Yankee Doodle Boy Omnibus (1940-1941)

[DocQuantum]

Jimmy Jones, known as the Yankee Doodle Boy, was one of those characters who only appeared in text stories in the comics. He first appears in National Comics #1 (1940), and his stories ran until issue #9 (1941). He was an adventurous page boy for the U.S. Senate, and often uncovered sinister plots that he helped to thwart. As you might expect, much of reads like patriotic wartime propaganda. I'm posting all of his 2-page stories in this thread, which I'll call an Omnibus, since it will contain all of Jimmy Jones' appearances in the comics.

This character will be returning in the present-day of Earth-X in a decidedly different form in a future story.

[DocQuantum]

Yankee Doodle Boy (National Comics #1)
by Anthony Lamb



"I got it! Oh, gee, I got it! Now I might just as well be a walking stick of TNT. My life'll be worth half a Nazi butter ration when those guys catch up with me. Boy, oh, boy!"

Jimmy Jones slipped into the shadows of a protecting hedge and watched while a figure came out of the Embassy and angrily summoned a cab. Then, like a young whirlwind, he sped down Pennsylvania Avenue, and a few moments later the sharp click of his racing feet drummed up the steps of the Capitol building. He dropped down in a well-darkened corner and waited for the morning.

Jimmy was a Senate page boy. He was called the Yankee Doodle Boy by all the Senators because -- well, because he was so chock-full of good old American fight.

The events leading up to Jimmy's mad chase to the Capitol steps had happened fast and furiously, beginning that morning while Congress was in session, and they were not over yet.

It was when that group of foreigners left the Senate gallery in a body and Jimmy heard a few mumbled words as they passed him that he grew suspicious. They, he knew, had been behind the lobby that was trying to keep the bill allowing the warring countries of Europe to buy munitions from America from passing the Senate. That morning the bill had been passed, and the foreigners had exited in a huff.

"Hey, Corny, tell Senator Johnson I'll be back with his hat in a sec -- I've got business to attend to." The Yankee Doodle Boy followed the men down the corridor and made a mental note of the room they went into. He whizzed down the stairs and along the columned hall till he came to the spot directly beneath the lounge where the foreigners were gathered. He put his ear up close to the column and listened.

The drone of heavily accented voices came down to him. At first it was hard to understand what was said. But after screwing up his face in an expression of extreme concentration and sticking a finger in his outside ear, he began to understand the words that fell like bombshells in his startled mind.

"Ve cannot allow de sale of munitions to our enemy. So, ve must destroy de source of dese munitions. Yah, dot is it. Tonight I vill have plans for our agents to blow up all de arms factories in America. It must be done at once."

"Tonight? Where will you draw up the plans?"

"Dey vill be at de Embassy at 10 o'clock tonight."

Jimmy heard no more. At that moment a monocled gentleman in a black Homburg stopped before the column and looked at the page boy with a more than quizzical look in his eye.

"Vot is dis? Der post, she is vispering things to you, yah? Let me listen too. I am very interested in vot a post has to say."

Jimmy swung about and tried to make a quick getaway, but the stranger's hand was locked securely in his coat collar and a strong hand glued itself around his mouth.

The next thing he knew, Jimmy was bouncing around on the back seat of a long black car, bound and gagged, and the Capitol was fast receding in the background.

He heard the men in the front discussing him.

"Ve must be careful. A page boy will be missed at the Senate, so ve must not do away with him altogether. It is too dangerous."

"Fritz vill take care of him. Ve vill put him on Fritz's boat until our job is done. After ve leave the country, it von't matter how much he knows."

Fritz's boat was a small motor launch docked several miles down the Potomac River. As it chugged off toward Chesapeake Bay, the Yankee Doodle Boy was very busy in the cabin. But no so anyone would notice it. To Fritz, who grinned through the hatch every once in a while, Jimmy appeared to be lying, curled like a babe in slumber on the bunk. But behind his back, his hands were swiftly working themselves free of the binding (rubbing up and down against a sharp metal spring under the mattress).

It was near evening when Jimmy slid over the side and into the cold water. When Fritz looked back and saw the small head bobbing near the shore, it was too late. His fire missed by yards as he frantically pulled a gun and aimed it at the bank.

Jimmy ducked below the surface and swam under water for several minutes. But soon the cold water began to stiffen his muscles, and his lungs were ready to burst. He swung ashore behind a clump of low-hanging bushes and made off through a field of tall grass.

"I've gotta get back. I've got to get to the Embassy before 10 o'clock tonight and get those plans." Jimmy ran to the highway and stood in a little pool that flowed from his river-soaked clothes and thumbed a car that sped him toward Washington.

"Swimmin' out of season, aren't you, fella? That's one easy way to get pneumonia. Hey, you're a Senate page, ain'tcha? What's up? What are you doin' out here on the road in that condition?"

Jimmy answered the inquisitive farmer that had picked him up as best he could. His dangerously wet condition made the sympathetic man step down a little harder on the gas to get the boy to warmth and dry clothes. But once in Washington, Jimmy ducked out of the car at the first red light and threw back a hasty "thank you" as the farmer honked wildly for him to come back.

It was dark now and he crept through the back entrance of the Embassy, where he knew the conspirators would convene in a few hours. His clothes had dried considerably in the car, but as he pushed open a cellar window and leapt in, Jimmy welcomed the sight of a glowing furnace.

He stifled a sneeze, and slipped up next to the furnace, standing well in the shadows. For half an hour he stood there till his clothes were thoroughly dry. He wasn't taking any chance of sneezing in the face of danger. This was risky business he was up to.

Suddenly, he noticed an air-condition ventilator opening into the wall. It wasn't working at this time of year, and Jimmy dived into the narrow passage that led through the walls of the building and wriggled up to the first floor like a chimney sweep going up the flue. He listened for the heavy foreign voices and crept toward them on his hands and knees. Four streaks of light cut across the passage as the voices grew louder. Jimmy came upon the opening vents that looked into the richly paneled library, where a stocky, bald-headed man, with the shoulders of a bull, gave orders to an attendant. In his hands he held a document which Jimmy recognized as a map of the United States thoroughly marked, as to time and place of the intended bombings.



How to get that paper? A sudden inspiration turned his worried expression to one of excited relief. He scampered back to the cellar and examined the air-conditioning plant. Now, if he could only -- yes, here it was -- the switch. Turn it on full, reverse it and--

A howl from above, brought news of his success. In another moment, a flood of papers fluttered out of the ventilator. Jimmy caught them and with feverish fingers sorted the letters and papers he didn't need till he found the plans. Sticking them well down in his shirt, he leapt out of the window, and morning found him curled on the Capitol steps, fast asleep.

