When the Clouds Roll By

1
Guinea pigs and rabbits
are often sacrificed for
scientific purposes. But
  here is a new one -

2
Before a clinic of
mystery Dr. Ulrich
Metz propounds a
fantastic theory of 
   evil design.

3
 "I mean to take 
a human life in the
cause of science, but
this must remain a 
professional secret
with us."

4
 "Other scientists ex-
periment with animals
but I have selected a
human being ---- as
my work concerns the
human mind."

5
 "The power of suggestion
can destroy both mind and
body. But first I weaken the
power of resistance in my
subject by implanting psychic
germs of fear, worry, supersti-
ions and kindred annoyances."

6
 "For three months I 
have directed my ex-
periment upon a normal
young man, but he is
unaware of his fate."

7
It is midnight along New York's water
front. It is also midnight in the Wall 
street district. However, this has nothing 
to do with our story, except it is like-
wise midnight uptown where we first meet
Daniel Boone Brown --
an average young man.
Our tale proper
opens with the
eating of an
onion --

8
 "Is this all right? You 
know it's midnight!"

9
 "The stronger the 
food the stronger the
man. It's good exercise 
for the stomach, sir."

10
 The way of an onion
with a stomach.

11
Lobster --

12
Welsh Rarebit --

13
Mince Pie --

14
 Living just across the 
hall Dr. Metz awaits
word from one of his
confederates.

15
 "I gave him the 
food you directed.
He will soon be in
the throes of another
horrible nightmare."

16
 "Ghostly fingers now
stirring in his troubled
mind will make him an
easy victim for my ex-
periment."

17
 The stuff
that dreams 
are made of.

18
 In his quiet way
the janitor aids in
the conspiracy.

19
 "Quick! Get my 
dream book."

20
 "Beg pardon, sir --
but you got out of bed 
on the wrong side."

21
 "How do you feel 
this morning, sir?"

22
 "Don't like to 
brag, but I feel
great - immense!"

23
 "You are two hours 
late for work, sir."

24
"'Tis bad luck to look in 
     a glass -
Which mirrors another,
     alas! alas!"

25
 "Three times seven.
Wow! Twenty-one 
years bad luck."

26
 "Your uncle is
on the phone. He
is quite angry, sir."

27
 "Now, get right
down here -- you
understand?"

28
 "Are you ready 
to dress, sir?"

29
"Yes - you poor simp!"

30
"X!-!*?-!-!-!X-X!???"
(Not chemically pure.)

31
 "See a pin and pick
    it up -
 All the day you'll 
    have good luck."

32
A very good habit 
Is the foot of a rabbit.

33
"It looks like rain, sir."

34
 "Say - how is it you
always pop out just as
I come along?"

35
 "It's mental telepathy,
my boy. Our minds 
are attuned in perfect
harmony."

36
 "You must not 
smile. That is the
mark and expression
of the idiotic."

37
 "Do not hurry!
You must concen-
trate - think - think!
And take it easy --"

38
 "That Damuel
Bloomin' Brown has
flooded and ruined
my apartment!"

39
 "I'm late - my uncle -
I'll see her tonight."

40
One's surely in luck
 If a white horse goes by
And a red-headed lady
 Next gladdens his eye.

41
 "I'll give you ten 
dollars to lead me
to a red-headed 
woman."

42
 "I work for one. Slip 
me the ten smacks."

43
 "When the door 
opens you'll see a 
red-headed woman 
all right."

44
 "I should think you 
would be ashamed --"

45
 "Is that young 
whipper-snapper 
here yet?"

46
"George!"

47
"Get me some cigars."

48
 "I'll get him in good 
humor. Watch me!"

49
 "Nephew or no 
nephew -- I'll not
tolerate this!"

50
 "Do you know how 
late you are?"

51
"Yes sir - seven years!"

52
 "Nothing good can 
ever come of you!"

53
 "No - not for twenty-
eight years."

54
 "You're laid off 
for a week - with-
out pay! Get out
of my office!"

55
"Remember - one week!"

56
 "Get out of here - 
and stay out!"

57
"Get ---- my ---- hat."

58
 "No wonder you 
got fired - wearing
that opal ring."

59
 "Don't throw it 
away in here."

60
 Another shadow 
of Dr. Metz.

61
"Oh - lost his job, eh?"

62
The long arm of
 superstition.

63
"That's why you
stumbled - wearing
that opal ring."

64
 "Oh - are you 
superstitious?" 

65
"Terribly so ----" 

66
        HE                  SHE
 "Well, isn't that     "Well, isn't that
wonderful?"           wonderful?"

67
"Needles!" 

68
"Pins!"

69
 "I think it's a good 
sign to meet such a
nice girl on such a 
nice day in such a 
nice park."

70
"Bread and butter!"

71
Lucette Bancroft --
a wild flower from
Oklahoma - transplanted
by Art to a hothouse
studio in the wilds of
New York City's
 Greenwich Village.

72
 "Does a certain
party -- sort of -
like me?"

