Butler High School - Magnet Yearbook (Butler, PA)

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26 THE SENIOR MAGNET In The Future RUSSELL F. CAMPBELL One morning, early in January, 2-I-27, Charles Wakefield hurried to his work. He had been called out of town on a business trip, and as he wialked along with his hat pulled down over his eyes Cfor he did not want anyone to recognize him for fear they would stop him to pry him about his latest inventioni he came upon a newsboy selling the early edition of one of the morning papers. He purchased a copy to see what other men had to say about his earlier inventions. He had not gotten this far however until the large headlines attracted his eye. PLANT OF CHARLES WAKE- FIELD ENTERED LATE LAST NIGHT. ALL PLANS OF SUPER AIR CRAFT CONFIS- CATED. CULPRITS BELIEV- ED TO BE RIVAL INVEN- TORS NOW WORKING ON SIMILAR CRAFT. The article followed: Forcing a window in the draft- ing room of the Charles Wakefield Manufacturing Company plant at l1:45 P. M. last night, two un- identified men bound and gagged the night watchman and made off with all drawings and plans of VVakefield's latest invention, said to be the world's most powerful air craft, far exceeding those now between New York The thieves are be- rival inventors now flying daily and London. lieved to be working on a similar craft but not having' the financial backing of 'Wakefield It is not definitely known where their plant is located, but the fact that it cannot be found strengthens the suspicions of the police who are now working on the case. XVakeI'ield is well known throughout the country as the greatest inventor of his time, hav- ing' alreacly patented several in- ventions including the Wakefield Special now flying daily between New York and London, and many other inventions which serve the world today, and it is believed that the financial loss will not seriously affect him. At the same time it is hoped that the culprits may be de- tected for the sake of science, and the advancement of aviation. So far no clue as to the escape or identification of the men has been found. Charles Wakefield finished read- ing the article, staggered on a few steps then all was black. are HG a -ze -ie You sure did a slick job that time, Joe. This remark came from a man with a long scar on his left cheek. He wias sitting in the corner of the old cabin far back from the public road, this cabin had long had the reputa- tion for being the hangout of counter- feiters and crooks of all sorts. Well, by the looks of this piece in the paper, I guess we did throw them off the track, didn't we?'l said the other occupant of the cabin. Yes, but they won't be off the track very long when someone like Jerry Sullivan starts to investigate our radio controlled airplane. You know how he stopped our rum runner by sending out a counteracting wave, and about the first thing helll do will be to bring down the plane when he-finds out that it has no pilot, 'then he'll get the information welsend in the plane and the jig will be up.', 'KI know' he's a slick boy and we'li have to look out for him, but let's turn in and get some rest this morn- ing before we leave. We've been out on this job all weekf, Needless to say, these were the men who had forced their way into VVake-

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THE SENIOR IWAGNET 25 I thought of met a man by several years consideration Know no About two answering that we had that name in Pittsburgh ago. But after some I replied boldly: one of that name. weeks ago Sucupp pass- ed me while I was standing in front of the Main Drug Store, and scowled at me. I could easily have borne this, but I was informed that Sucupp was now telling every one about Tom's wiife. By and by I got a letter from an old friend of Jim's asking if there was any truth in a report that Jim was going to Alaska to see Tom, and that he was also very sorry to hear about Tom's trou- ble. In short I saw that the time had come for killing Tom, or for my leaving town. So I told James that Tom had received a job as a deep sea diver, and about a week ago he dove after a dime which a lady had drop- ped while standing on the board- walk, and hasn't been heard of since. He is deeply mourned by everyone even by his divorced wife, and re- member, James, be sure and tell Sucupp who had always been so in- terested in Tomls welfare. I met James in the street the other day, and he told me that he had told Sucupp the sad news. How did he take it ? I inquired. Well, James said, Hhe told me that when he was up in Golden City he did not get along well with Jim, and as to Tom's children, he express- ed a great curiosity. HThe children were drowned on the way over, a sad affair we can't bear to talk of it! I replied. I am not likely to see much of Sucupp again, nor will Jim. Sucupp now goes around saying that Tom was the only one of us he really had any time for. -- The Soul's Confession When seated in your parlor, while the lights are dim ana' low, I softly swear I lofue you, while my arms about you go,' You all my soul with ecstasy, you rnalee my spirits soar, Iihazfe a vague suspicion, that I used the word adore,- You tell me not to hope too much, that you may change your mind, You warn me I may woo in vain, you tell me love is blindj But lady, I must ask you, be the fu- ture what it may, Unless I live the present, were I fool enough to stay Clara Bow's Understudy.

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THE SENIOR MAGNET 27 fields plant and taken his plans, but let us return to Wakefield himself. When Wakefield fell, he had hard- ly lost consciousness until he was pick- ed up by a policeman wiho had seen him fall, and, knowing him, at once knew the cause. He was taken home where he regained consciousness a short time later to ask if any news had been received of the plans. He was told that there had not but that police were working on the case. Wakefield who had now regained his full strength went to the radio telephone and set it for Jerry Sulli- van's wavelength. In just a second a red light showed that Jerryls phone was ringing, then as Jerry took down the receiver, his picture flashed on a small screen in front of Wakefield. suppose, said Wakefield, you have seen the morning papers. I have, indeed, said Jerry, Hand been expecting you to call. Is anything I can do to help ? , :AI have there I think there is, -Terry, Get out your transmitter that brought in the rum runner, I think it will have some effect on an airplane which I have noticed flying over here several times the last week. HI'll be over at your place in half an hour, Charlie said Jerry and hung up. One half hour later Jerfry and VVakefield sat in a little room in the radio towier of YVakefield's plant. VVakefield sat eagerly watching the sky while Jerry worked feverishly with a small transmitter. Got it set up yet, Jerry? ques- tioned Wakefield anxiously, still look- ing out of the window. HAlmost,U was ,Ierry's laconic reply. f'Listenl this Jerry came to from VVakeheld. his side at the win- The faint hum of great distance was rushed back to the dow and listened. an airplane at a heard, and Jerry apparatus and worked more feverish- ly than before. HHurry, Jerry, I can see it com- ing, said Wakefield. ..Ierry, who had tightened the last screw, clamped a head set on his ears and began working the dials. It might be said here that Wake- field was not the only inventor, for Jerry had patented this apparatus for counteracting the wave control of all radio controled vehicles and that the entire wavelength band from 0 to 50,000 meters, the highest possible wavelength, could be covered in five minutes. 'fListen, Jerry, said Wakefield, UI,ll watch it from here while you cover it with the counteracting wave, and, when I see it change its course, I'll tell you and you can make it land just inside the fence of the plant, there is plenty of room. i'All right, said Jerry. Both men were silent while Wake- field watched and Jerry worked the controls. The plane drew nearer and as Wakefield watched it, it dipped quickly to one side but was straight- ened out by the control pilot. Wake- field, not sure that this deviation was due to Jerry's transmitter, said noth- ing, but when a second dip w'as noticed, he ordered Jerry to hold itf, Jerry did so and immediately the plane began going in a circle. Youlve got it, Jerry, said Wake- field. 'iyou can land it nowf, 'KFine! said Jerry and at once be- gan to bring the plane in. Quick, Joe, they've got the plane and theylll have us, too, if we don't snap out of it,l' said the man with the scar on his cheek. 'fOh, no, you don't, spoke a voice over their shoulder. Both men started and looked around into the face of a uniformed official of the law. mXVell I'1l be-J' exclaimed the