Johnstown High School - Spectator Yearbook (Johnstown, PA)

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14 SPECTATOR Charlic-3,5 Battle Park Shaffer, 22M Charlie Rittredge sat in his room thinking. That was all that Charlie had been doing for a week. He had heard disquieting news on the -campus. He had seen groups of fellows talking and he knew that he was the subject of the conversation, for upon several occasions he ' had heard, 'iCharlie's lost all his pep. And indeed it seemed true. For the last game with Georgia Training School, Kumyals had won by three points. These were made by Brown's drop-kick from the fifteen yard line. And how that crowd had roared. He could still hear them, i'Brown, Brown, Brown. -Now two days before the championship game with Longbuoy Prep, commonly said to be the best prep team in the eastern part of the country, Charlie was bluer than ever. Coach Blackburn had raved and roared, but he might as well have saved his breath. To roar at Charlie was like roaring at a stone wall, for his words had no effect. A stone- wall, that's what Charlie had been in the olden days. The day for the Longbuoy game came. For fully two hours before the game spectators had been coming. The bleachers and every bit of standing room were filled. The game opened in tense silence. The first quarter ended and the second was just commencing. Longbuoy kicked but recovered almost immediately through a fumble. Kumyals went to pieces and two minutes before the end of the half Longbuoy crossed the 'goal for a touchdown but missed the try for goal after touchdown, making the score 6-0. Charlie had not played. Rutledge, second string quarter- back, had taken his place. But now Rutledgeis wind had played out and he was out of the game for the rest of the day. The only thing the coach could do was to put Charlie in. And he did. But before they went out on the field the coach took Charlie into his private office. No one heard what was said, but when Charlie came out he was very white. The team worked systematically, seeming heartenecl by the presence of their old quarterback, although they all knew he was not working true to form. And the third quarter ended without gain on either side. The coach said nothing but looked

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SPECTATOR 13 tempted to read it, but determinedly turning her back on it she began to read The Merchant of Venice, for surely if she knew a certain part in this play due to diligent study, she would be rewarded with a part in the class play. She grew more interested in it as she read and was particularly fasci- nated by the character of Portia. She fancied herself acting the part and planned how she would do it. Then suddenly she seemed to find herself in a dressing room back of the school stage. The class were to give scenes from The Merchant of Venice and she was Portia. The youthful actors were donning the grease paint when excitedly someone passed around the word that a famous movie critic and director were in front. All was excitement! The curtain rose and fell as scene after scene was enacted. At last came Jane's chance to shine. The curtain rose on the court scene. Portia entered with Nerissa as clerk. Her acting was wonderful. She could hear the shouts of Bravo as she stood breathless in the wings. Back in the dressing room she was greeted by Mr. Hammzers, 'who had directed the play, and by two strange gentlemen, whom he introduced as the critic and movie direc- tor respectively. The acting was very good, said one, in a voice which sounded strangely familiar. Yes, indeed, said another familiar voice. Something unusual for such young actors. V Jane blushingly stamrnered her thanks but was rudely interrupted in the very middle of them by the same voice in her ear. Ujanel Jane! l thought l told you to go to bed early and here you are asleep over your studies. Like Cinderella of old Jane's witching hour fled, and with it Jane's chance. She looked around to find herself in the familiar library and her mother and father laughing at her expression of surprise. Oh, l just dreamed I had received a movie contract, she said, as she marched obediently to bed, followed by her mothers laughing voice: A movie contract as the result of Shakespeare. It isn't being done these days, my dear. Your chance may come through books, but not through your portrayal of Shakes- pearef'

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SPECTATOR 15 at Charlie with contemptuous eyes. Again Charlie whitened, but he controlled his temper and with throbbing veins waited for the whistle. It blew, and with encouragement shouted from the side lines, the players ran into the field to finish what looked like a sure defeat for Kumyals. But after the first play everyone knew that something was up . Charlie worked like one possessed. A smile flickered on the coach's face as he muttered, I knew he would do it. . Inch by inch, foot by foot, yard by yard, Kumyals forced Longbuoy back to the thirty-yard line where Charlie broke through and headed for the goal. Conway, the speedy little Longbuoy end, sped after him and tackled him just as he reached the goal, but the force of the tackle threw them both across the goal line. Touchdown, touchdown, touchdowng Charlie, Charlie, Charlie. And business men uptown stopped to listen, so powerful was the shout. At the sound Charlie's heart swelled and tears came to his eyes as he whispered, For good, old Kumyals, but at what a price. He kicked goal just as the whistle blew and was carried off the field, once more a hero. That evening, as several of his closest friends sat in his room talking over the exciting incidents of the game, Roberts, the captain, laughingly asked Charles what had been the matter with him. At this Charlie grew thoughtful, then took a note from his pocket, handed it to Roberts, then walked to the window, too weak to control his emotions. Roberts read: 4 Dear:- ' You were wonderful. lim glad you played, although l was afraid every minute you would be hurt. l..eola. And the fellows nodded understandingly.