Mechanic Arts High School - M Yearbook (St Paul, MN)

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THE HMM 'glfactlw asserted Percy. Dashed serious. You want to go easy with the old lad, handle with silk gloves and all that. Good Lordf' said Percy, easy with him! What I mean, I don't treat him with criminal brutality, what? I try to look like a piece of fluff whenever I see him. Rather think if you did him a bit of good-smoke a peace pipe with a gift of pajamas or some other whatnot-he ought to ease up. Odd,', said Percy, thought of that myself. The old boy wants some bally stock of something or other. If I get it for him, he ought to fall on my neck and weep copiously and all that for forgiveness, what? N '6Fru1ty schemef' agreed Reggie, 'can eggl Who owns the stock? Some rustic from Running House, Iowa-rum names these western cities have. Laddiels name is Demosthenes, no Launcelot, no!.'7 John, Benjamin, Richardfp' suggested Reggie. KNO, no, it's Alcibiades Spectiksonf' Impossible, said Reggie firmly incredulous. Why the devil is it? demanded Percy. Why it stands to reason, asserted Reggie, as one reasonable thinker to an- other. Alcibiades Spectiksonl What I mean, I seriously doubt whether the law would allow such a name. Dashed well impossible. Well, that's it, asserted Percy, and we've got to find the blighter and un- screw the stock from him. You spray about a few bars of some touching song, and Iill work on the laddie's softened emotions, nothing to it. He'll probably pay us for taking away the stock, shouldnit wonder! 'cYou're sure that is his name? demanded Reggie, still incredulous. Quite. Heis in the jolly old Metrop now, so we ought to round him up in no time, what? We'll buzz to and fro in the various hostelries and innsf' Righto,,, agreed Reggie. Feel like a bally chump, asking for a name like that, he hrooded. What time is it? Percy glanced at his wrist watch, jogged it slowly, and then with commendable vim, after which he asserted definitely: 32:4-6. Reggie looked at his own watch. It is 3:17, said he. What I can't under- stand, chappies flitting about with onions that don't keep time, bally nuisance. It is now,', said Percy with hauteur, H224-6. I assure you, insisted Reggie, it is 3:17. I say there, waiter, summoned Percy, pop out and locate the exact distance the jolly old sun has totteredf' Sir? queried the startled waiter. The time, laddie, the time. I would have the time. Why is there this delay?,' Immediately, sir, assured the waiter, and melted away. The waiter returned immediately. The time, sir, has just been announced on the radio, it is exactly 2315 minutes after twelve. -I' 'I' -ll' 'll' I' -I' it Reggie was in low spirits. All afternoon he had taxied to New York's second class hotels seeking a farmer with an extraordinary name. Reggie had more than a suspicion that some of the hotel clerks believed he was a detective. To a sensitive young man such suspicions are apt to be trying. Percy was making the rounds of another set of hotels. After meeting failure and some more or less dirty looks at the last hotel, Reg- gie was quite willing to call it a day and seek the well-earned comfort of his bed. Home, Caesarf' Reggie languidly instructed the brigand driver of his taxi cab. The brigand regretfully eyed the meter, which'was gaily singing a song of sixpence and doubloons. Say, mister, offered the brigand with an eye to business, there's another hotel just around the corner there. Page Thirteen

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THE You didn't, interrupted Horace, Hexude good spirits, you drank them. I notice my private stock has been tampered with, and if I ever catch you at it, he brooded. . I assure you, word of honortand all that, Percy broke in shocked. We will not discuss that any longerf, G'Why,7, suddenly Horace flung his bomb, Hdonit you go to work? When I was your age I was working myself to the bone as a clerk in your grandfather's office. Awful, sympathized Percy, 'ibut really now you wouldn't like me to be like you. What I mean, sweat of the brow and all that sort of thing-J' Work, mused Van Slyn, might make something of youf, Impossible, insisted Percy. Oh, I don't know, you might become fairly valuable as an office boy. What I meant, said Percy with dignity, Hthat itis dashed well impossible for me to workf, Why, you worm, roared Van Slyn grasping a paper weight longingly, I'll- A rap on the outside of the frosted door miraculously caused Horace to eradi- cate the wrathful expression from his face. '4Come in, he invited. A long young man with teeth forthwith entered. Well, Bridds? Sir, I have not yet been able to secure those 500 shares of B 8i S oil. Some farmer from Running Horse, Iowa, Alcibiades Spectikson, has them and he refuses to sellf, What, wondered Van Slyn, ado I pay you money for? I will say that you eat well and sleep well, I suppose, and you certainly know enough to call for your pay check but when it comes to doing anything you have paralysis of the brain or something. I want those shares, and you get them. Go as high as necessary but get them. Where the devil are you going? demanded Horace of Percy who was trying to melt through the doorway noiselesslyg a worthy endeavor which met failure as Percy collided with a hat-rack. Awfully sorry and all that, apologized Percy, but I have an appointment, quite, an appointment, dinner appointment, in ten minutes. Toodle-doo,', and Percy dashed out. A taxi delivered Percy to the Quill and Pen Club, one of those informal in- stitutions whose members may be anything from Village Bohemians to members of the British aristocracy. At the club Percy gloomily ordered his lunch and was stowing it away rapidly when Reggie Rensaleer dozed in. Cheerio,', greeted Reggie repressing a yawn. Jolly good sight--watching you eat. Dashed silly to go to the circus. Percy's response, undoubtedly squelching, was somewhat indistinct perhaps be- cause Percy, at the moment, had seven fried potatoes and a sizeable bit of lamb in a process of mastication. All things must come to an end, though, and in time Percy announced morbidly, l've just been to the pater? uFilial affection and all that, or did you stick him in the ribs?,' wondered Reggie. He sent for me. No, not really? I should think the lad sees too much of you without calling for you. What did you dog pinch the family hat-pin or something? He wanted to know why I blotted that Lancey blighterf' ' Lancey, Remember I had a hazy idea that there was a mixup that night. Wasn't sure until I read about it in the morning papersf' Well, continued Percy, 'che says I should go to work. My Lord, not reallyf, shuddered Reggie horrified, feeling as if he had stepped through the elevator door on the sixteenth floor when the elevator was popping around elsewhere. 66 as 66 IG Page Twelve

