The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-07-08


 After delivering that kick he walked across to the upright bars be- tween that front and the side corri- dor and leaned against them. Pres ently, because of the fact that my knees were aching from contact with the cement floor and my head was aching also, I thought of trying to change my position.
 T always could sight better with the other eye" I remarked, without locking up, "and if it's all the same to you. I'd like to get at that end of the pipe and sight this other way"
 He did not move muscle.
 What makes yer voice shake that a-away?" he asked. I'm not a-try- in to scare ye-lke ye tried to scare me up thar"
 q know you're not" I replied, get ting hopeful. T know that you're q friend of mine and the only thing tried to scare you--but I didn't"
 Look sut now" said he, straight ening to his full height and taking step toward me. "A good me chanic don't lie that away and a 1 lyin mechanic ought to be killed. Sometimes it's the duty of 8 man to kill a lyin' mechanic"-and he took new hold upon the wrench and stepped forward-"and I'd ruther kill one than rattlesnake-"
 My Name Is Called.
 1 I did not try to answer.
 And just then I heard the voice of a third baseman, Murphy, calling my name. I knew at once that he was out in front of the building calling up at the window near my desk.
 "Oh, Jack. Jack! They're waitin' on ye: they're ready to play" And then after another moment. Are you up there, Jack?-they're waitin' on ye!' The sound of Murphy's voice seem ed to attract the crazy darkey's at tention. He listened for a moment, during which moment I heard Mur- phys footballs as he came up the outer steps kind of mumbling to himself
 gleamed anew as he took another step toward me and began to raise his wrench.
 I shifted my position little bit and tried to speak In an unconcerned manner, though my heart was beat ing so slow and forcefully that feared 1t might burst. Already my head and meek were aching in a peculiar way.
 How long do you want me to sight?' I asked.
 How long?' he repeated. wy, how long ought a mechanic to sight. Jest fur that question, and fur tryin'
  to make you sight as long as want to. And then-well, ye'd better say the right thing" And he shook the wrench at me.
 Hey, Jack.' the man above called that daffy big coon?'
 The speaker could hear every word, but he was unable to see us. I won dered what the crazy fellow would do if I answered.
 That fellow up there Is a me- chanic. too," I looked up at my cap tor to say, "Oughtint to answer nm when he speaks?"
 "No! No! Non he yelled that time, pointing the wrench down and jab- ping my neck with the end of 1t: You'll answer me--justs me! And now go on a-sightin'. I began inwardly to curse myself for fool for having ever got down there Why didn't I take my chances with him while I was on my feet? How long would it be before he would call on me to say the thing that he was expecting g?-and If l failed to say what he wanted me to- would he smash in my skull with thai wrench? What a mess I'd got ten myself into! Could there be any way by which I might humor him What a piece of management 1t was to allow an insane man to run loose among other men! Why didn't some one come in? As rule men were minutes. The boys out there were waiting for me; how long would they wait before someone came down 10 see what I was doing?
 Q Q o
 The Mailman Kicks.
 Hey. Jack!-why don't you an- swer?-what are you doin'?" the fel- low confined to his cell above me called out the third time, and his voice told that he was uneasy.
 Don't talk, Steve I called back maybe I can manage It.
 The madmans heavy shoe came against my side.
 And don't you do any talkin' either" he growled. You jest SUCK thar and sight"
 At least four times in my life l have believed that was near imme- diate death, and I surely believed It then. I felt positive that he would strike me without further waiting, and I almost cringed to feel the | blow. My senses were wide-awake.
 It seemed an age before l heard Murphy's foot strike the cement in- side, and the moment it struck l could tell that he had his spiked playing shoes on.
 Then out of the corner Of my eye I could see Murphy's feet and legs. saw him stop suddenly, then saw his feet move quickly forward-and I SAW him raise on his toes.
 The next instant l felt the whole weight of the crazy mans body fall mon me and I was knocked over upon my side I scrambled to my feet.
 The Spikes Land.
 God have mercy!" Murphy jerked cut exciteely, taking one glance at me; then in a fraction of second l saw him fly at the prostrate form of the negro. Right onto the darkey's head he lit with his spikes and be- gan to kick It.
 Don't, Murph:--don't do that: the mans insane" I pleaded. as I saw the tearing and cutting those spikes were doing. And I grabbed the an gry and excited Murphy and almost jerked him to the floor.
 What do you mean?" Murphy asked, excited and stuttering. Don't you know he'd 'a' killed you?"
 "Yas, do," I answered; but don't you lose your head and kill him." | Then the fellow on that next floor broke in again. "Say!-what's gCin' on down there? Are you down there. too, Murph?"
 By that time Murphy was himself and stood for a moment panting and gazing at the negro on the floor. Then he took hold Cf his own right hand with the left and felt it..
 "I hurt me fist on his jaw-I caught i'm little too high up. My feet slipped just a bit as I swung it's a good thing was close enough"
 Hey, down there" came the con- fined mans voice again. "Why don't