Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-05-16
NATIONAL LEAGUE STANDING.
TABLES TURNED ON ECKELs.

James II. ECkcls who died in Chicago
last week. was always noted for his OK
tremely youthful appearance. This was
accentuatcd by his nlodosty Of dcmcanor
to tho point Of sclf-effaccmcnt, and his
hatit Of wearing tho taunty style of
clothes usually affected by boys of ~.
Eckcls vas not tai, was Of slight build,
and clear -shavcn. lIc weighed little
more than loD pounds and even after
he passed 10 might easily he mistaken
for a lad of half his axe
One of E.ckels chums was Sam +. Ray
mond. former treasurer Of Cook county,
who weighs over SEQ and Is bluff and
hearty in every respect When Ray
mond, who is not fond OF walking. gets
into low-ncckcd hack, tho body Of the
vehicle tips mp on one side at an angle
of Is degrees
few years ago EckIes and Raymond
had occasion 20 make a trip to New York
together They neglected the prncaution
Of engaging berths in advance, and after
they got on tho train they discovered tina:
the only thing left was n section.
That's all right, jim" said the pom
derous Raymond, you're so small you
can crawl into the upper berth without
any trouble"
Eckles If his physical appearance did
not comport with the usual conception Of
la bank president possessed gravity Of
lcountenance that made his friend think
he was in earnest when ne said:
Don't you think for a minute, sam
Raymond. that because you are human
monstrosliy you can pick on me. l don t
insist on the lower berth myself, but I
mean TO have my rights. Well match for
Il, and if you lose you can crawl into that
upper berth Just az well as can"
So they matched. Raymond lost. Eek
els didn't even smile.
Now. look bore, jim" began Raymond,
when the berths were made up and they
were taking off their shoes. You know
| can't get into that upper BERTH
II thought YOU were a sport" respond
ed Eckles with fine scorn. You lost fair
and square. You may want to WEIGH, but
yon can't. The lower berth is mine. and
| If you seek to use force | small appeal %
tine Pullman conductor. who was present
when YOU lost the toss"
! About midnight the train stopped at
Kalamazoo. Eckels was sleeping peac =
fully Raymond was still awake. A ma
Itronly woman hustled into tho car. Like
Eckles and Raymond, she had neglected
| to engage berth. Tho train was filled
There wasn't even an upper berth left
and tho train had already pulled out of
the station.
Tho woman voiced her constcrnation
and the wakeful Raymond heard her. Hc
stuck his rotund and benevolent LOOKING
head between the curtains of the upper
berth and beckoned her away from tn.
conductor.
Allow me 20 help You out Of your din
Guilty madam" he said in a stage wits
per. MY little hoy Is asleep in the lowe,
berth. Turn right in there. There
plenty Of room, and If YOU are careful
not 10 wake him he'll never know the
difference"
The woman thanked Mr.. Raymond
warmly in a subducod voice reassurct
any lingering doubts she may have hac
by peep at the youthful face Of Mr.
E.kels and the boyish outline covered by
the hedclothes and with a sigh of salts
faction sat down on the edge OF the bertl
to loosen her shoes. This operation dis
turbed the slumbering Eckels He pushed
,irritaby at the form on the other side u
the curtain and growled sleepily;
Go way; don't bother me"
That's all right. little boy" said tn,
woman. soothingly. Go right back :,
sleep. It's all right. Your papa said
could use the berth"
| This was too much for Raymond. II,
let out Il roar that did full justice to hi
size and Eckels was startled into com
plete wakcfulness.
The result was that Eck"s who wa
nothing If not polite, insisted on gettin,
up and dressing, so tnat the Kalamazoo
passenger could have tho use of the berth
He spent tho rest Of the n ght in tn
smoker, meditatnR on the fugaCity 0
things gained by gambling, while the sat
iaded Raymond fell into a ftful but con
tented sleep.