The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-12
NAMES THEM RAlMMAKeRs.


seedy Stranger Exploits a Scheme for
listing Burns hall r,am.
Can you give me the address of the
manager Of the Chicago baseball
club?' wal the query from a country
man OF keen eye and sharp tongue,
but whose butternut clothes and un-
kempt whiskers smacxed OF provin-
cialism.
The big copper on the crossing
stroked his mustache contemplatively.
II think he's in Cleveland to-day.
You'd better see Jim Hart. He's the
president, you know, and his ONCE Is
somewhere downtown. Go look In the
directory. What'er you want: Going
to sign yourself or got a 'phenom' out
in Cla county,"
Not me-" and the ruralist laughed.
I'm no ball player. I'm a man of
ideas. Tve delivered lectures on phren-
ology, given lessons to a singing class.
taught school. worked the shell game
at county fairs. run for sheriff in three
counties at different times. sold soap
and been a professional rainmaker In
Kansas. That's me. I'm no Jay. even
IL ! look it,"
You must have been travelling with
the Chicago club" laughed the cop
per. "for it's rain Burns and his men
have had about five days out OF six
since the season started. Don't let
Hart see you and never go near Dab
len, Lange. Everitt or Burns. They'll
kill you. Rainmaker, Ell? Keep 1t quiet
or l see your finish"
That's all right, Mr.. Officer, but it's
the rainmaking business that I'm here
about. The old CRAFTS played out in
Kansas. We need something new. 1t
was good while 1t lasted. but Ii doesn't
work now. This betting on rain. with
a lot of farmers standing about with
shotguns and clubs prepared to do
things IL you don't produce the moist
ure is kinder trying on the nerves.
But I've struck a scheme"
Just then the ex-rainmaker lodged
a team hat threatened to run him
down and he copper went to help a
good looking girl across the street. But
the countryman was persistent.
Say Mr.. Officer. l hope / amt both
ering you, but I'd like your advice.
Now, my idea is this: Rain is worth
money in Kansas, so much per shower,
good advanc money and cash on de-
livery for the balance i want to pro-
pose that the Chicagos quit the league
and go west with me. I've a scheme
that's worth millions"
Get along there and don't block up
the street." interrupted the copper.
You're crazy"
The Kansan vanished for a few mo-
ments and then reappeared. Handing
the officer a cigar, he apologized for
persistency.
"You see. / don't know any n in
this town. She's a little big for me.
1 won't bother you more'n a minut
I want our advice"
1t was an easy crossing and an easy
time of day. so the copper listened.
Say, Mr.. Officer. what do o think
of this scheme? I take the Chicago
club and work the country fair cir
IL l. o~I AhA M
ota Advertise 'em as the great and
only champions. Tip it off on the quiet
to the authorities that they're the rain
makers Of the world. Play the Osce-
GALA Blues, the Wichita ln~vincibles,
the Mcpherson Stars-all the other
country teams. Make every county
put up a big fee. Champion Chica-
and See the Great Tommy Burns and
His Men Bring d Ghower.' Eth? How's
that? Good idea for a four-sheet pos
ter on fences and barns? Well. l
guess. Ketch 'em sure. Make farm
l ers and fair associations put up 5000
in advance. Get $1,000 IL 1t rains with
: in "a hours. Cinch with the Chicagos.
Play four games a week. or try to
: play EN-. Same thing, so far as money
: is concerned. Forty thousand dollars a
z week. Expenses, $1,000. including my
= commission as a rain prophet. TWEEN
ty weeks season. Eight hundred
. thousand dollars. Clear profit. 500. 900
' Doesn't that beat National league
: business?"
E The pper w his balanc'
: and twisted his club ~nervously.
' Get along or I'll run you in. You're
: nutty, sure"
/. mot a bit of 1t. Officer. and I'll le
: you in on the deal. Introduce me Il
e the management. II they cam SPAR
the whole team give us Ryan. Thorn
ton, Everitt and a few others and wei
fill in with substitutes. Let the other
= go on in the league and call them
. selves rainmakers and well go ives
I and work the Chicago hoodoo on rail-
e for a cool million. II the regular team
starts in on the rainmaking proposition
east Of the Missouri they'll have
drouth in every town on the circuit
= The name'n scare a rainstorm In thi
y section of the country, sure"
!. Say, thai amt half a bad scheme.
said the copper. but the sergeant
y coming and you'd better take a sneat
Go and see Hart. IL l run across an
|. Of the boys I'll tell 'em about IL. Rain
= makers! Well, well! I remember tn
lawmakers of the old league year
ago and the namen do. Pretty nea
" as good as colts"
And the rusty ex-rainmaker heade
in the direction Of the nearest dru
store to look up the address OF tn
a president of the Rainmakers Of IN
h National league.-Chicago Chronicle.
le In Boston.-He-rm not myself u
= night.
I. she-Then how dare you speak to m