Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-10-02
THE JOKE ON H0EFLICH.
San Francisco Call.

about the jumping frog OF CalFeraS,
when the idea occurred to him that some
sort of tick like that would be a splen-
did thing to ring in on Maurice HOetlich,
the mining expert. HOetich is about
the Office good deal, and whenever he
takes lunch with Mackey Is sure to get
into some sort of dispute and offer to
make bet. Mackey don't like betting
and frowns it down, unless he thinks
people are trying to bluff him. At last
lie determined to cure Hdetlich OF this
habit and began to watch him a good
deal to determine where the weak spot
in hisarmor lay.
One day he saw Hoefieh on the stoop
playing with an enormous grasshOpper
he was learning to jump. Hoefich's
grasshopper could jump % feet, and it
wasn't long before he remarked to Mr..
Mackey:
''l'll bed g dot you can't find hinsect
to peet him"
Mackey bet him $40 that he could beat
it, and HOchich raised him go at once.
The bct'was closed at these figures and
dackey said he would have the hopper
there in a day or two. He then sent a
trusted emssary down to Carson Valley
to secure contestant for the winged
steed of HOeilich
The man spent nearly a week rowing
around Carson Valley, catching hoppers.
He finally sent an official report to
Mackey, stating that he had caught
over 5000 hoppers, and put them through
their PAGES. The best gait any one of
themhad was seventeen and three quarter
feet. He doubted if bigger jumper
could be secured. One receipt of the
letter the Bonanza Prince telegraphed to
the man to bring him up anything. The
next day he arrived with about a dozen
hoppers from farmer Treadway's, and
Mr.. Mackey gave them quarters in his,
room, as Vanderbilt would stable his
stud. Each hopper occupied cigar box
and every morning they were taken ont
and put through their PAGES. It was
impossible, however, to set one to jump
ever eighteen feet, although all sorts of
invigorating diet was given them.
I Mr.. Mackey was in despair, but one
morning hopper shifted ut bottle of
ammonia on the table and Immediately
skipped thirty feet. After making few
experiments it was found that one sniff
of ammonia so enlivened the hoppers
that they made jumps that were almost
incredible. Next day Mackey announced
TO Hoctlich that he was ready for the
match. The expert was at hand at the
Gould & Curry Office at 9 o'clock, an
hour before the time, with his pet hop
per. Not finding Mr.. Ma key in he sat
down in his study and there noticed the
bottle of ammonia. While he was ex
aiming it, Bridget, the faithful domes-
tic Of the Gould & Curry house, came in
with:
''Don't be techin' that numonia, Mr..
Hoehich. It's to make Mr.. Mackey's
hoppers sprightly. Bedad, | behave by
the robes of ST. Patrick he's out o his
sinccs since the pump broke at the north
ind"
Hoetlich pumped the domestic and
soon knew all about Mackey's game.
A light broke on Hohich, and grab
bing the bottle he rushed up town to
Perkins drugstore, threw away the am
monia and ordered it filled with chloro-
form. In ten minutes he was back, and
leaving the bottle where he found it,
got out of the place as fast as he could.
Mackey soon arrived with half dozen
mining suporintendants lc had invited
up to see him have some fun with Hoef-
Itch.
They We're hardly retired before HOef-
Itch came in with the hopper in cigar
box under his arm.
II wash a leetle late, Mr.. Macke, but
I'm here NIT der hopper and der coin"
He laid down the mon by, which was
promptly covered.
Anybody else want to bet"
Joe Stewart laid down 800.
John Kelly put up $50.
Warren Sheridan stepped in for 5000.
Sam Jones had only S5o, but he put it
up.
Then few got into the corner of the
room and concluded that it was shame
to rope Hotlich in that way, and finally
agreed to give the money back after
they won it. MaGkey then barteretl
Hoetllch to raise the pot 100 shares of
Union Con. Hoehich wrote an order On
his broker and remarked:
"Dere's 10 limit to de bets, shentle-
ANeD de coin sheaksn