Comprehension and Discussion Questions. 1. As the story opens, what is the jeweler doing?
1. As the story opens, what is the jeweler doing?
2. Why did the jeweler set the watches in his window all at three o'clock and the clocks all at six o'clock?
3. Who, after seeing this signal, entered the jeweler's shop?
4. In what part of Gebhardt's watch did the jeweler place the secret message?
5. What message was written on the thin paper placed in the strap of Gebhardt's watch?
6. What did Gebhardt take from the suitcase under his bed?
7. According to his information, at what hour would he be free to work without interruption in King Charles Square?
8. Why was he very careful to set his watch exactly sixty-four minutes ahead?
9. What happened that night while Gebhardt was busy beneath one of the trucks, wiring a bomb to the motor?
10. What serious error had Gebhardt made in his otherwise careful planning?
Vocabulary and Idiom Review
A. Circle the word in parentheses which completes each sentence correctly:
1. If you wish to have your watch repaired, you go to a (dentist/grocer/druggist/jeweler).
2. A (lock/message/wrist/coast) is part of the body.
3. A wristwatch is generally held to the wrist by means of a (strap/lock/curtain).
4. In a shop or store, the clerk generally stands behind a (window/station/counter/catalogue).
5. A (motor/lantern/lamp/knife) has a sharp edge.
6. A man who is lame has something wrong with his (leg/ head/arm/clothes).
7. A cane is used to help someone to (eat/sleep/write/walk).
8. When something is running like clockwork, it is running (behind schedule/exactly on time / heavily / noisily).
9. An alley is (a small street/a cat/a wristwatch/a kind of bomb).
10. The ankle connects (hand and arm/head and shoulders/leg and foot/finger and hand).
B. Use the following expressions in sentences of your own:
1. pay attention to 5. pull down 9. get out of
2. take out 6. lean on 10. take care of
3. set a watch 7. spread out 11. pick up
4. after all 8. light a cigarette 12. at once
C. Many words in English can be used either as verbs or nouns without any change in form.
For example: That woman is a terrible gossip; she gossips about her friends all the time.
Use each of the following words first as a verb and then as a noun:
1. work ____________________________________________________________________________
2. lock ____________________________________________________________________________
3. help ____________________________________________________________________________
4. light ____________________________________________________________________________
5. experiment ____________________________________________________________________________
6. hurry ____________________________________________________________________________
7. play ____________________________________________________________________________
8. dream ____________________________________________________________________________
9. watch ____________________________________________________________________________
10. knock ____________________________________________________________________________
Art for Heart's Sake
By Rube Goldberg
PART I
"Here, take your pineapple juice," gently persuaded Koppel, the male nurse.
"No!" said Collis P. Ellsworth firmly.
"But it's good for you, sir."
"No!"
"It's the doctor's orders."
"No!"
Koppel heard the front door bell and was glad to leave the room. He found Doctor Caswell in the hall downstairs. "I can't do a thing with him," he told the doctor. "He won't take his pineapple juice. He doesn't want me to read to him. He hates the radio. He doesn't like anything."
Doctor Caswell received the information with his usual professional calm. He had done some thinking since his last visit. This was no ordinary case. The old gentleman was in pretty good shape for a man of seventy-six years. But he had to be prevented from buying things. He had suffered his last heart attack after his disastrous purchase of that small railroad out in Iowa. The attack before that came from the excitement caused by the failure of the chain of grocery stores which he had previously bought at a very high price. All of his purchases of recent years had to be liquidated at a great sacrifice both to his health and his pocketbook. Though he was still very wealthy, his health had begun to show serious effects from these various business operations.
Collis P. Ellsworth sat in a huge armchair by the window. He looked around as Doctor Caswell asked, "Well, how's the young man today?"
"Umph!" said the figure in the chair in a rather disagreeable tone.
"I hear that you haven't been obeying orders," the doctor said.
"Who's giving me orders at my time of life?"
The doctor drew up his chair and sat down close to the old man. "I've got a suggestion for you," he said quietly.
Old Ellsworth looked suspiciously over his eyeglasses. "What is it, more medicine, more automobile rides, more foolishness to keep me away from my office?"
"How would you like to take up art?" The doctor had his stethoscope ready in case the suddenness of the suggestion proved too much for the patient's heart.
But the old man's answer was a strong "Foolishness!"
"I don't mean seriously," said the doctor, relieved that nothing had happened. "Just play around with chalk and crayons. It'll be fun."
"Foolishness!"
"All right." The doctor stood up. "I just suggested it, that's all."
Collis P. paused a moment. The wrinkles in his forehead deepened a little. "Where'd you get this crazy idea, anyway?"
"Well, it's only a suggestion—"
"But, Caswell, how do I start playing with the chalk — that is, if I'm foolish enough to start?"
"I've thought of that, too. I can get a student from one of the art schools to come here once a week and show you. If you don't like it after a while, you can throw him out."
Doctor Caswell went to his friend, Judson Livingston, head of the Atlantic Art Institute, and explained the situation. Livingston had just the young man — Frank Swain, eighteen years old and an excellent student. He needed the money. He ran an elevator at night to pay for his schooling. How much would he get? Five dollars a visit. Fine.
The next afternoon young Swain was shown into the big living room. Collis P. Ellsworth looked at him suspiciously.
Swain arranged some paper and crayons on the table. "Let's try and draw that vase over there on the table," he suggested.
"What for? It's only a bowl with some blue stains on it. Or are they green?"
"Try it, Mr. Ellsworth, please."
"Umph!" The old man took a piece of crayon in a shaky hand and drew several lines. He drew several more and then connected these crudely. There it is, young man, he said with a tone of satisfaction. "Such foolishness!" Frank Swain was patient. He needed the five dollars. "If you want to draw you will have to look at what you're drawing, sir."
Ellsworth looked. "Gosh, it's rather pretty. I never noticed it before."
Koppel came in with the announcement that his patient had done enough for the first lesson.
"Oh, it's pineapple juice again," Ellsworth said. Swain left.