Commerce High School - Commerce Yearbook (Cleveland, OH)

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®f)f Sstorfailt (Cast FFER $500 for the return of my son, and the stockbroker was almost purple with suppressed emotion. Why, for the love of Heaven, man, I would give all I have for the return of my boy. It would be an insult to my name to offer that. Make it at least $10,000. No, ycu are known to be very wealthy. Now, only $500 will make you seem stingy and--------. But, interrupted the broker. And, continued the detective, that is just what we want. You offer a large sum, and the parties holding the boy, will keep him all the longer, hoping for a still larger ransom.” Anything, of course, to hurry his return, but if he is not found soon, make it $10,000. Whatever ransom is demanded, I will pay it, but get the villains if you can.” The above conversation took place between Mr. Harry Astorbilt, Sr., and the head of his own detective force, Chief McConnel. Harry Astorbilt, Jr., the only son of Mr. Astorbilt, multi-millionaire stockbroker had disappeared, and the only feasible theory was that some one was holding him for ransom. Harry was attending a High School of Commerce, in which he was very much interested, and in this his father encouraged him, as he wished to have his gigantic business continued and kept in the family. Those who watch the newspapers closely will remember that on the third day of May, there were big head lines in all the papers, announcing the disappearance of the broker’s son, and reporting the futile search for the missing lad. Mr. Astorbilt had been reading but recently of the Jameson case, in which it was said a letter had been sent to Mr. Jameson demanding $10,000 within a specified time, and because the money was not raised in that time, Mr. Jameson’s only child, a little girl of six years, was never heard of again. Now Mr. Astorbilt knew that he was able to pay any ransom, yet he was afraid something might happen to his son. But what had become of Harry? He was walking to school that bright morning in early May, the trees were just bursting into bud, and the birds were vying with each other as to which could pour forth the most melody. He thought not at all of what was soon to take place as the result of which he was not to see his parents for some time to come. He had just turned down the street on which the school was situated, when he saw a large limousine car, approaching from the opposite direction. He thought nothing of it until the car stopped suddenly beside him and a man beckoned him to the door. He approached slowly, as though suspicious of he knew not what, when suddenly a hand was placed over his mouth, and strong arms drew him into the car. Before he had time to appreciate his surroundings, but not without a hard struggle, a damp sponge was placed to his face, and he knew no more. 120

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 As luck would have it, a friend of Evelyn’s who had seen the ill news in the paper in America, went abroad where she met Evelyn. Among other things, she mentioned the supposed death of Jack and showed the piece which she had clipped from the paper. What was her surprise to see her friend blanch to a dealthly white and suddenly throwing her hands forward mutter a little cry of despair and fall upon her face. “Many weeks later, on board a steamer bound for America, a pale, beautiful girl lay on a steamer chair covered with many wraps and steamer rugs and waited on by her mother. The elder woman had not entirely recovered from her recent illness, which had left its furrow on her brow. This strange pair, as you may imagine, were none other than Evelyn and her mother. Peculiar as it may seem, Jack landed in his native land on the day Evelyn arrived. Jack had not been slain nor had he fallen prey to natives or animals, but had fallen in with a friendly inhabitant, who in the course of time transported Jack back to camp and to the delighted soldiers, who had missed their erstwhile companion a great deal. However, the soldiers were not long pleased because our hero told them he had had enough of soldiering and was going back to America to marry an old sweetheart. So, making all haste, he arrived in America on the same day that Evelyn did. “Once in Cleveland, he went as soon as possible to the old High School and looked at the two hearts with the single arrow which he and Evelyn had carved as a little emblem of fidelity. In reflective mood he stood, thinking of her and wondering if she had been as true to him as he had been to her. Then suddenly turning he gazed straight into the eyes of Evelyn, who was staring wide-eyed at him. But he did not stand there long for she swayed and would have fallen had it not been for Jack, who caught her in his powerful arms. Suddenly some finicky person brought cold water with which Jack proceeded to revive Evelyn. But it all turned out right, continued the stone, in a voice which sounded far away; and they were married and lived happily ever afterward, to my certain knowledge.” Saying this the stone lapsed into silence quite as suddenly as it had started. Oh, you sleepy-head, shouted some comrade into Tom’s ear. And Tom woke up to the fact that he had been dreaming and was now being ridiculed by his comrades for falling asleep in mid-day. Well, anyhow it was worth it,” he thought, and so he ‘beat it, as the boys express it. They thought he was running to escape their taunts, but in reality he was making tracks” to his home where he wrote the story much better than I ever can or ever hope to write it. This is all, but, dear reader, would you care to know how Tom’s story was received by his teacher? It was just one grand success, from beginning to end. 119 DORIS NOBLE, 1913.

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The car started with a jerk, passed swiftly and silently through the residence section, and finally passed Harry’s very home. Out into the country went the car, and for three hours continued its speed, then pulled up before an old brick house. Both the surroundings and the house itself, presented a very dilapidated appearance. The shrubbery and lawn had been untrimmed for years and as for the house, there appeared great cracks on the outside walls, which seemed almost ready to fall apart. But over the entire building ivy had grown until it had effectively covered these ill-looking places, as though Nature herself was ashamed of such blemishes Taking the place as a whole, it was indeed fit to carry out such a notorious scheme as Harry’s captors had in mind. There was a short consultation between the chauffeur and his companions, then the unconscious form of the lad was hurried into the old brick house, and the car sped back to the city. Now Andy B was a misguided young fellow of high society. He was reputed to be very wealthy, but in reality, he was at the present time being very hard pushed by his creditors and friends for certain honor debts, and he had not the money to pay them. So he had hit upon this scheme as the easiest way in which to get the most money in the shortest possible time. With two boon companions, he had undertaken this kidnaping. After another discussion the three decided that so far in their proceedings, they had been unnoticed. The old place was reported as haunted, and the country folk would go out of their way to avoid passing the house, so they felt quite safe on that score. In the meantime, Harry’s father was nearly frantic over his loss. He raised the $500 to $5,000, but in vain. The boy could not be found. The whole country was searched Little Italy was gone through as with a fine tooth comb, still no sign. Chief McConnel with his men, ran down every possible clue, and offered theories in vain. Then the reward was raised to $10,000, and detectives from all parts of the country took part in the search. But there were so pitifully few clues to work on. Meanwhile Harry had tried many times to escape, but he had never yet succeeded. “Andy” was taking no chances on being caught. One night, however, the boy did get away. He was confined in a little back room on the second story and even his clothes were taken away from him, as Andy said, “So the little fool will be less liable to try to escape.” But Harry was a gritty fellow, like his father, so one dark, stormy evening, he quietly tore up his bed sheets, and knotting them together, tied one end to his bed post, then slid down through the dark. As he now recognized the country through which he had motored while unconscious, he set out for the nearest farm house, cold and shivering, but determined. He was running down the road, thinking of a joyous reunion with his par- 121