But the figure that Jimmy had seen get into the cab had not been exactly idle -- all night the agents had searched the city for the culprit with the plans.

Jimmy opened his eyes with a start. The morning sunlight was blocked by two threatening figures, towering above him. Jimmy gulped, and he felt his muscles go limp as the rough hands grabbed him and lifted him to his feet. He hung between them weakly, for a moment. Then, with an unexpected burst of energy, he wrenched himself free from their grasp, and darted back up the steps and into the door that was just being unlocked by the startled watchman. He skidded into the great hall, and bounded up to the door of the Intelligence department. Luckily, it was open. The tense times made it necessary for agents to work overtime, and as Jimmy flew into the room several heads popped up from the codes and books they were working on.

"Here take this before I blow up. I'm loaded with dynamite!" the Yankee Doodle Boy gasped, as he handed over the papers.

That evening the American Kid, Jimmy Jones, was the guest of honor at a turkey dinner, and some of the nation's most important men played host. There were speeches and toasts made that would have swelled the head of many a youngster, but Jimmy wasn't stuffing himself with the praise and glory -- he was stuffing himself with turkey and more turkey, and pie and more pie and ice cream and more -- well, everything that caught the eye of the YANKEE DOODLE BOY!

[DocQuantum]

Yankee Doodle Boy (National Comics #2)
by Anthony Lamb



"Murder in the Senate Gallery!" Newspapers the nation over splashed the incredible words across their headlines in bold black letters.

Washington police were baffled. The G-men were hopelessly unable to uncover a single clue to the murder that took place in a room full of onlookers during a heated Senate debate.

Talk of the murder eclipsed most of the important national and international affairs of state then under discussion on the floors of the House and Senate. And probably the most excited conversations of all took place among the youngest contingent of the Capitol corps -- the page boys.

"Can ya imagine? Who would want to kill a visitin' school teacher? That's what I don't understand -- if it was one of those foreign spies -- but a school teacher from some hick town in Oregon--" Corny Dobbs scratched his yellow head and looked puzzled. The other boys laughed.

"The motive isn't what's bothering me -- I had a teacher back home once that I could of -- well--" Johnny Farrel gestured significantly slicing his finger across his throat. "It's the method that's got me -- stabbed in the back and Jimmy Jones swears there was no one sitting near her in the gallery."

"Hey, by the way -- where is Jimmy Jones?"

Where WAS the Yankee Doodle Boy, Jimmy Jones? He hadn't been around since the day of the murder! What on earth was he up to now? Since the time he saved the nation's armament plans from being blown to smithereens by a band of vicious spies -- anything was expected of the Yankee Doodle Boy.

Jimmy Jones hadn't left the Capitol building for two days, but he also hadn't reported for work. After Miss Peter's body had been removed from the gallery and the interest had been shifted downstairs where the police were questioning the Senators and other visitors, Jimmy had slipped up to where the unfortunate school teacher had been sitting and taken a quick look around. Suddenly he noticed something sticking out from between the seat and the arm of the chair Miss Peters had occupied.

It was a small black notebook. Quickly he thumbed through it, expecting to find a list of pupils' names with little black conduct marks next to them -- but instead, he was startled to read a list of familiar names -- Senators, Representatives, Committeemen -- and next to their names... Jimmy whistled.

"Wow, if this list ever got published with these accusations -- it would be curtains for that bunch -- and I guess it's up to me to hand it over."

"What have you got there, Jimmy?" It was old Hal Jasper, the gallery usher, who had been at the door when the murder was committed. He had gone down for questioning and after answering that no one had gone in or out of the door while he was there, came back to his post -- a little too hastily, Jimmy thought.

"Oh, it's nothing Jasper -- just a notebook I keep memos in -- I was just lookin' around and--"

"Let me see the memos, Jimmy." The Yankee Doodle Boy looked up startled, as old Hal stepped toward him. His voice held a tone of menace as he requested to see the book. He reached out and his long bony fingers clutched Jimmy's shoulder.

"Hand over that notebook. I'm not kidding."

The Yankee Doodle Boy ducked his head under the man's arm and jerked himself free. He bolted for the hall and dashed down a winding staircase. But with a speed amazing for one his age, Jasper was clattering down the long flight after him. But when he caught the boy and swung him viciously around, delivering a hard blow that sent him reeling to the floor -- the black notebook was no longer on his person.



"What did he do with it in such a short time?" Jasper grumbled, frantically searching through Jimmy's clothes as he lay unconscious on the hard, cold floor.

When Jimmy came to, a sharp pain cut across his face where Jasper's fist had struck. He tried to open his mouth but his lips were sealed by a tightly strapped piece of tape and his hands and feet were cruelly drawn behind him and bound with heavy rope as he lay on his side in a dark, chilly room.

As the black began to filter into gray, Jimmy could discern the dim outline of huge filing cases and stacked furniture. At the far wall was a door. He began to roll slowly across the floor toward it -- maybe a guard would be walking outside -- maybe if he banged his head hard enough. Suddenly his progress was blocked by a soft form that wriggled and kicked violently as he rolled against it. Jimmy turned to see the figure of a man bound and gagged as he. No words or emotions were necessary to convey their common need. Back to back the man and boy worked feverishly at each other's bindings -- torturously skinning the tight rope down over their hands and fingers. When at last they were free and had painfully ripped the adhesive from their mouths, the still walls echoed with their hurried whispers.

"Senator Grayson!"

"Jimmy, my boy, we must get out of here at once. They're coming back to get rid of both of us as soon as they can safely get us from the Capitol building. It should be any minute now."

"Who?"

"The ones who murdered Miss Peters who was not a school teacher. She was a private investigator in my employ. She was just about to signal me to make my accusations against a certain clique of legislators about whom she had gathered plenty of evidence, when she was murdered by Hal Jasper, that old scoundrel who was bought by them. I'll tell you their names later--"

"I know them, already, Senator -- I found Miss Peters' little black book."

"Good work, Jimmy! Now if we can get safely to the police. Where is the book?"

Before Jimmy could answer, footsteps nearing the door silenced the two prisoners and sent them swiftly behind the filing cases. A beam of light cut the darkness as the door opened and three husky men stalked in.

Like two fleet shadows, the page boy and the Senator slipped out into the hall and were halfway down a flight of stairs before their captors discovered their escape and filled the hall with the clack of heavy, running footsteps.

"Let's try to make the Subway, Senator Grayson -- it's the only way we can get away from them!" The Yankee Doodle Boy led the gray-haired statesman down the winding stairs at a fast clip till they reached the dark tunnel of the subway that leads from the right wing to the left in the Capitol building.

