High School of Commerce - Caravel Yearbook (New York, NY)

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COMMERCE YEAR BOOK, 1911 The fuses, sir, began the electrician, extending the lantern. I told Jim those fuses weren't- But Philip did not wait to hear. Holding the lantern above his head, he stepped out upon the stage and faced the audience. Keep your seats, he commanded, in the incisive voice of authority-the voice that inspires confidence and begets obedience. f'There is no danger. A fuse has blown out. The lights will be on in a moment. As he spoke the lights flashed again, fiickered, and then shone steadily-much to Philip's astonishment. He hesitated, smiled a trifle foolishly, and retired precipi- tately, while the audience, unmistakably relieved, laughed and applauded him. Near the switchboard Philip encountered the stage manager. The play had already resumed, but that dignitary's feelings were extremely tempestuous, and he sought relief by airing his opinion of what he termed Philip's unwarranted ofiicious- ness. Smarting from this tongue lashing, Philip sought his post in the lobby. But the whole world, it seemed, was bent on his further humiliation. The Head Usher, in his most offensive manner, publicly reprimanded him. The other professional escorts jocularly commented on the hit he had scored on his first appearance before the footlights. To complete his discomfiture, Philip caught sight of Mr. Hackleton and Clara bearing down on him through the throng that, with the completion of the first act, was filling the lobby. The wealthy contracting-engineer, who employed an army of men, was no re- specter of persons. XVhen he had anything to say, he said it, the place and the hour notwithstanding. Philip remarked a scowl between the great man's eyes-an ominous sign. Clara's face he could not read. The next moment Mr. Hackleton laid a hand on Philip's shoulder. Young man, he said, you've got-wit. You spoke in the nick of time. You averted a panic. The Head Usher guffawed, as though in appreciation of the great engineer's little joke. But the great engineer bent sharp eyes upon him, and his laugh withered. Of course the lights came on, Mr. Hackleton continued, and the danger disappeared. But suppose they l1adn't! With this he took the surprised Philip by the arm and led him into a corner out of earshot of the crowd. Now, Philip, he said, tell me what you are doing here in that flunky's rig. I- Philip felt his cheeks burn. He was suddenly aware of Clara Hackleton, lean- ing on her fatherls arm and eying him curiously. HI didn't recognize you, Phil, in that uniform, she put in hastily. W'hen Tom Langway told me we had passed you in the lobby, I WOl1ldl1,t believe him. But when you stood on the stage and the lights Hated up- Don't interrupt, Clara, her father checked her. I want Lansen to answer my question. Earning money, Philip responded quietly. The salary you pay me is- VVhy didnlt you tell me so? Mr. Hackleton cut him short. VVhen you de- serve a thing, don't be afraid to ask for itf' He eyed Philip critically. I think 1'll give you Jenkinson's place, he went on. Hjenkinson has muddled things. The way you held that lantern and ordered the crowd to sit still-yes, you're the man for Jenkinson's placef' Philip's heart leaped. Ienkinson had charge of the reduction plant which Hackleton Sr Langway were building in Mexico for the American Mines Company, and he had an ugly strike on his hands. Jenkinson-why, Ienkinson got three thou- sand and expenses! When shall I -start, sir ? Philip asked. 73

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COMMERCE YEAR BOOK, 1911 his face paled, for he saw Clara herself, superbly cloaked, advancing with Tom Langway up the lobby. When Clara informed him of Langway's party, Philip had chuckled. Clara, he was sure, would pass withi11 ten feet of him without in the least suspecting who he was. In the course of his service several of his friends had entered the theater without recognizing him. To them he was merely a uniformed attendant-an autom- aton. But now that Clara was actually in the lobby, Philip was not so sure. His first impulse was to retreat, and he turned as if to pass the door-tenders at the end of the corridor. Scarcely had he taken three steps, however, when he wheeled and stood witl1 a grim look on his face. He had donned the theater uniform. He would abide the consequences. He glanced coolly through the press of people till his eyes once more rested on Clara and Tom. They were only a few paces distant. Philip straightened like a soldier at attention. As they passed, Philip felt their eyes upon him. He looked up. Tom saluted him with a knowing wink. But Clara had paced by with unruflied, unseeing regalness .... It was hard to believe--at first.. It was-it was-unthinkable. Clara, for all her wealth, was not that sort. And yet-she had passed him by .... After the curtain had risen, Philip went behind the scenes and stationed him- self in the wing near the switchboard. From this point he could, unobserved, watch Clara in Langway's box. The longer he gazed, the more futile were his attempts to persuade himself that Clara had not recognized him. W'ith a rueful smile he thought of 'the roses and the trip to Islington. Of course he couldn't go-now .... He peered cautiously at the box again. Mr, Hackleton had come in and was just seating himself. Presently Clara bent and whispered in his ear. Philip' could see the smile her words brought to her father's bluff countenance, and the answering smile on Clara's lips. Evidently the fact that she had cut Mr. Philip Lansen in the lobby, did not trouble her. She could smile just. as though nothing so direful had occurred. VVell, it should no longer trouble Philip. To-morrow he would tender his resig- nation to Messrs. Hackleton 8x Langway, and go VVest. Out XVest they knew how to appreciate an ambitious engineer though he was impecunious. But why wait till to-morrow? VVhy not go to old Hackleton to-night, and have done with it? The first act would soon be over. Philip could meet him in the foyer. The thought made Philip grimly eager, and he turned to make his way back to the lobby. But at that instant a sudden flash of blinding light shot from the switch- board across the stage. A sharp explosion followedg then-total darkness, people with confused sounds. A For a moment or two tl1e audience was perfectly still, as though in breathless expectation of some startling denouement which was to emerge from this sudden stoppage of the light and the chaotic tumult on the stage. Then the smell of burn- ing rubber, and a cloud of acrid smoke rolling outward, caused a vague uneasiness, an indeterminate stir full of ugly possibilities. To Philip, in the blackness of the wings, it seemed a crucial moment. Out there, in the multitude of people, crouched that theater horror, Panic, ready to spring. A sudden cry, a sudden noise--and men and women would trample one another in a wild struggle for safety. An electrician, a lantern in his hand, brushed past him, cursing volubly. Give me the light! Philip ordered. 72

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COMMERCE YEAR BOOK, l9ll His e1nployer's eyes twinkled. Let me see, he pondered, glancing slyly from Philip to Clara. To-morrow's Saturday. I shall need to give you some instructions. But Mexico is a long way off, and you ought to get startedlu Mexico! Clara gasped. The idea, father, she hastily added, the idea of your hurrying Phil off to the end of the world at such short notice! It's-it's ask- ing too much of-of-him. And you ought to get started, Mr. Hackleton blandly concluded, by Sunday night. Suppose you run up to Islington to-morrow afternoon, and we'll talk it over. That will give you ample opportunity to get everything you want, won't it? Philip looked at Clara, and expressed the hope that it would. And in this he was not mistaken. C2330 M-m e 7 l L1 7-1