The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-09-07
philadelphia Ledger

tention to mastering the art of shatter-
ing clay birds instead of devising
means to kid or torment his fellow
shooters, the Blue Rock Gun Club, per-
haps, would not have been so lively
place, but Jimmie's bank roll would
have remained at normal size.
True, Wolf could on occasions get so
of his century of targets. However,
the Interstate Associations official
averages of contestants in registered
trap.shooting tournaments" contains
the following entry: wolf, James c.,
Newton, Penn, shot 1,500, broke $50;
per cent, 6600" showing that Jimmie's
place in the (trap-shooting) sun" was
not so conspicuous as to make him
formidable competitor in the Grand
American Handicap.
When it came to practical joking
Wolf was no respector of persons. In
fact, If the victim CHANGED to be a dig
nified party the irrepressible Jimmie
would take all the more delight in fur
nishing amusement for the crowd. An
instance of this sort occurred one hot
July afternoon, when the Blue Rock
boys were shooting a return match at
the Druid Hill Country Club.
Jimmie had just finished his last
string of targets and was leaving the
firing line, when suddenly he placed
his hand over his heart, contorted his
face as If in great agony, and swayed
slightly as he walked toward a near
by tree. Vreeland Price, prominent
banker and member of the Druid Hill
Club, stepped up to Jimmie and grave
ly inquired: "Are you i'll, Mr.. Wolf?'
"Oh, no." Jimmie replied, "just one
of my heart attacks"
Mr.. Price insisted that Jimmie go to
the clubhouse, but he assumed the at
titude of not wanting to disturb others,
and, lowering his voice to a whisper,
said
mo, no, thank you. ! will ask you
to assist me over to that tree
When the physician reached the spot
.Jimmie's shoulders were propped up
against tree, the rest of his body
prone on the ground. He was gasping,
and the shirt over his heart was pulls
ing out and in as if by the most violent
and convulsive beating.
To Jimmie's credit let it be said that
called, and when Wolf realized that
his alleged joke had been carried too
far he sat up and, reaching inside his
shirt. said: Maybe If get rid of this
I'll be better" at the same time taking
out little soft rubber bag attached
! by hose to bulb, which he had been
squeezing to produce the heart palpi.
tations."
DR.. Eaton expressed disgust, in
which some joined, while others seem
ed to appreciate the Wolf style of
practical joking. The Blue Rock out
fit, with few exceptions, were sore.
But there came day that spelled
undoing for Jimmie, and, by a strange
irony, "Rube," as Wolf had describ-
ed his intended victim, was destined
to prove the means of curing Jimmie
of his habit.
The Blue Rocks had staged "be-
ginners' day." and among the specta-
tors was farmer who, returning from
an adjacent woods with his gun, had
stopped at the club grounds and was
watching the progress of the shoot
when some one invited him to help fiji
up the last squad of embryos. The
stranger admitted that never before
had he shot over a trap, and as this
made him eligible as beginner u
after considerable persuasion he des.
cended from his perch on the top rail
of the fence to take up position at
number five peg.
When the squad had finished shoot.
ing and the score sheet was examined
the stranger unknown had only two
goose-eggs opposite his name, and he
was declared the winner with score
of 23 ey %.
Immediately Jimmie braced the new
trapshooter, expressed great interest
in the old-fashioned 'hammer-gun" and
played come-on game until the farm
er agreed to shoot match of SO
birds" with Jimmie the following Sat
urday for $40 side.
Billy Stevens. the President of the
Blue Rocks. had hardly been on speak
ing terms with Jimmie since the Druid
Hill affair, and when he learned OF
what he naturally and properly con
cluded was to be put-up on the farm
er went to Jimmie and protested. Vol
claimed the right to shoot match II
he pleased, and told Stevens 1t was
"time to kick when there was some