The Senator fairly flew into the waiting car and Jimmy jumped to the controls. The car slid along its single track into the protecting shadows, as the three men dashed frantically to the platform. The Senator and the Yankee Doodle Boy chuckled with relief as the furious threats and curses came to them from the other end of the tunnel.

Several minutes later the Capitol police did a quick job of rounding up the would-be murderers. And the next morning a roomful of nervous Senators, Representatives and Committeemen waited questioning before the Senate investigation committee.

"You say you have proof in Miss Peters' own handwriting that these are all the men connected with the graft ring and the murder scandal, Senator Grayson?"

"Why, yes, Jimmy, where's the notebook?"

The Yankee Doodle Boy had a curious smile on his face. He turned to Hal Jasper who sat anxiously mopping his perspiring brow.

"Daniel Webster has it. I'll go get it from him."

Jasper's eyes popped in frustrated fury as he and the rest watched Jimmy go down the hall and calmly lift the little black notebook from the outstretched palm of Daniel Webster's statue.

"So that's where he dropped it while I was chasin' him!" Jasper gasped incredulously.

"Gee!" Corny's eyes were bright with admiration when he heard the story. "Maybe they'll put up a statue of you some day, Jimmy -- next to Daniel Webster -- the statue of the Yankee Doodle Boy!"

[DocQuantum]

THE HUMAN GUINEA PIG
The Yankee Doodle Boy Aids Mankind (National Comics #3)
by Anthony Lamb

"Leapin' lobbyists! Aren't you scared, Jimmy?"

The Yankee Doodle Boy had inherited a tradition of honesty from the founders of his country. He glanced sheepishly around at the group of Senate page boys gathered about him.

"Yup -- I gotta admit I've got sort of pins and needles in my stomach -- but I have to go through with it. I know that."

Jimmy's determination to offer himself as a human guinea pig for the famous Dr. Richter's experiment had sprung from a visit he had made to the Lincoln Memorial. He had heard Senator Norris speak on the doctor's need for a healthy youngster to inject with a deadly germ that was causing so much misery and death among the children of America, and for which no cure had yet been found. Dr. Richter had perfected an anti-toxin -- but he needed a healthy specimen to perform his experiment upon. Jimmy hadn't said anything then, but the idea bothered him for days and at last he decided to go up and "talk to Mr. Lincoln."

Everything that happened there that night was as real to Jimmy as the Capitol dome, even though the guard did have to wake him up at twelve o'clock and send him home.

Lincoln's deep brows threw dark shadows on his fine, high cheeks and the heavy lines that sorrow had drawn on his face framed the great kindness of his mouth. The Yankee Doodle Boy stood before the statue and asked his question.

"Mr. Lincoln, if I let them experiment on me, I may die. But somebody has to do it; should I, Mr. Lincoln? Should I go and see Dr. Richter tomorrow?"

Mr. Lincoln took awhile to think it over. Then his answer came. Out of the past, the rich, human voice of the great liberator answered the Yankee Doodle page boy.

"Son, the words of the good book were once quoted to me by a woman in the wilderness -- a woman whose wisdom and kindness and who loved me as her own son -- my stepmother. These words guided me through my life and if you're woven of the right stuff, you'll heed them. She said, 'He who does the Lord's work, abideth forever.' If you think there is work to be done, Jimmy, lives to be saved, a sacrifice to make, then remember those words and you will not go wrong."

"Thank you, Mr. Lincoln. Now I know what to do."

***

Several days later, Jimmy lay on his back on a hospital bed. Dr. Richter and a freshly starched nurse stood by his side.

"The letter of consent has just come from your parents, Jimmy. They must be very brave and fine people, and I am proud that they have such confidence in me. So -- now we shall proceed."

A hypodermic needle was poised above the boy's firm tanned arm. A clear liquid glistened in the glass tube.

"So that's the stuff that's been killing so many kids, Doc? It doesn't look so vicious to me," laughed Jimmy, and then he winced as the sharp point jabbed into his flesh.

"Hmmm, but that innocent looking serum is as deadly as a .45 shot. But don't let me alarm you," the doctor chuckled as Jimmy's eyes grew wide. "Nurse Deering has this bottle of my anti-toxin to administer as soon as the fever strikes. It will be locked securely in this wall cabinet -- because it is very precious stuff. Only I know the formula."

Jimmy was left alone to contract his fever, but he heard a bit of the nurse's conversation as they walked into the hall.

"Oh, Doctor, I forgot to tell you, Dr. Finch was here this afternoon, but he didn't seem to want to see you -- I asked him."

"Finch, eh?" Dr. Richter's voice was low and angry. "What does he want to do to me now? If he dares to interfere with this experiment--"

Jimmy didn't hear the rest. The serum took quick effect. He had fallen asleep.

When Jimmy woke there were two figures hovering above him, but they were not those of Nurse Deering and Dr. Richter. Two strange men were bending over him and speaking in hushed, secretive voices that made the Yankee Doodle Boy keep his eyes shut tight and listen.

The flush of fever had already crept across his face and the voices he heard seemed to come down to him from the end of a long speaking tube.

"The fever's working now, all right, Dr. Finch."

"Yes. You say the anti-toxin is locked in that cabinet -- open it!"

"That's what I heard Richter tell the kid when I was hiding in the closet."

Jimmy heard the scraping of metal as the lock of the wall cabinet was slowly forced open.

Through half-open lids, he watched the dim outline of Dr. Finch's taut face. A small pencil searchlight threw long, eerie shadows across his head and shoulders.

"Richter, the Brilliant, is merely a tool in my hands. I have let him slave for years to perfect his formula. Now that his hour of triumph is at hand -- he shall fail. The boy will die. He will be ostracized from medical circles, and I, Finch, will come forth with the real cure!" He turned triumphantly to the other man. "Hurry! Have you substituted my useless liquid for the anti-toxin?"

"Yes, it's all done. Let's get out of here."

"Right!"

When the door closed behind them, Jimmy sat bolt upright, but the fever sent him down again with the force of a giant hand -- flat against the pillow. He waited while the world spun around and the lights went on and off.

"I've got to get them. I've got to."

Over and over he repeated the words and strength seemed to ebb slowly into his muscles and bones. Slowly, he rose and staggered to his feet. Groping blindly through the blackness he reached the door and stared dizzily into the light of the hall.

"I've got to make it. I've got to make it!"

