Cogswell Polytechnical College - Cogswell Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

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50 THE COGSWELL the Governor want of him? his pace until he stopped entirely. Wfhat did That was the question that puzzled jack's mind as he hastened to catch the five two for New York. I The ride took just an hour, and jack found himself in the heart of New York. He jumped into a taxi and drove to the Leland Club where he was to dine with the governor. I-Ie waited several moments in the lobby, and then a grey-headed gentleman walked toward him with out- stretched hand. He was dressed in taultless style and had a most polished air about him. He was rather bald, rather red, and, though a handsome, well-made man, too stern and pompous in appearance to be prepossessing. f'XNe11, jack my boy, it is indeed a pleasure to see you. But you're looking thin. Wforking hard, I suppose ? UNO. About the same as usual. You look troubled, jack. You're wondering why I sent for you. VVell, letls go down and get a bite to eat first and then-prepare yourself for the worstf' and the governor laughed heartily. They finished a simple dinner, and sat at the table enjoying an after dinner cigar. At last the governor broke silence by saying, jack, are you still in love with Eleanor? A As jack merely blushed and did not answer, the governor continued, You don't see so much of her since you have been working out of town, do you ? No, I donlt, but you see- I-Iow would you like to work under me, jack? I should like nothing better, governor, but what could I do? jack, no doubt you have read of all these burglaries in New York ? Yes . W7ell, they must stop, and the governor emphasized this by bringing his hand down on the table with a bang. Nine burglaries inside of a month is surely a record. The police are baffled, and something must be done. Last night we gave a party and during the frivolity we were robbed oi two thousand dollars' worth of jewelry. I was talking to your god-father this morning and he told me you were the boy who could bring this man to justice. I'll pay you three hundred dollars a month, and if you get the thief you'll receive the reward of fifty thousand dollars offered by the Metropolitan Insurance Company. jack hesitated only a moment. He did not see why he shouldn't accept the offer, as it was a hundred and fifty dollars increase per month. Eleanor would surely be pleased, and he could marry her sooner for her father would not permit the marriage on a hundred and fifty a month. He would be pleasing the governor, the best friend he had had in the world since his father's death. f'Governor, I'll accept. ' The governor grasped his outstretched hand. God bless you. i UHGOOCI-by, governor. Iill do all in my power to bring that man to justice. No! Not even 'Eleanor shall stand in my way. Xkfith these words, he hurried out of the room.

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THE eoosWELL 49 house is haunted! Haunted, l say! We can't live there. Well stay here in this little old shack. XYl1y we'll be killed if we go there to live! For goodness sake, daughter, don't take on so. ll don't know what you're talking about. Come here and tell me your trouble, and her dum- founded father led her to the porch. After Margie had told her story in tits and starts, her father sat silent for awhile with a puzzled expression on his face, when suddenly he re- marked: You say you heard a hissing sound, followed by some light thirds? Yes, replied Margie. lt sounded like-well-I can hardly explain it, but it sounded like a horses sneeze. VA horse's sneeze! said Mr. Lane, wrinkling' his forehead. .-Xnd where was Dandy all this time? 'lVhy, I don't know: but he just came around fl'o1t'i in back of the chicken house when- Why. Daddy l and here Margie became hysterical with laughter, what a fool l've been! 'llhat hissing sound, followed by those thuds, was only my poor innocent Dandy sniliing' around the back of the chicken house! Irma li.XIlRS. 'l-l. 1 he Snrivtg Burglar 'Here is a telegram for you, -lack. :Xt this moment Bud, the office boy, hurled the sealed envelope on top of the desk. Confound you, Bud. llihy don't you look what you're doing? lkfith these words, Jack angrily tossed the telegram to one side and prepared to remove the ink-stains from the report sheet. It was three o'clock in the afternoon. ,lack Riley, bookkeeper for Reckfall Bros., was busy balancing up the days reports. His coat was off, his sleeves rolled up, and a large cowboy hat was tilted on the back of his head. His arms and face were severely tanned, and he looked as though he had lived in the tropics all his life. He was an extremely good looking young fellow, with soft, affectionate eyes, and a mouth which would curve into the most winning of smiles. XtVith a bang he closed the ledger, put things in order, and then swung around in his swivel chair until he faced the open window. He lazily put his feet on a near-by table, filled his .rose colored meerschaum pipe, and read several short stories from a monthly magazine. By this time, it was four thirty and lack, after glancing at the Big Ben which stood on his desk, grabbed his hat and coat and dashed for the door. Then he wheeled suddenly and snatched' the hereto- fore forgotten telegram off the desk and fairly flew down the street. He opened the telegram while he was running, and, as he read, he slackened

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THE COGSWELL Sl -lack could hardly wait until the nest evening arrived. lle was to call on .Eleanor and tell her of his new project. .Ns he walked down the street, he wondered what she would say. l.'erhaps she would object, and then what? No! He was going through with it no matter what happened. He walked up some marble steps, tixing his tie and smoothing his hair as he ascended. lt was Inv' house. lle rang the bell. and was ushered by a neatly dressed maid, into a beautifully furnished room. For its vast size it was very homelike, with quantities ol bookcases anrl comfortable chairs. l-le found Eleanor cudclled up on a lounge of gold and satin. She had large blue eyes, a lair complexion and a small mouth, inside of which set perfect teeth. She wore a light conlection nl a house gown of some astonishingly attractive hue, and around her neck hung a magnificent chain of sapphires. She had been writing addresses, and the lingers she gave into his were smudged with ink. ,lack put her hand to his lips and laugliecl as he kissed the ink stains. She put her arms around his neck and locked lovingly into his manly lace. He was at home. 'Tm so glad to see you, lack. -lust think, it's been nearly a week since you'ye been here. It seems like a month to me. How do you like my new dress? she asked as she released herself from him and paraded the room. You look adorable in it, Eleanor. 'Tm so glad you like it. Father sent it to me from Paris. Eleanor, my dear, I have something' very important to tell you. l have a new positionf, lYhat? Oh lack! You were getting along so nicely, and I had hopes we could- Get married? he ventured. 'Yes-but now? lYhat are you going to do? 1 I am a detective working for the government, and am getting three hundred dollars a month. Eleanor's heart beat rapidly. Her 'lack a detective! Detectives always got killed. Oh, -lack, she cried pleadingly. You won't do it, will you? But it is- Say that you won't. Promise me. If you love me, don't undertake this unsafe adventure,'l and she nestled close to him. Eleanor, my dear, you don't understand. The police have been baffled by this man. He has stolen over half a million dollars in jewelry inside of three months. This must stop, and the governor has besto.wed the honor of finding the thief upon me. just think of that, dearielw It's all very nice, but I'd rather you wouldntt do it. Wl1y do you know that the night before last while the governor was having a party he was robbed of two thousand dollars' worth of jewelry. And the strange part of it was that the house was surrounded with police- men who never even saw a man either enter or come out. 7 How strange?