The evening world., 1911-10-14
THE MIDNIGHT QUERY
A Baseball Story Of Two Burglars and
Their Bets on Mathewson and Marquard


Nf' Hafh' ~ Af N Jul III
front door the baseball writer hat
turned out the lS;ht and. az he wa.
wont TO say. Had hit the hay"
Now. wasn't | right?" whispered Re,
Leary as he and Blink crowded clos,
10 the door. Didn't I tell you tha
Mat'y vas s,lll thoro?'
what does that guy known" sneere,
sunk Hes only got his opinion. Ain,
L GOT n right 10 have miner
And besides" Insisted Rcd. as an oc.
casioh1l snoro could be heard in tn,
adjoining room. IN II wasn't for Matt,
Where would the Giants be now?"
~ " hadn't been for Maruuard they
would have been In tho cellar" r~etorted
on top"
How many's he won?" asked red, a
iHt!o anSrily. II bet you don't know
,Jie's won eighteen and lost four" re.
pNed mink and that's bcttor'n any.
thing Matty has done"
Hes lost I'VE" snapped Rcd.
You're on your nut lie amt lost bu,
our; Q don't think they are going n
credit him with losing hat one when he
idn't 40 In until the nluth?"
lie lost II. didn't he? Didn't they get
the winning run on him."
IN bet he don't get n charged
against him In the official record"
'Whatll you bet?"
BET you a Nv case noto and leave 4,
70 that guy In there"
THE reporter that lives here7 You
wouldn't take a chance like that. would
your"
Sure replied Dlinky. "fre amt go,
nothin' else and we might as well stick
him up for a decision"
ia no asleep?"
Dead to the world,' replied Blink, ~
he half opened the door and peered
through.
you're on" decided Red. Now I'll
gun on him and I'll ask the questions
Just ASK MIN Straight out. continued
Blink. Don't tell him which way we
are betting"
the two burglars crept quietly into
the room and after taking one more
look at the picture by the aid Of his
lantern Red reached up and turned on
the light. Blink drew n revolver and
kept II pointed at the mead OF the sleep
ing man.
Jack Little felt the glare Of the Hight
and tossed nervously in the bed. His
closed eyelids twitched and he pulled the
pillow mp in front OF his face to avoid
tie light. Tossing that aside he half
awoke and looked up. With a gasp OF
surprise his wits came TO him In broken
doses. sitting up In bed he stared stu
pjdly Mt the two burglars, neither OF
whom had spoken.
WHATS the idca?' asked Little as he
bllnkcd into the muxzle of tho shining
revolver. Trying TO kid mer"
I'VE are burglars" spoke Red rather
imidly.
Gee! Thought was awake" num-
bled Little. 1T was only a dream" And
ne dove back into the pillows.
Hey. wake upi'' spoke Blink. Hon
est. we are burglars" Jack raised up
again and looked at them c~uriously.
See. here's our dark lanterns" sug-
gested Blink by way OF proof. And this
II Is pointing right at your head"
"Well?' asked LATHE. what about
TT"
I'VE want to know how many games
Marquard has won?" asked Red, with
a little awe over being face to face
with a sporting authority.
Now. ! know I'm dreaming" mum
oied IAtt!e, and once more he took to
the pillows.
Hey, wake up" yelled Blink. This
Is on the level. We are burglars. Come
on and decide this bet
AT last Little was awake. with a half
''''sN "a US A"'o NV Aobhtu at tlc y
volver. then at the thalf-masked faces
OF the burglars.
Say" he sald. take OFF those things
and III tall to you"
OF came the masks and Red and Blink
stood at the foot OF the bed half
ashamed of having caused the baseball
writer so much Inconvenience.
w amt after no money" explained
Red. All we want Is a decision. Get
me?'
"Td rather give you the money" said
Little, "tf ] had 1t. What is It you
want? Go as far as you like"
Say" continued Little. hand me a
cigarette off hat bureau. will you?' and
Red FASTENED to oblige. ,
Got a match?"
Showing his familiarity with polite
custom. Red hastily tore or Il piece o.
paper. got a light from the gas and held
the burning paper until Little had his
cigarette lighted.
Must have been n good game to-day
suggested Blink. did you see it?'
Yes. 1t was a pretty nice bit of pitch
Ing answered Little.
Nov. didn't | tell you that Matty wa.
still there?" exclaimed Red as he looked
~triumphantly at Blink.
Yes" said Blink. But how abou.
that day when the Reds knocked hin
out OF the box"
Hey" interrupted Little. Il though
you fellows wanted to ask me a ques
ton
That's right. too observed, Red
what We want to hnow is now man
games has Marqusrd lost this season
Is It -four or hve?"
II don't know exactly.' and the
faces OF the burglars dropped in dis
appointment. ITS either four or Ave.
We'll. which Is ltT' asked Blink.
Let me see. Say. you little burglar
look in that bureau drawer and nan
me that score book"
Red FASTENED TO oblige and arte
carefully scanning the pases Littl
looked mp.
"unoIiicially they have credited hir
with four defeats, but onc!ally he ma
get Ave" he sad. II wouldn't like
say of hand"
Just then the telephone rang with
loud clang that startled the burglar
into a hasty retreat