Like a drunken sailor, the Yankee Doodle Boy lurched down the long hall. Very dimly, in the distance, he perceived two shadowy figures that seemed to change in size and shape, spreading and contracting in all directions at once. Beads of perspiration rolled down Jimmy's scarlet face.

Suddenly a figure in white loomed up before him. He heard a sharp cry and felt a pressure of firm hands on his shoulders pushing him back.

"No -- no, let me go!" he gasped weakly. "I've got to get to them!"

With a supreme effort, Jimmy freed himself of the nurse's grasp and continued what seemed like an endless journey down the hall. The figures were fast disappearing -- soon they would descend the stairs. Jimmy knew he couldn't make those.

"Faster, faster, legs! They won't move -- they're going backward -- faster, faster--" he commanded. His legs were molded of granite.

But actually he was running, the nurse frantically chasing after him. With a shock, he realized that he was upon his quarry. He reached out and grabbed the sleeve of Dr. Finch, dragging the man to the floor with him as he fell.



Now the voices came from many miles away, but they were clear as bells.

The nurse spoke. "The child is delirious. I'll call Nurse Deering and put him back in bed."

Finch's tone was concerned. "Terrible thing -- I hope it doesn't affect Richter's experiment." He tried to rise, but Jimmy's hand was clutched obstinately around his wrist. By now several interns and Nurse Deering had gathered around.

They tried to free his grasp and lift him up, but before they succeeded, Jimmy mustered all his strength and whispered hoarsely, "F-Finch -- stole the anti-toxin!"

And after that everything was mercifully black. The Yankee Doodle Boy slipped peacefully into unconsciousness.

Hours ticked by and the days dragged endlessly. A tense quiet fell over the Senate as the members and the little page boys exchanged questioning, worried glances.

"Still no news?"

"Not out of the coma yet?"

"Have you talked to Dr. Richter?"

One day, during a heated debate on farm appropriations, page boy Corny Dobbs rushed into the chamber and interrupted a dignified Senator with a wild whoop.

"He's better! The crisis is passed! He's going to get well -- boy, oh, boy, he's a national hero! Three cheers for Jimmy Jones, the Yankee Doodle Boy."

And the voices of boys and men alike rose to the roof and echoed through the country and the name of the Yankee Doodle Boy went home to the hearts of the people.

[DocQuantum]

Yankee Doodle Boy: Page Boy Vigilante (National Comics #4)
by Anthony Lamb

Jimmy Jones, the Yankee Doodle Boy himself, dashed into the Senate Chamber and there was trouble blazing in his bright blue eyes!

Jimmy caught his breath a moment and then called a few of his pals over to him.

"Pages, listen. We gotta do something and do it quickly! There's going to be some monkey business about that Child Welfare Bill that Senator Douglas is trying to put through -- someone's planning to stop it -- and not by the vote!"

"What do you mean, Jimmy?" Corny wrinkled up his nose, looking puzzled.

"It's serious. Senator Douglas' life may be in danger! Listen..." He pulled them into the Page's room and closed the door. Then he told them something he had heard while he was carrying some important papers from the Senate office across the street. A crowd of tourists going on a conducted tour stopped his progress as he hurried through the Capitol's halls and two men waiting beside him were continuing a conversation in low, urgent voices. This is what Jimmy heard that made him prick up his ears and take notice.

"That Child Welfare Bill won't go through in this session of Congress -- not if I have anything to do with it!"

"But we haven't much time. Douglas is bringing it up for vote tomorrow. How can we...?"

"That appropriation is going to the building of our new road out of Greveland. Don't worry, that vote won't come up tomorrow -- ours will. I have an idea Senator Douglas won't be around tomorrow. He'll be too busy looking for some very important documents -- and they won't be there -- maybe the Senator won't even be //able// to look for them -- if you know what I mean!"

That was all Jimmy heard for the two men broke through the line of tourists and started walking toward the House, but had heard enough!

Several low whistles of astonishment escaped the Pages as they listened to Jimmy's story. Little, yellow-haired Corny was wide-eyed.

"Gee, Jimmy," he said, "we can't let anything happen to Senator Douglas -- he's a good guy! And we've been supporting his Welfare Bill too!"

"That's right, said the Yankee Doodle Boy. "How about it gang? I know what this guy looks like -- he's one of the lobbyists behind that new road bill that everyone knows is just for graft -- what'll we do about it?"

He knew very well what the answer would be. A chorus of voices lustily replied, "Gang up on him!"



That night the ganging-up party convened in the lobby of the Senator's hotel in groups of twos and threes. Senator Douglas was surprised when he picked up the house phone and a young voice asked if he were in. When he answered in the affirmative -- the young voice hung up.

No one could be seen in the hall when the man with a gun in one hand and a pass key in the other crept stealthily to the Senator's door. But no sooner had he closed the door behind him than a Senate Page's foot stuck in the crack and held it open. Jimmy gave the signal, the rest came out of hiding.

The man with the gun worked quickly. By the time the pages had slipped through the darkened foyer and into a room where a pencil flash beam directed them, he had already reached into the wall safe. He was just putting some folded papers into his vest pocket when the door at the other end of the room opened, throwing a flood of light into the inky blackness.

"Who's there?" The Yankee Doodle Boy recognized the rich even tones of the Senator's voice.

Jimmy saw the crook turn and aim his automatic at the dignified figure framed in the doorway. Flying as though he had been shot from a cannon straight across the path of light he connected with the outstretched arm just as the trigger was pulled. The shot went wild. The page boys went wild. There was a furious confusion of legs, arms and bodies as they leaped to the battle. But their opponent was clever. Before they knew it they were tangling with each other and a crash of glass announced the crook's exit through the window.



Some of them seemed to hear the Senator's warning, "Be careful, boys," but nobody heeded as they slid and jumped down the fire-escapes and chased along the dark streets after the fleeing figure.

They saw him hop into a cab and shout directions at the driver -- but Jimmy had been prepared for such an emergency. Red Murphy was a cabby and a good friend of the Yankee Doodle Boy. All that night he had been cruising around the hotel -- just in case -- as Jimmy had requested. And here was the case alright! As the other cab pulled off, Red sped over to the curb and the Page boys piled in.

Through the Nation's capitol the two yellow cabs careened around corners on two wheels and sped down the broad highways like flashing comets.

As the other cab came to a stop far outside the city limits, the boys were ready to spring. This time their attack was planned and concentrated. Red pulled up on the curb cutting off the path the crook was taking into a large house. The boys leaped out and Jimmy led with a good stiff uppercut that had every ounce of his strong young body behind it. After that it wasn't hard for the others to pinion the man to the sidewalk. Red threw them a rope and in a few minutes they were speeding back to Washington in the two cabs. Corny made it his business to explain matters to the other driver.

