Elkhart High School - Pennant Yearbook (Elkhart, IN)

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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.

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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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THE PENNANT Eleven A few days before the tim-e he had decided to leave, Jimmie began to act queerly. No longer did he sigh, when by the laws of etiquette, he was obliged to leave his plate uncleaned. Gold-tipped cigarettes were of no in- terest to him now. Jimmie was in love. The morning of the day set for Jinnnie's departure, dawned fair. How- ever, he did not seem to appreciate the weather, for at nine o'clock he had not yet appeared for breakfast. Ten came, but no Jimmie. At eleven o'clock the butler rapping on his door received no answer. A consultation was held con- sisting of the fair motorist and her mother and father. No one was re- sourceful enough to oFfer an explanation. The door was unlocked and they entered. Everything was orderly. A large sack lay on the floor. The butler opened it. It was filled with silverware. A note lay on the dresser. The girl read it. It was as follows: I want you to no that I appreciate what you did for me. You have changed my views of life. Yu'l find all of the silverware in the sak. I dicln't hav time to put it bak. I had to ketch that midnite train to Canada. I am going to join the Canadian Army. Yours truly, Jimmief' From Over There By Paul Ranger, ,18. I T was one of those little country towns in Indiana-North Chester ', was the place, they say, where in the fall, gr-eat thick, almost oppres- ll sive fogs roll up from the lowlands and swamps, enveloping the vil- lage from the world. This village was different from Others, espec- ially in the fall of the year, when the long drizzling rains set in. Leaves rotted and decayed here much the same as they did in other places, but how lonesomely out of place they looked, decaying upon the steps, verandas, heaped high in the eaves, in fact, wherever they had fallen. Still, people lived here and were contented. , The people were different. They labored hard, were tanned, unshaven, had long, unkempt hair, and drove big muscled horses across their fields, in the village streets, and, on Sundays, tied them in the church-yard. Their religion-it was long beards, broad-brimmed hats and black bonnets. It was their dress. Their religion had made them conservative, and they cared little for the world and its Vanities. Then there came a Sabbath when a man from the outside world stood in their simple, little pulpit and told them that someday, one, he knew not whom, would come, from theirmidst and regenerate them and their village. He told