New-York tribune., 1920-09-16
Harding Beaten by Policeman
LIN Backyard Horseshoe Contest
''You,d Better Go Back to Golf,'' Comments
Senator'S Wife as Opponents ''Ringer''
Wins Hard-Fought Battle

being rocked to sleep in a barrel-stave
hammock"
Chapman contorted his face. lump
disappeared from his left cheek and
IN an instant was raised on his right.
" lth. his quid shifted, Chapman placed
one foot against the pin and tossed
shoe. 1t fell two feet from the far
PIN and bounced half a foot nearer.
He threw another and it dropped with
clank on its mate.
senator Harding took Chapman's
place. He stretched out his arm and
squinted at the distant pin through
the frame made by the prongs Of the
horseshoe. Then he tossed, and the
unfinished circlet of rusted steel scared
through the air and landed fat about
three inches nearer the pin than his
opponents. The next shoe struck on
end and rolled into the hedge at the
roadside.
Senator Wins First Blood
That's one for me, Chap" gloated
the Senator.
Listen, Warren Harding" replied
the policeman. "You kin talk ME down
in an argument about the League of
Nations or the rights of men to strike,
but | kin lick you pitching horseshoes.
This game amt won yet-by you, any
way"
Point by point they contested and
the Senator lost one pitch when he
glanced up and saw Mrs. Harding had
removed his coat from the chair where
he had laid it and was watching every
throw. And a moment later he discov-
cred that his "gallery'' had been aug
mented by every newspaper correspond
ent IN Marion, movie camera man, a
few dogs and half dozen boys of the
neighborhood, who apparently have
failed to realize in the excitement of a
front porch campaign that summer va
cation has ended and school session is
resumed.
with the score IL to IA, favoring Po-
liceman Chapman. Senator Harding
tossed leaner and brought it to Is to
IA. Chapman disposed Of his old ouid
and replaced it with fresh cud of
eating tobacco. His opponent was
making stogie disappear without the
aid of fire.
Poiceman's Ringer" Wins
Then Chapman won two singles. and
the Senator followed by laying both
of his shoes closer to the pin than
either of Chapman's. The score was
tied-16 to Is. 1t was the Senator's
turn. He wiped his moist hand on the
scat of his trousers, and, aiming care
fully. hurled the heavy horseshoe. 1t
struck the pin and remained, clean
err His other shoe struck foot
! away and the candidate cndeavored to
appear only moderately pleased.
Then Chapman tossed There was a
ringing clank. The Senator's leaner
had been knocked from the pin and
Chapman $ shoe remained a ringer,
circling the pin.
Come on in to luncheon, Warren
Hardng," 15 said Mrs. Harding. You
had better go back to playing golf
"iil be in to luncheon in a minute
replied Senator Harding Then to
Chapman: II haven't tossed horse
shoes in long time, but, as recall it
YOU didn' have your foot against the
pin on that last throw. Wen try it
again and IN prove that your 'rir ger
was f1uke,"
The Senator put on, his coat, jabbine
his arms through the sleeves with a
bit Of unnecessary trmness.
"Any time, any time at ALL" said
Chapman, and disappeared in the
shanty to give headquarters IL O'Clock
| telephone assurance that no cranks
nor buns, nor other undnoirables had
| cndeavorcd to invade the Harding
! premises.