10 ACORN The Jealousy of Jack Kirkwood Jack Kirkwood was jealous. He was a Senior at the City High School and should have known better, but then he was human, and that is an excuse for a good many blunders. The main reason for this jealousy was a growing intimacy between Fred Howe, Jack's closest friend and chum, and Muriel Davis, Jack's sweetheart. Muriel, according to Jack, was "the nicest and sweetest little girl in all the world," and Fred was "the best fellow ever," but when your chum takes your best girl away from you can he still be the "best fellow ever?" Jack thought not. "Why," Jack said to himself; "just the other night Muriel told me that she would rather go with me than any other boy, and yet today I saw her sitting in the same seat with Fred. They were laughing and having a great time together, and when Fre 1 said something to her she patted him on the arm and looked up at him as if she thought he were the only fellow in town." "Well," he began again as he choked back a lump in his throat, "she can have him if she wants; but sometime little Muriel'll want me to take her out and then-. Oh," he added, "I know I'd do it." That night was a sorrowful one for Jack. He never looked at bis lessons, but instead, went gloomily up to his room right after supper. At school next day Jack met Fred coming out from the library and with a cold good morning was going to pass him by, but Fred held him back. Jack was unresponsive and as he started away to class he mumbled half aloud that he was in a hurry. Muriel was in her usual seat when Jack arrived, but instead of taking the seat across the aisle, he went down to the corner one. Muriel looked rather surprised, but said nothing and the incident was soon forgotten in the discussion of a Trig. Prop. In the hall, after class, Jack met Red Brintz who said, "Say Jack, from appearances Fred has cut you out, vas iss, huh?" "Oh, I don't know," Jack answered heatedly. "She can have him if she wants him, can't she?" "Well, you needn't get sore, Jack. I'll bet if you had your way she couldn't, could she?" replied Red roguishly as he jumped out of Jack's reach. "Well, I guess everybody in school will notice it and guy me to death," Jack thought. "I'll have to take another girl out before they'll stop; but what's the use," he added; "let 'em rave." Still in this mood, Jack strolled into the frat room to avoid being noticed. His rival, the only person in the room, turned around just as he entered. It was too late to back out. ACORN 11 "Cheer up, old scout," said Fred, beginning the conversation. "A fellow'd think someone had copped your girl if he didn't know better." "The nervy brat," Jack thought. "I wonder if he thinks I don't know," and then aloud: "Oh I'm all right," and brightening up he said: "Let's go to the show this afternoon; I'll stand." "I can't," Fred replied. "I've got a date with a friend at three, and I must keep it. I'm sorry, but then we can go some other time. "Why," he cried, pulling out his watch; "it's nearly that now, so long. I've got to hurry." When Fred was out of sight Jack said "I'll bet that friend is Muriel, I'll just watch and see." Jack went to the window and waited. Sure enough, in a few minutes, Fred and Muriel came out of the building and turned down towards town. "Well, wouldn't that get your Angora!" Jack exclaimed angrily. "Fred surely is a great fellow alright one minute he talks as if he were my best friend, and then the next minute goes and takes my girl away. I'll catch him tomorrow and punch his head for him, the ding-busted--," and nearly overcome with emotion he threw his books down and commenced berrating Fred in no complimentary way. Jack went to school the next day with the firm resolve in his heart to pound Fred's head. He had spent the night in swearing vengeance on Fred and Muriel. The one thought on his mind was to whip Fred so badly that he would never want to steal another girl's affections. Jack thought not of the probability that Fred might do the beating, but only of the one thing that Fred Howe must be beaten so that he would beg on his knees for mercy. The chance did not come, however, until in the afternoon, when Jack saw Fred and Muriel talking very excitedly to each other. Muriel's face was radiant. Fred too, seemed as happy and gay as she. "I'll wait until he comes this way," Jack said, "and if he is alone I'll pounce on to him. Oh, here he comes now!" and Jack hurriedly backed into the alcove. As soon as Fred and Muriel separated Fred turned around and caught sight of Jack. "Hello there, Jack, you're just the fellow I've been looking for, come in here, Muriel's got something to show you." "I'll bet it is an engagement ring," Jack said to himself with a sinking heart as he allowed himself to be dragged into the room. "Oh, here you are," Muriel said lightly, and to Fred, "Bring him over here." When the three were together Muriel began, "Mr. Jack Kirkwood, in behalf of Mr. Fred Howe and Miss Muriel Davis, I take extremely great pleasure in bestowing upon you this little token of esteem and friendship in honor of your twentieth birthday. May you