Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-28


thing undor 10 years, knew everything
which boy of his sse should not know
including the taste OF plug tobacco.
Women might have pited him. but
John Wesley scorned their pity he
would not have changed places with the
son OF the President OF the United states
for that young man, despite his relation
ship with greatness, could never SIT on
the bench next TO Gus Bergstrom and
fondle the bats with which the Terrible |
Swede broke up so many games.
John Wesley Jones entered the big
league when he was years OF age The |
manager OF the Apaches had bought a
rcd-headed sensation in the shape of
shortstop, and when Brick Jones re-
ported for spring practice he brought |
with him snub-nosed, Handicapped
youngster whose clothes bore evidence OF
fumbling masculine fingers,
what che going to do with the kidT'
asked Pete Carr, the Apache team cap
| tain
Going to take him with me-" an
swered the recruit shortly.
bad stuff" said Carr. Think Of the
night jumps and the travelling you're
| going up against. II would be whole
lot better II you could send him to some
/ good school for kids-an asylum maybe
| The new inGelder slarcd.
"see herer said he THAT asylum
! thing runs for your Kids maybe; not for
! mine. / said the kid sticks with me, ana
/ that goes. II you don't like Il, say so.
| know plenty OF leagues where they'd be
/ glad to have us both"
"Oh, all right, all rightr' said Carr
hastily "T was just thinking about the
| Inconvenience of It, that was all. No oh
| jections, none In the least"'
Gee! but that Jones is toucny about
| that kid of his" said Carr to "Gibral-
| tar" Jordan, the left fielder, Jumped
all over me for just suggesting that he
better leave the kid somewhere during
the playing season"
'IIuh!" said Gibraltar. "These bushers
seem to think that this is n sort of in
FAINT class on the side. Where's the KID
! mother?"
"Dled last season." said Carr. And
| say, Jordie old hawss, better not let
that redhead hear you call him busher.
lie doesn't start often, but when he does
all welterwelghts better git outside the
ropes"
wonder why he's so stuck on Juggling
a squalling brat around with him all the
timer asked Jordan,
Gibraltar kept on wondering for Brick
Jones never told. Had he done so 1t
might have been made easier for him at
the beginning, for ball players, in spite
OF rough exterior, are sympathetic and
clannsh Brick Jones' little life story
would have touched a soft spot.
Three years before Jones, Junior, en-
tered this vale of tears, Brick Jones was
a telegraph operator In small Western
town. the division point Of a transcon-
tinental railway system. 'Jonesey." as
he was called. earned SEQ month by
working u hours a day and sometimes
| pI,o haH 81 ha chb9ti
team which had beaten everything within
a radius of 100 miles, and one day In
fielding practice before an important
game, "Jodle" knight, the shortstop,
broke a finger. The quiet. red-headed
operator climbed out of the grand stand
and volunteered to take knights place.
Jonesey played such a phenomenal game
that the railroad men were dazzled, and
thereafter Jodie went to the outfeld.
my soull" said the yard foreman, who
was also the team captain, where did
YOU learn TO play ball?"
ALWAYS knew how, / guess" said
Jonesey 81 played some at school,"
Soon afterward Jonesey's pay was In
creased to ST5 month, which, In some
| towns, used to be a great deal OF money.
| Naturally the young mans thoughts
lightly turned to the slender little brun-
ette who waited upon the table In the
railway eating house
She was a nice little girl who said
red hair was pretty, and did not appreci-
ate dusty and impolite travelling men,
| SO. when Jonesey cleared his throat and
rather hustlly asked her the great ques-
| tiou she said, "Oh Charie"' and hid her
| face upon his shoulder. They were mar
rled at the Methodist parsonage, and the
| couple settled down to housekeeping at
| S75 a month, strong In tho mistaken De-
lief that two can live as cheaply as one.
blr1 ma
her of the family, tiny. red-faced little
| mite with golden fuzz instead of hair
| and the voice and lungs of an auotioneer
The mother named him John Wesley
after her uncle, who had been Metho-
dist minister
When John Wesley WAS two years old
Jonesey was still pounding brass, IN the
same Office at the same salary ana begin
ming to realize that raising a family on SO
a month was not the simplest problem IN
the world. He stll played baseball Tor
the love of the game, but nobody ever
Thought OF offering him any money lot
his services Jonesey never thought OF
asking for any. He knew, In hazy sort
of way. that professional baseball play
srs were we'll paid, but that was " dae s,s
davs when Jonesey was modest ana dla
not suspect himself Of being a marvel
One day a baseball scout prowlins
through the waste places IN search OF an
inhelder for the Eureka team OF the
sagebrush League, stopped over TO see
a game between the railroad men ana
team OF miners from nearby town. Ihat
evening when Jonesey came down 10 take
his night trick ON the wire, ne iouha the
stranger waiting for him
III it's a fair question" asked the
stranger what does this Wire-uckiins
job pay you?''
what's It to your asked Jonesey
Nothing to me" said the man. but
unless I'm very much mistaken. ~
. something to you. Do you always play
bali like you did this afteFnoonf
..Why-yes." said Jonesey, slightly puz'
zled "Pnetty much the same some
} times l hit a little better.
How would you like to play pfotss
sional ball7' asked the man.
what Is there IN it2' asked 1onesey
81 can get you sl25 d month. I'm look
. / ing for q shortstop for the Eureka Ciup
2 | Your expenses on the road VIII De pala
+. / and the season lasts eight months How
: does that listen 70 your
"Can i get by with it2" asked 1oneses
get by9' repeated the man. Like
j.. / runaway freight trainF'
put that offer in writingF SAT-
Jonesey a., -.
a uTn 40 better than that" said the man
.I'l Ask the manager Of the bnfekl
4 taan 10 wire you some expense none.
5 ans tell vou when q report
= ME stranger 8rote cut 5 mezsass
g Ianesey plnkeda it. ana eAattefea 2 -
~