To my right was the Head’s huge mahogany desk, clean and tidy, and gleaming with shine. Next to the desk were wooden filing cabinets and storage systems. But the Featured Item was on prominent display behind the desk. Attached to the wall was a large wooden gun case with a glass door. Through the glass I could see three crock-handled canes. They were light brown, slender, and slightly warped from years of use. My mouth went dry as I stared at them. Though I didn’t want to see them, I couldn’t have looked away for a million dollars. The shortest one was at the bottom. It was perhaps two-and-a-half feet long and very thin.
A Trip to the Head7