73
 "You ask Ouija 
the same thing."

74
 "Is a certain party 
engaged?"

75
 "This isn't an en-
gagement ring - it's 
a promise ring."

76
 "One ring - a promise.
Two rings - engagement.
Three rings ----"

77
"Three rings - hot water!"

78
"Don't touch it.
  'What falls to the floor -
   Comes to the door'."

79
Mark Drake, a boll
weevil mayor of a
boom oil town in
    Oklahoma.

80
 "Ouija - can two live
as cheaply as one?"

81
 "Please come and 
see what this says."

82
 "Huh! Hair cut 
while you work, eh?
That's a great idea!"

83
 "It's the New York 
idea. Everything hustle 
and bustle - economy 
in space and time."

84
 "There's a deal 
in oil that'll knock 
your eye out."

85
 "Won't you remain
for lunch?"

86
 "I'm sorry, but I'm
-- I'm a very busy
man and ----"

87
 "But you said you
had nothing to do for 
a whole week."

88
A falling knife is a dead 
     sure hunch 
That some young man 
     will come to lunch.

89
 "Then I'm going to 
take one guess and 
pick that man."

90
 Bobby De Vere -
a daylight Bohemian
- whose chief contri-
bution to art is her
bobbed hair.

91
 "Old man Bancroft
and me own this land
together - but he doesn't
know there's oil on it."

92
 "You buy us out 
cheap ---- understand!
Then put money in to
develop it - and I'm
your silent partner."

93
 "We'll finish our dis-
cussion after lunch."

94
 "Say -- this is a great 
idea! Eat while you 
work, eh?"

95
 "I don't dare show
my hand in the trans-
action. But you send
a man out west -- I'll
hoodwink old Bancroft
into selling. Get me?"

96
 "I have just the 
man - my nephew.
He's a dum-fuddle, 
but we can trust him."

97
 "He's sort of taking 
a vacation. But I think 
I can induce him to call 
it off and go back west 
with you."

98
 "He's in love - girl
he met in the park."

99
 "Good! That will 
be the foundation 
for more trouble - 
jealousy!"

100
Across Love's sunlit 
  path an ominous
   shadow falls

101
 "Oh, doctor - you
don't know what has
happened ----"

102
"You've lost your job."

103
 "Yes ---- but some-
thing else - something
fine and big!"

104
 "Oh, you mean the 
girl in the studio?"

105
 "How - how did 
you know that?"

106
 "Just another 
remarkable case 
of thought trans-
mission."

107
"Daniel - come here!"

108
 "You've caused me no 
end of trouble, but I'm
going to give you one
more chance. There's 
a business proposition
out west -- --"

109
 "Your uncle tells me
you're the very boy to
swing a little deal we
have on tap."

110
 "He should not 
have that job."

111
 "Get ready to go back 
west with me. I'm leav-
ing tomorrow night ----
Lackawanna ferry."

112
 "I'm the happiest man 
in the world! Got a job
-- got a girl -- and I'm
going right down and pro-
pose to her."

113
"Darn that black cat!"

114
 "I'm off to see a
little girl from the 
old home town. 
Great idea, eh?"

115
A secret deal in oil.

116
"Animal pictures, eh?"

117
 "I'm going west to-
morrow, but before I
go I want to ask you 
to be my ----"

118
 "Now that we
are alone I want 
to ask you ----"

119
 "There's a question 
I've wanted to ask you
for a long, long time.
Will you ----"

120
 "Tell Lucy the 
Mayor is here."

121
 "Bless your heart, 
Lucy - you're prettier
than ever."

122
 "And you still wear 
the promise ring!"

123
 "Well, Lucy - I've
come to ask you
the big question."

124
 "Please marry me. 
Look here ----"

125
 "Please say you'll 
marry me."

126
"Say, whose hat is this?"

127
 "Oh, the hat! It's -
it's mine. I - I always
wear it when I paint."

128
 "Let's take a look 
at the house."

129
 "Let's get him to 
the balcony - THE
BALCONY!"

130
 "If you don't promise 
to marry me I'll dash
myself to death below."

131
 "Come on, say
'yes' or - 'YES'."

132
 "You know -
wearing that hat 
means a forfeit."

133
 "I'm the happiest 
man in the world!"

134
 "I'm sorry, Mark,
but there is some-
one else - someone 
I really love."

135
 "That's all 
right. I guess 
I'll survive it."

136
 "So, the man she has
jilted is the same one
who gave Brown the job?
I shall bring the three to-
gether -- a love triangle."

137
S.O.S. for wedding guests.

138
 "I'm getting the bunch 
together for one last large 
evening. Bring your sister 
- or anybody's sister."

139
 "Why not invite 
your uncle -- and 
that gentleman from 
the west?"

140
 "Dr. Metz, you 
always think of 
everything."

141
"Something old -
  something new,
Something borrowed -
  something blue --"

142
 "-- and a piece 
of silver to wear in 
my shoe."

