Stetson Weekly Collegiate

3TET52JW C21U0KTE STUDENTS' PUBLICATION OF STETSON UNIVERSITY. VOL. XXIII DE LAND, FLA., THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 10J1. No. 23 7-20-8 FRIDAY NIGHT Admission 50c xjtxjtxjtxjtxjt xjtxjtxjtxjtxjtxjtxjt xjtxjtxjtxjtxjt AAAAA AAAAAAA AAAAA X X X X X THE FALSE MOUSTACHE By Paul Wheeler. X X X X X xjtxjtxjtxjtxjt xjtxjtxjtxjtxjtxjtxjt xjtxjtxjtxjtxjt AAAAA AAAAAAA AAAAA Doctor Norman Duncan was worried. He was not easily disturbed, but for the last few days startling things had been happening to him. The first incident that mystified him, occurred while he was working in his laboratory. He had placed a chemical compound in a bowl on the table while he crossed the room to dry his hands. When he returned a few moments later, the bowl had vanished. Naturally he was astounded and after vainly searching for the missing article, he sat down to think the matter over. He knew that the creaking hinges of the door would have warned him if anyone had entered and that the windows were tightly locked. He could imagine no place of concealment nor understand why anyone should remove his chemicals. He vainly tried to arrive at some definite conclusion. The doctor was not a superstitious man, but he was visibly worried as he closed his laboratory door and made his way to the dining room where his wife and daughter were awaiting him. He was so abstracted and moody during the dinner hour that his wife inquired: " Norman, when are you going South? I am sure you need the trip for you look so tired." "My dear, I repeat to you, that I will not go away this winter for I'm really not tired and think it best to stay here," replied the doctor. His wife did not press the subject and the doctor ceased to puzzle over the episode of the bowl until he was mystified by another incident. He was accustomed at times to quote aloud his favorite poet Tennyson in a melodramatic manner and one afternoon as he was standing before the active fountain in his greenhouse reciting those famous lines from Mort d'Arthur: "So flashed and fell the brand Ex- calibur; But ere he dipt the surface, rose an arm Clothed in white samite, mystic, wonderful ..... " a clenched hand arose from the fountain and then sank again. At that moment his daughter called to him saying that a patient urgently wished to speak to him at the phone. Hurrying to the house, to his amazement he found the line vacant. So he quickly returned to the fountain to investigate. But though he searched the greenhouse through and drained the basin of the fountain dry, he found nothing and nobody that could have caused the disturbance. Baffled he returned to the house and told his wife of the incident, also relating the episode of the bowl. Incredulous, she once more advised him to take a trip for tbe benefit of his mind which she said must be failing. He scoffed at the idea though he could not explain the strange things which had happened. Plainly, the doctor was worried His mind was about made up to take his wife's advice and he needed but a little impulse to decide him. One evening as he sat by the fire in his study drawing, as was his habit, the paper turned red in his hand .... In alarm he dropped it to the floor and went to call his wife and daughter. When they returned they found the paper in its original whiteness where it had fallen. "Tomorrow I sail for Florida, and God grant it may stop these insane delusions," said the doctor. Thereupon he began preparations to depart and the next day he took the steamer for Florida. About a year before this, a young man by the name of John Abbott well-groomed and of commanding appearance, was roaming the streets of a great city in a dejected manner. He had come to the Metropolis with money in his pocket and vigor in his make-up and had plunged into society. He won a place there immediately on account of the especial skill he displayed in legerdemain. During the long winter evenings he entertained many parties by performing his wonderful slight-of-hand tricks. One evening he met a young woman who attended one of the parties at which he exhibited and he thought her the most charming and fascinating maiden he had ever beheld. He asked for permission to take her home . She consented and thus the acquaintance began. He saw her several times at her home and fell deeply in love with her and his love seemed to be reciprocated. But it suffered a severe and unexpected blow when her father told him that he need not call again as he wished his daughter to associate with someone who was more of a man than a trickster could be. Completely dazed by this sudden opposition, John left the house feeling himself disgracefully used. He unconsciously and dejectedly roamed the busy streets, feeling his best impulses wronged by the father of the woman he most deeply loved. All his nature rebelled and by the time he reached his apartment, he had settled into a dogged determination to win the young woman —who was none other than the beautiful daughter of Doctor Duncan. (Continued next week). Show Your College Spirit-Go to see 7 " 20 " 8