The sun., 1908-06-21
CLUCK'SDOVN AND out HUNCH
"MAY ~. MAY J., MAY J.,' IT
RAPED LIKE HOOF BEATS.

+.
"MAY ~, MAY J., MAY J.,'' IT
RAPED LIKE HOOF BEATS.
Mrs. Ciuck Resolved to Take Chanoc
and Hset tho works--And Mr.. Cluclx
Was Glad That lt Was she and Not
= He VINO Dtd what Had to he Done.
Cluclx rolled his after breakfast cigarette,
liz It, moved the wabbly rocking chair out
OF the way and trudsed up and down the
shabby back room. the warped floor creak-
ing r.lder his feet at every step,
y got bunch. kid said Cluok to his
wife
She was seated In rickety chair by one
cf the misty, smeary windows, gazing
unseeingly. chin In palm. upon d hopelessly
equalid and dispiriting New York back
yard scene.
sHave you2' she asked. without turning
her gaze from the backyard view and with
no visible eagerness. Plainly she had
heard often before from his lips her hus-
bands announcements Of these pony
premonitions that never--or hardly ever
cashed.
Il sure have, Myrt.' said Cluck. con-
tinuing his oreaky walk up and down the
room. But I'm cleaned. and 30 there's
nothin' doin',' he added drearily.
There was commiseration. but no sign OF
worriment. In the face which she turned
upon him.
.All in2' she asked him in the untroubled
tone Fifth avenue chatelaine might en-
ploy In inquiring Of tho bank cashier II
she had overdrawn her account,
mix tho price Of shine much less q
shave replied Cluok. unspsringly. "Were
out on the limb for the eats. kid. unless
Jakeu put couple o. them week end
meal tickets on the loo for US till l can
make dig Jake was the proprietor OF
the little beanery around the corner where
Cluck and his vito had been taking their
humble two bit meals since the Lady
Fortune had turned her back on Cluck.
And what's your hunchl' she asked him
with certain symptoms Of mild interest.
As the wife Of a former steeplechase
jookey-Cluck had only been compelled
to quit riding the timbertoppers a couple
Of years before, after disabling tumble
that had kept him In the hospital for six
months-she could not overlook the possible
potency OF hunch. even knowing, as well
she did. how most horse lunches signally
fatten out.
'Now. no stringin' Myrt.' replied Cluck.
pausing and holding up warning finger.
1t may sound Hike a rave. but got this
bunch bigger'n q deep sea tug and somehow
l can't flag or duck It, It's May j. She
goes again to-day. as usual, and she's goin'
to cop tn change by a face on tn tape at
any old price that you'd ask for"
Despite his warning finger. which. having
m, ,nndi In IA he a.
her oracularly, she did let out a brief little
laugh.
,"Oh. ! knew you'd kid mo-" said her
husband, q bit miffed, "but I'm tellin you.
Myrt. / got 1t right up to tn ears that this is
tn day tn old Badge mare will
I'm not laughing at your hunch. Cluck."
his wife interrupted But you know how
you've let out on me every time I've played
May j.. and I've been playing the poor old
joke. dollar each way across the board. all
season. Every time you caught me playing
heryou told me I was tossing my money into
the ditch. And now. see. you've got the
May J. bug yourself and her face creased
merrily as she laughed again.
-Oh. got 1t all right enough" acknowl-
edged Cluck, grinning to show that he was
Modified. @May J.'s in to-day with herd
o. nannygoats. and tn track II be fetlock
deep in mud and that's her game, deep
goin', and il she can't go way and hide
from them crabs she's In with. why"
Chuck broke OF suddenly and thrust his
hands into his pockets. After a search
he pulled wrinkled pawnticket from the
breast pocket of his coat and spread it out
ON the little stained marble topped table,
wonder II ! could squeeze this for
another ten spot?" no muttered. as il to
himself.
What Is II, my solitaire2" inquired his
wife. .Fraid not. Cluck. We got hundred
and q half on it. and there's eight months
interest duo now, and you know Sol told
Us when We put 1t in that the hundred and
fifty was the top loan on it,"
Chuck sighed heavily and replaced the
worn pawnticket in his pocket. Then he
rolled another cigarette and resumed his
.r.dse up and down the room.
"Doyou know, said his wife. after pause,
during which he made half dozen turns Of
the room, Il like May j. a lot myself to- day.
And don't catch all OF your lunches either,
do I9'
Il tell you, Myrtle, tn old dogan Of a
May j. Is the bonbons to-day-pipesky-
oral--skinch--nothin' to it--never had
such before-t -takin' rave in me life before
on anythin' she'll cop as sure as I'm socking
this pill declared Cluck, enthusiastically.
and Clucix Leahy. ex-rider OF the hedge
takers. had been in tho game too long to
be addicted to the habit Of working him
self up over horses. particularly badge
horseso Of tho May J. type. unless something
very unusual was operating within his
prophetio nidrif.
His wife. with her hands in her lap, ap-
pearsd to be tugging at something. Pres
entity she held up before him, between a
thumb and forednger, the thing she had
been tugging at. There was flush and
somewhat strained expression, as Of one
experimenting rather dangerously, on her
faoe - she held UP tho heavy wedding ring
10 his view.
II you Ike May US chance so we'll,
Elnok. why. X you want to. you CAN
Ciuck reached her In two strides. bent over
her and replaced the wedding ring on her
finger.
Not that. kid he said, hoarsely still
bending over her and patting her on the
shoulder. aNever snythin' like chat. You