Butler High School - Magnet Yearbook (Butler, PA)

Page 25 text:

THE SENIOR IMAGNET 23 My Brother Tom Pun. MENDEL Strictly speaking, I never had a brother Tom, but still I cannot say that Tom was an imposter. He came into existence in a curious way. The first I heard of Tom was at James's house. James and I were very fast friends. I used to invite myself up to his house for supper almost every other night. Although James never let on that he was delighted to have me for supper, after my sixth or seventh visit, I knew just the same that he was glad to be honored with my companionship. Every week or so, I would bring a loaf of bread, oyster crackers, or even after dinner mintsf, Not only that, but I would always entertain James's wife while he would wash and dry the dishes. Now to get back to the story-O, yes I was saying that the first time I heard of Tom was while I was eating sup- per with James one evening. He said that he had lunch that day with a man who knew my brother Tom. Not having any brother but Jim, I thought that James had mistaken the name. Oh, no,', James said, he spoke of Jim, too. Even this did not convince me so I asked for the man's name. f'Sucupp, James replied. 'fHe met your brothers Tom and Jim at 'a cabaret in Pittsburgh about ten years agof' Then I remembered Sucupp, I dis- tinctly recall meeting Sucu.pp. It was at that famous old cabaret at the corner of Main and Jefferson Streets in the good old days before prohibition. He was calling me Tom all evening. I explained the mistake to James, and for the time being the matter was settled. However, I had by no means heard the last of Tom. Several times afterwards I heard from various people 'that Sucupp wanted to meet me because he knew my brother Tom. At last we did meet, at the Sterling Club, and as soon as he saw me, he asked me where Tom was now. This was exactly what I feared. I am a man who always looks like a boy. There are few peo- ple in Butler that retained their boy- ish appearance as long as I have done. Sucupp said that when he met Tom, he was about the age at which I am now. Right then and there I could have cleared up everything, but un- fortunately for myself I hate enter- ing upon explanation to any body about anything. Besides I had just finished that dance with my best girl and was feeling a hundred percent active. I figured that there was no chance of meeting him again, so the easiest way to get rid of him seemed to be to humor him. I told Sucupp, Tom was in Africa, married, had fl large family, and was doing well. 'fRemember me to Tom when you write, was Sucuppys last remark. , As we shook hands and bade each other good-bye, Red Parker and his Night Hawks were playing that late song hit, 'fGood-bye Foreverfy There's a great deal of truth in that songf' I remarked to myself as I was leaving the club. Lord'y knows when Illl see him again. A few weeks later some-one tapped me on the shoulder in front of Israels. It was Sucupp. 'Heard anything from Tom ?l' he asked. He caught me by surprise and I told him I had heard from Tom in this mornings mail.

Page 24 text:

. 22 THE SENIOR MAGNET thoughts had plunged me to become aware that Billy was asking the ques- tion I had so dreaded to put. What was the story's meaning? But Crane merely raised his hand as if to signal, and said, 'fWaitl And then stealing softly through the room there came- the sweet re- frain of 'The Song of Lovef' And suddenly I knew. I knew! Memory's dam had broken and had caught me in its Hood. Laurette- Laurette, my beautiful French bride '-Laurette whom I had courted and wed there in that little French town -our honeymoon was so short by cruel necessity and that last night in the little cafe with the orchestra play- ing i'The Song of Lovel' and I whis- pering, 'fYou are my song of love l And I understand now the story's message. And Willis! How he must have wondered at first, then suspicioned the truth, and finally become con- vinced, and now his conveying the truth to me by his story and the song he had signalled for when Billy's thoughtless remarks had offered such a wonderful opening. I attempted to put something of what I felt into speech. But as I looked into their eyes, I saw that there was no need. I read in them only glorious understanding. So for a third time the aviatoi rushed from that door into the shelter- ing dark. For I knew Laurette would be waiting and I felt her spirit calling mine. And if the curious turned to stare a third time, it was only at a youth who was humming to himself HThe Song of Love. My Pal I can't forget you Pal Your cheery face and happy smile Your winning way and handsome style. Oh, how they bring hack to me fllenzories of tlze days we spent to- gether Both at work and at play, But then came the Time of all Times When one must answer the great Cal! ind departing, leave behind hinz Unfinished, steps to future climbs. QIn memory of my old friend J.J.G,

Page 26 text:

24 THE SENIOR IHA GNET 'lAnything particular in the let- ter?', returned Sucupp. I thought it wou ld not do to say that nothing particular was in a let- ter that came all the so I said that Tom ble with his wife. that she was sick. Sucupp had to take Che was that typej. Too bad, too Sucupp shaking his way from Africa, was having trou- By this I meant But of course it in another way bad, returned head sadly. 'Tm sorry to hear that-Poor old Tom! I suppose by this divorce. How abou time he has his t the children ? Uh, the children- I muttered trying to hold back the answer as long as possible so I could be able to think up something to tell him that would sound real, Mare-Lare com- ing. to California. To stay with Jim ? he asked. I thought that was as good as any, so I said, Yes, Jim is expecting them either today or tomorrowifl At this Sucupp went away mutter- ing 'APoor Tom! Poor old Tom! and such a nice fellowll' I was hoping that this would be the last time that I would ever see or hear of Sucuppg but no such luck. In a month or so we met again. No word of Tom's getting leave of absence?', questioned Sucupp. I replied, that Tom had gone to Alaska to hunt for gold, and that he would not be home till he had struck it rich. CI thought that ought to be enough to hold Sucupp for awhile,J and at this I started to go away, but he pulled me back, saying, HI suppose you are angry because I told James about Tom's wife running away from him. The fact is, I did it for your own good. You see I happened to be speaking to James and told him about Tom, and he said there was no such person. Of course I just laughed at that and informed James that I had the pleasure of meeting Tom at the cabaret, and that you and I always talked about him when we met. James remarked that this was very peculiar because you told him that Jim was the only brother you had. I saw then that you wanted to conceal the existence of Tom, so I thought the best thing to do was to tell him that you felt very badly about Tom's trouble and naturally in the circum- stances you did not want to talk about Tom. I gave Sucupp a mighty handshake, saying that he had acted wisely, but I could have stabbed him in the back at the same time. I didn't see Sucupp for a long time, but one day he wrote to me saying, that a friend of his was going to Alaska, and that he would be very much indebted to me if I wou.ld be so kind as to give him Tom's address. I wrote back and said that I was very sorry, for Tom was going from one place to another, and at the present time I did not know of his where abouts. The next time I heard of Sucupp was from James who informed me, that Sucupp had gone to California. 'What part of California ?', I ask- ed. Golden City, was James answer. I trembled, for Golden City was where Jim lives. What has taken him there? I asked nervously. James replied that he thought it was on business, but, he added Sucupp told me to tell you that he meant to call on Jim as he was anxious to see Tom's children. A few. days later I received a tele- gram from Jim, who generally uses this means of communication when he corresponds with me. Do you know a man by name of Sucupp? Reply was what Jim said. Jim always had an even ten words in his telegrams, although he had to stay awake several nights to do so.