"What do you think, Red? Shall we hand this bird over to the police now?" asked Jimmy.

"Tomorrow is the only chance for that bill to go through before Congress adjourns for the year, isn't it? You don't want any time wasted." Red eyed him meaningfully.

"That's what I was thinking. I guess I know what to do alright. Boy, there's going to be a surprised bunch of Senators in Congress tomorrow."

***

The following afternoon there was a tenseness that fell over the Senate like a suffocating cloud. As the roll was called more and more members gathered -- news had gotten abroad that there would be fireworks on the floor today and they were all there to see it.

At the last minute Senator Douglas, wearing a very worried frown entered and Jimmy ushered him to his place.

When the business of the day was called for, Senator Douglas rose and spoke t the President of the Senate.

"As you know, Mr. President, my bill for the Child Welfare Bureau was to come to a vote today, pending my presentation to Congress of certain documents containing figures and facts to prove the absolute urgency of this issue which many of the Senators will not believe without these factual papers. But I have been robbed of these documents! Yes, robbed and almost murdered. Had it not been for the intervention of some brave youngsters, whom I believe to be our own pages, I would not be here today. Nevertheless, the thing will have to be investigated and my opponents will be glad to hear that with Congress adjourning tomorrow -- my bill will be shelved till next year."

"No, Sir, it won't be shelved. We have your papers here!"

The Congressmen turned to the corner of the chamber from which the Yankee Doodle Boy spoke. There, emerging through a trap door, from the secret space below the Senate Chamber where they boys had safely hidden him, was the figure of the would-be robber and murderer of Senator Douglas, bound and gagged and led by Jimmy and Corny.

As Jimmy handed the papers to the Senator a cheer went up from the floor. Once more the Yankee Doodle Boy and his smart young colleagues, the Pages, had scored a hit and the welfare of hundreds of little kids all over the country was rushed into effect by a unanimous vote of approval.

[DocQuantum]

Yankee Doodle Boy (National Comics #5)
by Anthony Lamb



"It's a very serious problem, Mr. President. I for one believe you should deport the treacherous villain."

"You are right, Senator Dobson, I will do as you say. Having considered the matter from all angles, I am convinced that I have only one choice -- to rid the country of this menace and throw him back where he came from!"

Splash! The enemy in question flashed silver in the sunlight and fell back into the cool green water to swim gratefully down into the shadowy depths away from tempting worms and dangerous hooks.

"It's a shame to keep such little ones -- give 'em a chance to grow up first." President Jimmy Jones, the Yankee Doodle Boy, stretched his bare legs in the warm sun and dipped his hand over the edge of the raft that served as Presidential yacht. Corny Dobson pulled in his fishing line with disgust.

"Vacation's about up, Mr. President. Do you think you've had enough rest to go back to important matters of state?"

"Uhhum -- s'pose so -- Hey, what was that?"

Across the quiet waters came the bark of a sharp command.

"Company, halt! Salute the flag of the homeland!"

The roar of many voices shouting in unison in hard, staccato tones followed. The Yankee Doodle Boy frowned at his companion and began poling his raft quickly to the bank of the stream.

They climbed on shore and scurried through the bushes to an open field. There they lay, hidden by the foliage and watched an amazing and almost frightening sight.

A column of over two hundred men stood stiffly at attention, their arms raised in the salute of a foreign military power. They were swearing undying allegiance to that power in those hard, staccato tones. On a platform stood the imposing figure of their commander and beside him, a stoop-shouldered little man, with a grim mouth and cold, determined eyes, looked out over the heads of the uniformed mass with glazed expression. In his hands he held a small metal object.

After the voices had ceased the commander cleared his throat and began a speech that sent the blood pounding faster in Jimmy Jones' veins as the true meaning of the words dawned on him.

"Tomorrow the defense bill is to be decided in the United States Senate. It is generally known that this bill will be passed. Our orders from the leader in the homeland are to see that this bill does not pass. We have little time and our agents in Washington are powerless. But we are not. We have a little present for the United States Senate -- perhaps they will not appreciate the fine spirit in which it is to be given, but we will forgive them their ignorance!" The smile that crossed the speaker's mouth was full of ominous meaning for the white-faced boys that listened in the bush.

"However, my loyal friends, that defense bill will not go through, I promise you, for we have one in our midst so true to our homeland, that he is willing to give his life to the furtherance of that cause. He stands before you here and will remain the Unknown Hero, for he goes to his death on his great mission!"

The cheering and applause was deafening as the little man raised the object that he carried so all, including the two Senate page boys, could see. It was a time bomb!

At that very minute a black plane circled out of the clouds and came to a landing in the open field. The man with the bomb descended from the platform steps and walked in complete silence past the ranks of men and over to the plane. The pilot helped him into the cabin and the plane was in motion again, taxiing dramatically by the platform and rising swiftly above the trees heading toward Washington.

Jimmy and Corny scrambled back to the raft without a word. They shoved off and made for the other shore. Corny blinked at Jimmy, and the Yankee Doodle Boy stared hard at the sky.

"I know what to do," he said at last.

"How can we do anything?"

"My friend, Bill Farrel, flies the evening mail plane over here -- you know Bill -- he taught me a lot about flying and--"

"And what? What's that got to do with it?" Corny helped to beach the raft and followed Jimmy across the rocks.

"Smoke signals," said Jimmy. "Get me all the dry wood you can find. Hurry, he'll be coming over soon."

Bill Farrel's thoughts were on the big blow-up he and the boys were going to throw that night, when he noticed the column of black smoke wig-wagging up from the rocks along the banks of the Greenfalls river.

"Kids playin' Indians -- oh, boy, those were the good old days. I can remember... hey, wait a minute--" Bill banked around and circled back to see if what he thought he had seen was correct. "That signal couldn't have said 'SOS -- SENATE IN DANGER' -- or could it?" He watched the billowing signal again and convinced himself. "But that's crazy -- some crank must be trying to kid somebody -- maybe I better fly low and see what it's all about."

In another five minutes Jimmy Jones and Corny were flying up above the clouds and pouring out their story to the astounded mail pilot. Bill Farrel gained speed with altitude and it wasn't long before the slim, black plane was sighted.

"We'll land right on his tail when he comes into the field and give him the surprise of his life."

Suddenly Jimmy shouted -- "But he's not going to land -- he's flying over the field. He's heading toward the Capitol -- maybe he's going to parachute down!"

"Maybe he's not!" Bill reached for his Very pistol and shoved it in Jimmy's hand. "Here, aim for his gas tank -- I'll swing down next to him."

