Townsend Harris High School - Crimson Gold Yearbook (Flushing, NY)

Page 61 text:

CRIMSON AND GOLD JONATHAN AIPIELY PHILIP GOODMAN I. T is barely within my power to X, .1 describe my innermost senti- ments when I consider the as- pects of the People vs. Sunger case. I have dwelt for the past K' month on this tale of a fantas- tic creation-a frankenstein-formed in a half-crazed mind of one of the world's greatest surgeons, Dr. Sunger. I was seated with my friend, Ronald Stevens, a detective of New York, slightly indulging in a much sought-for as well as prohibited beverage, when we were unceremoniously interrupted by the ring- ing of the telephone. It was an unex- pected emergency call for Stevens from Headquarters. Being inquisitive and seeking excitement, I begged leave to go with him. This he readily granted, not being adverse to company at that hour of the night. Arriving at Headquarters, Stevens was informed that a murder case warranted his immediate attention. I-Ie was given plenary command of the situation. Dr. Sunger had been taken into custody on the charge of the murder of Jonathan Apely. The turnkey offered to conduct Stevens to the cell of Sunger. After passing through long corridors, I ap- proached the cell in which I noticed a forlorn and aged man, seated on the edge of the cot, swaying to and fro, bemoan- ing his predicament. Despite Stevens' countless questions, the only answer obtainable was a staunch denial of guilt. This, however, seemed absurd, since all of the seven eye- witnesses affirmed that they had seen Dr. Sunger stab Apely. Seeing that he could gain no satisfaction or enlightenment from the accused, Stevens decided to visit the Hotel Calpin, the scene of the catas- trophe, and see if any light could be thrown on the affair from that source. 92 4? .5 P 'Y' 'Y' . '-if TIF 4-9' th 1 ' A 2 lb Ll II. Our entrance into the Calpin was greeted with thunderous oaths and un- complimentary remarks magnanimously bestowed upon some of the employees of the hotel by the outraged proprietor. For the nth time he threatened to kill the next reporter that approached him. Stevens, with his usual tact, calmed him and persuaded him to bestow lavish pecuniary gifts on the agents of the press in order to suppress this undesired notoriety. Hof facto, the proprietor, Mr. Charles A. Manger, ushered us into the room where the corpse lay. The blinds were drawn low. A ray of sunshine through the corner of the blind disclosed to me the features of the ugliest creature I had ever seen. The last throes of agony he had suffered from the knife thrust left the body in a distorted condition which added to its hideousness. Upon further inspection, Stevens remarked to me con- cerning the incontrovertible apelike fea- tures of the deceased. Mr. Manger informed Stevens that the murdered man had registered about six months ago as Jonathan Apely of Eng- land. Since he had never had any per- sonal dealings with Mr. Apely, he was unable to reveal any further useful material. Stevens ordered the body to be re- moved to the morgue and phoned the city physician to perform the autopsy im- mediately. Mr. Manger, upon the inquiry of Stevens, summoned the bell-hop who had attended exclusively to the wants of Apely. What is your name? was Stevens' first question. John Dudley, sir, he responded. How long have you been employed in the Hotel Calpin PI' Page Fifty-five

Page 60 text:

