“WELL, I’M TIGHT”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20896, 27 November 1937, Page 16

“WELL, I’M TIGHT”

BILLIARD BALL THAT WENT IN CIRCLES “Here, have a bit of fun with this,” said Mr P. J. Brady, of the Palace Billiards Hall, to Mr F. K. Stevens, Adelaide grandstand bookmaker, as he handed him one of the new crazy billiard balls. Inside the red ball is floating mercury. It was after a race meeting and a well-known merchant was at one of the tables. Now this merchant never finishes a break without first moving over to the marking board to increase his score. He makes two, goes to the board and back to the table to continue his break. It was while on one of these periodical visits to the marking board that Mr Stevens picked up the red ball and substituted the crazy ball. The merchant turned to the table again to continue his break. The red ball, instead of going straight, went round in an erratic curve. The players and the onlookers came closer and gazed intently at the red. Did you see what I saw?” asked the merchant. There was a unanimous “Yes!” It was queer. The merchant turned away to seek further confirmation. Frank Stevens switched the red balls, replacing the correct one. “Straight as a Die” There was a glint in the merchant’s eye as he settled down to play the red again. Behold, the red went as straight as a die! A few minutes later the merchant started another break. And, as usual, he toddled over to the board to increase his score. When his back was turned the crazy ball was placed on the spot occupied by the red. The merchant bent over the table to resume his break. The red was hit. It rolled all ways. The onlookers could scarcely hold themselves from laughing aloud. The merchant looked at the ball, then at the spectators, and back at the ball. Then he sat down. “Well,” he said, “I am tight.”