appears on the surface. No man has ever had to offer me a bribe twice. Watchem, we must make haste ere the promoter of this useful device changes his mind. No man can make me such an alluring proposition and escape. “Watchem,” he hissed, “before the clocks strike the hour of midnight I shall have the signature of E. Z. Graft to one of my non-breakable contracts. Come, we lose time! But wait! I have an idea. Why should we consume time iif going to the Arrowdondacks when it is In my power to sum.mon. our. quarry.to. me .by_.my marvelous telepathic powers?*’ He rapped sharply upon the table two or three times, and then muffled himself up in the raps, which made him look like a mahatma doing the esoteric. I could see his massive brow as he concentrated upon the task in hand. His power in that line was marvelous. Often have I seen him wink ominously to the drug clerk. Hisr massive brows were knitting like a stocking machine, While beads of perspiration stood upon his forehead ready for the stringing. Suddenly an automobile horn sounded outside and we heard the moan of an emergency brake at Carlock’s door. “Hist!” he exclaimed. “It’s he.” Expectantly, we waited. The silence was disquieting. Suddenly the elevator doors clanged and the Indicator Inside Carlock’s door announced the ! fact that a portly gentleman weighing j two hundred and seventy-six pounds stood upon the mat, outside the portal. There was a knock. Carlock glided to the door and threw it open. The visitor entered, staggering, and would have fallen had not Carlock prevented him. “Mr. Carlock Bjones?” he asked. “.That’s me,” replied Carlock. “You are in trouble. Really, my dear sir, you should get mayrled; then you could tell your troubles to your wife without having to come to me.” The portly party paled. “How do you know all these things?” he asked. “It is my business to know everything,” repHed Car lock. '“I know you are not married, because nobody loves a fat man. I know you are In trouble, because you own an automobile, and I know that your has left you because you used the emergency brake in making a social stop. A chauffeur never uses a brake of any. kind. He goes ahead and breaks the machine by running into something.” ' " “Marvelous!” gasped the visitor. “As you know these things, perhaps you can tell me my name.” “E. Z. Graft," replied Carlock. “You lose,” said the portly party. "E. Z. Graft was arrested this morning for bribery.” “Then, who are you?” demanded Carlock. “That," said he, “Is another story.”

BROUGHT FROM THE ORIENT

Practice of Tattooing Originated In the East, Probably as a Means of Ornamentation. The practice of tattooing the human 1 skin is most widely in vogue among j the Japanese, the Burmans and the | Maoris. In India, too, the practice is widespread. The “art,” if so it may be called, is of Polynesian origin, the root of the word being "ta," meaning “to strllkej” suggested by the primitive method of tattooing, which was by beating into the flesh a finely-pointed bone- dipped In some mixture that left an indelible mark. Generally speaking, among the peoples by whom it is most employed, tattooing is held to be significant of manhood, although it is practiced by women as a means of ornamentation. It seems to be the unanimous opinion of the writers on the subject that the primary object of tattooing was' a desire to attract the opposite sex, although this does not exclude motives related to ceremonies and religion. In India tattooing is supported by divine sanction, for the god Vishnu . tattooed the arm of Lakshmi with the figure of his weapons and the sun, the I moon and the tulsi plants as a protection for her while he was engaged in distant wars with troublesome demons. He also promised that all the ! faithful who wore these same marks *on their arms should be protected from all evil influences. Since the operation is a most painful cne, it is not usual in countries where the practice obtains to a great extent to tattoo any but the parts where the skin is tough, the order of preference appearing to be, first, the forehead, then the junction of the eyebrows, then the cheeks, chin and shoulders, and then the arms and back of the hands.

Perplexing.

Bacon —I see an ash can to which a handle can be attached to convert It into a lawn roller has been patented. Egbert—Now it will be difficult to tell who is on the job early in th« morning—the ash man or the gar doner.

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER. IND.

ATHLETICS AGAIN CHAMPIONS OF AMERICAN LEAGUE

GREAT YEAR PREDICTED FOR BRICKLEY

Chiles E. Brickley, Harvard's Star Kicker. One of the leading football stars of last season, who is expected to have another great year on the gridiron, is Charles E. Brickley, Harvard's shining drop kicker.' Brickley has been keeping in form in Charlotteville, coaching Virginia, and is in tiptop shape.

ADVOCATE OF ALL ATHLETICS

Vivian Nlckalls, English Rowing Coach, Says American Students Overlook Outdoor Exercise. Ten years ago we would have been highly offended at a charge made by an Englishman that our athletes specialize too much. But times and manners have so changed since then that the latest strictures from Vivian Nlckalls, the English rowing coach at the University of Pennsylvania, instead of arousing our patriotic indignation are heartily welcomed by that fast-growing host of college athletes and athletic directors that is striving to encourage more men to get and do something all the year round. Nlckalls •ays; “Athletic exercises ought to be a compulsory part of every university education, as they not only develop a 'man physically, but develop his character more than any amount of study, and I do not consider that enough time is given in American universities to outdoor exercise. I do think the American specializes too much, but it

is not so much the man as the coaches who make him specialize and do not take up sport for the exercise, but more for the glory and fame attached to it A better spirit is wanted in that direction, and I am doing all I can here to make my oarsmen go out for football in the fall, so that they can keep in good trim. "I never found that athletic exercise hurt my work at Oxford. It is up to the man himself. He can study from 9 to 1 and from 6 to 10 or 11, and that Is quite enough. If he does more without exercise he will only get 'mud-dle-headed.' " , *. . ■

Jimmy Vlox Is Angry.

