Mechanic Arts High School - M Yearbook (St Paul, MN)

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GSM!! Twenty, or possibly twenty-fivef' The taxi shot forward, and Reggie ceased trying to withdraw his head into his collar, a maneuver so capably performed by turtles. At the club, Reggie told Percy all, and Percy promptly got in touch with Spec- tikson on the phone. The Iowan stated that a brokerage firm, Leeds, Bingham, Leeds, and Leeds had taken charge of the stock. Percy, mercilessly arousing the dozing Reggie by the simple expedient of pour- ing some of the water out of the goldfish bowl down Reggie's neck, hailed a taxi and dragged the somnolent Reggie into it. At the brokerage firm, Percy and Reggie, still dozing, were admitted to the pres- ence of the Hon. Mr. Bingham. In the latter's office, there was another individual, a gangling person with protruding front teeth. Percy had a nebulous idea that he had seen him some place before. Mr. Bingham smiled cordially. ' You wish to purchase 500 hundred shares of B and S oil? Quite, agreed Percy. This gentleman, too, would like to buy the stock fpointing to the individual with teeth, who smiled suspiciouslyb. He has offered 37.50 a sharef' I'll raise him 32.50 a sharef' said Percy. The person with the teeth promptly topped Percy by another 35.00 a share. Percy, eyeing him with increasing disfavor. went up 32.50 a share. The teeth im- perturbably mentioned another 155.00-a share. Percy, after waking up Reggie for a conference, went up another 32.50. The teeth again topped Percy by another 35.00 a share. Mr. Bingham was beaming delightedly. Come sir, addressing Percy, surely you won't let the five hundred shares of his valuable stock go at 313,500.9 'Tm dashed well cleanedf, Percy glumly admitted. Bare to the bone, if you know what I mean. I say, though, how much will you allow me for my watch? Keeps time with absolute precision, and all that. It does not, Reggie woke up and promptly fell asleep again. Pm sorry, sir, said Mr. Bingham frigidly, but I am not a pawn broker. This gentlemen gets the stock. Good day, sirf' Percy moodily walked out with Reggie after shooting a look at the gentleman with the teeth, which, had he been susceptible to such things, must have pierced that gentleman on the spot. Later in the afternoon, Percy again entered his father,s office. Horace Van Slyn was in a sunny mood. He even smiled when Percy came in, a proceeding so un- usual that Percy immediately suspected that his valet had made some glaring error in dressing him. Horace was happy because his agent had just telephoned that he had secured the 500 shares of B and S oil. Almost immediately, a knock sounded on the door and in stalked the long individual with the teeth. With a start of horror Percy recollected who he was and forthwith tried to hide behind the hat rack. Well, you got it, Horace boomed. That's fine. How much was it? Thirteen thousand, seven hundred and fiftyf' briefly stated the person with the teeth, a man of few words. h Thirteen thou-have you gone crazy? barked Van Slyn, nearly falling off his c air. You gave me carte blanche, sir. Yes, but thirteen thou-on pure speculation! I would have secured the stock at 37.50 a share, sir, but some fool, why there he is by the hat rack. also bid, and I had to top him. Do you know the gentleman, sir? Oh, rather, bit of a relation. explained Percy. You worm, bellowed Van Slyn, why the devil did you bid?', We thought it over, Reggie and I. and we thought it was a ripe wheeze, doing you a bit of a favor and all that, said Percy. Page Fifteen

