Butler High School - Magnet Yearbook (Butler, PA)

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18 THE SENIOR ZWAGNET Misplacecl Trust ETHEL AMMON Help! Helpli' Had he been dreaming or was that really a cry of distress? HHelp! help! -the choking cry was repeated and with one bound Ted was out of bed and standing by the open window. The cry had seem- ed to come from outside. Silence-I Perhaps his nerves al- ready overtaxed by events of the day before, were playing tricks on him. In the tense silence that fol- lowed the cries, Ted hastily dressed, his thoughts meanwghile retracing, with lightning speed, the events of that terrible day. Bob Sloan, his next door neighbor, and lifelong friend couldn,t have done it! Tied couldn't believe it. And yet-Bob and his father had quarreledg the cause Ted didnlt know, couldn't find out. Bob had simply came over very late, two nights ago, told Ted he was leaving home on account of a quarrel with his father, wrung Ted's hand in fare- well, and was gone. There had been tears in his eyes-and Ted, bewilder- ed, felt a sympathetic mistiness about his own. And then, the next morning, a frightened and incoherent Mrs. Shane, the Sloans housekeeper, ran over, and, wrhite and shaking, told them that when she had found Mr. Sloan-here her tears and moans in- terrupted the story-lying on the Hoor in the living room. He was dead-she knew he was dead- wouldnit they come over and see+ Help! The cry weaker now, came again. In bedroom slippers instead of shoes, Ted paddled noiselessly down- stairs, and in a moment was at the low hedge separating the Sloan yard from his own. Undoubtedly the cry had come from there. Vaulting over the hedge, he ran to the house, and then realizing that he was unarmed, his natural impulsiveness gave way to caution. Everything was dark. His heart in his throat, he nimbly and very cautiously climbed the porch railing, and choosing a dark spot, crept cau- tiously around to the front door, in- tending to open it-and then-the light in the living room flared up! Without any more hesitation, he rushed into the hall, and there stood Bob Sloan, surveying, with the ut- most satisfaction, the work of his hands. At his feet-bound and gag- ged lay an exhausted and battered figure whom Ted recognized as Mr, Sloan's secretary. AKWhat the-? How-? When did you come back ?', gasped the as- tounded Ted, his words tumbling over each other in his amazement. I came home this evening-found the house dark and still-not a soul around. Supposing every one in bed, and too worn out to even bother go- ing upstairs, I stretched out here on the davenport and must have fallen asleep. Anyway, something woke me, and then I saw a little point of light wandering over Dad's desk-a Hash- light held by a dark shadow-that fel- low there,H kicking him with his foot. Then he must have been- be- gan Ted. He was,'l interrupted Bob. 6'VVell. l just gave one jump, and landed on him. I guess I was pretty rough, be- cause he yelled loud enough to waken the dead. He musthave thought I was Dad, and been off his head or something, for between yells,-he kept

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THE SENIOR ZWAGNET 17 HThanks, Paul, you surely know a good friend when youlve met himf' The following evening found Mr. and lllrs. Lease, Paul and Tedl' in the dining-room of the Lease home, enjoying a delicious dinner prepared by Mrs. Lease. After dinner Paul and Ted adjourned to Paulls room where he quickly and quietly told told 'fTed', what happened on said night. Although HTed felt sorry for Paul, he couldnlt refrain from laughing. They both laughed and con- sidered it a pretty good joke. i'But, f'Ted, I can't understand why 'tStiff would do it. 'iWell, Paul, you know Stiffl' al- ways was jealous of your remarkably good looks. lt was true, Paul was good look- ing. He was short and slender and had very fine features. An olive com- plexion, large brown eyes, and beauti- ful teeth. His black hair, with its firmly set waves, was the envy of both boys and girls alike. All Longville's younger set were reioicing over bids received for the Chin Chinners Ball which was to be held at the town's leading dance hall. Stiff Berger approached Ted Vane. 'KCan you-get me a date for the dance, HTed ?l' UHow's this, old man? Two girls are coming from Los Angeles for this dance. I had intended to take one of them and let Paul take the otherg but he told me that he has accepted a new position and will leave the first of the month. Now, that means that you can take the other Miss. 'iShake on it, 'iTed,,' that's fine, said UStiff. VVhen the day of the dance arrived, Paul stayed at Ted's, in order to keep secluded from all eyes. K'Ted's cousin Emily arrived from Dayton to accompany Ted to the dance. She was not known in Longville, this be- ing her first appearance there. The details of the plot were related to her and everyone anxiously awaited night. At nine o'clock, a Buick Sedan drove up to Vanels door. From it emerged Stiff, who looked good enough for any dame. This same car drove away carrying a young lady, two young men and another man im- personating a woman. She dances divinely, thought Stiff,l' and talks so sweetly. Her boyish bob was the most becoming one there. HAnd they call you Polly,', sa'id Stiff as he danced gaily on holding this lovely creature. Stiffl' displayed his selfishness on this particular night by dancing almost every dance with Polly. They drove home and 'fStiffH was so happy that nothing mattered now. When he was departing, he asked if he might not have one of her cards. Gladly, she drew one from her pu.rse and handed it to him. Then it was goodnight, HP o l l y,'l Hgoodnight, Stiff.l' Both were gone. 'tSriff'y Berger turned on the light in his bedroom and from his pocket he drew a card on which he had im- planted a kiss while on the journey home. This card read Mr. Paul Lease, 670 Eighth Ave. He turned it over and 'AREVENGE IS SVVEETH greeted him.

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THE SENIOR MAGNET 19 muttering, I didn't mean to kill you, Mr. Sloan-I just meant to take the money and go, but when you came downstairs and caught me, I just had to hit you, with my gun-I didn't mean to kill you -and then he'd yell again. It was simple to hold him down, he was trembling all over, so I jerked down some of these ropes, to tie him with, and switched on the light, and then you came in. But where are Dad and Mr. Sloan? Sure- ly they couldnlt have slept through the noise ? Then Ted told him that his father was in the hospital ,seriously wound- ed, having been hit on the head with some heavy instrument--that the doc- tor's said he would recover, the shock being worse than the injury, and that he'd spoken just three coherent words, Bob was right! Oh, poor Dad, said, Bob, his voice husky. That brute shall go to prison for this, I haven't trusted him from the Hrst, but Dad did, and kept putting his money and valuable papers in that old desk over there. Of course he, indicating the figure at his feet, Uknew all about it. Dad trusted him w.ith every thing. Then, day before yesterday, Dad missed a lot of money and accused me of taking it. That was the last straw! That guy there, in the house, and me accused of stealing the money. Well, I told Dad that I was through, and wouldn't come back as long as this bird stayed. And then I got to Worrying, because Dad is old and has always been so good to me, and so I came back. He stopped, chocked, and then went on. L'Ted, old boy, would you mind tak- ing me over to the hospital, and this to jail?,' But Ted was already out of the house, and it seemed but a moment till the Chug-Chugf' of his battered Ford died awiay in the distance, leav- ing the street silent once more, and unaware that it was minus one ftrust- ed secretary'.