University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1915-07-26

available, hence notes must be ex-
changed. Field disliked the custom,
but was compelled to conform if he
wanted partner for Sunday even
ing. But he consoled himself with the
practical jokes he played in connec-
tion with his notes. Sometimes they
bore fictitious addresses. Again one
might be marked:
PAY bearer"-a shining little ne
gro-"ten cents"
The girl who accepted Fields Sun
day evening invitation was always
sure of an exciting time. One of his
accomplishments was talking out of
the corner of his mouth without per-
ceptibly moving a muscle of his face
All through the sermon Field would
keep up a running fire of comment,
wise and otherwise but always witty,
upon what the preacher was saying.
The girl beside him would be con-
vulsed with laughter, all the time con-
scious of her mothers eye fixed re-
provingly on her but unable to con-
troll her paroxysms of mirth Mean
while Field sat beside her, now gazing
soulfully into the preachers eyes, ap-
parently the very pink of devout young
manhood; now turning upon his part
ner loftily reproachful gaze that sent
her off into fresh spasm.
Girls Kept the Secret.
The mother might have her violent
suspicious that that scamp of a Gene
Field" was responsible for her daugh-
ter's unseemly behavior. But she
couldn't prove it, and no girl ever told,
to escape even the most severe lee
ture. Oh, no! 1t was too much fun
to be with Field to risk losing his So
ciety for little think like that,
His tendency toward practical jok-
ing was strongly marked in his stu
dent days. He boarded at the home of
Mrs. Susan Powers. afterward found
er of the Powers Hotel. Mrs. Powers
married daughter was at home with
her new baby and all her former
chums had run in to see the cherub.
They were informed that the treasure
was upstairs asleep. but would be dis
played as soon as it awoke.
While they were chatting Field came
in and went up to his room. Fifteen
minutes later down ne came bearing
the squirming baby closely wrapped
in shawl. A chorus of feminine
shrieks arose, but Field needed no
commands. Instead he danced gayly
around the room, keeping the infant
always just out of the reach of pro-
testing hands.
Finally he tossed the month-old
child high in the air, catching it gin
gerly as it came down. The Mortified
mother collapsed into the nearest
chair and the grandmother came in
from the kitchen.
Grandmother to the Rescue.
stop your fooling. Gene Field" she
said, "and give Mary that baby."
"All right, Ma" was the cheerful
response. "but I'll bet she won't keep
it when 1 give it to her."
The anxious young mother flung
back the shawl and beheld, not her
own treasure, but Penny, the little
black and tan terrier, Fields devoted /
admirer. Field had slipped into Marys
room and with infinite pains dressed |
Penny in one of the baby's dresses.
He had even slipped the dogs paws
into the sleeves so the effect of wav-
ing arms might be complete when he
dandled the baby"
There is a wealth of curious and in
teresting Field lore in Columbia wait
ing for some investigator to collect be-
fore the last of those who knew Field
personally shall have slipped away.
taking these treasures forever beyond
reach.