Mexico weekly ledger., 1919-04-17
REGULAR MOVIE STORY
ENACTED IN MEXICO

Anyway if Sidney Dick, Gilbert
Koerner, Sgt. D G .Merithew and Carl
H. Oncley all discharged soldiers,
didn't especially enjoy hearing the
soft musical notes of the bugle at un-
reasonable hours in the morning, they
would have much preferred this kind
of an awakening to a sudden rapping
at their door shortly after they had
started on their journey through
dreamland. But that's just what hap
pened.
The time was IL o'clock Friday
night, and the place, Alamo Hotel,
Mexico, Mo. The rappers who raped
were officers of the law. The four
boys in question chad just settled
down for a long spring nap" when
suddenly there came a tapping as
of some one gently ~rapping, as of
some n gently tapping, tapping at
their chamber door,"
Sidney Dick hearing the "rapping,"
also tapping" springs up from his
bed throws open the door and meets
the claw" face to face with the warm
and cheerful greeting: you're under
arrest" Certainly; won't you come
ill.," say the nervous Sidney. Come
in and tell US your story" The officers
accept the kind invitation. But they
don't act a bit like polite guests or Wis
itors should act. They look about the
room, take in the uniforms and the
civilian suits hanging lazily across the
back of a chair. Sorry boys, but we
have it to do" What they do is to
examine the contents of the baggage
belonging to the quartette. Nothing
found, they then set down to an inter-
esting conversation with their newly
made friends. They learn their homes
are in Evanston, Ind, that they are on
their way in a REQ Six to Okmulgee,
Okla, coming by the way of st. Louis;
that they arrived in Mexico Thursday
evening and staid over Friday to have
some repairs to their car made. This
is about all they learn except that
Sidney Dick frankly admits he was
driving with the cut-out open which
he also frankly admits he should not
have done.
The officers thaw out. They realize
these boys are four of Uncle Sans
soldiers lately discharged and are on
a pleasure trip to the Oklahoma City.
But-Dick had violated the law.
The next scene is enacted in the
City Hall about $50 the following
morning. The stage is all set. Judge
Wayne, city police judge, is in his ac-
customed seat. J. W. Burlington, city
attorney 3 there to prosecute, if pros
ecution be necessary, and David H.
Robertson, one of Mexico's bright
young attorneys is chatting with the
four Indiana youths, fine manly look
ing fellows. Robertson has formed
their acquaintance. He knows the
father of Sidney Dick who is a Cap
tain in the 32nd Engineers, also inven-
tor of an air brake. The boys are high
ly elated hat they are not really bank
robbers after all and that they didn't
have to stay in the holdover over
night. So Dick pleads guilty to the
charge of driving with cut-out open
and gladly pays his fine of SIS and
cost. They then shake hands with the
Judge, the Attorneys, the chief of
police, as well as a newspaper repre-
sentative.
As they walk out of the office Dick
is heard to remark BILLY if you fell
lows ever tell me to open that cut-out
again it's going to be the death of
YOU" With these ringing remarks
the curtain is rung down on the little
tragedy.
Dick served in the 23rd Infantry and
saw five and a half months active ser
vice in France. His father also SER
we'd in the 80 Engineers overseas.
Oncley was in the S24 Aero Squad
ron and saw six months service over
seas. Sgt. Merithew served with the
62nd Engineers at Camp Merritt and
Fl. Benjamin Harrison for 10 months.
Gilbert Koerner, known by his stage
name as Billy Bailey, is a comedian
and before the war worked with his
brother who is also known to the
theatrical world as Billy Bailey, a
famous comedian. He enlisted in the
Army but was discharged before the
war was declared on account of his
youth. He then enlisted in the Navy
and did patrol duty from Norfolk to
New York City on a submarine chaser
229 U. S. S. Vega.
The boys left Evanston at 10 o'clock
Wednesday morning. Dick and Koer-
ner wore civilian clothes and the other
two wore their army uniforms.
Mrs. Hagedorn Seriously i'll.