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CGM!! Really?,' yawned Reggie. Seems to me there are hotels scattered in wild confusion. I distinctly remember seventeen in the last two blocks, ah well, laddie, toddle along. We'll have a stab at this one, too. The brigand, gratified, swung his car into a staggering lope, nearly taking a fender off the car ahead. The gentleman in the car ahead stated under many oaths that he was aggrieved, whereupon the brigand told Reggie that he had but to say the word and he would go back and mash the manis head off. The head mashing process, which was merely to serve as a prelude to further unpleasant blemishes on the man's person, did not meet with favor in Reggie's eye, and the brigand, perforce, contented himself with airing a vocabulary which Reggie, who had been forcibly addressed by various brass hats during the war, found admirably original. At the hotel Reggie again propounded his connundrum concerning the where- abouts of Alcibiades Spectikson. To Reggieis sur rise, the clerk confessed that Mr. Spectikson was indeed staying in the hotel, and Iiad just stepped out. Reggie, he- lieved the clerk, could overtake Mr. Spectikson by hurrying. Reggie, after a really remarkable brain storm, during which he asked for Spec- tikson's description, hurried forth and espied his prey a short distance ahead. Reggie gave chase. I say! roared Reggie, donit walk so dashed fast. Absolutely tiring yourself and me too.', Reggie was red with embarrassment. This barging up to chappies absolutely strangers was not on the books, and yet here was he doing itl Spectik- son turned, surprise and suspicion written on his face. You know, laddief' began Reggie ingratiatingly, it's not right, you know. You shouldn't do it, dashed mulish, if you know what I meanf' I thoughtf' pondered Spectikson, these city slickers were smartf' Eh, what?,' demanded Reggie. I do notf' continued Spectikson firmly, want to buy the Brooklyn Bridge. uReally,,' said Reggie. ':Odd, but I've never wanted to buy it either. Rum coincidence. what? What I mean, sort of a bond between us, don't you know. And I don't want, went on Spectikson doggedlv-he had memorized all this in Running Horse- to buy anv shares in the city hall, neitherf' No?', said Reggie politely, the man was absolutely drivveling. Reggie had read somewhere that Westerners rambled. This fellah, though, it seemed to Reggie was doing more than rambling: he was absolutley running wild. Entranced by this delightful financial monologuef, continued Reggie, but the stock. laddie, the jolly old oil stock. You will disgorge, yes, no? Spectikson stopped short and lustily shouted 'LPolice, coos. cops! An officer, blissfully dozing in a doorway, came to with a start, and dashed forward. This crook, accused Spectikson, is trying to sell me some phony oil stock. You can't fool me, no sirf' Reggie stood petrified. Come along theref' ordered the preserver of the peace, placing a hand on Reggie's shoulder. Reggie snapped out of his daze. It was absolutely not in Reggie's plans to spend any hours in jail. As the officer reached, Reggie gave a spasmodic leap backwards. Spectikson grasped him with somber triumph. observing, I've got him! At the moment, Reggie wanted to be elsewhere and had a syndicate com- nosed of Dempsey, Strangler Lewis, and one-half dozen gorillas attempted to stay Reggie's progress at the moment. they would have found reason to curse themselves. It was but the work of an instant to kick Mr. Snectikson in the ankle and to smite him in the eve. lVIr. Spectikson let go and adopted a reclining position on the ground. Reggie was off. Behind. the sounds of pursuit swelled as Reggie reached his taxi. Quick.', gasped Reggie, get me out of here, and I shouldnat wonder if I gave vou a 3510 tip. Only SHO? demanded the brigand with a touch of austerity. Page Fourteen