East High School - Exodus Yearbook (Cleveland, OH)

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M' .-, 6- 6 EAST HIGH SCHOOL ever before. Washington he thought might take command of an army four or five times a da.y in such weather. Jones reached Euclid Beach well ahead of time. To his annoyance he saw the road c1'owded, principally with small boys. Something or other must have happened, he thought. A dog fight, or runaway, or something. If the attrac- tion is still on, I am all right, if not, I shall have to run the gauntlet. He soon found that his latter appre- hension was the true one, and that he was in for just that kind of entertain- ment. A great cheer went up as he ap- proached, and a body of happy children ran forward to meet him. They closed in all around and escorted him along the main road between two lines of shouting people. - Hey, mister, give ussomeli' Go on, you 'll do it, good boy, 'Wigseyf' VVhen 're yer goin' to fork 'em out?,' Rats, dat ain't him, dat fancy guy is one o' dem high school guys. Will yer look at de jay? Get on to de legs. VVhat's he got 'em wrapped up in, shawls? Naw, carpets. Say, mis- ter, yer pants is got caught inside your socks. I guess dem is English, yer know. Ain't yer going to give us no gum? A-ah, let 'm alone, he ain't nothin' but one o' them stoodent jays. He ain 't no winged wonder, a-ah! The above was what Jones enjoyed as he passed Euclid Beach. He finally shook oif his pursuers, and breathed freely again for about five minutes as he sat down to rest. VVhile he sat there a ma- chine pulled up in front of him. He knew the man who was at the wheel and called to him, Hullo, Jones, came the recog- nition, what are you doing out here? Off on a tramp, a glorious day for exercise, isn't it? 'iYes, you have no idea how I enjoy this ride. 'Well, good-by, I have got to hurry along, I am walking against time. Jones strode on from bad to worse, for he was now about to pass Villa Angela. the girls' seminary. Here there was a large group of the students of the institu- tion by the roadside. Jones had never before been afflicted with bashfulness, and did not acknowledge that he was troubled in that way now, but he felt peculiarly alone, and would have given much for another, man or just a few less girls. By the terms of his bet he could not run any of the way, but a giggle al- most made him throw up the stakes and break the pace. By a great effort, how- ever, he braced up, and even smiled cheer- fully. He made an inward resolution never to look at a girl again. He strode on again through Euclid Village. Nottingham, XVilloughbeach and others, and to his horror he found in each town the same gathering, and went through the same ordeal that he had re- ceived before. Had he gone to work and picked out a public holiday? No, he was sure it was not that, and the fact that it was Saturday. and the schools had there- fore turned their swarms loose to the world, would not account for all the crowd in every village. Perhaps there was an extra election going on in that country. What puzzled him most, how- ever. was that all of the children expect- ed something of him besides mere amuse- ment, and a pitiable example of dress. Vlihen more than half way, he stopped to speak with a farmer leaning over the fence by the roadf The old farmer looked at Jones with wonder and interest, but did not think it necessary, as had the good citizens of the factory towns. to heap scorn and derision on de boob. He

