Plodders

Mile after mile over rutted alkali, on concrete, and through the brown ooze at the side of macadam, plodded the marathoners of Mr. C. C. ("Cash and Carry") Pyle who has offered $25,000 to the runner making the best time from California to New York. All along the route runners dropped out and went home. Three quit at Chandler, Okla., 1,543 miles from the start. They said they didn't believe Pyle had $25,000. When Oklahoma City gave $5,000 to Pyle, Ralph Scott, onetime manager of Red Grange, attached it. The Chamber of Commerce then refused to give the citizens of Oklahoma City a free look at the plodders, made them run across lots to a circus tent. Admission to the tent was through a turnstyle. Inside the tent Red Grange presided. Said a wag, "If any more runners drop out Red will have to get in the race himself." Runner Mike Baze was hit on his leg by a car. Runner Andrew Payne was leading at Chandler. The runners started March 4; they may reach New York in another month.