clear channel broadcast station. It put out a powerful signal--one of the few to reach most sections of the nation. Knight was not unmindful of this distinction, and most flattered to be offered an invitation to entertain on its facilities for a fifteen minute broadcast.

The appointed hour arrived; the phone rang and prankster Dessel, speaking into the mouthpiece, pretended a conversation with the station's management. Alerting the entertainer, he announced that the broadcast was originating in the Dessel Implement Company's office at Ossian, Iowa, and would feature old-time fiddler, Happy Knight. The star, on cue, began his concert. After each number, Henry would announce the next selection. Happy, dedicating the piece to an especial friend, fiddled with enthusiasm and vigor. The 15 minutes passed all too soon for the participants. After the program, Greg Figge called and congratulated Happy for his fine performance, reporting that the reception at the Figge garage had been excellent. The coup was delivered the following day in the form of a fake telegram from station WOC, congratulating Mr. Knight on his excellence and thanking him for his participation. Thus the stage was set for the most successful hoax ever perpetrated on a resident of this community.

The next week found Happy dropping in at most business houses on Main and Lydia streets and proudly showing the congratulatory wire to any, and all, who expressed an interest. He confided to prankster Dessel that he wouldn't mind performing again, and suggested that Henry make appropriate arrangements.

The conspirators decided to expand the scenario for Happy's next performance. On Saturday, the ring-leader contacted the fiddler and explained that the Dessel Implement Company had decided to start their own radio station; the first broadcast would take place the very next day; and since Knight's debut of last Sunday had generated such listener enthusiasm, they wanted him to launch the new enterprise. The entertainer was delighted. He readily consented to donate his talents for this memorable occasion.

Several cronies of the intriguers were alerted to the coming show. So, many of our citizens were present in the Dessel office to witness the prank. A mock broadcasting studio had been assembled. With parts of an old cream separator serving as the base, and a length of pipe as the riser supporting the mouthpiece of an old telephone, a creditable appearing microphone was readied. Electric wiring connected this instrument to a radio receiver chassis, furnished by the Figges, and on to a series of assorted batteries—quite an authentic appearing transmitter to those unfamiliar with radio technology.

At the agreed hour, Henry connected the batteries to the receiver base, lighting the tubes, and declared that the Dessel station was on the air. Facing the mock microphone, he delivered an appropriate greeting to the supposed radio audience, and announced that entertainment for this original broadcast would be furnished by Happy Knight and his violin.

Happy was at his best. Urged on by the applause of his audience, he fiddled through his entire repertoire. One by one the conspirators slipped from the building, and phoned in requests for their favorite number. A bottle of spirits made a frequent appearance with the entertainer quenching his thirst at every opportunity. Prankster Dessel, custodian of the telephone, would announce between numbers, that calls were received from neighboring towns, testifying that the broadcast was coming in loud and clear. All praised the performer for his fine renditions. By the third bottle of contraband, the music was lively indeed, with ihe fiddler keeping time by tapping his foot and sawing his instrument with ever increasing vigor. The broadcast, originally scheduled for a half hour, was extended into the second hour with no diminishing of the participants' enthusiasm.

Henry Dessel, when later recalling the hoax, said, "Happy would still be fiddling, but for his demand that we fetch his wife and her piano to accompany him. I wasn't about to wrestle a piano down the stairs from their apartment, so we told him what was going on."

The victim of the prank took the news in good grace. He said that he had a