Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-29
Copyright Street and Smith,


Copyright Street and Smith,
Thus he lost no faith in the black book
even when a long losing streak thinned
the pigskin wallet, and the bills with
which it had been stuffed began to find
their way home again. He redoubled
his mathematical researches; he speEt
more time doping OUT the probable Win
ners, with no better result. Like most
losers. he began to plunge, to bet on
three or four horses in an afternoon in
stead OF confning himself to the one best
bet on the card.
As the bank roll dwindled. his temper
grew ragged at the edges. his appetite
became uncertain, and there were days
when he sat upon the bench, staring out
on the field. knowing less OF the prog
ress of the game than the most ignorant
spectator. When 1t came his turn to
pitch, he shook of the spell for the time
being. but he no longer had the inde-
Enable snap and dash Of the early spring.
His heart. as Dutch had said, was at the
race track with most of his bank roll.
THE Duke don't say so much about his
killings these days" commented Oren-
dorff one evening. II guess he's finding
that you can't pick 'em all the time"
He certainly is awful crabby about
something" said Bush thoughtfully "He
won't play poker no more, and when he
shoots craps he just bulls you to death
with big bets. There amt any fun gam
bin like that. particularly with your
friends"
II wish he's come out OF IT," said
Dutch. Johnny Merry and his gang will
be here next week. and II we don't stop
'em they'll Just about win the pennant.
I'd rather see any other club land that
post-season money"
You've said somethingv' Bush chimed
in. "Any guy in the world but Merry
II We knock the Dudes down three out OF
four, or only break even with 'em while
the Grays are walloping the tail-enders.
It ought to set Merry's cue plum outside
the game"
with the Duke in this trance" con-
tinued Orendorff moodily, Merry will
just about run rings around us, The
Duke could stop 'em II he was in shape
When he's right he can beat that club
just by chucking his glove out on the
line where they can see IT, He had their
number last year and the early part OF
and he reminds me of n mechanical toy,
His arms and legs are playin' baseball
but the rest OF him is wrapped up In
that black book. Confound him / wish
he'd get onto himself But it's just the
way ] said. He's been tryin' TO beat
two games at once. and It's got him"
"oh, you Just imagine that % laughed
Bush. "The Dukes got a sour ball about
something, but when II comes to a ques-
ton OF trimming these Dudes you'll see
him come through with the goods In both
hands You know he hates Merry worse'n n
you do"
Johnny Merry and his Dudes, thus called
because OF the prevalence Of silk under
wear and tailor-made shirts on the play
ers, and a certain swagger which might
easily have been mistaken for coneeit
were popular In their home town; but
on the road they drew no applause save
that earned by their professional efforts
Johnny hlmself-a coeky, assertive little
man. with energy enough to supply
dozen dynamos, and brain which tool
advantage of every opportunity TO win
no matter what II might be-was par
ticularly disli1ed by the Ponies. and moi
without reason.
Johnny believed in nghting TO VIII
games. and fights make hard feelings
some OF which linger beyond the heat o.
battle. To knock Johnny Merry out OF I
pennant would be real triumph equa
TO finishing In the first division them
selves; certainly II would have AFFORDED
Monk Lawson's caTefree young deyll
more genuine satisfaction.
The pennant race had frightened 10 sucl
an extent that the Grays were hanginI
at the top OF the column. only three ful
games ahead OF the fast-coming Dudes