The morning times., 1896-06-14
Hecht & Company, SIS Seventh St.
NIKE MEErs1roM pLATr.
Hanna's Bodygmtd welcomes the
Big Tioga Chief.

st. Louis. NO., June 13.-when ex-Sen-
ator Platt's private car rolled into the
Union station Thursday night Ashtabula
Mike, tue personal bodyguard Of Marcus A.
Hanna. yelled with delight. Ashtabula Nike
had been on duty at the station continuously
since last Saturday night, and what little
sleep lie had since he went on duty was on
the boxes and trucks around the depot.
tits against tue rule for anybody to sleep
there, but Mike had gotten on friendly terms
with the colorcd porter, and his case was
exceptional Mike also stood in with
telegraph operator at the station, and dur
ing the fteruoon he gotreports from various
stations along the line concerning the train
IN which Mr.. Platt was. He had an idea
that there might be some monkey busi-
ness" and that Mr.. Platt might get off the
train some where outside the city and walk
in, reaching town in the dead OF night, and
when nobody was watching would shoot
off his conspiracy, and Mckinley would be
a dead duck" to use Ashtabula's own
words.
He was on pins and needles all the after
noon. and the messages from Wog Hollow.
SwampsG Gut, Stag Ditch, Skunk Town ,Soxie,
Heights and BazoO, to the effect that MI.
Platt had not jumped as she train went
through, had failed to quiet him, and it was
little wonder that Ashtabula Mike yelled
when the train actually arrived and Mr..
Platt himself appeared Ashtabula fin
pered his bowie knife and his two Colts
reyulyers nervously as he edged up to-
ward the ex-senator.
.Is he Platt?" he said to three OF four
men. Finally he stood in front of the
ex-senator Mr.. Platt smiled. There was
no nistaking it; it wns wicked smile.
A Asbtabula sbivered He remembered the
saloon at 40 Broadway and the little man
like Mt. Platt who had licked him, and his
nerve was oozing out ut his finger tips.
Mr.. Platt's conduct was reassuring. 1t
was nlso quieting. He held out his hand
and said: "How are you, Mike" Holding
his gun with one hand Ashtabtla shook
with the other.
1--WE heard about you, Nike" said the
Senator. Maybe I can get you to intro
duce me TO your boss" and the smile be-
came more wicked.
"G-g-good g-g-good," stammered Mike,
and then turned and fled across the street,
where he stood VI itching. He hailed the car
riage in which the Senator rode to the hotel
and BUSTED up tothd Hon. Marcus Hanna's
room. and told the boss that the Senator
had arrived.
II met Ashtabufa Mike at the depot"
said the Sena tor to the reporter at the depot.
Ibid he show fight?" asked the reporter.
enc. said the, ,Sena tor. "You know those
big fellows like him are a little chary of
us small people,"
Mike got a coed nights sleep and early
Yesterday morning he went on duty in the
hall outside OF the Tioga chieftain's room,
which is No. 17s and is directly over the
room Of Hanna. He got peep every time
the door opened. He had some sort of a
code OF signals. Whenever anybody called
he would kick the floor. Sometimes he
would kick twice and sometimes once;
some times a dozen times.
When Senator Quay called Mike didn't
10 q thing but kick a hole In the carpet.
He ran wildly up and down the hall just
after the door closed on the Senator from
Pennsylvania. 1t was all very mysterious.
A man in the headquarters OF Hanna was
asked about it, but shook his head. Finally
he whispered, '.Keepin' tab"
At II o'clock last night a scheme was got
ten up by wicked Platt men to get him to
a saloon around the corner where there is
sign on the window whichreads: Tornado
.:Sazors. try oae." Jtisthought that1f Mike
goes against this game Hanna will be COM
PEELED to hire Col Abe Slupsky in his place.
e ct. Louis, No., June l3.-Col. Abe slusky
found It necessary again yesterday to
paste another .'geut''in the eye and send
him off to the hospital. Col. slupsky, 1t is