Jimmy Vlox of the Pirates Is angry at the report that he would not be with Pittsburgh next year, but had signed a Federal league contract “I have signed no contract with any Federal league agent and I am not going to stand for any one circulating 1 -ke yarns about me,” he said., “I am perfectly satisfied with my treatment where I am and will keep on playing ball as long as Fred Clarke wants mA**

MICHIGAN SQUAD WORKS OUT

Coach Yost Forgets the inevitable Stogie in His Anxiety to Get His Charges in Line. "Hurry Up” Yost, Michigan coach, is sending his men along at a great rate and has added another degree to his reputation as the “hurry up” man of football. Yost has even forgotten that hitherto inevitable stogie in the excitement

"Germany" Schultz.

of the present stage of the work, and is all over the field with his shouts of "Come on,” "Come on," “Hurry up.” And the parts of the field that he is unable to reach means no respite for the laboring pigskin enthusiasts, aa Germany Schultz is right there just aa insistent with his slogan of “Come on,** “Come on,” as the head preceptor. As’ a result of these efforts on tho part of the coaches, their pupils are beginning to envy the Italians working their eight hours on the stadium. At the end of each day's workout tho candidates look as if they had been swimming through ponds of perspiration.

May Become Union Laborers.

“It’s a good thing for baseball magnates, players, umpires, mascots, etc, that the good old national pastime has strongly recuperative powers,” says Philadelphia Telegraph. “After every knockdown punch the sport comes up smiling. Some day there must come a limit to endurance, and then some people are going back to real work.**

CHAFING DISH IDEAS

POINTERS FOR USERS OF POPULAR COOKING APPARATUS. Recognized as Most Valuable Friend of Surprised Hostess, There Are Things to Be Remembered as to Care and Operation. No wonder the chafing dish is popular. There’s magic in. it. When one has assisted at a chafing dish supper, formality is over forever. Besides allowing a woman to appear at her best and exhibit cooking as a fine art, the chafing dish will always serve as a friend in need to the surprised hostess. A word of caution is necessary, however. Keep the chafing dieh clean. Under no circumstances place it-on a fabric cover, but use marble, slate, wood or tile. Keep it away from curtains and protect filmy sleeves while working around the chafing dish. A piece of slate roofing is convenient to hold the lamp. Above all, when the alcohol has burned out, do not put in a fresh supply until the tray has thoroughly cooled off, otherwise you may encounter an explosion. Keep all chafing dish articles and utensils ready where they can be reached without trouble. Use an agate ware uteneil. It will heat in a third of the time required by tin or copper. Procure a small wire toaster, that fresh toast may be served with each chafing dish delicacy and a second alcohol lamp to keep one dish hot while another is in preparation. Do not forget the various wooden-handled spoons and mixing forks. ■" The most important article on the larder shelf -is prepared beef stock. A great number of chafing dish recipes have as their fundamental ingredient soup etock. This can be made excellently and at short notice by dissolving a dessertspoonful of concentrated fluid in half a pint of boiling water, adding pepper, salt, two or three drops of extract of celery and a tiny teaspoonful of onion juice. Besides stock the chafing dish expert has in her commissary department some fine East Indian curry powder, caviare, tomato catchup, anchovy paste, canned mushrooms, salmon, chicken, sardines, cheese and all the ordinary season-' ings, including paprika.

Bread and butler sandwiches, iced tea, coffee or chocolate, fruit cake, pickles and wafers form a foundation for a lunch to which the addition of the hot dish prepared in the chafing dish is the finishing touch. Chafing dish cookery is really very simple and anyone may soon learn to stir up delicious things with little preparation, provided one knows something definite to begin with. It would be well to purchase a book of recipes and begin at the beginning. To make chicken croquettes a neverfailing and universally liked dish, take the following for six or eight people: Three cupfuls of chicken chopped fine, one cupful of bread crumbs and two eggs well beaten. Roll the chicken and bread crumbs into small, pear-shaped balls, dip into beaten eggs and bread crumbs and fry In butter in the chafing dish. Oysters are always acceptable and appetizing. The easiest way to cook Is to pan them. Heat a tablespoonful of butter and when it melts add the juice of half a. lemon and a teaspoonful of chopped parsley and stir in the drained oysters. Cook only until their edges curl and lift out quickly on strips of buttered toast. Oyster stew is also easy to prepare in a chafing dish.

Kansas Corn Cake.

Two cupfuls of cornmeal, one cupful" of flour, one teaspoonful of salt, two teaspoonfuls of baking powder, two tablespoonfuls of lard, one-half cupful of brown sugar, one egg. Use milk enough to make a soft batter. Sift together meal, flour, salt and baking powder. Add lard and sugar, then beaten egg and milk, and beat thoroughly. Turn into greased pan and bake in moderate oven. —Delineator.

Jellied Grapes.

Wash two bunches of grapes, then plunge them into boiling water for half a minute. Remove. skins and seeds, leaving a cupful of pulp. Make a sirup of half a cupful of sugar and a cupful of water, add grapes and a tablespoonful of gelatin that has soaked in cold water. Let thoroughly melt and boll up, then turn Into a mold.

Pea Soup.

Take a soup bone and one pint of split peas, put on back of stove In cold water and let it come slowly to a boil. Let it cook slowly all day; about two hours before it is needed season to taste. Onions may be added if desired. This makes a very nice supper dish, is easily prepared and needs very little attention.

To Wash Greasy Tins and Irons.

Pour a few drops of ammonia into every greasy roasting pan after filling the pan with hot water. If the pots and pans are treated in this way immediately after using and left to stand until it is time to wash them the work of cleaning them will be found half done.

Furred Ketties.

When kettles become furred, that Is coated on the inside with a hard deposit from the mineral and other substances in solution in water, which are set free in boiling, they can be cleaned by boiling whiting in them tor one or two hours.