South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-11-25
BY III SIBLEY.

sunday afternoon-Or evenings
the best time TO visit the Alley Rats
nest. Cap Shuey, proprietor, conscien-
tlously adheres to an unwritten law
that no business is to be discussed on
Sunday; therefore he is free to devote
his entire time to the entertainment of
ms guests. And all who have been
fortunate enough to enjoy a Sunday
afternoon with Cap Shuey will agree
that such wholesome diversion will
keep one in a good humor for the rest
OF the week-thOse with torpid livers
included
Week days are slightly different.
Cap is always alert for business on
week days, If an Alley Rat or a
stranger saunter in with a new over
coat, or a ten cent cigar, or bearing
other unmistakable signs of prosperity
Caps agile mind instantly leaps into
action; he edges over to the pros
porous looking individual, steers him
simultaneously explaining in low con-
tdential tones all its fine points, be-
ginning with the Design of the radi-
ator and never letting up until he
gets to the rear spring shackle.
Therefore, l say, Sunday is the best
time TO visit the Alley Rats nest; Cap
Is at his best on that day, although he
is a a treat at any time.
Yesterday afternoon at three o'clock
every chair and settee in the semi
circle around the old stove was filled.
more Alley Rats roasted like row of
turkeys on the running boards Of cars
nearby, a few others lolled cOmforta bly,
IN the tonneaus.
IT was an suspicious occasion, for
ere another Sunday has passed, Cap
Will have abandoned the old Alley
Rats nest for new quarters; but more
of that anon. Suffice it TO say that it
was an suspicious occasion and there
fore Cap was in fine fettle.
Rapid Fire Converse.
In the early part of the rapid fire
conversation some one had made a
comment on the risk of life and limb
10 which people are exposed in this
day OF so many automobiles, and turn
ing TO Cap had enquired:
Cap you've been in the game longer
than anyone else around here, hows
happen you you never got bunged up
any-why. you never even skinned
your knuckles, did you?"
"Hunh? Never skinned my knuckles
never skinned my knuckles hey?
Mebbe I didn't-mebbe 1 didn't, but
I'd ruther have skinned my knuckles
than have the whole top Of my skull
caved in" Cap retorted with spirit.
See that?" ne added. removing his
I'd l. anu DONll4A HIS Alt1u ~ tAp0SN eAA
indistinct heXagon shaped scar on the
top OF his head.
We saw IT. Cap resumed:
But that wasn't all-had all my
hair and eyebrows burned off at the
same time. had TO stay home two
weeks afore they growed out again.
And then Cap went on TO describe in
his characteristic way the circum-
stances connected with the accident:
how he had lighted a match 10 find a
lost nut he had dropped while working
in a repair pit under "A steam wagon
cite and how the gasoline fumes had
ignited instantly, and how, IN MS
scramble to get out again. he had
bumped his head on the unyieldlng
machinery OF the car above him.
When the laughter had zsubsided
somewhat. Cap went on, But that
amt nothin' TO the time one or my
little steam Mobiles tried TO chase me
out of my own garage
ION. tell us about that" shouted
his delighted audience. in chorus.
Preparing himself in the usual way
for a long pull ahead. and backing up
TO the stove that ne might face his
entire assembly. he began as follows:
Car Was "a Curiosity.
ct was when = had my first garage
(pronounced Fridge, emphasis on
first syllableJ over in back OF HobDses:
< was a two story frame ouliulns anu
my show room was about half the size
Of this only had one car for dem
0nstration then. and IL was great eu-
riosity. boys-a great curiosity. Guess
everybody in town came TO see that
car the second dav I had il till had
10 lock the doors the keep 'em out.
I'D been out showing Rudy kamm
how 10 operate the wagon one after
noon and ! came back 10 the garage
with n full head OF steam. l had just
got the car turned around in there
and backed up at the end OF the room,
when Tim Lorden-Tim Lorden, you
remember him Aleck, he was my en-
gineer on the Ben Hamilton-when
Tim Lorden came a pokin' in.
Tim was a good natured old soul.
/ thought a lot OF Tim. but he couldn't
keep his hands of nothin'. boys.