Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1902-03-13
"NECK OR
NOTHING"
The Story Of a Reckless Man.
BY JESSE POPE.

They had christened him Sidney, and
even his godmother found 1t inadequate.
He was "Neck or Nothing" to his friends,
that laundering fool' to his critics. He
had no enemies. In conversation he was
as keen a sportsman as Drayton West,
who led the county; in execution be hardly
kept pace with the rank and file, whose
order he spoiled every time by his uncon-
trollable energy. He would start for
round Of golf full of Joy and promise and
return within an hour to the clubhouse
with bits OF clubs sticking out Of his
pockets and badly ricked back. They
cay that after one of his rounds they had
TO practically remake the links, and
there's an old story OF a ferocious swing
Of his when he missed the ball, twirled
round like teetotum and sat on the tee.
At billiards he would dig holes in the ta-
Bile, send his ball through the window and
then complain of the light, while on the
football field il was a case of save himself
who can, for he was like roaring bull
let loose.
Those were exciting times, too, when
he made up his mind to ride bicycle and
deputed Willy and a stable boy to support
him. Willy was his smooth faced younger
brother, frai In health and slight in
build. His courage, however, was in
domitabc and he needed il, for the learn
ers struggles were simply superhuman.
One would have hardly thought it pOssi-
bic for mere man to twist metal tubes
into such weird shapes, and when he
made up his mind TO fall of no power on
earth could stop him. He always fell on
Willy, who would go under like sapling
before the avalanche, merely calculating
"Ohw as the breath was crushed out Of
his frail body. Willy never murmured,
but il became evident that he was sinking
under the strain, and the pastime was
abandoned.
When "Neck or Nothing" went TO Mon
te Carlo no one was surprised that he lost
all his money the first night. He took it
very much to heart, refused 10 send for a
remittance or borrow from his friends,
tramped back across France and arrived
home one daybreak in magnificent health
and tatters. He brooded constantly over
his losses-though no one else did-and
spent one sleepless night trying to hit on
some means Of curtailing his expenses.
Next day he left off collars, for collars,
he argued, were an item of expense that
was never paid for, and he stuck to his
point. There are not many men who can
relinquish collars and still stand as well
with the fair sex, but it is a fact that,
after the first shock, Neck or Nothing's''
lady friends liked him better than ever.
They called him Achilles III. and wrote
some verses on the subject. OF course
the reduction OF his washing bill hadn't
really anything to do with it; but, to
prove 70 the world the success of his ex-
pertinent, he shortly afterward invested
In a big racing motor car and went TO the
builders to bring 1t home himself. What
happened on that journey no man knows
The route was original, anyhow, for we
kept getting kilograms from all sorts OF
unexpected places. The start was pro-
pitious for Going strong, Absolutely
the very best" Faster and faster" were
the first messages we received. Then, aft
er silence lasting day and half came
a pitiful wire, Send help!" followed In 9
couple Of hours by another, Send more
helpv A relief party started In hot
haste, only TO return apprehensive anc
crestfallen. The career had been easy tC
follow to certain point, then the clew
suddenly vanished. In many small town:
THAT ERE motor car" formed the topiC
OF street corner conversation. At one
place il had been a resolute stand which
had led to some friction between its goad
ed driver and a disrespectful rustic in 9
hay cart. The scene ended in a move
manner. for while our friend was taking
frenzied headers into the complicated ma
chinery and hurling msnaces at the same
time he received an electric shock Of sucf
violence that his opponent was bound II
common humanity to jump down from hi
cart and help straighten him out.
At the next town the relief party be
came aware OF such a sour and thwarteC
expression on the faces OF the constabes
such a nervousness about the horses anC
suCh a scarcity Of dogs that they wisel.
refrained from further inquiry. How
ever, after half a weeks suspense, cam
the final telegram, Arrive at o'clocl
sharp" and at that hour quite gather
ing turned out to welcome the wanderer
But the white highroad stretched befOr
us long and bare, with nothing to reliev
the monotony but an old road mende
steering a noisy track ON his ancient tri
cycle. so much for "Neck or Nothing s
vaunted punctuality, and we still gazed a
the point where the road disappears Owe
the hill when the creaking stopped, tn
road mender dismounted, and there-wan
grim. wear and disheveled-stoOd "NecI
or Nothing" himself. Some seized hin
by the hand, some, they say, fell upon hi
neck, but all with one voice exclaimed:
"But where's the motor carp
"Neck or Nothing" glanced at the rust
structure at his side.
"Im sorry TO disappoint you" he said
"but swapped it with an old road mend
er for this The poor old chap SCENE
willing. Heaven knows | was"
His voice sounded far away and unfn
miliar, bis face was refined by suffering
but be wore the grateful air OF ma
freed from a haunting care.
Shortly after this there happened t
"Neck or Nothing" what happens TO all
q trifling event TO some. TO him cataS
trophe. He fell in love. II was JUS
about this time that Flora first nppearc
upon the scene, and II was always poo
F'lora's fate to be n disturbing element
Life would have boon g" much NOR
The Vice of fNagging,