143
The happiest man 
in the world
all set for the 
happiest event of 
his life - - - the
surprise wedding.

144
 "What's the big idea 
of wearing your shirt 
inside out?"

145
 "I got it on wrong -
bad luck to change it."

146
 "Everything 
is arranged for
tonight."

147
 "When I say 'one
who has promised
to be my wife' --
you come in."

148
The extra help.

149
 "First of all I 
want to thank my 
benefactor who has 
made this happy
event possible."

150
 "Beg pardon, sir --
but there are thirteen
chairs at the table."

151
"I'll just stand."

152
 "The preacher
is here, sir."

153
 "Do you prefer wed-
dings - or funerals?"

154
 "And now I take 
great pleasure in pre-
senting to you the one
who has honored me 
and promised to be 
my wife."

155
 "I now take extreme
pleasure in presenting 
to you -----"

156
 "As I was saying -
I am proud to intro-
duce to you -----"

157
 "What's the big 
idea - you here?"

158
 "Why, why nothing
- except I'm going to 
be married."

159
 "So, he forgot to tell 
you his uncle has oil 
interests there and is
sending him west to 
double-cross your father!"

160
 "You needn't worry, 
Lucy - he's not going.
I came to New York 
just to put a stop to
this conspiracy."

161
 "He never intended to 
marry you. He's only
using you in the plot to
cheat your father."

162
 "Try to forget him,
dearie. Why not go 
back to that little
town of yours where 
everybody loves you?"

163
 "You've got to cut 
out this noise or I'll
call the police."

164
 "Our deal is off. That
dunderhead nephew of 
yours is going to marry
old man Bancroft's girl.
He's told her everything."

165
 "A pretty mess 
you've made of 
this. Why, you 
must be insane!"

166
 "I'm through with 
you - for all time."

167
 "You scoundrel!
You blackguard!
You've broken her 
heart."

168
 "She's gone away 
with one who really 
loves her. She never 
wants to see you again."

169
 Within Brown's 
head now rages a 
brain storm.

170
 Reason totters
on her throne -

171
 - whilst Sense of
Humor, blinded by
the storm, cringes
helpless at her feet.

178
 From the black
clouds spring Worry
and Jealousy - arch
conspirators against 
Reason.

179
"Lucette!"

180
 "Where is everybody?
Where's Lucette?"

181
 "She's gone - gone
with the man she is
to marry."

182
        The
Lackawanna ferry - to 
the west-bound train.

183
 "Reason must die!
Quick, Worry ----
summon Despair."

184
"There he is now!"

185
 "Wonder how 
he ever got over 
those gates!"

186
"Hello, Charlie."

187
"Hello, Tom."

188
 "We're going to take 
you back home, Doc."

189
 The ray of Truth re-
vives Sense of Humor.

190
 Out of this crisis 
comes unknown
strength and Sense
of Humor easily
destroys his enemies.

191
 "Did you ever 
hear the story of 
the old maid in 
the sleeping car?"

192
 "I just got on to 
myself! From now 
on I'm going to buck
life with a sense of 
humor."

193
 "Look here -- you
big, blustering bully -
you've been bulldozing
and browbeating me
long enough!"

194
 "Look! Get him -
he's crazy, too."

195
 "I'm going to get
that girl - find out just 
what happened - and
then kick the stuffing 
out of somebody."

196
 "What will you 
charge to shoot 
me over to the 
Jersey side?"

197
 "I'm not in that 
business."

198
 "This isn't business - 
it's a girl."

199
"Oh ----- a girl!"

200
 "I understand -
I'll humor him."

201
 "I'm going to camp 
here on your door-
step till I learn what 
this is all about."

202
 Love's tireless vigil -
as the saying goes.

203
Out of a clouded sky -

204
 "Dispatch from the 
Junction says the Mil-
ford dam is ready to
bust. Must get every-
body off the train and
make for the hills."

205
 "Better get this 
train out of here -
the dam is ready to 
bust any minute."

206
 "Lucette! Lucette!
You must open this 
door - there is danger."

207
 "I'll not see you.
It's just another 
one of your con-
temptible tricks."

208
 "I know of your
scheme to rob my
father - Mark Drake
told me everything."

209
"LUCETTE!"

210
Rain clouds and brain 
clouds -- storms that 
grasp like living things
- melt away under the 
beaming smile of the 
morning sun, but --
Our hero is still up 
      a tree.

211
"Where's Lucette?"

212
 "I don't know - and 
don't care. I'm busy 
looking after myself."

213
"Sic 'em!"

214
 "Read this while 
I duck down in the 
kitchen and get you
something to eat."

215
 "Here comes a 
church - preacher 
and everything."

216
"Will you marry me?"

217
 "You can use this 
opal ring - if you're 
not superstitious."

218
"Oh, look - there's a new
 moon. Make a wish -
 over your left shoulder."

219
"You know I don't really 
 believe in this but I think
 it means good luck."

220
  Never despair, folks, 
everything will be Jake ---

221
-- when the clouds roll by.

THE END.