Trivoli Community High School - Memoir Yearbook (Trivoli, IL)

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What's your business? asked the chief grufliy. He looked as though he had not slept for forty-eight hours. Does this concern the robbery? asked Jack, as he handed the code, with the message written below it, to the chief. A surprised exclamation escaped from the chief, Where did you get hold of this, boy? I heard it on the radio about two o'clock this morning, but only found the key to the code a couple of hours ago. Would you recognize the men's voices if they were captured? Yes. Well, we'll just take you with us. We may be able to use you. Then followed a string of orders and commands. A buzzer rang. whereupon a big husky oificers came into the room. O'Leary, I want you and nine of your biggest men within ten min- utes, came from the chief. Next he strapped on a gun that looked to Jack-as big as a riHe and made his knees shake as if he had the palsy. They hastened out into the street where they found a riot car with the men waiting. They got in and on the way the chief told his men the news and gave them a brief outline of his campaign. They would hire a swift speed launch, for the yacht was sure to make tracks at the sight of the officers headed its way, and if necessary, chase her down. As they arrived at the wharves, Jack's eye swept the bay and alighted on a neat looking craft about two hundred yards out, with the name, Mystery, neatly painted on its bow. The chief had seen it also and was gazing at it as if it had cast a charm over him. It looks suspicious, he said, why should they keep their fires going, except to make a quick getaway. O'Leary had by this time gained the services of a man and his launch, which was, the man said, as fast as any in the bay. They em- barked and headed for the yacht, a move which seemed to cause a de- cided commotion. The race was on! The yacht was getting under way, headed for the ocean. lf she ever gets outside the break-water, we're finished, was the comment. Can't we go faster? was the question. We should go faster, but we don't, was the answer. The launch had begun to miss now and then, and was losing more ground rapidly. It was O'Leary who saved the day. Prompted by some instinct, he looked around and saw a stream of gasoline spurting from a broken connection. Kneeling down, he closed one of his great hands around the connection. The result was instantaneous. The launch leaped forward at a speed which was double that of its former speed. Page Fifty-six

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By this time Jack was on his feet, excitely bending over his set. Nothing was heard after Hfteen minutes more listening. He paced the room. What could the message be? There must be some sort of il- legal proceedings, otherwise why the late hours and secret code? He wrestled with the question until he saw evidence of dawn in the east when he lay down to rest until called. He dozed off, and the next thing he knew his father was calling at the foot of the stairs. This was Mon- day morning, which meant school and lessons. That morning as he walked to school, he pondered over the question until his head was a haze of figures. He studied the figures from all sides and angles, but he could not detect the meaning. That morning in mathematics, the only numbers which took def- inite form in his head, were the numbers heard last night. He sat dur- ing science, studying the code. The instructor seeing him, compelled him to sit in a chair by his side. This made Jack feel rather embar- rassed, but still he wondered and puzzled over the myterious message. Suddenly a bright light came over his face. Was it possible? Could it be, that the numbers stood for letters? He took paper and pencil and figured out the code. Yes, it was the mysterious message. The astound- ing words were: Bring the yacht, Mystery, with booty to New York.'f As he read these words, he started in his chair until it almost tipped over. The instructor fixed a gaze on him that caused him to stammer out a half audible explanation. You may go, said the instructor, Hand bring me an explanation of your behavior tomorrow. Jack got up, seized his cap and ran all the way home. Finding the paper in the box, he frantically opened it. There it was in big head- lines: TRAIN LOADED WITH U. S. CURRENCY ROBBEDX' He went on to read the details of the robbery, which stated the belief of the officials that the crime was committed by a well organized gang. The train had been loaded with currency from the mint at Washington for the New York banks. The loss was said to have amounted to several millions. As he finished the account, he gave a low whistle: I'll go to Mother and Dad and ask 'em if I can go to New York and lay the information before the authorities. It's only an hour's ride on the cars. His parents were somewhat skeptical, but finally consented. Jack hurried to his room, donned his best clothes and caught the two-thirty train to New York. Upon arrival he hurried to police headquarters where he asked to-see the chief. He was put off by the reply, The chief's busy now, working on the big train robbery. He can't be both- ered with you now. You go to the Lieutenant. ' That's just what I want to see him about, answered Jack. At tlliisfstatement he was immediately ushered into the presence of the c ie . Page Fifty-five

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The distance between the two boats was decreasing rapidly. It was two hundred yards, now a hundred and fifty, now fifty. The men stood up preparatory to boarding the yacht. Now! The time had come! They were alongside. The chief swung his heavy gun into action and jumped across the narrow strip of water, followed by ten husky men. In the meantime the pursued had not been idle. They had taken refuge in the chart room and were now demanding that the officers sur- render. Eleven forty-fours spoke instantaneously in reply, and a rush followed. The frail chart house gave way before three thousand and three hundred pounds of solid bone and muscle. The rest was easy. The men were covered and hand cuffed before they knew what had happened. The money was there. Package upon package of bills hold- ing one thousand dollars each and case after case of silver and gold. Jack looked, and as he looked, visions of things that so much money would buy floated before his eyes. When asked what he was thinking about, he replied, 'Tm meditatingf, The prisoners were taken to jail to await trial, and Jack and the ohficers returned to their respective duties-Jack to school, and the of- ficers to their posts. Three days later, Jack, getting the mail out of the box, dropped a long yellow envelope. When he picked it up, he saw that it had his name on it. Absently tearing it open he drew forth the contents. As he turned it over in his hand a slip of paper came into his view with his name written along the middle. Opposite was writing which amount- ed to one thousand dollars. He stood as if struck, and after coming to himself, rushed into the house wildly waving the check over his head. Now the name of John McFarlane is known nation-wide as a radio engineer. He says he owes his fame to the first thousand dollars. We hope that the science teacher has forgiven him. B. T., Class of'26. That School Friend No matter where you wander, No matter where you roam, No matter where you travel From mother and from home: One thing you will discover, One thing you will find out, Without the possibility Or shadow of a doubt. You never will forget a friend A chum you've made at school, Page Fifty-seven