Clifton High School - Rotunda Yearbook (Clifton, NJ)

Page 28 text:

THE REFLECTOR The Serpent I l?1I'IAT,S the idea of sending us out on a night like this?,' snarled Inspector Casey, as he plodded along in company with two bobbies were answering a call sent into headquarters. The call was from Limehouse district, and stated that a French car without lights had been parked in the middle of Blackwold Road for three hours. The day was typical of London in February. It was about four in the afternoon, but darkness had already descended upon the city. A dense fog added to the disagreeable weather, and water dripped from the huddled tenements, forming pools in the street. Chinamen glided silent- ly from shelter to shelter, looking neither right nor left. I? l if Ill!! fl Sergeant Dunn. Several minutes of silence ensued. The Q7 Ill r df. Here she is,', announced Dunn, soon after they had turned into Blackwold Road. He took his note-book from his pocket and jotted down what Inspector Casey considered of importance. Mercedes car, light tan trimmed with brown, left rear fender bent. The inspector then opened the car door. With a cry he leaped back. What's this! Dunn moved so that his line of vision penetrated the interior of the darkened car. Slouched behind the wheel was a human shape. Casey struck a match, and by its aid illuminated the interior and lit the dome light in the car. Closer examination of the body revealed that it was a Chinaman. Looks as if heis done for, Dunnf, whispered Casey, Better call a Wagon. While Sergeant Dunn was hurrying to a nearby upubv to summon a patrol wagon, Casey examined the rest of the car. He found no blood or traces of violence in the car, but on the back seat was a perforated box about the size of a hat box. He lifted the box up, and as he did so a rustling sound came from within. Non-plussed, he returned the box to its former position just as Dunn appeared. Before any further investigation could be made the patrol wagon ar- rived. The Chinaman was transferred to this and taken away. Ser- geant Dunn accompanied the wagon to supervise a more thorough ex- amination of the man. Inspector Casey drove the car to the police garage and, after leaving it with orders that it should not be touched, he took the mysterious box very cautiously and headed straight for his of-- fice. He reached his oflice and settled down in his chair with the box on his desk. By the aid of the strong light of his desk lamp, he discerned a moving form beneath the perforations of the box. Inspector Casey de- cided that he had better take precautions before opening the box, so he called up his friend, Reginald Moniker, curator of the London Zoo, who had been his assistant in many previous cases. Casey explained the situa- tion to the curator, who invited Casey to come over to his residence, which adjoins the Zoo. Holding the box at arms length, Casey descend- Twenty-seven

Page 27 text:

THE REFLECTOR Two for Julius Caesar, none for Alexander! The roosters were taken to corners and at Go started again. Alexander made up his mind to fight to the finish this time. He mixed blows with Caesar, but for some reason or other, Caesar's blows had more effect. Now and then Caesar would fly at his opponent, but the Macedonianis injured wing prevented his doing so. Finally Caesar stepped back and made a rush at Alexander, and in less than a minute, Alexanderis throat was bleeding. He was down under' the triumphantly crowing Julius Caesar. That night Alexander died. After school the next day all attended the simple rites on the spot where he'd fought his last battle. Even the Holbein boys were present to express their sympathy. When the boys came home, their mother had a letter to read to them. It was from their grandfather, asking them to visit him for the first two weeks of summer vacation. The lads needed no coaxing. On their arrival home a celebration dinner was on the table. Two big chickens, roasted to a crisp! 'lWhich chickens were they?', Hermann asked anxiously. Those two old lighters, their father replied. That brown year- old and the four-year-old reddish brown! Julius Caesar and Maximilian!,' gasped Franz. Then Mrs. Holbein wondered, i'Why donit you boys eat! Chickerfs your favorite dish, I thought! The truth never came out, but at a quiet ceremony the double funeral was held. What bones of the fighters the boys managed to save, they buried. ERICH HARDT, June 1932. Nocturne After dusk when the trees are black And the trail is just a silver track That cuts the dark of the woods in twain, And lighted cabin windows stain The perfect sombreness of night, And high above the stars are brightg Then who can say the woods are mute When every birch tree is a flute And brooks are minor symphonies And lakes lap rhythmic melodies, And katydids and crickets speak, And owls whirr from the mountain peak, And frogs recroak their serenades In lonely swamps and marshy glades, Why, some folks must have ears of stone To think they walk the woods alone. VERNON GROUNDS, February 1932. Twenty-six

Page 29 text:

THE REFLECTOR ed the stairs. He encountered Sergeant Dunn, who was bursting with ex- citement. Come along with me and look out for this box, ordered Casey and tell me what you discovered as we walk along. He-he-heis not deadf, stuttered Dunn, as he walked along breath- lessly. 'KThey think he was only in a trance, but his mind's been af- fected and he just mutters incoherently. He was searched thoroughly, but all they could find was a telegram written in code. I sent it to Mac. He can dope it out if anyone can. What else did you find? gruffly asked Casey. What does he say? Where is he now?', We found that he has one brown and one blue eye. He just says- 'Ah Sen, Chang-sha., He also has a small mark on his right thumb. It looks like a snake bite. I left him at the hospital with a police guard. XVhere're we going, inspector? Golly, I'm hungry. I ain't had any supper yetf' Stick around, Dunn, stick around. Looks to me like we're going to have a full night. Listen, Dunn, we're headed for Moniker's, you know, the guy at the Zoo. I think something alive is in this box! Here we are, in through this gate. Hello, Casey. You and your friend come into my office here. I have facilities for taking care of your box. Put it on this table. Casey put the box on a marble table in the center of the room. Moniker placed a framework covered with wire netting over the box, and by means of a small door in the box and a long-handled knife, he cut the string tied around the box and knocked off the cover. A hissing sound came from within, and the head of a large rattlesnake showed it- self. XVell, Iill be -lv gasped Inspector Casey, and to think that I near- ly opened that box! Xvonder where the thing came from. UA very good specimen, Casey. Er-suppose I keep him for you until this thing is cleared up? Moniker spoke cautiously, with an eye for business. Good idea, Reggie, good idea. You may keep him, for the present. Come on, Dunn, we've plenty to do on this case. As Casey spoke he opened the door and, with a hearty farewell, went out into the darkness, followed by Dunn. As they walked back, Casey was lost in deep thought. However, he roused himself as they passed a restaurant, much to Dunnis gratification. They entered, and, while waiting for their order, Casey outlined his plan of action. When we get back to headquarters you beat it up to Mac's oiice. See if he's got any dope on that telegram. I,m going to look up that 'Ah Sen, Chang-sha.' Maybe it's a town. Also that two-colored eye busi- ness. Hastily they finished their meal and again headed for headquarters. Here we are, Dunn, see you laterlv Twenty-eight J