Alton High School - Tatler Yearbook (Alton, IL)

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ago. From the letters lie wrote I expected to see an up-to-date man, and to think he is afraid of girls, and Mary especially! Those blue eyes overhung by long eyelashes and that brown and pretty little dimpled face! If they can’t win him, what can? I believe I 11 read his last letter over again. Let me see; it is in the writing desk. Here it is now. Why, the big silly has addressed it 817 E. Ninth Street. Our address is 821; that is Mary’s house, and the houses do look much alike. I don’t see how he happened to do it.” Immediately she read the letter to herself, carefully reflecting over each point. All this time Bob was enjoying himself to the fullest extent, for, although he hated girls, he liked a good time. Mr. Hazelton had the revolver repaired and also bought a box of cartridges. “Bob,” iie said, “put these in your pocket, for I have to get some things for my wife, and my pocket space is limited.” Bob obeyed, and the two went on their ways. About 9:45 p. m. Mr. Hazelton said: “Almost all of our stores are crowded, but you ought to see our five and ten cent store! It’s one of Everybody's one hundred and twelve stores. We’ll take a stroll over to sec it before it closes.” L’pon arriving they were packed and jammed in with the rest and soon became separated. After searching for Mr. Hazelton for some time, Bob decided to go home. “By Jove!” he exclaimed to himself, “I have it. I’ll take this skeleton key, open the door, and go up to my room and the folks won’t know where I am until morning. This old key used to open almost any door in college, and many is the time that it has helped the Sophs get the Presides.” On the way home he wondered if the revolver loaded easily, so hi took it out, slipped six shells into it and carelessly put it back into his pocket loaded. At length, having reached Ninth Street, he walked up until he came to the eight hundred block. “Let me see,” he reflected, “Sis's number is 817.” He struck a match. “This is 817. Why, I thought it was the next house. Well, here it goes. I won’t wake Sis up: I guess she is tired. ‘So far, so good,’ ” he quoted as he turned the key and opened the door, “I'll take off my shoes so as not to awaken her.” Silently he climbed the stairs and entered the front room. “Gee, I am glad she gave me this room!” he murmured. “By leaving the curtain up I have the sun for my alarm clock.”

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NUMBER 817 First Prize 4 4 Jj ELLO, Sis! exclaimed Bob Ford, as lie stepped from the 4 east-bound train. ‘‘Gee, I'm glad to see you look so well.'’ Bob, you are a dear to come all the way down here to spend your vacation, was the reply of Mrs. Hazelton, his sister. Mary Evans and I have arranged some fine surprises for you. By the way, you haven’t met Mary. She is the cutest little darling and lives two doors from us in the next double house. Why she has even asked some of her friends to come over to her house Wednesday evening to meet you.’’ At this a look of dismay came over Bob’s face. You know, Sis, I came down here to go hunting, and not after girls, either.” But, Boh, you must! Everybody has been invited, and it would he a shame to spoil the fun!” But I can't go, because, although I am brave and strong otherwise, I am a coward before girls. Please don’t worry me more about this, because it hurts me more than you know.” In due time Mary Evans came over, and they were introduced, hut, when Mrs. Hazelton purposely left them alone to chat, Boh took the first possible chance offered to leave the room. In the same manner he stayed away from the party on the pretext of having to go to bed early to go fishing the next morning when lie conscientiously knew he hadn’t even obtained the bait for the next day's fishing. But lie excused this lie to himself by thinking lie would have spoiled the party. The next Saturday evening Mr. Hazelton laughingly said: Well, if you are afraid of girls, you certainly aren't afraid of seeing the city, so, if you have nothing else to do, we’ll go down town. I'll take my revolver along and have the spring fixed; then we can have some target practice before breakfast to-momnv morning.’’ To this Boh readily assented, and soon after supper they started out to do the town. Not long after they were gone, Mrs. Hazelton sighed as she reflected, Why, Bob’s as big a baby as lie w as eight or nine years 24

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He closed the door behind him, put his-shoes in the corner and walked across the room to turn on the light. All this time he did not know that Mary Evans in this very room was undergoing a great fright, for, while lying awake thinking how coldly she had been treated by 15ob, she had heard the click of the key as it turned in the lock, and the first thought that came into her mind was burglars. She covered her head and with all her senses alert nervously waited while she heard him creep up the stairs, every second adding new fears, and now to think he was about to turn on the light. When he did, she put all her strength into one scream, which brought every member of the household to her room, where poor Hob stood in hopeless terror, for now he saw his mistake. Ashe had no time to flee, he was left to explain the best he could. The only member of the family who had ever met him, was Mary, and she had very good reasons for not recognizing him. In fact, when she first heard him, she had been planning some manner of revenge, and now, when she saw who it was, she debated to herself whether she should recognize and help him out of the trouble or not notice him and let him spend a night in the police station. “Search him, Phil,” said Mr. Evans, pointing at Hob a very large revolver which, from all evidences, had been used in the Civil War. “It’s a mistake! stammered Bob excitedly,” I—I got into the wrong house.” “Ha! ha! ha!” roared old Mr. Evans. “I see it is the wrong house myself, and, when I get through with you, you won’t go into another for some time.” “But, father! protested Mary, coming to Hob’s aid, for she could not stand idly by and see a fellow creature receive unjust injury, “he is Mrs. Hazelton’s brother, who came to visit her last Monday. Papa, please don’t cause him any trouble, for my sake, don't! It was merely a mistake, I assure you.” “Well, the idea of my own daughter encouraging a robber! If he is not a thief, why did he come up stairs in his stocking feet? What is that I see sticking out of his back pocket? Phil, search him! Ha! a revolver, just as I thought, and cartridges and a skeleton key! You can't fool me; come along peaceably now while I telephone for the police!” As soon as they had gone down stairs, Mary hurriedly slipped on her clothes and, going silently out the front door, ran over to 26