Evening star., 1920-05-09
BY sEWELL FORD.

worked up 10 the proper pilc1
this scene. You know-lights dim
L med. throbby music from the bul
fiddle and kettle drums. and the ush
ers sestin' nobody durin' the act. Be
lasco stuff. The stage shown the pri
vate office of the Corrugated Trust
It's a case of the big four in solemn
conclave.
Maybe you can guess the other three
Uh-huh. Old Hickory Ellins. Mr.. Rob
ert, and Fiddle. I forget just wha
important problem we was settlin'
But it must have been something
weishty and serious. Millions at stake
most likely. Thousands anyway. o.
1t might have been when we shoulG
start the Saturday half halidays.
All 1 remember is that we was
grouped around the big mahogan.
desk; Old Hickory in the middle
chewin' away at the last three inches
OF Cassadora: Mr.. Robert at right
center studyin' the documents in the
case; Piddie standin respectful at mis-
side weavin' his fingers in and ou,
nervous. and me balanced on the edge
of the desk at the left, one shoe toe
easy and graceful. Cool and calm
that g me. But not sayin' a word
Nobody was. We had our turn. 1t was
up to Old Hickory to give the final
decision. We was waitin almost
breathless. He'd let out a srunt or
two, cleared his throat. and was about
to open in his usual style when-
Cr-r-rash. Bumpety-bump,
Not that this describes it adequate
II had a mouth that could initiate
the smashin' of 4x6-foot plate glass
window I'd be on my way out to stam-
pede the national convention for some
favorite son. For that's exactly what
happens. One OF them big panes
through which Old Hickory can view
the whole southern half of Manhattan
Island, not to mention part of New
jersey, has been shattered as neat as
il some one had thrown a hammer
through 1t. And havin' that occur not
more'n ten feet from your right ear
is some test Of nerves, I'll say.
didn't even fall off the desk. All Old
Hickory does is set his teeth into the
cigar q little firmer and roll his eyes
over one shoulder. Piddies the only
ono who shows signs of shell shock
When he finally lets out a breath it's
like openin' q bottle Of home brew to
see If the yeast cake is gettin' in its
work.
The bumpety-bump noise comes from
something white that follows the crash
and rolls along the floor toward the
desk. Naturally 1 makes a grab for it,
Don't" sasps Piddie. Tit might
be q bomb"
''Yes." says l. .ft might. But 1t looks
to me more like golf ball.
WHAT" says Old Hickory. Golf
ball. How could it beo'
IT don't know, sir" says I, modest as
usual
Lets see." says he. l hands it over.
He takes glance at it and snorts out.
Impossible. but quite true. 1t is a golf
ball. A Spalldop 81"
You're right, Governor" says MIR.
Robert. That's just what it is
Piddie takes a cautious squint and
mods his head. So we made 1t unan,-
NOUS.
But don't quite see, sir" goes on
4luule, now a
Don't you?" breaks in Old Hickory.
well. that's strange. Neither do l.
Might 1t not. SIR adds Piddie, have
been dropped from an airp,ane?"
Dropped how" demands Old Hick-
ory Sideways? The law of gravity
doesn't work that way. At least. it
didn't when met it last
Certainty" says Piddie IT had not
thought Of that. 1t couldn't have been
dropped. Then 1t must have been driven
by some careless golfer
He's some grand little suggester,
Piddie is. Old Hickory glares at him
and snorts. AN amazingly careless
golfer" he adds. Considering that the
nearest course is in Englewood, n. J.,
fully six miles away. No. Mr.. Piddie,
! fear that even Jim Barnes at his best,
felayed by Gil Nichols and Walter
Hagen. couldn't have made that drive"
They-they never use IA rifle for
such purposes, de they?" asks Piddie
Not in the best sporting circles"
says Old Hickory
I suppose" puts in Mr.. Robert, that
some golf enthusiast might have taken
it into his head to practice a shot from
somewhere in the neighborhood
That's logical" admits Old Hickory,
''but from where did he shooto We are
nineteen stories above the sidewalk. re-
member. ] never saw a player who
could loft ball to that height
Which gives me an idea. What II
IL was some golf nut who'd gone out on
q roof" asks
Thank you. Torchy." says Old Hick-
ory. From a roof. of course. should
have made that deduction myself within
the next half hour. The fellow must
be swinging away on the top of some
nearby building. Let's see If we can
locate him.
Nobody could. though. Plenty of
roofs In sight. from five to ten stories
lower than the Corrugated buildin', but
no mashie maniac in evidence. And
while they're scoutin' around / takes
another squint at the ball
Say. Mr.. Ellins,' calls out. "if II
was shot from roof how do you dope
out this grass stain on 1t it,"
En-" says Old Hickory. Grass
stain. Must be an old one. No. by the
eeAo odh vi IadHz' II perfectly
fresh Even bit Of moist earth where
the fellow took a diyot Young man,
that knocks out your roof practice
theory. Now. how in the name Of the
Secret Seven. could this happen? The
nearest turf is in the park, across
broadway. But no golfer would be
reckless enough TO try out a shot from
there. Besides. this came from a south
erly direction. Well. son. what have
you to offerc''
Me-" says J. stallin' around a hit