The Argosy, December 1905 — page 110: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

88 “T—I only wear these occasionally,” he said apologetically, “ but Pll tell you now that you ask. The first one—that little fellow—I won in a swimming match last year.” He paused. “'The second,” he went on, “I got for knocking out two fellows in succession in a boxing match.” “What’s the last one?” other man. “Oh, that,” said Smith deprecating- ly, “that is only a sort of side-show. It’s one I got last summer from a cam- era club out home. I got it for some interior views.” Tomlinson, with one hand up to his eye, stepped forward. “Say, who are you, any way?” he demanded. “T’m Charles Augustus Smith,” he answered. : “1 know that,” returned Tomlinson, “but what I want to know is where you eame from—what school? ” “ Oh,” answered Gussie; “‘ of course. Why, I am a member of the last class from the Hopetown Preparatory School.” A member of the crowd gave vent to a long, low whistle. “The dickens! ” exclaimed this man, who was Bully Whitehead. ‘“ That ac- counts for it.” He, too, stepped forward. “Say, loak here, Mr. Smith,” he ex- claimed. “I think we’ve heard of you before. The Hopetown Prep. No won- der. Say, aren’t you the fellow that was known up there as Strong-Arm Smith? Are you that chap? ” asked an- THE ARGOSY. Smith looked nervously about. * 'The—the very same,” he said in a trembling voice “Gee,” said another; “ that. accounts for it, then. But look here, why didn’t you come into the class last fall, like a man? What did you sneak in in Jan- uary for? ” Tomlinson held up his hand. “Hold on,” he said. “‘ Sneak’ is a highly improper word to use with ref- erence to our friend Strong-Arm Smith.” He seized the culprit, forced him to the floor, and compelled him to apolo- gize. “Tl tell you why,” finally answered Smith. “I promised the Preps to play on the school team all the fall; that’s why. And,” he added, “I had to keep my promise. ‘They would have knocked me into the middle’of next week if I hadn’t.” This was regarded as mere airy per- siflage on the part of Smith—as though anybody could knock him into the mid- dle of next week! “Gentlemen,” said Charles Augustus Smith, “it is barely possible that Cal- culus Manning, Esquire, is waiting for us in the mathematics-room, and as | know my lesson and the rest of you do not, [ am anxious to get over there and impress him to the best of my ability. Will you join me?” Charles Augustus Smith, alias Gussie Smith, alias Strong-Arm Smith, took off his spectacles, wiped them in an agitated manner, coughed nervously, and—led the march to the mathematics- room. HUMILITY. I ASK not a life for the dear ones, All radiant, as others have done, But that life may have just enough shadow To temper the glare of the sun. I would pray God would guard them from evil, But my prayer would bound back to myself ; Ah! a seraph may pray for a sinner, But a sinner must pray for himself. Charles M. Dickinson, . CORMICLOOOKS (C@)