The Yankee Doodle Boy took careful aim as the black plane loomed near, but his first shot was thrown far and wide by a hail of machine-gun bullets that shattered the pane above his head. He ducked like a streak and was up again for a split second to fire once more. The rocket blaze hit true this time.



With a sudden roar, the other plane burst into red flames and trailed a thick column of black smoke on its downward plunge to its doom in the Potomac.

"Good work, Jimmy. We may have some tall explaining to do but I think that water-logged time-bomb will tell its own story."

The Yankee Doodle Boy sank back and stared at the broken glass above his head. He sighed with relief.

"Yeah, just think of the story it would have told if it had gone off!"

[DocQuantum]

Jimmy Jones is a stone-cold killer!

[johnreiter902]

This is great

[dans]

I hope you OCR'd these rather than typing them all up yourself!

[DocQuantum]

I've used OCR many times in the past, but I didn't bother to this time. I'm a fast typist!

[DocQuantum]

THE DANGEROUS MESSAGE
with the
YANKEE DOODLE BOY (National Comics #6)
by Anthony Lamb



"Hey, kid. Come here, I wanna talk to you. And don't look at me. Look as though you was readin' over them magazines. I don't want anyone to know I'm talkin' to you, see?"

What Jimmy Jones, the Yankee Doodle Boy, saw was a slouched figure leaning against the magazine stand with a suspicious bulge in the region of his pant's pocket. It was that bulge that made the boy edge over closer and listen to the stranger's startling message.

"You're the Senate page boy that's been in the news lately, ain't ya? Well, then, you can get to see the guy I want. It's Senator Gordon -- Tell him to be down at Kelly's by twelve tonight -- or else. Just tell him that, see? And don't ask no questions."

Jimmy whistled. "Whew -- this is what you'd call a 'hot' assignment."

He turned to get a better glimpse of the man -- but he had already vanished among a crowd of tourists that were unloading from a sight-seeing bus.

Senator Gordon, of all people! He was one of the swellest men Jimmy knew. Who would have it in for him? Why? Some crooked politicians who were sore at all the decent legislation Gordon put through? Or foreign agents?



Jimmy was undecided as he headed toward the Senate. Maybe he should go to the G-men first. But then, maybe it wasn't anything so dangerous -- he'd better tell the Senator and see how he took it. But boy, that guy sure had a mean tone in his voice. He was up to no good--at all.

Jimmy couldn't help feeling a little thrill of mystery as his footsteps hastened up the Senate steps. This was the way he liked life -- exciting. And his life certainly was full of adventure -- things always happened to the Yankee Doodle Boy. And he didn't deny that that was the only way he'd have it. Someday, he knew, there'd come a reckoning. Someday the excitement would turn against him, because when you're dealing with grown-up problems -- spies, criminals and serious business like that -- well -- you just aren't playing cops and robbers, and somebody's liable to get hurt.

But Jimmy Jones was willing to risk it.

He met the Senator as he was walking into the Chamber.

"Er -- pardon me, Sir -- but I have a message for you. It's kind of strange--"

"Yes, Jimmy, what is it? Anything wrong?"

"I don't know, sir. That is -- well, it sounds like something in the movies." And Jimmy gave Senator Gordon the message. "He said, 'to be there or else,' Senator. Do you think somebody is trying to kid you?"

But even as he spoke, Jimmy's question faded off indistinctly, for the man's face showed that he did not think he was being kidded. A serious frown creased his brow, and he looked about apprehensively to see if anyone had overheard.

His voice was filled with anxiety when he spoke. "Thank you, lad -- and you can do me a favor. Don't mention this to anyone -- I -- I -- Well, it isn't anything serious -- and you know how people attach importance to these things. Do I have your word?"

"Oh, certainly, sir. I won't tell a soul."

That night, as Jimmy followed the departing figure of Gordon down the narrow, shadowed street, he told himself that he had no business doing so.

"But he did look terribly worried -- and I'd feel sort of responsible if anything happened to him. And anyway, when he looked at me -- he seemed to be asking me with his eyes to -- well, to sort of back him up. Maybe I'm crazy -- he wouldn't depend on a kid, but still--"

The Senator had almost faded into the darkness, and Jimmy hastened his footsteps. It wouldn't do to lose his charge so near to Kelly's. Jimmy wasn't sure of the notorious night-spot's exact location. He sighed with relief as the tall figure loomed again under a lamp light.



This was a tough neighborhood, and every darkened doorway seemed to shriek "Danger!" Jimmy kept his eyes straight ahead on the Senator. He saw him turn in under a red neon sign that read, "Kelly's Chop House" and stand for a minute looking back up the street. Jimmy leaped for a shadow, and stood still holding his breath. Had the Senator seen him?

Apparently not. For Gordon seemed satisfied that he had not been followed and went inside. But Jimmy was surprised to see that he had not gone in the main entrance -- but had entered by a door that led into a darkened hall.

Quietly, Jimmy slipped inside and cautiously mounted a squeaking staircase. He heard voices as he reached the top -- hushed voices. He waited -- ready to run at a second's notice. Then he heard the Senator speak.

"You wouldn't dare do that!"

Jimmy crept up to the door. There was an ominous silence within.

Then -- someone grabbed him and swung him into the dark room. Several strong hands held him firmly, and his mumbled protestations were muffled by a gag. Something hard was pressed to his ear, and a strange, thin voice seemed to come from nowhere -- a woman's voice -- singing.

"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear Jimmy -- Happy birthday to you!"

Jimmy sunk to the floor and laughed till the tears ran down his face as the lights went up, and he found himself in the midst of roaring page boys with good old Senator Gordon beaming above him.

"After all, Jimmy," said the Senator when the noise died down -- "We couldn't give you an ordinary birthday party without some excitement -- it would have been too tame for the Yankee Doodle Boy."

[DocQuantum]

YANKEE DOODLE BOY (National Comics #7)
by Anthony Lamb

It wasn't a tornado that knocked Jimmy Jones down flat on the hard cement -- but it felt like one.

Racing feet pounded on the chest of the Yankee Doodle boy as he tried to rise, and kicked him down a flight of hard, stone steps into a dark cellarway. He staggered to his feet and tried to get his bearings. But another onslaught sent him flying into the blackness of an empty basement as three more running figures bolted down the steps.

A door was slammed, and a hasty barricade erected in the dark. Anxious whispers and muttered curses flew over Jimmy's head as he sat on the damp floor and rubbed his bruises. Wherever he was, he couldn't get out now. Best thing to do was to lay low and wait.