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THE BLUE Is it to be on a cinder track or over an ordinary road? That would be a great difference. Have you any fond hope. asked Jones, that I am going to make a Roman holiday of myself for the benefit of the whole community? I am sure that is what you would like. You would be out there with a brass band. No, my friend, I ask no advantages. I am quite willing to take my chances on any ordi- nary road and in ordinary walking clothes. 123, Extraordinary English knickerboek- ers, you mean, corrected Bill Bailey. You can take the Lake Shore Boule- vard to Willoughby, suggested Ryan, that is a good road and you can't get lost. It is but twelve miles, but if you walk it in three hours, we'll call it square. Yes, I know that road, I have driven over it many times in the machine. Out beyond Euclid Beach, Villa Angela, iVil- loughbeach, and all those places? All right, I'll take that road. Bill Bailey reflected a moment. I think, he admitted, with a shake of his head, that it can certainly be 'done by any .man with strength and sand. but Jones canlt do it. I'll tell you what, old scout, de- clared Jones, indignantly, 'iI'll bet you ten dollars on the event. No, I won't go you ten, because I don't believe in betting so much on a certainty. Besides you are hard up now, and you would undoubtedly borrow from me the money with which you 'd pay your bet. I can't afford to have you do that, but I will contribute a five like the rest to the purse. It was arranged that Jones should choose his day, but he was to give them notice of it on the morning which he .vw ..N. .,..- ..,-7-.-.---YW . .. H AND GOLQD 5 started. Just then the bell rang and Jones and Gray went to their classes. When they had gone, Bailey let out a great ery of joy. He can do it easily, I know, he said. Nile sha.ll lose our money, but, by gosh, it will be worth the price. XVe must get the other fellow to bet with him so he won't back out. Let 'S go and get ready for it at once. XYhat do you 1nean?i' asked Ryan, what are you going to do? Can't you guess, Jim, you Irishman? Come on, I'll tell you, and they went up Blade Park towards the printer's. Three or four days after this Jones ap- peared in his walking breeches and big Scotch stockings, and announced he was going to start. He would leave the school at one o'eloek and arrive in XVilloughby at four o'clock on that afternoon. B-yan and Gray said that they might be at the finish to receive him, if they found nothing better to do, otherwise he could time himself. Both of these boys had jobs at the corner store and had to work until one-thirty so that they were unable to see him start. Bailey also had an en- gagement with the dentist which he really ought not to break. He would endeavor to be at the finish, however, to carry him home. E Promptly at one Jones left the school with a swinging stride, and struck up toward his goal. He was in fine form and spirits, and had chosen his day well. It was one of those glorious November days when a man can do anything, when the northwest breeze fills your lungs and swells your chest into a balloon that seems to lift you clear oif your feet. On such a day the twelve miles ahead of him seemed nothing to Jones, and he sprang along overiiowing with spirits. The discoveries along the road seemed to him more beautiful and interesting than

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THE BLUE bowed to the Wayfarer as he would to any well-behaved stranger. Good afternoon, said Jones, gratefl for this drop of human kindness. Ca you tell me, sir, how far it is to VVillough- by? VVa-al, about four miles or more, thefy say. There's a car goes pretty soon, ye won't find it so far in the cars. Oh, I'm going to walk it, explained Jones with a smile. 'fThat's a powerful long walk, young man. How far ye come already? ' ' From Cleveland. Gosh! VVell, your legs is young and pretty long, but ye must want suthin' to do pretty bad. Be ye broke or anythin '? Want anythin' to eat? No thanks, I am walking for fun, try- ing to do it on time, you see. !3 'nlllebbe you 're advertisin' suthin'? Oh, I want to know! Be you the winged wonder or somethin' I hear tell on jest now? ' A light began to glimmer in Jones' mind. He had ben asked several times if he was the winged wonder. but had paid no attention to the question, suppos- ing that it was merely a form of public wit. Now it was asked of him in perfect good faith. No.,' he answered his friendly ques- tion, not intentionally. but I am begin- ning now to suspect that I am occupying some such position. I am much obliged to you for your information. I must move move along now. Good day, sir, guess ye 'll want a heap o' corn-plasters when ye git to XVillough- ,ix by Not with these stoekingsf, laughed Jones, glad of an oportunity to justify his clothes, they're thick and soft. great things to walk in. I f'They be eh? VVell, I kinder thought AND GOLD 7 they wasn't just for looks. I donit want none today, though, good day. Good-by, and Jones went on, feeling sure that the old man still suspected him at least of peddling footgear. Just before the end of his tramp he sat down for a rest on an inviting fence rail. He had plenty of time to spare, but the grassy bank might have kept him too long and made him stiff. Oh, how pleasant the three-cornered rail did feel! A piece of paper blew across the road and whirled up in his face. It was a hand bill of some sort, he remembered now having seen several of them along the way, but had picked up' none. He caught this one and turned it over. This is what he read: I-Ie is Coming Wait for him! Watch for him! The Winged Wonder. He is matched to walk twelve miles to- day for an enormous purse. He holds world records for distance walking. He will wear one of our custom-made Lon- don suits unexcelled for outdoor Wear and stylish appearance. They are all the rage in England and therefore sure to be popular here. He will also distribute tops and marbles to the boys and chewing-gum to the girls. Watch for him, everybody, he will be here soon, and will follow this road. Come, out girls! - Come out, boys! N ow is your chance Wait, Watch for the Winged Wonder His glimmer dawned to a great light. He jumped up and hurried along the re- maining mile or two as fast as his weary legs would go. There was no crowd awaiting for him on the outskirts of Wil-