Erskine Academy - Pinnacle Yearbook (South China, ME)

Page 12 text:

8 THE PINNACLE he would know the fellow, a search of the building was made. Meanwhile, jack, who was expecting to be hned, retired to his room with the same pleasant smile, and, lighting a cigar leaned back in his chair as though nothing had happened. But all of a sudden something did happen. The clue hunters had entered the room of the haughty young man across the hall and, taking him for Jack, were about to arrest him. Upon hearing the excitement, Jack went to investigate. In a few minutes he stood face to face with the fellow who looked so much like him. Angry as the hunt- ers were they all stood back in amaze- ment. The old butler who was among them shouted, Goodnessl Never done seen such a monstrous affair in me loif. It sure has effected my cerebel- lum.', jack, after a few words with his double, explained himself and upon paying the required fine went forth from the hotel. He still had a pleasant smile on his face. He judged this to be one of the excitements of his life and wondered if he would ever have anything more to do with that un- known twin of his. The next day Mr. Riley thought it best to leave town for a few days until the affair of the preceding night was forgotten. He would then return to settle some business, so he departed for New York City. As he was about to leave the station he noticed a poor woman carrying a heavy basket and with two small chil- dren Langlng to her skirts. This seemed pitiful to jack, so he took the basket into his own hands and helped the poor people into a taxi. He paid the driver and told him to drive them wherever they wished to go. As jack was doing this little kind- ness a young lady was watching him from a luxurious car. All at once she rushed up to jack and the following conversation ensued, VVhy, I thought you were away, but I am so glad to see you. I have a secret to tell you, john, I have a new apartment upon College Avenue where everyone is not invited, but I want you to come up and see me. Jack knew that she had made a mis- take and she must think him to be that strange twin. He felt, however, that he must accept, for he was in love at first sight. One evening, not many days later, Jack entered the living-room of the girl whom he loved and passed a very pleasant hour. Alice Atkins, for that was the girlls name, was delighted with what she judged to be a great change in her old friend. Never before had she known him to be so jolly. jack disliked to leave the city and return to the small town, but he was obliged to. He had not been back very long, before he and a crowd of fellows were planning a good little joke for the benefit of the young politician. It seems that, with the exception of a very few, the people were in favor of prohibition. jack proposed to rep- resent the politician and speak against prohibition and in favor of several salocns. The real speaker was to be quietly detained until jaclds speech was 1 ver.

Page 11 text:

Ll ERARY. JUST THE SAME, oNLY DIFFERENT Everything had been in a rush at the small hotel in a town in New York and now end, good that the day was coming to an all were tired enough to wish a nightis sleep. At a rather late hour a young man with several heavy walked into the ofhce and asked for a night's lodging. The proprietor, bags Mr. jones, eyed him rather queerly as though he thought the stranger might be up to some mischief. jack Riley, as was his name, gave him a pleasant Smile, and a servant was ordered to lead the guest to his room. Mr. jones retired not long after' this and called a substitute to .take his place until the hour of twelve, at which time all would be closed. As the clock was about to strike that hour another young man arrived, who greatly resembled jack. In fact, it was almost impossible to distinguish one from the other, however, if one were acquainted with them, he would find quite a difference. Jack's jolly smile was not reproduced on the face of the second, but in its place was a stern, set look as well as a decidedly haughty bearing. The new arrival informed the clerk that he was a candidate in the coming election for the ofhce of city clerk. The rooms of the two young men were just across the hall from each other and were just alike, but the things that the occupants did varied greatly. The stern young man said over a bit of his political speech in a very digni- hed way and then retired. jack, who at the present time was working as a traveling salesman and was trying to sell fire extinguishers, was that night to try out a clever trick which had worked well in many places, but was destined not to here. After being sure that everyone was quiet, he crept out into the hall. Then he took from his bags a lot of electrical works and placed some in each hall. XVhen they were put in action they looked exactly like fire, pouring forth a red blaze and black smoke. As jack had noticed that the door of the old butler's room was not shut he crept softly in and placed one of the contrivances beside his bed. The old man kept on snoring. If an earthquake came it could not wake him. It happened, however, that fire was his worst dread and that any bright light would awake him. jack set the apparatus to work and hid behind a door to see what would happen. It surely was a joke for in not less than a mintte out ran the old butler in the worst fright possible, crying as loudly as possible, Fire! Fire! and at once rang in the alarm. In less than tive minutes people were rushing from all parts of the building. The fire engines were soon there and not knowing the joke, the men turned on the hose. The brave men were sent up to rescue the perishingg however, as jack was about to make them think that he put an end to the fire by means of his extinguisher, one of the firemen saw h.m. Thereupon, he rushed out and informed everyone that it was a false alarm. Our political man being in a rage at such a trick went to his room and once more retired. The hotel managers were very anxious to learn who did the trick, and as the fireman thought that

Page 13 text:

THE PINN AULE 9 The plans worked well-but the speech was not received well. lack, fearing a riot, was leaving hastily by means of a side entrance when whom should he meet but Miss Atkins and the real politician. Explanations fol- lowed. jack went back to the stage and admitted the joke to the audience. But All's well that ends well, for the political fellow won his office and -lack won the girl. ANNA Pmxrxs, '23. FACT AND FANCY , One afternoon in Tate November .as Johri Holcomb picked his way among the bushes which grew onthe banksof the Delaware, he was startled to hear indistinctly a splash on, the ,water above the sound of the cannonading from farther up the rivertpward Tren- ton. It being his duty to patrol that portion of the bank and report any at- tempts to land to the commander of the Patriots, who lived in a large brick house about two miles from the out- skirts of Trenton, he crept cautiously forward and parted the thick alders and willows. Before him lay the broad expanse of the Delaware and two hundred feet out a large row boat containing light red- coats was headed toward the shore to some point below him. He peered at the scene for a few seconds and with- drew silently into the bushes. Pulling his muffler tightly about his neck to keep the stinging wind out and throw- ing the sling of his flintlock rifle, his only weapon, about his shoulders, he proceeded to follow the direction of the boat because this surely meant trouble for the Patucts. As he came upon a small cove deeply secluded and sheltered by huge trees he crawled frcm tree to tree until herhad .a clear view of the sheet of water before him. Presently the boat reappeared around the bend and headed into the cove. It was landed about forty feet from young Holcomb, who Was shaking in his boots lest the Red Coats pass his way and discover him. He primed his rifle anew and waited, but instead of com- ing toward him they pulled their bcat out on the little spit of sand and pro- ceeded to light a fire. Une of the Reds came so close to him he would have touched him with his gun barrel and had it not been for the darkness he would have been discovered several times. Suddenly a twig snapped off to the right and behind him, and then another man appeared in the light of the little fire, and to young Holcomb's surprise, he was dressed in the blue of the Patriot forces. He was greeted in low tones by the Red Coats and after stacking his arms with the others be- side the boat, he joined the group around the fire. All seemed deeply, in- terested in what the newcomer, whom young Holcomb recognized as one of the officers of his own company, was saying and as he saw his chance he crept up much nearer to the boat and hid himself between a tree and a large rock. Prom here he could understand, indistinctly, the conversation carried on. The man dressed in blue, whom Hol- comb could see plainly enough now was a spy, was speaking and these won ds came to him: Coast is clear, you must lze across the river and ready to attack by midnight. Send these men