CRIMSON AND GOLD imagined why she made no display of her righteous wrath. He did not dare ask her for that seat, so he sat down on the divan to read. He had read but a few words when he heard his sister's voice. Now, he thought, the trouble would be- gin. But never was anyone more sur- prised, not even Caesar when he per- ceived that Brutus was one of the con- spirators. Bob, she said, sit here by the win- dow in your favorite place. Besides, it's dark over theref' Bob did not sit down,-he fell into the chair, overwhelmed. Alice, after all that he had done, was actually treating him nicely. And as for her calling him Bob, why this was the first time within his memory. Here without the slight- est effort-but what could be the reason for Alice's most remarkable change of attitude? And in the same way that a man who has unexpectedly come into possession of a huge fortune cannot make his troubled mind believe his sudden change of circumstance exists in reality, so Bob could not visualize the events that had been enacted before his very eyes but a moment ago. His brain was in a whirl, his thoughts were conllicting, his senses were incomplete and harassed, he was lost. Unable to divine a satisfactory solution to this most perplexing and paradoxical problem, Bob picked up his hat and went out. A moment later he was ascending the stairs to Will's home. CHAPTER FIVE. As he slowly climbed the steps, Alice's countenance appeared before his eyes, and despite his efforts he could not remove the vision. Again he racked his brain for some logical reason that could have occasioned his sister's unprecedented ac- tion. But he was not occupied in thought for long, because as he reached the floor on which the Holts lived, he was aroused by loud voices from within. Overcome by curiosity, he Put his eye to the key- Page' Fifty-four hole. Since this availed him nothing, he replaced that organ by his ear. However, the sounds were unintelligible, and Bob despaired of determining what was taking place inside. Evidently this was not the place for him, but Bob did not retreat more than one step. He was determined as his fore-finger pushed the bell. Mr. Holt opened the door and Bob entered amid a solemn silence. Every- body seemed angry and Bob regretted that he had not acted upon his decision to turn back. Mrs. Holt's eyes were red, as though she was crying. Will's sister was seated in a rocking chair. Her lower lip was protruding, her chin was thrown forward, and to Bob she presented the appearance of a woman who is deter- mined to oppose to the last, an injustice done to her. Taking one consideration with another, her mien was decidedly belligerent. Bob divined that an argu- ment had taken place and regardless of the subject he knew that Will's sister was wrong. He waited for someone to speak, but apparently everybody had the same idea in mind. Bob broke the silence by asking: Where's Will? Nobody ventured an answer, but Mr. Hall handed him a much crumpled paper. Bob tried to guess what the note could possibly be, for obviously it was the cause of all the disturbance. However, his curiosity was insatiable, and nervously he straightened it out. With shaking hand he read Will's familiar scrawl: I am leaving home because I can't stand Catherine any moref, Bob could think of nothing to say to the plainly worried parents. He had but one question to ask: Does my sister Alice know ? Mr. Holt nodded his assent. And Bob's face registered a smile of satisfac- tion. He had discovered something for which he had long searched vainly. Still smiling, he walked out. QTHE END,

Page 62 text:

CRIMSON AND GOLD Four years coming next Septemberf' During your service here has there at any time arisen any question as to your honesty and fidelity? 'iNo, sir. Did Mr. Apely ever have any other bellhop besides you? No, sirf, How is that possible? You don't mean to say that you are here every day in the year, do you? No, sir. Well, then account for thisf' You see, sir, Mr. Apely was dumb. It seemed that I was able to accommodate him quite easily. I readily comprehended every sign that he made to me. For this he was indeed grateful and showed it by his large tips. He did not like to be bothered unnecessarily, so before I left, I prepared everything he desired. He ate all his meals in his suite. When I was off, he ate from a supply of canned goods. In fact, he never left his room except between nine and ten in the evening when he would usually take a walk. It seems that I was the only one here who had any connection with him during his stay. Every Saturday, he would settle his account with me in cash. He always had bills and change with him. Where it came from I never cared to inquire. Whenever I entered the room I always found him lounging in his arm-chair smoking a pipe. He had a fair sized library but I doubt if he ever read any of the books because they were always in the same place. I suppose that's about all I can tell you, sir. Who was Dr. Sunger's bell-hop? Stevens further inquired. I was, sir,', answered John. In what apartment did he reside? Apartment 5D, sir. Next door to Mr. Apelyf' ' Did they ever meet?', Not as far as I know, sir. Pago 'Fifty-six Thank you for your information, john. No doubt it will prove very use- fulf, Turning to Mr. Manger, Stevens continued. The inquest will be held here tomorrow morning at ten o'clock. Meanwhile you will keep both Sunger's and Apelyis rooms locked. Good-night. Ah! thank you, Mr. Stevens. Good- night. III. In spite of a sleepless night, I was at the hotel at nine-thirty the following morning, eager to learn if anything new had developed. Entering the lobby, the scene of the crime, I was amazed to hnd the usual tranquillity prevalent. Mr. Manger presently recognized me as the shadow of Mr. Stevens during the preced- ing night. Immediately he conducted me into the Violet and Gold Room and bade me be seated. It appeared that I was not as early as I had presumed, for quite a few gentlemen were already seated. Nor were the rest long in coming. At pre- cisely ten o'clock, Stevens entered with the coroner. Beckoning the former with a nod of my head, I made room for him on the bench on which I was seated. The coroner, Dr. Blade, opened the in- quest by requesting the city physician to divulge the results of his autopsy. After a brief external examinationj' the physician testified, I was indubitably convinced that the deceased, jonathan Apely, had met his death by a knife wound close to the heart. The murderer was acquainted with the physique of the human body as evinced by the fact that he knew exactly where to strike to cause instant death. Thus proceeded the inquest. The seven eye-witnesses repeated their tale, each in the same manner, practically with the same words, until the monotony of the situation was almost unbearable. For six consecutive hours testimony was presented. Finally addressing the jury, Dr. Blade declared: Gentlemen, it is your duty to