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CGM!! Really?,' yawned Reggie. Seems to me there are hotels scattered in wild confusion. I distinctly remember seventeen in the last two blocks, ah well, laddie, toddle along. We'll have a stab at this one, too. The brigand, gratified, swung his car into a staggering lope, nearly taking a fender off the car ahead. The gentleman in the car ahead stated under many oaths that he was aggrieved, whereupon the brigand told Reggie that he had but to say the word and he would go back and mash the manis head off. The head mashing process, which was merely to serve as a prelude to further unpleasant blemishes on the man's person, did not meet with favor in Reggie's eye, and the brigand, perforce, contented himself with airing a vocabulary which Reggie, who had been forcibly addressed by various brass hats during the war, found admirably original. At the hotel Reggie again propounded his connundrum concerning the where- abouts of Alcibiades Spectikson. To Reggieis sur rise, the clerk confessed that Mr. Spectikson was indeed staying in the hotel, and Iiad just stepped out. Reggie, he- lieved the clerk, could overtake Mr. Spectikson by hurrying. Reggie, after a really remarkable brain storm, during which he asked for Spec- tikson's description, hurried forth and espied his prey a short distance ahead. Reggie gave chase. I say! roared Reggie, donit walk so dashed fast. Absolutely tiring yourself and me too.', Reggie was red with embarrassment. This barging up to chappies absolutely strangers was not on the books, and yet here was he doing itl Spectik- son turned, surprise and suspicion written on his face. You know, laddief' began Reggie ingratiatingly, it's not right, you know. You shouldn't do it, dashed mulish, if you know what I meanf' I thoughtf' pondered Spectikson, these city slickers were smartf' Eh, what?,' demanded Reggie. I do notf' continued Spectikson firmly, want to buy the Brooklyn Bridge. uReally,,' said Reggie. ':Odd, but I've never wanted to buy it either. Rum coincidence. what? What I mean, sort of a bond between us, don't you know. And I don't want, went on Spectikson doggedlv-he had memorized all this in Running Horse- to buy anv shares in the city hall, neitherf' No?', said Reggie politely, the man was absolutely drivveling. Reggie had read somewhere that Westerners rambled. This fellah, though, it seemed to Reggie was doing more than rambling: he was absolutley running wild. Entranced by this delightful financial monologuef, continued Reggie, but the stock. laddie, the jolly old oil stock. You will disgorge, yes, no? Spectikson stopped short and lustily shouted 'LPolice, coos. cops! An officer, blissfully dozing in a doorway, came to with a start, and dashed forward. This crook, accused Spectikson, is trying to sell me some phony oil stock. You can't fool me, no sirf' Reggie stood petrified. Come along theref' ordered the preserver of the peace, placing a hand on Reggie's shoulder. Reggie snapped out of his daze. It was absolutely not in Reggie's plans to spend any hours in jail. As the officer reached, Reggie gave a spasmodic leap backwards. Spectikson grasped him with somber triumph. observing, I've got him! At the moment, Reggie wanted to be elsewhere and had a syndicate com- nosed of Dempsey, Strangler Lewis, and one-half dozen gorillas attempted to stay Reggie's progress at the moment. they would have found reason to curse themselves. It was but the work of an instant to kick Mr. Snectikson in the ankle and to smite him in the eve. lVIr. Spectikson let go and adopted a reclining position on the ground. Reggie was off. Behind. the sounds of pursuit swelled as Reggie reached his taxi. Quick.', gasped Reggie, get me out of here, and I shouldnat wonder if I gave vou a 3510 tip. Only SHO? demanded the brigand with a touch of austerity. Page Fourteen

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THE NM Oh wellf' brooded Horace, Maside from having an imbecile for a son and having to pay ten times more for the stock than I could have got it for, I suppose I ought to be happyf' The telephone on Van Slyn's desk tinkled. Savagely lVIr. Van Slyn answered it. A feminine voice sweetly spoke, Telegram for you, sir. Shall I read it? 4'Yes, certainlyfi growled Horace. Cusher located on B and S property fizzled stop Repeated drilling has failed to cause any more gushers to spout stop Land is valueless stopf, The stricken lVIr. Van Slyn said absolutely nothing. For five minutes he chewed an inoffensive cigar into shreds, after which he finally spoke: If I see you again in the immediate future, you-you worm, I shall probably step on you. I could, Percy hopefully suggested, dash over to Englandf' I'll write you out a check at once, large enough to keep you in London for a long time, and if I see you within the next six months, on your head be it. Oh rightof' cheerily agreed Percy. I'll take the boat tomorrow. Awfully sorry and all thatg meant it for the bestf' Get out of here, rasped Horace. Percy got. Reggie, only too glad to renew his acquaintance with London, made reservations with Percy. You knowf, mused Percy at the Quill and Pen Club late that evening, abso- lutely true, that rummy thing about virtue having its own rewardg take me for instancef' Reclining on a convenient lounge, Reggie answered with a gentle snore. MTHESE CROOKED COPS'-A TRUE INCIDENT By HARRY M. LUND e The piercing winter wind, and the biting cold made me move briskly. My dog in front of me moved with even greater rapidity, he fairly leaped and bounded over the crisp snow that had just fallen a few hours before. It was still early morn- ing, and the street lamps here and there cut rather dimly into the darkness. The newspaper sack which hung limply from my shoulder seemed a great burden for I was not entirely out of the clutches of Morpheus. I reached the corner, and after a. few minor skirmishes with the cumbersome bundles with which I filled my sack, I was on my way around my route. For some inexplicable reason I altered my course that morning so as to pass a group of stores. As I was about to pass the last of these stores, an electric shop, I noted that there was a time-worn Ford standing in front of this shop. Coming closer, I recognized it as belonging to Hank, the cop, and I wondered what it was doing there. As I passed the store I looked in and saw Hank standing beside the safe. I faintly discerned his pallid face peering out at me from the shadows of the store. Hank and the safe were within the reach of the rays of the street lamp which partly lighted up the store. My detective mind noted that with guilty countenance and trem- bling fingers he was turning the dials of the safe. As Hank looked at me, his face turned even whiter. His hand seemed to go to his gun. I quickened my pace into a run for fear that he would take a shot at me.. After I was out of his sight, I slipped behind a tree, and surveyed the situation. The distinct picture of the guilty policeman was firmly imprinted on my mem- ory. The white face bespeaking guilt was still fresh in my mind. 'LI always have had suspicions of Hankf' I muttered to myself. I never did like him anyway: hereis my chance to get even with him for taking those papers on me every day. I made up my mind to get sufficient evidence, and then report the case to his superior officers. Revenge would be sweet. Page Sixteen