The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-14

should not be proclaimed from the house
tops. II seemed that the publicity threat
ened by Mrs. Scrapple was on that particular
day singularly distasteful to both the Judge
and the doctor, Therefore, presently, a.
both were men Of action, the clubs bead
caddie journeyed In the footsteps OF brs.
Scrapple on diplomatic mission.
1T will be cheap at $40 remarked the
doctor to the Judge, as they smoked their
pipes and gazed on the retreating inquire OF
the caddie mas ter.
Preliminary 70 the laying out Of the
golf links there had been an eviction Of the
squatter colony and the razing Of their
ramshaokle homes. Now the only build
ings on the broad stretch Of undulating
turf were the clubhouse, the caddie shelter
and the domicile Of Mrs. Scrapple. This
was built In a haphazard manner Of odd
slabs and ttmbers, the one guiding prin.,
ciple being that II would not fall down, and
there was q misfit and patched tin roof
that kept out the wet as we'll as when 10 was
new and covered a building much larger
In size.
The Scrapple homestead was an eyesore
70 the golfers. To the esthetio II was a
blot on the picturesque sweep OF smooth
lawns, an island Of ugliness amid the sea
Of verduTe and, what appealed with greater
force TO the rank and file Of the club, the
house and fenced in patch spoiled the
straight line Of play to the ninth hole and
converted II into that abominadon Of
last resource. an elbow hole. After the
drives one had TO play at right angles for
the approach shots.
As with many links within city limits
the ground was surveyed for streets, and
In fact one or two had been out through,
although not formally opened. Mrs:
Scrapple's lot was on such street and
owned outright by her. So she trod her
native heath and declared the street TO be
public thoroughfare,
An immediate consequences Of the yielding
up Of tribute by the Judge and the doctor
was that Mrs Scrapple entered forthwith
on a career Of brigandaRe. She became
blackmailer In pettiooats and the terror
Of the links.
Young men who had invited young
women 10 play the round were her easiest
victims, for unless they paid hush money
she would make them the butt Of many
coarse witticisms, but even the boldest
OF the members feared to meet her.
The blind street, which passed her
house and was q hazard to be carried from
the ninth tee, was free TO the world and II
became her battle-ground. A q pair Of
golfers drew near Mrs. Sorapple would
stridtng TO and fro, TO suggest an Amazon
ian picket on guard duty, and wo TO the
player who failed 70 make a drive that
would clear the street on the carry.
A topped ball, or any drive OF the low,
turf skinming sort, In a way that seemed
At first ineIplicable, would be sure to hit
Mrs. Scrappie and arouse her outories.
Its kilt am-dead intirely!" would be
the burden OF her yells. AN a foine
thing TO have happen on a city strate, I
dunno, 20 a quiet passerbyl'
As fact, Mrs. ScTapple had developed
the fielding agility OF a baseball OF cricket
player In placing herself before the ball.
Whether sliced, pulled OF sent straight, a
along, except In very rare instances, would
strike her Her lamentations filed the air,
and. 10 hear her tell Il, she was a woman
sconed and Inundated.
Nervous golfers would begin to tremble
a. soon as they saw her from the tee, and
In the perverse way Of the game. the anxiety
not 10 top would be sure to cause a mess
Of the drive and the inevitable bevailing
from AH. SoraPple, until she was con-
soled by bakshish,
The Spparition Of this widow Of active
limbs and tongue, moreover, Jared the Sc
renity Of the coolest hands-men who had
driven against Travis, Chandler ERan and
Douglas before tournament crowd. Some,
ignoring the Outcries Of the stricken woman,
would drive OF another ball with an insou-
Giant a1ectation Of ease, but she would call
the bluffs quickly.
There was still the second shot TO be
played and Mrs; Scrapple TO be passed
before this could be done the golfer In the
meanwhile being the recipient Of such a
deluge OF abuse, that, a. with Bob Acres,
all courage would onze from his hngertipE
and he would give up his cash 10 stop Il.
The club, stirred up by the loss OF mem
bers through these active hostilities. raised
its oner for Nm. SCrapples holdings to three
times what the house and lot were worth.
Her answer was 70 chase out with broom
stick the oaddis boy who brought the mes
sage,
A perpetual Mrs. Bogy, Of rapaoioua and
lnsatiable greed, was an agency without
the match that could not DO overcome
IL was enough 10 ruin any club and the
way the members began dropping out was