The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1910-11-10
Athletics Versus
Leaning
Story Of a Twirler and Tackler
By HUDSON c. EASTON
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association

Johnny" said Peter Weatherbee to
his son when his boy left him in the
mountains of Colorado to go east TO
college. Il want you to study your
larnin' hard and don't give too much
of your time to those games the boys
play at college. Out here when an
eddecated young man onct gets a start
he can top those who haven't the ed
other things CO.
When Johnny returned four years
later his father was very much dis
appointed in his record He had taken
no honors. stood near the foot of his
class. but was the athletic hero Of the
season AS a twirler he could send a
ball that few could hit: as tackler
no man could get past him. Johnny's
father was owner and editor of the
Rocky Mountain Globe. But the paper
during .Iohnny's sOjourn at college had
been running down. A rough element
had come into the town. which had
started with fine prospects. and so dis
\
better people were leaving. while no
new respectable settlers were coming
in.
Father" said Johnny. lit seems to
me that it's the duty Of an editor to
make it hot for evil wherever his paper
is located"
"And get shot for doing it."
Better be shot than let the other fell
| low take the bread and butter away
from you If the town dies our paper
dies"
Peter Weatherbee consented that his
evil disposed. thus awakening the bet
ter class of citizens against them.
Johnny began by inveighing against
the indiscriminate carrying Of weap-
ons. Then he attacked certain men
who ran gambling houses, with others
who made Offices of the said resorts.
Johnny" said his father. seems to
me you've weakened yourself. You
can't carry revolver since you've
come down on the practice. and these
men you've been larrupin' II shoot you
down like dog"
''They won't 60 for me. father. I'm
only an understrapper. They'll 60 for
you. at least till they find out that I'm
the man that's after them"
| The next morning Johnny put his
desk in q room through which all must
60 to his fathers Office. He had hard
~ got settled when one Of the parties
attacked in that days issue Of the
| paper came up the stairs.
"Where's old WeatherbeeT' he ask
| ed. I'm goin' to kill the
| I'm there" interrupted Johnny.
The man was opening the door when
Johnny tackled him from behind. pull
| ed him to the landing and threw him
down to the first floor. two fights be-
| low. He was not killed outright. but
died in hospital the next day.
$50 much for my football training.
father" said Johnny. by and by I'll
try some other athletic features l
learned at college"
Johnny sat down to write some more
articles attacking other rascals. Over
his desk was rosewood baseball in
laid with gold which Johnny had won
| in college as a trophy. When he was
| rallied on his defenselessneSs he said
| he could use that far better than a
revolver During the morning he
| heard quick footStep at the other
end of the hall There's lots in a step.
| Johnny knew at once what this one
meant Selling his wooden ball. he
! went to the door Some fifty feet
| away a man he recognized as a pal
! of the one he had thrown downstairs
was coming with blood in his eyes as
/ well as his step. Johnny twirled his
| trophy ball. landing it in the right
! eye of the conner and relieving ii of
| all the blood there was in it.
The man didn't come any farther.
| Indeed. be was taken to his home.
where doctor pronounced his case
a fracture of the frontal bone. He
died in few days.
| These two novel encounters encour-
| aged the good citizens and somewhat
slammed the bad ones. An athletic
| gambler vowed he would take Johnny
| on his own ground. Meeting Johnny
on the street he suddenly tackled him
| with his right arm and began to rain
blows on his face with his left fist.
But Johnny had been thus held often
| before He wriggled out like an eel
| and landed blow on his opponents
mug that capsized him. The man
started to run. Johnny followed him.
every now and then getting in kick.
At last. after having several times
served as Johnny's football. the man
gave out and could go no farther.
| Those who saw the last kick the
gambler received differed as to the
distance Johnny sent him. Some said
| it was ten feet. some fifteen. and one
man, who claimed. to have measured
the distance with a tape line. declared
that it was 'jtfst nineteen feet and
four inches. 90.
The man suffered from broken COO
| cyx. which is the end Of the backbone.
| This being the third man that John
ny had put "out Of the fight" num-
Der Of citizens called on him and told
him that they would see him through
what else might be in store for him.
Johnny said to them:
"While at college, prepared my
| Golf for boro P11f T