The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-29
(Copyright.)


A FAVORITE dodge to get your sto-
~ ry read by the public is to assert
\ that it is true, and then add that
truth is stranger than fiction. l do not
know if the yarn I am anxious for you to
read is true; but the Spanish purser of
the fruit steamer FL Carrero swore to me
by the shrine of Santa Guadalupe that he
had the facts from the United States vice
consul at La Para person who could not
possibly have been cognizant of half of
them.
AS to the adage quoted above, 1 take
pleasure in puncturing it by affirming that
1 read in a purely fictional story the 9th
err day the line, " BE it So said the po-
lceman" Nothing so strange has yet
cropped out in truth.
When H. Ferguson Hedges, millionaire
promoter. inventor and man-about-New
York. turned his thoughts upon matters
cornwall, and word of it went down the
line" bouncers took. precautionary turn
at the Indian clubs walters put ironstone
china on his favorite table. cab drivers
crowded close to the curDstone in front
of all-night cafes, and careful cashiers in
his regular haunts charged up few bot
ties to his account by way OF preface and
introduction.
On the evening that the material alleSa-
ton of facts begins Hedges was bidding
dull care begone in the company of five
or six good fellows--acquaintan and
friends who had gathered in his. wake.
Among them We're two younger men
Ralph Merriam, a broker, and Wade his
friend.
Two deep-sea cabmen were chartered.
At Columbus circle they hove to long
enough to revile the statue of the great
navigator. alphabetically repul1ing him
for having voyaged in search of land in
stead of liquids. Midnight overlook the
party marooned in the rear OF cheap
cafe far uptown.
Hedges was arrogant, overriding and
ouarrelsome He was burly and tough,
iron gray but vigorous, good for the
rest of the night. There was a dispute
about nothing that matters-and the five
fingered words were passed-the words
that represent the glove cast into the
lists. Merriam played the role of the YER
bal Hotspur.
Hedges rose quickly, seized his chair,
swung 1t once and smashed wildly down
at Merriam's head. Merriam lodged, drew
a small revolver and shot Hedges in the
chest. The leading royster stumbled, fell
in wry heap and lay still.
Wade, a commuter, had formed habit
of promptness. He juggled Merriam out
side door, walked him to the corner, ran
him a block, and caught hanson. They
rode five minutes and then got out on
dark corner and dismissed the hack. Across
the street the lights of small saloon
betrayed it's hectic hospitality.
go in the back room OF that saloon,
said Wade, land wait. = IL go ind out
what's doing and let you know. You may
take two drinks while 1 am gone-no
more"
At 10 minutes to o'clock Wade re-
turned.
..Brace up, old chap, he said. 'The
ambulance got there just as I did The
doctor says he's dead. You may have one
more drink. You let me run this thing
for YOU. You've got to skip. I don't be-
lieye a chair is legally deadly weapon.
you've got to make tracks-thats all
there is to it,
Merriam complained of the cold, queru-
lously. and asked for another drink.
"Did YOU notice what big veins he had
IN the back of his hands?'' he said 81
never could stand-I never could
."ralxe one more" said Wade, land then
come on. I'll see you through"
Wade kept his promise so well that at
:, o'clock the next morning Merriam,
win new suitcase full OF new clothes
and hair brushes, stepped quietly on