The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1903-05-27
SPIDER M'GANN'S
REPUTATION
BY RICHARD BARKER
SHELTON
Copyright, iooa, by t. C. Mcclure

The Rev. Charles AioysiuS Hail
would scarcely have been taken for a
minister of the gospel as he sat in the
corner. of downtown hotel that
morning. intent ON the columns of a
time table. There was no prince AL
BERT" no high hat, no clerical collar. no
high buttoned vest. His clothes, of not
the latest cut yet carefully brushed
and pressed, would have stamped him
young business man, and after a
glance at his face-a firm, clean shaven
face. with the brows at that moment
knit IN a frown-one would have said
that business was not all the gentle
man In question could have wished It.
1t was favorite remark of the Rev.
Mr.. Hall that IL his daily life and
deeds gave no inkling to his profession
the symbols of the cloth never would.
For the first time In the long fight the
Rev. Charles Hall was discouraged.
He realized that now indeed the church
Mt Cedarville, his church, was In the
last ditch. The roof leaked and that
cracked the plastering, the carpet was
in tatters, the paint was losing faith In
the clapboards and the spire was SO
badly out of plumb that the town
board had threatened to take it down
unless 1t was given prompt attention.
Some subscription papers, circulated
through the town, had netted returns
pitifully small. The envelope weekly
a f,,tlx In
adequate to cover the pastors salary,
and the Ladies' Aid society, with
three suppers and fair, had raised
just $6S.37. He smiled grimly MS he re-
membered that last year his salary
had been 5000 short and this year babe
fair to be another hundred shorter
There had remained yet one hope.
Cedarville was quite Il summer resort,
and during the hot months numerous
well to do men from the neighboring
city stayed there with their families.
Some of these attended the church
AS Inst resort Rev. Mr.. Hall had come
to the city to make personal appeal to
these men, But Brother Jones and
Brother Hayes and Brother Benton
and when Hall. weary and heartsiek.
sat down In the corridor of the hotel,
he had raised but 500 In cash, with
pledges of perhaps $3S more.
He had opened his time table again
when some one touched his shoulder.
"Oh, l say, Spider" said voice in
depreciation, this isn't just square.
you know. We've been hunting high
and low for you. Why didn't you send
us word?''
Hall looked up. Two young fellows,
evidently college men, stood before
him.
"were you addressing me?' said
Hall.
THAT'S pretty good" said the other
young man. You're funny when you
have try at dignity. old boy"
There's no use mlncing matters"
said No. /. 'If you're going to back
down. we want the deposit back; that's
ALL"
Gentlemen" said Hall CURLY, T'lI
give your seeming impertineDce the
benefit OF the doubt There Is evident
ly some mistake here"
"Oh, ring off; ring OFF, said the first
speaker YEARLY. you've led us enough
of n chase already"
"See here" said Hall, rising angrily;
'I've no Intention
"Have you the nerve to say you're
not Spider McGannT said No. 2 while
he favored his companion with a pom
derous wink.
"Most certainly I'm not" said Hall.
would you mind letting us see your
left forearm" said No. /. with the air
Of man who has trumped the trick.
Certainly not" said Hall, with some
asperity, IF 1t will be q means of con-
vincing you"
He barred his left forearm, and the
two bent over 1t critically.
by George! There aren't any tattoo
marks here" said the shorter of the
pair. I'VE owe you every apology,
sir. for very stupid blunder. Will
you Join us" He nodded toward
pair of swinging doors from behind
which the clink Of glasses was plainly
audible.
NO. thank you," said Hall shortly
and turned again to his time table.
Again he felt the touch on his shout
der.
I'VE don't mean to intrude." said
respectful voice.
Hall looked up and found the young
fellows again before him.
"WellY he said.
you see," began the taller chap,
"we're in the deuce of fix, and we
thought perhaps-bare chance, you
know-you might care to help US out
and incidentally make neat bit out
Of 1t. There's several hundred in 1t
for some one"
Hall thought Of the church and his
mornings work for the $38.
I'm certainly open to suggestions"
he said, smiling grimly.
"Can you boxY' said his interloc-
utor
Halls face wore a puzzled express
sion at the inquiry. ri have in years
past" he admitted.
"Goodw said the other. "If we can
come to terms. you are the very man
we need just at present. This gen.
tleman is Mr.. Burns. / am Robert
Dix.
you see," Dix continued, "at the
gym there is trainer called Hefty
Burke. He's put out every man in col
lege who has had the courage to give
him go, by virtue of which Mr..
Burke has begun to think himself the
whole thing, and 1t therefore becomes
our bounden duty to relieve this su-
perfuous pomposity.
This was our plan: Some years ago
there came to the gym little fellow
named Spider Mccain. Spider was a
coming lightweight, which truth didn't
strike Hefty until Hefty struck the
floor. But the affair blew over, and
now he Is growing again. So we hunt
ed up Mccain, who Is a lightweight
champion now, and offered him $500
to go up against Burke. The mill
comes or tonight at the Macedonian
1