As his eyes got used to the dark, Jimmy made out the figures of five young boys, all around his own age. They were all huddled near a crack in the wall, watching the street. He gathered, from their conversation, that they were hiding from the police.

"Guess we're safe now -- they run right past this place."

"Yeah, Barney was sure smart to pick dis joint for us to hide out in."

"Barney's always right. Don't forget it!"

Somebody backed up and stumbled across Jimmy's leg.

"Hey, dere's someone here!"

A match was lit, and a grimy, young, pugnacious chin was thrust in Jimmy's face.

"Who are you? How'dja get here?"

"You practically pulled me in by the skin of my teeth. If you don't mind, I'd like to go."

"Well, I do mind. See? You can't go; you know too much. You'll have to wait and see Barney."

Jimmy rose and looked squarely at the other boy. He noticed the swelling young muscles on the bare chest -- the hands clenched in threatening fists.

"I haven't time to wait -- I've got to get back--"

The fist shot up. Jimmy jerked his head to the right, and the blow glanced off his shoulder. He came up with a swift right to the jaw and knocked the other back into the arms of his gang. A surprised murmur greeted this -- and the Yankee Doodle Boy asked if he wanted any more.



He did. The excited audience lit match after match to watch the flying fists as the battle thundered around the dark cellar. And it wasn't long before they began cheering the unknown victor.

Jimmy helped his opponent to his feet and grinned at the rest. "You fellas seem to be in some sort of trouble -- maybe I can help you."

They gathered eagerly around. It wasn't often that anyone beat up Slug O'Keefe, and they were interested.

"It's the cops," piped up one little guy, "they don't understand us."

"Yeah, and who's this Barney?"

"Dat's our boss. We do jobs for him. You know, little jobs, like passin' fake coins and snitching from stores -- pickin' pockets. We're just learnin'. Maybe you'd like to work for him, too, huh?"

"Well -- maybe," Jimmy hedged. "Do you really like the work?"

"Sure. Sure." The little kid seemed nervous. "That's -- we don't LIKE it exactly -- most of us are gettin' fed up -- but it's the only way--"

"Hey, shut up, you guys; here he comes now. You better hide, fella."

Jimmy ducked down behind an empty packing case as a huge bully of a man stepped into the room and threw a flashlight on the scared faces of the gang.

"So you dopes are gettin' careless again! Got the cops after you. I oughta beat up the whole bunch of yez! What am I teachin' you for -- to get you free rent in the house of correction?"

Anger began to surge through Jimmy's veins. He could see that the kids were plenty scared of the blustering, red-faced Barney -- teacher of crime.

"One -- two--" he began to count to ten to keep his temper down.

Barney laid his heavy hand on the littlest boy's head. "What would happen to your sick kid sister, if I didn't pay you off every week? Huh? Just remember that!"

"Four -- five--"

"And you, Skinny -- better hand in a better snatch next Friday -- or mama goes over the hill -- see!"

"Six -- seven--"

"Hey, Barney, don't kick Skinny around like that -- he's coughin' awful bad--"

Barney's big fist came down on the protesting face. "You tryin' to tell me how to run my business?"

"Eight-nine-ten!"

Jimmy couldn't watch in silence any longer. He sprang like a streak of unleashed lightning straight for the legs of Boss Barney. The big man went down with a resounding thud. With a roar of surprised fury, he rose and lunged toward Jimmy.



No one could exactly describe what happened then, but the next thing they knew, the six feet of man was flying over the Yankee Doodle Boy's head and landed flat on his back -- out cold.

"Gee, how'd you do it?" Jimmy was surrounded by unbelieving questioners -- they thought they were dreaming their favorite dream -- that couldn't be their boss Barney lying on the floor, unconscious.

Jimmy had grown a shade paler himself and wasn't too sure it had really worked. "I've only been practicing a little while -- didn't know I could do it. Jiu-jitsu, you know -- trick stuff from the son of the Japanese Ambassador."

Later that day, the Yankee Doodle Boy left the police station with the whole gang. They were free, but in his custody -- he was responsible for their good behavior from now on.

He kept an eye on them, all right. Put them to work -- drumming up votes, getting petitions signed, and making speeches in community centers -- and it wasn't very hard to find out who was behind the bill that passed the Senate that spring for better housing conditions in the slum areas -- more playgrounds and boys' clubs -- which all meant, less opportunity for men like Barney to get a hold on desperate kids.

The Yankee Doodle Boy had scored another knockout blow on crime.

[DocQuantum]

Kidnapped in the Sky
with the
Yankee Doodle Boy (National Comics #8)
by Anthony Lamb



"Don't make a move, anybody. Just sit still and keep quiet. All we want is that boy."

The man with the gun pointed to Jimmy Jones, the Yankee Doodle Boy, who sat, wide-eyed, in the rear of the big transport plane that was speeding him westward to California.

A few minutes later, the Yankee Doodle Boy was floating down to a patch of yellow ground, clutched in the arms of the man with the gun. A billowing parachute swayed above them.

He saw another 'chute falling below them, and the figure dangling from it carried his suitcase.

But just then, a swift gust of wind caught the suitcase and wrenched it from the man's hand. It snapped open, and all of Jimmy's possessions were scattered over the countryside. He saw his bright red sweater hanging like a flag on the branches of a tall oak tree.

Later, in the back room of a deserted farmhouse, he sat huddled in his kidnapper's overcoat. They had taken all his clothes!

The door opened a crack, and his suit was hurled in to him with orders to give back the coat.

"Not a thing in his clothes. You fool, why did you let that suitcase go?"

"It wasn't my fault. I have a pretty clear idea where everything fell -- we can look for it in the woods."

Jimmy heard the outside door slam, and footsteps hurried away. He could still hear another person shuffling about in the other room. He was being guarded.

But what were they searching him for? They must have got the wrong fellow.

It had been at Senator Grayson's invitation that he was traveling west to his home on the Coast. There was nothing in his suitcase that anyone in the world could want. Then Jimmy remembered the note that the Senator had given him to his brother. He said it was an introductory note, but Jimmy hadn't read it. Could that be what these men were after?

If so, it must be pretty important, and he couldn't let them get hold of it. The Yankee Doodle Boy looked around desperately for a way out. He examined the door. The hinges were rusty. If he could loosen the nails...

In five minutes, the point of Jimmy's pen knife had twisted the old nails out of the rotting wood, and the hinges dropped away. The door squeaked as he slowly pushed it aside. In his hand, he held a board in readiness.

A giant of a man sprang up at the sound of the door opening. He turned in surprise at the small figure that stood defiantly before him.

"I'm getting out of here," announced Jimmy.

