Martin Boots Junior High School - Sketch Yearbook (Marion, IN)

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14 THE SKETCH Perfect Crime Courtesy of the Fiction Club Don Peters, better known to followers of the prizefight game as Tiger, had a new job, a swell job. He washed dishes in a restaurant for S12 a week! Don was only 25 and weighed about 200. He was most good look- ing. Even though he had been a fighter since the age of 17, he bore no dis- figuring scars of any kind. Yet at ZS he was through with the iight game because one punch on an opponent's jaw did something to his right hand. He knocked out his adversary but he never fought again, because his broken hand never healed properly. Until then he had been hailed as the coming champ and had had a good time in life, spending plenty of money. But that soon ran out because of the operation on his hand-that had failed. His friends deserted him and he couldn't get a decent job. And here he was washing dishes, instead of fighting, and living in a cheap flat, instead of the expensive Astor Hotel. He was down and out and very discouraged. He'd been rich before and he wasn't used to being short of ready cash. Therefore, he didn't particularly enjoy the status quo. He would get some money somehow. Finally he hit upon the solution. He'd commit a crime, a perfect crime. just one crime would put him on easy street for two or three years. just onwhe'd never be caught. Not he, Don Peters, once almost the heavyweight champion of the world. So Don quit his job, saying he needed a rest, and went looking for a prospective victim. Finally he found an out-of-the-way jewelry store which did a thriving business. For one entire week he carefully plotted his crime, even buying a gun-just in case. One day headlines blazed: Masked Bandit Robs Jewelry Store-Police Unable to Trace Culpritf' Meanwhile Don casually told his landlord he was going to Chicago to visit relatives, but that he'd be back in a month. He planned to use the flat for a month or two after he returned to avoid suspicion and then move uptown to a fine hotel, maybe the Astor again. However, Don didn't go to Chicago. He went to northern Maine. But first in the Grand Central Station he deposited a box in one of the many lockers. The box contained about ninety-five percent of the money he had obtained, and no one could open the locker because he had the only key. . For a month Don hid away and the smoke blew over. He enjoyed life, nshing and relaxing in various lakeside resorts.

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THE SKETCH 13 Jokes Benny Lynn- So you bawled out your sweetie about the way she put on lipstick? . Paul Cain- Yea, she put it on the other guy's face. Principal Milhon- Well son, you look like a husky lad. Were any of your brothers football players? Dayne Bonta- You bet! My brother was a guard, my other brother was a quarterback, and when I was born, my father said, This is the end. George Johnson- Those bugs have eaten all my radishesf' I Miss Sills- Why not put down some salt? George- Nothing doing, if they can't eat them without salt let them go hungry. Marjorie Utterback- There's just one thing I like better than candy. Bonnie Sheron- What's that? 4 Marjorie- More candy. Diner, jim May- Have you any wild ducks? g Waitress, Becky Connelly- No, sir, but I could have the cook take a tame one and irritate it for you. Miss French frapping on desk,- Order, please! Jim Sanders-- Coca-cola for me. Politician, Dick Shippy Qentering trainj- Porter, I'm in lower three. Is my berth ready? Porter, james Small- No, sir. I thought politicians made up their own bunk. Husband, Billy Earnhart fseverelyj - Dear, the bank has returned that check you wrote. Wife, Mary Ann jones- Oh, isn't that splendid! What can we buy with it this time? The bus was just ready to leave the station when a breathless young man rushed up to the ticket window. Jimmy Andrews- Gimmie a round trip ticket. Clerk- Where to son? Jimmy- Why back here! Where'd you think? Mr. Hopkins fto a bright pupilj- E. J. what can you tell me about nitrates? ' E. J. McGreevy Qafter a long thought,- Well-er-um-oh yes they're a lot cheaper than day rates. Sales Director-- Have you made up your sales map yet? Violet Stewart- No, I can't find my compact.

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THE SKETCH 15 Then Don returned to New York. He wasnit going to touch the money until he left his old flat for good. So he went back and even got a new job as soda jerker in a drug store. For a week everything was fine. Then one night as he went home he found his door open. Inside were the police. Don turned in panic and ran. Two policemen followed. Don jumped a fence and ran down an alley. As he ran he thought, How did they know? How did I make mistake? It must be something else. Why am I running? I've done nothing. Still he ran. The policemen gained. One yelled, Halt, or we'll shoot. Don ran and a shot whizzed over his head. Pl' Fi' 31' Don grew scared, very scared. He drew his gun fthe gun he had bought-just in casej, and one policeman went down, a bullet in his leg. The other policeman fired and Don pitched over-dead. A bullet was in his head. Next morning Sergeant Murphy spoke to reporters: I can't understand it, he said. O'Flynn and I received orders to arrest this guy for not appearing before his draft board when he was called. You know, boys, that's a very serious offense. Evidently he'd gone away without notifying his board and his number came up quickly. But no one knows why he ran away and then shot back at us. His only crime, as far as we know, was forgetfulness. Yet it cost him his life. The reporters shook their heads sadly and walked away. The mystery of why Don Peters fired at the policemen was never solved and down in a certain locker in the New York City Grand Central Station lies a box containing S1S0,000, which will never be claimed. To Martin Boots Three years ago we entered here, And now prepare to leave. Let's pause awhile and call to mind The lessons we've received. Three years of study it has been, Three years to reach the height Cf appreciation of education To which we have the right. As we go forward year by year, Let us forever strive, To reach the goals our school has set And lead happy useful lives. -DICK SHIPPY