The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-31
MSOFTER'S "GOWF" COAT
CLAIMED 1T n DRUNKEN LABoREB
As HIS PROPERTY.

His wife Had Supposed Goats Had Eaten
-Mcsofter Fells the Claimant and Es-
capes, but Not in Time to Avoid
Recognition = Terrible Consequence.
TT seems to ft all right" said Mcsoftcr.
Couldn't be better II 1t was made for you,"
said tho salesman. with enthusiasm.
But isn't It unusually red p asked McSofter.
obviously.
Regulation color" replied the salesman.
with a shade OF offence in his tone. There
isn't q sweller garment in the city to-day. It's
the very latest and finest thing In govt gar
ments."
That govt" did Il. II he had said golf"
meraly, perhaps McSofter would have been
capable Of resistance. but he was not proof
against such excellence OF pronunciation.
I'll take It," he decided. Send 1t up as
soon as possible"
The wimbledons had invited Mcsofter out to
the Puttercleek links to play golf. since which
that ambitious youth had been arduously striv-
ing to learn the accepted pastures Of the sport
underline tutoring of a professional at the rate OF
81 per half hour That he cut swaths In the
circumambient air. or industriously ploughed
the ground In spots not intended for cultiva-
ton. mattered little to him solonG as he learned
the vocabulary Of the game. and to hit the ball
at all was a minor consideration compared with
hitting at Il in the proper form" Also he
would have died che death rather than 60 to the
links clad in anything other than the most rig-
idly prescribed apparel. On the Saturday fol-
lowing the requirement OF the " govt garment"
McSofter took the train ut the Grand Central
Station. having wired to the Wimbledons that
he was coming in acceptance OF their kind
any Saturday :" invitation.
According to his own sworn statement
sworn with many strange oaths-MoSof ~ ID
the most unlucky man alive. An o proof Of ID
he adduces the fact that his train was an h Y
late. which certainly was no fault Of his. B
the Wimbledons house he found q note telling
him that he was to follow over to the links. a.
they were forced to go early to meet some
friends who had driven over from one Of the
nearby towns. He would find them there watt
ing for him. and any one could direct him to
the clubhouse. Having changed his clothes and
viewed with satisfaction his appearance in the
mirror as reflected In the scarlet splendor OF
the new coat, he started for the links across
lots. the servants having told him that II was
nearer than following the road. He hoped that
the lots were not frequented by bulls, which
might take exception to his raiment. and was
quite relieved when he gained the highway in
safety. though still in ignorance as to how to
reach his destination.
1t was then IL o'clock In the morning. No
body was in sight on the road. McSofter sat
down by the roadside and waited for the arri-
val Of some person who could direct him. His
period of waiting was not long. Around the
bend a few rods away came one who was not to
be mistaken for aught else than an honest son
Of toll. As he approached he swung his dinner
pail In time to a sort Of chant without too much
metre or tune. but full OF feeling and martial
spirit. the oft-repeated burden OF which was:
Me namo ia Pat O'Reilly.
And I'm as good an better than amy other man.
Where me feyther lived afore me.
An ] can bite tho eye of amy son -Of-R-0ln froNN
Come down, 70 spalpeens. como do.o-o-o-o-o-o-wnr '
HI there!" McSofter hailed the songster az
The son Of toll paused in his progress and
his music simultaneously. eyinG Mcsofter
Was it me you spoke to. I doIknow ~ he OBJ
Yes; Can you tell me the way to the Put
Won %I . cSSp ps@sn I'm JI Just out of a job myself. Are
tell s @s where here; R Fhs P RaG; al w EoFf i IF yO srd i to
know II ever did know. But 1 can show you
the Il !. way to a glass of beeri If you'd make it two
o, rAGgPeHFs snt6 NXs 9s%,,Es found your way to that
b bess dr Hf sPys f f me- xn 'ffSt scI he says ~ 1ye ms
BBeihn' i1tof i at the f"U ti@e. ' # might Of have ms had iu .
drop.,I told him Go home an sleep it on
that ye're only docked on yer erI Wages ne an not
fred altogether So l KEN away singin' a he
to show me independence. Listen to me trill:
me name is Pat O'Reilly.
An I'm as good an bet'-
Never mind that. interrupted Mcsofter,
YOU ae the @ price, fST Of S Sse t. 6e tas links and Ill stand
do ye know no better than to be cuttin' into
that I I'm as good Sa as The next na h m"n when IR@ Il f'm Rn 6os
wor-T-r-rkin'. an ye haven't the manners OF a
"oh, go to the DEVIL" cried Mcsofter. losing
~ see be the same token ye're .xsqrin'
did ye get that shirtr" he added. his tone
No answer did Mcsofter deign. His interro-
around him: examining. him with suspiciouS
me. An f BIqdy = said Eit the U goats % had ate ate n t OIL Sss
st"ls It, i an' here HsF h he Is r SiHSattR to me q ha a dhHfo had
N MtGtSS9}fter, Who realized that he was the subject
Don't try to put me of with yer ~tnnociut
ssrS was 's stol @S OF 9T the f ilne last ss h %osd Hr. sps { sta Ros
two weeks bought from the store,".
s.idP you mean to accuse me OF being a thief ?"
thafe." admitted the, other cautiously On @%TFRhSS
PPe eesssohi IN Is Se Tl crl Es shfe career a. cen PEACEFUL or will 70
At this delicate crisis OF the negotiations q
I al IS%nq wa IS f iittl si' e. Mcsof E1ts e tas asunf in
belliGerentiy before him. blocking his proSrHsS.
Get ont Of my way, cried McSofter nercely.
or you'll get yourself into trouble"
lookin' for from amy thafe wild my red flannel
undershirt onto his shameful back. Troublef
Sc'-Yark.
Come down. ye Spalpeen. como do-o-o-o-o-ownl'
Just as the coach rolled around the corner
into full view he seized McSofter by the il-
iated coat. To his misery the youth saw from
the corner OF his eye his particular bette noir,
Col, George Hurry nn fha hnv-unaf aud ~
knew that no should never hear the end OF tho
episode. With the knowledge there came Q
proved for the warlike son Of toll. for McSofter
Is a sturdy citizen when occasion requires. He
let out with, right and left. and the next instant
the amazed and discounted chanter found
himself lying at full length in the roadway.
an adjacent thicket. where he swiftly disap.
nppe4Ied. He wiped the blood away from hia