Elkhart High School - Pennant Yearbook (Elkhart, IN)

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THE PENNANT Nine Come right in, sir, they have been awaiting your arrival. You will find them in the first room on the left, said the doorkeeper. These words greatly mystified F red, as his visit was unknown to his brother, and the house he had entered was much more pretentious than the picture he had seen 01 his brother's home. Fred could hear above all the other sounds, the noise of a powerful wireless set in operation, in some distant part of the house. lie thought his brother might have moved, so he proceeded along the hall to the first door. Upon entering the room, he was still further amazed to find the room filled with men, none of whom he knew, seated at a long table. At his entrance, a man, who was seated at they head of the tabl-e, and who later proved to be james W. Patterson, rose and walked toward him. ' We have been awaiting you, Herr von Mecklenburgf, said Patterson, after he had introduced himself. I am sorry that the chief could not be here to meet you, but he is at present engaged in blasting out a base for our 'subs' on Martha's Vineyard. By this statement McDonald knew that he was in the headquarters of the German Imperial Secret Service in the U. S. Being naturally quick of wit, McDonald knew that if he was detected he would forfeit his life as the result. Those Yankee pigs are very strict in their search and I was delayed at the Custom House, replied McDonald. You learned before you left Wilhelmstrasse that you were to take charge of the Central Department, did you not P questioned Patterson. Yes, replied McDonald.. . Where are your credentials ? inquired Patterson. The searchers of the British patrol boats were too strict for my own safety, so I destroyed them two hours out from Southampton. Com-e, take a seat at the table, and I will get your instructions and other material, said Patterson, who went to a wall-safe ingeniously hidden behind a large oil painting, from which he brought a small leather-bound book, and several papers. Here are your orders and a list of members .in your department. Guard these papers carefully because you know what would happen if they fall into the wrong hands. Cole, the man you are succeeding, was caught while trying to blow up the dam at Kewanee. That is one of the big things that has to be accomplished by your department in order to help paralyze the food situa- tion. You must discourage the buying of war bonds all you can. Donit be stingy with money either becgse you know 'every man has his price.' At this point the door was suddenly thrown open, and two men en- tered. A Who is this man ? fairly shouted one of the men. Two weeks later upon opening a box-car, the employes of the Columbus Furniture Company of Columbus, Ohio. were horrified to find the dead 'body rf a man later identified as Fred McDonald of Erie, Pennsylvania. The news- papers in announcing the murder, stated that no clues had been discovered.

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Eight q THE PENNANT from a passing steamer about a year before, suffering from an ugly cut on his head. The captain of the vessel explained that he had fallen down an open hatchway of 'Qhe ship, and left him on the isle for medical treatment. Who he was, no one knew, for when he recovered from the injury, it was found that he had no recollection of his former life, and could not even recall his own name. During his delirium he had muttered things about Murphy and this had been adopted as his name although he denied the ownership of the appellation. Murphy 'iad been taken in by the old wireless operator at the tall station which provided the only link between Asia and America, and had shown such a marked aptitude for the work that Hereford, the old operator, had taught him until he had grown to be an expert. Hereford went the way of all Hesh, and Murphy naturally assumed the position. As he sat there dreamily gazing out the long window at the miles of low rocky hills revealed there, the sounder began to click and Murphy automatically began to take down the message. The New York Planet, it began, and then followed the story of the fall of Vladivostock into the hands of the allied Japanese and American fleets, with- out the loss of a single American life. Murphy stopped. Something had snapped in his head. Feverishlyv he took the rest of the message and then he waited. Not getting the desired something he began sending the message. McClure, sitting at his desk in the city room of the Sun, took the sheets of Himsy from the excited copy boys and wondered. The New York Sun and Planet, it read, and there followed the story of the fall of Vladivostock, written in the inimitable style of an old news writer, filled with quaint dashes of humor, vivid description and heart-rending pathos over the valiant struggle of the old Russian convicts, who were afraid to break from their despised masters. On the whole, it was a masterpiece, and McClure, sitting at his desk, won- dered and was glad. The Sun was in on one of the biggest stories of the war. Ed. Note--This story is a sequel to Stanford Bruce, Newspaperinanf' by the same author, published in the February 1917 issue of f'The Pennant. A 527 North aww su-get By Wendell Monger? '19, 64 NLY 203. impatiently muttered Fred McDonald. That X13 y meant that he would have to walk three more blocks until he reached fhis brother's house which was number Fred was a stranger in New York, consequently he was unacquainted ' 4' with the streets of the metropolis, having only an hour be- fore arrived from Erie, Pennsylvania. When he reached the five-hundreds and found that there was no 525 in the block, he knocked at the door of 527 to inquire.

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Ten THE PENNANT When Jimmy Took French Leave By Marlin Meiser, '18. IMMIE was tall and handsome. Tall heroes are preferred for most purposes and-well, they must be handsome. Not only did Jimmie have the necessary qualifications, but he also had an acute attack of hunger. Wie wish the reader to note this fact par- ticularly, since it is upon this gastronomical condition that this story hinges. For fear that the reader will stray under a false illusion, we wish to state here that Jimmie was neither a motion picture hero nor a millionaires son. He was-how it pains us to disclose this horrible fact-a second story man, yea, a crook. Jimmie, regardless of the congested traffic, was hurrying to a nearby res- taurant. His utter disregard for traffic formalities was evident when he stepped directly in front of an oncoming automobile. lt is not an extraordinary occurrence for a young woman to drive a car. Also, it is not very desirable to be struck by one. But to be struck by an auto- mobile driven by a beautiful girl is altogether extraordinarily desirable. So thought Jimmie, when he regained consciousness in the arms of the above- mentioned girl. I'm so sorry,'l she said. VVon't you get into my car? I will take you to my home and get a doctor. Are you badly hurt? I wasn't going fast. It is doubtful if Jimmie made any reply to her questions. He could not remember afterwards. VVhat he did remember was watching her as she skill- fully drove the car all the way to the wonderful mansion where they stopped. A butler came out to the car, and helped Jimmie into the house. His injuries, much to his dismay, proved to be very slight-a pair of bruised shins, and a lacerated head. VVhy, only three weeks before, Jimmie had received two black eyes, a broken rib, and two mashed knuckles, in a fight. Out of justice, to Jimmie, we must explain that two of his opponents are not yet fully recovered. Now when the champion fighter and second story man found how insig- nificant his injuries were, he was deeply ichagrined. He was receiving the best of treatment from all members of the family. .This regular living appealed to him. He was learning society ways. Both from observation and practice he learned to eat salads at the right time and with the right fork. Through the favor of the household he soon had committed to memory the respective uses of the frock coat, evening suit and pajamas. Not only was he learning etiquette, but, what to him was more important, he learned that certain people of wealth were going south for the winter, leaving in their homes, silverware in quantities not to be disregarded. He had learned similar facts concerning the household in which he was staying. He was not wasting a moment.