London South Collegiate Institute - Oracle Yearbook (London, Ontario Canada)

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Z. 2- f -5X1 X K ii, ' , X T. 2 F f A Q gg gk!! f 32 I , 1 f Z s ff! 1 TOMMY The days slipped into a week and the weeks into a month and Tommy's first school report, which was promising, read Trying, That evening, after Tommy was in bed and asleep, Grandma Richards dropped in for a chat. Tommy's report was offered for her comment. Well this looks as if your fears for his progress were groundless: but is there no class standing given? Mr. Brown smiled. Class standing on reports creates a spirit of competition and often gives rise to feelings of jealousy, so it is no longer reportedf' Next morning Grandma telephoned Aunt Eleanor and told her about the favourable report from Tommy's teacher. Aunt Eleanor said she liked that word, trying, it showed honest effort. During the second month Tommy main- tained a stolid silence regarding school matters. One day father, projecting his mind into the past, remembered that the letters of the alphabet played an important role in his early school life. He cautiously approached his son on the subject. I suppose you know your alphabet by now, Tommy ? Oh yes, answered the young hopeful. What letters come after 'A'? inter- rogated father. All the rest of 'em, came the ready reply, as Tommy rushed out the back door. The second report laid the father's peda- gogical efforts low and raised the family hopes high by stating, Still trying. Aunt Eleanor said it showed more than honest . . Let the boy be a boy. SOUTH C. I. effort: it showed stability, and with those two virtues Tommy's future looked rosy. As the iirst term neared a close, Tommy often returned home with torn blouse, frayed pants, presenting a generally dilapidated appearance. No amount of judicious ques- tioning, howeyer, threw any light either upon his progress or his conduct. Father seemed to understand small boys of school age and silenced the family's questions in no uncertain terms. Ever since that lad started to school you have suspected him of something. First it was his standing. and when the reports settled that, you all pile onto him about his conduct. Let the boy be a boy. That eveliing the term i'epoi't came and was eagerly opened. All their hopes were dashed to the ground. lt read- Still very trying. 1 . 29 A Y ff d lljf fl . ff pi i A X, 'li f , ,f 1 xx X jf! 'I fskilxl - - I ,Dv - il i x Q' . ,V 1 h 7 K '5-ll? -- 1 ,77- - , H i L i A ll it Ili in A ti ll 2 A EI 'li rl ,A it th l i i ll ' V' N Ji X fl , l v- 1 s., l ,-, . ix ' - i X, up , M. '23 - - .D J M-wnvsLow

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l Jlt :BENSON was unimpeachable. For generations his fore- fathers had always been butlers to the best English families. Benson was more adventurous than his ancestors, for, thirty-two years ago, he had come to Canada, when he had entered into the service of his present master, Colonel Jarvis. For Benson, time had but heightened dignity. One day, before entering to announce the arrival of Mrs. Healy's car, he paused outside the living-room door. Mrs. Healy's falsetto voice came to his ear. My dear, I would never take the risks you are taking. I think it is very foolish of you to keep your wonderful necklace of diamonds here. You know. in these days-the servants-. Here Mrs. Jarvis interrupted her guest: 'tWhy Helen, our servants have been with us for years. I'd as soon dis- trust my own mother as I would them. They are devoted to usf' The harsh voice grated: Oh, you never can tell,-and you know that butler of yours has a face which I've never liked. Give him a chance and he'd do the worst possible. Benson stiffened, even though his mistress indulgently replied: Oh, you must mean Benson. Helen, he's one in a million. He's the perfect servant. Benson coughed, entered the room and announced the arrival of the car. Being a perfect servant. he did not stare coldly at Mrs. Healy. These words would not, ordinarily, have been noticed by Benson, but since he had not been paid for four months. he allowed himself to slip, and think-a thing which is never done by a perfect servant. He knew that the famous Jarvis necklace was an heir- loom and insured for 2i5250,G00. He also knew that Colonel Jarvis had lost his fortune in the bankruptcy of his iirm, and that the safe in the wall, which held the necklace, was old and fiimsy,-had been once broken, and had been mended imperfectly. Benson had, paradoxically, a true love of detective fiction and, like all amateur detectives, had a cherished perfect crime. When he went to bed, his plans were complete. The next night his employers were dining out. Having seen the Colonel and his wife to their car, Benson returned to the library. Drawing on a pair of gloves. he soon forced the safe with the aid of a cold-chisel and a poker from the fireplace. The job took about ten minutes. Dropping the necklace into his pocket, he returned to the servants' quar- ters. Later he hid the necklace behind a brick in the cellar. One of the maids discovered the robbery the following morning and soon there were detectives all over the house,- dropping ashes on priceless Persian rugs, and proving to be general nuisances. Benson's alibi was perfect. He had eaten, returned to his quarters, and played cards with another servant until the return of his master. In addition and-cc Q mContinued on Page TTr Page Twenty-tour GWYNNETH MARTIN Illustrated by Dorothy Hubbell . 6 x Q, I g Syn X fa... X , I lt f ll 4 ffl ll X .MH l W lffy f jj! 5 E 'TW I it l , X ' I V s' f N . l f l law, I. I . ll lillidikitil ' ligdiy l f Qmztj, li, f l, y fl Nxxll' ll X C sw 'l vl l I I 4 xQN il? it i t I .Bling ,I l Q is ' ll in 5-1 'I L .X XE h J T H E o R A c L E L