The huge man lifted his hand to annihilate the Yankee Doodle Boy, but Jimmy whacked around with his board, catching the man just below the ribs and knocking the wind from his body. He fell back with an exhausted "oof," and rolled in agony on the floor, while Jimmy dashed out the front door and plunged into the thicket beyond.

The letter had been in the notebook, tucked in his red sweater. Jimmy knew where the sweater had fallen. He could see it yet, sailing in the treetop. He hurried to the foot of the oak and scrambled among the leaves. Footsteps sent him diving under a bush.

His kidnappers came into the clearing and began searching minutely. One of their feet was within two feet of the Yankee Doodle Boy's hand. It kicked something toward him. The notebook! With the speed of a striking cobra, Jimmy whisked it out of sight.

"What was that, that moved at your feet, Otto?"

"Some little animal, I suppose," Otto answered, and they both went on into the woods, grumbling at each other.

The "little animal" sighed with relief and scurried through the bushes till he came to the road.

Jimmy had enough pocket money to take him the rest of the way by bus. He arrived at Mr. Grayson's home, worn and weary, and still bewildered. The Senator's brother greeted him.

"My boy, thank Heaven you're safe!"

Jimmy held the letter out to Mr. Grayson.



"I managed to rescue this, sir. It's a letter of introduction to you from the Senator."

"I've heard of your reputation as the Yankee Doodle Boy. You've done it again -- a great service to your country, Jimmy. Important plans are in that letter and, thanks to you, not in the hands of spies."

[DocQuantum]

Defenders of Liberty
with the
Yankee Doodle Boy (National Comics #9)
by Anthony Lamb



The Yankee Doodle Boy almost dropped out of the apple tree where he sat comfortably reading (of all things) the Constitution of the United States and trying to learn the preamble, which begins, "We the people of the United States..."

The reason for his behaving almost like Newton's famous apple, was sitting just as comfortably, in the shade of a low elderberry bush that grew at the foot of the tree. It was saying, just as Jimmy was about to mouth the words himself: "We de peoples of de U-nited States, in order -- to foam a mo pufect union, estalabish justice, INsure domestic tranqui -- quiliby, provide fo de common defense, promote (h'mm ah hopes ah gets promoted dis term) the general welfare, and secure de blessin's of LI-BER-TEE to ourse'ves and our posterity, do o'dain and estalabish dis Cons-tee-tushun fo da United States of America."

"Hey, who are you?" Jimmy called down from his high perch.



A curly black head poked out of the elderberry bush and a row of white teeth flashed a beautiful friendly smile.

"Ah's Cons-tee-tushun Washington Brown. And ah's learnin' to live up to my name. My ma's gonna pay me a dime if ah learn it and another whole quarter if ah gets promoted. Who is you?"

The Yankee Doodle Boy slid out of the tree and introduced himself. The rest of the afternoon, the two scholars listened to each other recite the preamble till they had both learned it by heart.

"Constitution, what would you do if someone came along and threatened to take your liberty away from you?" Jimmy asked as they trudged home.

"Well, fus I would roll up mah sleeves and look at him mean-like, so as to scare daylights out of him. Den I would shake mah fist in his face and den I would give it to him right on de chin. And DEN, if he didn't go home and mind his own business, ah would knock him down, and jump on him, and--"

The little dusky-skinned fellow was so excited about this imaginary enemy that he was suiting the action to the words, and a cloud of dust rose from the road as he stamped about in his fury.

"Okay, okay!" Jimmy laughed, grabbing his arm and straightening him up. "I think I get the idea."

"What would you do, Jimmy?"

"Well," said Jimmy thoughtfully, "first I'd look him straight in the eye, clench my fist so he'd know I meant business, maybe I'd roll up my sleeves, too. Then I'd tell him just what Democracy meant to me and could mean to him. I'd try to convince him by reason, because I don't believe in fighting. Then, if he wouldn't understand -- I'd give it to him as fast and hard as I could."

Constitution thought this over in silence, and then they said goodbye as Jimmy turned in at his gate. The Yankee Doodle Boy was home for a rest, his page boy duties adjourned for awhile with Congress.

The next day Jimmy Jones was on his way back to the apple tree where he had promised to meet Constitution. He was walking past a high wooden fence when he heard a groan coming from the other side. He slid through a hole in the fence and found, rolling in the dust, a wriggling form of dark misery.

"Constitution! What happened to you?"

"Ah tried to reason wif dem, like you said. But dere wuz too many of dem."

"Who? What are you talking about?"

The other boy sat up and brushed off his clothes. He was badly scratched and bruised, and his clothes were torn. But he wasn't too weak to work up a good lather of indignation as he told his story to the Yankee Doodle Boy.

"Dat Slats O'Reilly and his gang, dey come up to me and say dat dey don't want me on dis side of de main road. Ah seed da dey was interferin' with my liberty lak it says in de preamble, and I tol' dem so. I began to say what I learned yesterday, and dey all jump on me at once. Now dat waren't fair, wuz it, Jimmy?"

"I'll say it wasn't. Where did they go? Come with me; I'll defend you, Constitution. And teach those birds a good lesson. Are you strong enough for a good battle?"

Constitution stood up and grinned. "You bet ah am. Dey couldn't hurt me, so ah couldn't lick 'em back when ah had to."

Slats and his gang were crouched behind a deserted barn, smoking and laughing over their recent "victory," when Jimmy and Constitution walked into their midst.

"Well, look who's here," Slats shouted, "the darky liked what we gave him so much that he's brought a friend to get some, too!"

But in a few moments, Slats had changed his mind. He was lying flat on his back in the dirt, and he felt like a ten ton weight had hit him on the jaw.

The rest of the gang, surprised to see their leader flattened so quickly, were not so anxious to risk their own chins. The Yankee Doodle Boy and his little friend whipped into them before they had time to think about it.

Fists flew, and bodies rolled in the dust. A lead pipe found its way into one warrior's hand and was raised above Jimmy's head as he sat astride somebody's chest, but a small black form whizzed over a tangle of arms and legs and knocked it harmlessly to the ground.

"Get a rope!" Jimmy called in the heat of battle, and Constitution chased inside the barn and returned almost at once with a long length of rope.

In a few minutes Slats and his gang sat tied back to back as the dust of the battlefield settled around them. Jimmy watched with folded arms while Constitution stood before them saying: "Repeat after me: We de people of de United States in oder to foam a mo pufect union, estalabish justice, insure domestic tranquiliby--"

[DocQuantum]

And that was the last Yankee Doodle Boy story. But don't worry, folks -- he'll return in a new upcoming story!