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

Page 90 text:

CQMMERCE YEAR Book, P1912 The others were either afraid, or didn't want to go, anyhow, Jim and I, being very obliging, were detailed to go and bring the Professor's brother around. W'e went to the address and found it to be right. We must have scared the brother by the way we put it, I guess, but everything was explained to him as we hurried back. He said that he didn't know what to do, but as his brother was concerned in it, he would of course do anything he could. VVhen he entered the room he was greeted by the same silence that seemed to be a part of the house. He soon put the baby and his brother through all their paces and finally decided to put the subjects under hypnotic influence again, if he could. I ' The baby was easy, but the Professor took a long time and when he finally closed' his eyes, everybody breathed easier. we felt that things were more natural now. The Professor's brother then said that he would leave the two like that for a while, and so we had a half hour's discussion of the phenomenon that had taken place. l ' When the time came to awake the two again, there was a hushed ex- pectancy in the air. VVe' all hoped that all would turnout right, and it did. In a couple of minutes the Professor and the baby were brought around to the tune of the mother's weeping and the silent relief of the other spectators. Neither the Professor nor the baby suffered any evil effects from the experience. That night while walking back to the armory, Jim admitted that he must have been mistaken about -hypnotism. But, he said, this was the first, the last, and the only exhibition of hynotism he ever intended to witness. VVQRTI-I A MILLION JACK LUDWIG, 1 9 1 4 AILY I went the rounds of factory and ofiice in futile attempts to secure a position. San Francisco employers demand experience. I lacked experience. While thus engaged, I met a man who seemed be in the same straits as I. Sam Trenck was his name. Drawn together by hard luck, we at once became friends. . Together We hired a room in a cheap lodging house. We could make our money last longer that way. Still, there was an air of evil mystery about the man that I disliked. This mystery was soon explained, for I awoke one morning to find Sam Trenck missing. So was all I possessed in this world except my clothes. He had been generous enough to leave them. Dressing hurriedly, I rushed down stairs and asked the clerk if he had seen Trenck. 86

Page 89 text:

COMMERCE YEAR BOOK, 1912 would wear off. Then the baby spoke up again and said that, for all he cared, they could end the thing just as the men suggested-by 'the mother taking him along with her. But, he said, the hypnotism would never do such a ridiculous thing as wear off. a The lady kept bemoaning. the whole proceeding. Finally she said that, as it was her child in the first place, she would take him home with her. Though, she said, she knew for sure, that it would be a nuisance and a very queer thing to have such an intelligent baby around, and that her husband would not be a bit pleased. 1 The baby said it would be perfectly agreeable to him as he would be able to live practically a new life, and with an intelligent mind to start with. VVe wereiall too dazed by the mysterious thing that had taken place to realize what really had happened, or to believe readily the baby's explana- tion of it. It was too much for us, too much for our understanding. It had never happened before, as far as we knew. It might never happen again. So, after the baby's expostulation of the subject, a deep silence fell over us. Thus far the baby had been the center of attraction, as being able to tal k, it drew our attention to it first. But now we all turned to the Professor. All his actions, and the queer sounds he made, confirmed the baby's. state- ment about the .transmission of the spirits. As was also the case in regard to the baby, the Professor still had all his physical abilities. All that was -changed was his intellect. He saw a derby on the table, and taking it up, he tore it into shreds, after which he cackled with babyish glee. In a little while one of the Professor's friends said that he did not think much of the idea of letting the mother take the baby along with her, with the Professor's brains. 'He said he couldn't see how the Professor's friends and relatives were going to profit by having a mere dumb ,animal on their hands instead of the intelligent human being that the Professor had been. Furthermore, he said that before thinking of going home it would be advisable to get the Professor's brother, who was also a hypnotist, and see what he could do about the matter. . - . Then he turned to the Professor, and thoughtlessly asked him where his brother lived, so that someone could go and get him. The Professor, of course, couldn't answer the question. The baby then proved his own theory when he gave the address of his brother. But the mother was astounded, and said that he was mistaken, because the baby never had a brother. So, a few minutes had to be wasted to explain to her whose brother we were talking about. T V The address having been obtained, it remained fortsomeone to go and get the Professor's brother. We were divided into three factions, so to speak. One was on the mother's side, one was looking out for the Professor, and the third was made up of several men, including my two friends and me, who were neither friends nor relatives of the principals. ss A

Page 91 text:

COMMERCE YEAR BOOK, 1912 -1 Yes, replied the clerk. He left here shortly after midnight. Where was he going ? He inquired about trains to New York, saying he was going East. Then I told the clerk about the robbery. Instead of expressing sympathy, he saw fit to laugh heartily. Calling some of the men in the room, he repeated my story, and there arose such a roar of laughter that I strode out of the place, enraged yet sick at heart. Why of all men did he rob me im I asked myself bitterly. Why did he not rob my brother? He is a millionaire. He would not have missed it. But I-I am an outcast. My own brother disowns me. And I am penni1ess! With heavy heart I trudged aimlessly down the street. As I passed a newspaper office, I chanced to look up at the bulletin board. My eyes bulged as I read: ' . HTERRIBLE RAILROAD ACCIDENT NEAR LOS ANGELES+ VINCENT D. CLEMENTS, THE MILLIONAIRE, A ONE OF THE VICTIMS. My brother! I gasped. V A y I stood motionless. My brother-he who had cast me out-he, the millionaire, was dead! And II, who was penniless, who had nothingto live for, was made to live. What tricks Fate plays! When I regained composure, I entered the ollice and awaited my turn at the files of newspapers that ,were kept on a reading table for the convenince of the public. Presently I read: A 'KAmong the victims of the accident was Vincent' D. Clements, the mining millionaire. Mr. Clements left his country home this morning to keep an appointment with his lawyer' in Los Angeles, his intention being to make a 'will leaving his fortune to local charitable institutions. An intimate friend of the late Mr. Clements declares that a few weeks ago a young man, rather the worse for wear, appeared at Mr. Clements' country home, and insisted that he was the million- aire,s brother. The two men were heard to quarrel violently, and that night the visitor departed as mysteriously as he came. He has neither been seen nor heard of since. As Mr. Clements made his fortune in Mexican silver mines, it is surmised that the mysterious visitor may have been an old acquaintance from the mining district. As Mr. Clements never married, this claimant is the sole heir, if he can pro-ve his relationship. The newspaper dropped from my trembling hands. Nly brain was in a whirl. My papers?-my proof! I had them with my wallet, and my wallet- with eager fingers I gripped at my breast pocket. Then I remembered. 87