Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-11-24
He took ali the BETS.

Some weeks ago John Mackay was
sitting in the Gould and Currie Office. Car
son, Nevada. reading about the jumping
Frog of Calaveras," when an idea
occurred to him that some sort
of trick like that would be a
splendid thing to ring in on Maurice Hoe
fitch, the mining expert. Hoetich is
around the Office Il good deal, and when
ever he takes a lunch with Mackay, he is
sure TO get in some sort of a dispute and
offer bet. Mackay don't like betting
and frowns it down, unless he thinks peo-
pie are trying TO bluff him, At last he de-
termiued TO cure Hoeflich of his habit and
find where the weak spot in his armor law
One day he saw Hoetlich on the stoop,
playing with an enormous grasshopper,
which he was teaching to jump. Hoe
fiich's grasshopper could jump twenty
three feet, and it wasn't long before he re-
marked to Mackay:
'I'll bet two dollars do. you cand find a
hinsect to peet him."
| Mackay bet ten dollars that he could
beat it, and Hoefiich raised him twenty
at once. The bet was closed at these fig
ures, and Mackay said he would have the
hopper there in day or so. He then sent
a trusted emissary down to Carson Valley
to secure a contestant for the winged steed
of Hoeflich.
The man spent nearly week roaming in
Carson Valley catching hoppers He sent
an official report to Mackay, stating he had
caught over three thousand grasshoppers
and put them through their PAGES. The
best gait any of them had was Il; feet.
He doubted if bigger jump could be Sc
cured. On receipt of the letter the Bonan-
"a Prince telegraphed to the man to bring
him up anyway. The next day he ar
rived with about a dozen hoppers from
Farmer Treadway's and Mr.. Mackay gave
them quarters in his room as Vanderbilt
would his stud. Each hopper had a cigar
box to himself, and every morning they
were taken out and put through their PAGES.
1t was impossible, however, to get one to
jump over is feet. although all sorts of in
vigorating food was given them.
Mr.. Mackay was in despair, but one
morning hopper smiled at bottle of
ammonia on the table and Immediately
jumped thirty feet. After making few
experiments it was found that one Whit of
ammonia so enlivened the hoppers that
they could make Jumps that were almost
incredible. Next day Macksy announced
to Hoefiich tina. he was ready for the
match. The expert was ready al nine
o'clock, an hour before the time, with his
pet hopper. Not finding Mr. Mackay in,
he sat down in the study, and there noticed
the bottle OF ammonia While examining
it, Bridget, the old AMI faithful domestic
of the Gould X CIrrie firm. came in with:
''Dont be techin' that numonia, Mr..
Hoeflich. It's to make Mr.. Mackey's hop
pers sprightly. Bedad, | behave by the
robes of 81. Patrick. he's ont of his sinses,
since the pump broke at the north ind"
Hoeflich pumped the domestic and soon
knew all about Mackay's game.
A light broke upon Hoeflich; grabbing
the bottle he rushed up the sire ct TO Per-
kin'S drug store, threw away the ammo MIA
and ordered it filed with chloroform. In
ten minutes, he was back, and leaving the
bottle where he found it got out of the
place as fast as he could.
Mackay soon arrived with half dozen
mining superintendents he had invited up
TO see him have some fun with HoetlIch.
They were hardly seated when Hoeflich
came in with cigar box under his arm.
Il vas leetle late, Mr.. Mackay, but I'm
here mid der hopper and der CON-"
He lald down the money which was COW
cred promptly.
anyone else to ped?"
Joe Stewart laid down 800.
John Kelly put up $50.
Warren Sheridan stepped in for $500.
Hank Smith wanted a like amount.
sam Jones had only 500, but he put il
up.
Then few got into the corner of the
room and concluded it was shame to rope
Hoetiich in that way, and finally agreed to
give the money back after they had won
1t. Mackay then bantered Hoetiich to
raise the pot 100 shares of Union Con.
Hoeilich wrote an order on his broker and
remarked:
''Dar's no limit to de bets, gentlemen,
de com sbeaks.'
Nearly every man donbled his bet, and
then Mackay got behind Sam Jones aud
let his hopper sniff of the ammonia bottle
which held HoetlIch'S chloroform.
Time being called, the hoppers we're
placed side by side on the piazza, and at
the word go" each insect was touched
on tine back with a straw. Hoefich' s
grasshoper described a semicircle in the
air and scored twenty-four feet. Mackay' 5
gave lazy lursh of some four inches, and
folding lis legs across its stomach fell fast
asleep. Jones swore that he could hear 1t
snore.