Johnstown High School - Spectator Yearbook (Johnstown, PA)

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I2 THE SPECTATOR curdling yell as he and the landlady let out when she noticed the red stream flowing from the former's face, was too much for the stout lady on the stairs. She fainted and her 276 pounds of avordupois came bouncing down and struck the beautiful cabinet containing the madam's dainty bric-a-brac with a terrible crash. This was not all, for excited men rushed in from the outside, women fainted, children screamed, and the whole house was in an uproar. Finally, however, a trio of the dare- devil type noticed the heroic experience of the anarchist on the stairs and at once made a wild rush towards him, but a voice weird and commanding stopped their impetuous ascent. Hold! it cried, the first man to put a foot on yonder stair will be destroyed by a power greater than Xocpignusf' And he' looked every word of it, for he remembered the heir in Chester Devonde's masterpiece The Deadman's Skull, who was so brave and daring. A new fear seized the excited throng, for in the hand of the young Bluebeard was a small vial-like bottle Qwhich happened to be the smelling salts of the tainted giantessj, and naturally the rumor started that it con- tained hipothoratic glycerine. He was quick to learn this and to take advantage of it. Holding the bottle aloft, he threatened to hurl it to the floor if anyone molested him as he made his way to the street. It is needless to say that his feet nearly melted the bricks in the sidewalk, for he made the speed of a fanatic bumblebee, and boarded the first freight for Joyful. Moral: A seashore job is like an empty house- nichts drinen. THE OLD SCOUT. A Disappointed Crowd 66 I D LIKE to find out who the rogues were, said Will Graham to his friend, George Woods, as they stood viewing the ruins of the handsome,little building they had lately built for the fall hunting season. Some of the boys of the vicinity had erected a camp, in which they had stored nuts and Other Pf0ViS-

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THE SPECTATOR li An Ocean Wave Hotter than Arizona.. H Dl lNlNlORTALlS EST. How happy the world seemed to the young man, who, after weeks of search for employment, at last succeeded in obtaining a position as assistant clerk. Oh! Madame, how can I ever repay you for your kindness. It gives me life and hope, and I shall be your most devoted slave. Command me, and all shall be accomplished. He hnished so dramatically that the stout proprietress stepped back with a startled look. Hal l-la! At last l have met the youth who doth rival my own son. You shall receive your board and a dollar each week, with a chance for a raise. Will that suit you P Would that suit him? It would suit him like an enterprising tailor. What did wages matter to him? Why, the very privilege of staying in Atlantic City all summer was as great as a musquito's bite in August. Philip, you may take this dress-suit case up to room No. 13, on the first floor. Yes mum, he answered eagerly. With a bound he grasped the grip and made for the stairs. But not without a mishap, for in his haste he stepped upon the landlady's understandings. After a few high notes like the music of a freight whistle, she accepted the ever- ready apologies of her new pilot. Once again he started on his fatal trip for the narrow stairway which led over the clerk's desk in the ofhce. Having progressed as far up the stairs as to be directly over the desk, he was met by another stout lady coming down. But lo to him, in order to make room for her to pass, he, with a graceful swing, brought the rickety suit-case on the outside of the railing. The sudden stop was too much, for the handle came off and the suit-case dropped with the speed of a watermelon down a negro's throat. It struck the busy clerk square on the back of his neck and rammed his face in a bowl of red ink. Such a blood-

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THE SPECTATOR 13 ions for the season. A stove, cooking utensils, and var- ious other articles also made up their equipment for the week's outing during hunting season. . This shack, as they called it, had been suddenly burned down and all their equipment stolen. It was a great disappointment to the boys, for they had taken much care in erecting the building, and were very en- thusiastic over the coming vacation, which they were to spend in it. The cabin had been built in a small clearing in a thick wood. The clearing was located along a hill- side and was perfectly level. It was supposed to have been early associated with the Indians, and for this reason the boys looked upon it with peculiar interest and even reverence. Autumn had now arrived, making the place very beautiful. The fallen leaves had made a soft carpet over the ground, and the surrounding woods were lighted with the brilliant, frost-dyed leaves that graced the surround- ing landscape. Standing on the clearing, one could look all over the valley, which shone brown from the dead leaves which still clung to the trees. lt is here beside the ruins of their camp that we find the boys talking over their calamity. l'd like to know who did it, said Will, though we could hardly do anything with them. Well, I intend to make it my business to End out, said George. We'll see then whether we can't fix matters with them. After a few more remarks they parted for the night. The next day they again returned to the clearing and talked the matter over, deciding that the cabin must have been burned by Bull Carey, a boy whom George had whipped for teasing a small girl. While they were discussing the situation, George noticed that the fresh clay embankment at the upper end of the clearing had been disturbed. lt looked as if a half dozen persons had lately clambered over the bank into the woods. Upon further examination George noticed a deep, even cut in the clay. This settled it. The cut had been made by the stove, which the culprits had