Greenfield High School - Bulletin Yearbook (Greenfield, MO)

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5.. f-sw. rw ehuqganggnijid- -Q424Qg5f?Lg-4:H21H-W?.lS:1,Min1Q5?::fe:a,1:11, ' mauzfj ,Tire :-.1-rr-C'q21t,gf15 -' 2:-zg3,,.,g:,, 131'are-aah'-L1'ggn2f5a::1LQ 'Za-1 ' - S- superintendent straight in the face, as she said: Professor Travers, for four years I've been a stu- dent in this school. For four years I've striven to work in harmony with the plans of the teachers, and in that length of time you have never heard anything but the truth from me. Now, on circumstantial evi- dence, and at a time when I need a friend most, you and Miss Beacon are the most ready to turn from me. But now! whatever the decision of the board, what- ever the punishment I must unjustly bear, I can but repeat what I have said twice before, I DID NOT write or have anything to do with that note and for the last time I positively will NOT give the name of the writer. - While it was hard for the superintendent to believe that Margaret Ames, one of the model girls in his school, would tell an untruthg yet he could scarcely believe otherwise, but he pitied her just the same. When she had finished speaking he looked at her keenly for a moment, then said, impressively but not unkindly: Then, Miss Ames, I must give you the decision of the board and that is-expulsion! I'm sorrier for this than you can ever know, but only the giving of a name, only two words, would have saved you, and this you have repeatedly refused. Than, Miss Margaret, allow me to say Good-bye. It is best for you to leave the school at once. Although Margaret had been warned of this de- cision, it did not seem possible that such a course could be carried out. And, after all, the announce- ment of the superintendent came as a shock. She could not even bring herself to say good bye and Prof. Travers turned and left her. How long she remained where he had left her she did not know, but when she finally entered the Study Hall it was to find that school had been dismissed, that all of the students had left the building and darkness would soon settle over the town. She hur- ried on through the building and passed out of the front door, just as the janitor hung up his duster and took the keys from his pocket, preparatory to closing the building. Before Margaret reached home she met her brother Milton coming to look for her. As he met her he was startled at her paleness and her careworn look. Wlas this the cheerful, happy-hearted sister who had walked to school with him that morning? Then as he took her books and turned homeward he began, explo- sively: That old idiot of a superintendent shall be sorry for this. Expelled! and without any direct proof of guilt! Wonder what the old 'sharp elic' will say when I tell him he has been mistaken for once in his life? ' As her brother nnished this little speech Margaret answered gently, wearily, Hush, Milton, you haven't any proof tho' I know you'd never.think me guilty. . I-Iaven't any proof, haven't It Margaret, I found that note where it had been dropped before it could reach you. I opened, read and answered it, little thinking it would get you into this. I only thought of how I, a Junior, and having the same initials as my sister, would get a good joke on May Martin, and best of all, give the remainder of the Juniors a hint as to what was taking place, so they could be pre- pared. Just now they came to the door of their boarding place and as they were about to enter, Milton con- tinued: May is here now to see you. We have talked the matter over. We know that we two alone are to blame for getting you into this trouble and Prof. ,Travers and Miss Beacon have Hnished things up for us. So we 're going, now that I've found you, to tell the old skinrlint all about it. 'Just to think I didn 't know what was going on 'till I reached home this evening! All this time Margaret had remained silent. She was too astonished to utter a word. But finally, when she realized that such a step as her brother proposed taking would mean the restoring of herself to her old place in the school room, and in the estimation of others, only at a great cost to her brother and a dear friend, she began to plead with Milton to give up the idea. She had already gone through with it all, and she had just as well, or better, leave the school than to have both of the others do so. Q But in spite of all she could do or say, when she had entered the building and spoken with her friend the two could not be persuaded to her way of think- ing, They were so eager to undo the wrong they had donc Margaret that they started out at once to find Prof. Travers. When they had explained all to him, not without many reproaches for his believing such a thing of Margaret, he thanked them for their truthfulness and the noble spirit they had shown and went with them at once to Margaret. 'fMiss Margaret, he began, I said to you this evening that I was sorrier for what had happened than you could know. Now, I can say that I'm more pleas- ed than you can ever know, to find that I was mis- taken. although others will have to bear the punish- ment designed for you. It will not be so bad for either of them because they have not QI'm sure they'll pardon my speaking so plainlyj they have not done the work in school that you have and have not had such ambitions as belong to you. Now, I must ask you to forgive me for being so ready to think ill of you. Will you forget it all, Miss Margaret, and let it all be as it has been in the past? Now Margaret was smiling through-her tears, but as yet she did not take the outstretched hand. One favor I should like to ask irst, Prof. Travers, you are very fond of conditions you know, so I will forgct all and return to school on one condition, that is, that you will do all in your power to keep my brother and May from being expelled. They have confessed their guilt and are willing to take the pun- ishment, but this is the condition I put before you. And in the face of all that had happened. how could ho refuse to do all in his power to bring this about? And the superintendent's influence among his school directors was great. V THE FATAL ADVENTURE Jack, let's go out to Buzzard's cave tomorrow. I am completely worn out, and I believe that school would be more profitable to us if we will take an out- ing tomorrow. I believe you are right, Tom. It seems that as the days get longer, and as spring time advances, one los.s all the vitality and energy it has ever been his good fortune to have. Ralph will be here in a few minutes, and if he is willing we will go. There he is now. Say, Ralph, Jack and I have talked it ovcr and have decided it would be a splendid thing to take a trip out to Buzzard's cave tomorrow. You see, spring has come and. as yet, we seem to be in our dormant shells, refusing to be awakened by the beauty of spring time. What do you say to it, old boy? Shall we go or not? 4'Splendid! I have been trying for a week to think what was the mattqr with me, but you are the first to give me a satisfactory solution. I have needed more of the fresh air, more of the spring time sun- shine. Say! You know' people say music sounds so well in Buzzard's cave. There are so many passages and sub-passages, that the echoes, nowing along past thcse ways, make such beautiful music. What say you, let's take Billy Coon? He is ex- pert on the violin and no matter if he is an darky he is a right good old cuss. I am sure he will.go5 for he always likes to be around us boys. Capital! exclaimed both Jack and Tom, to whom this seemed quite a novelty. So it was arranged that they shoudl go to Buzzard's -roost and spend the next day in exploration and general fun making. Billy Coon was next seen and was only too glad to get to go along with the boys, for they always treated him very courteously, and this was something Billy J .mm ,um ,F .eve are -,Q Elini '1 '-J-L.45:,1:: - :::'-'- ' ' ' -1- 'flak -wagner... -Q-a-..,.aq.,fiiii :Lgr3..,,-,, A:,....v-,..,. . H - ay., -- Q.. -- . . . .1-5-emma-w-,G

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4 f WM ' 'MM ' ' 5 'CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE ' ' Oh, George, you're a ine one! Why didn't you come last night? With you and Margaret both gone we had a good meeting you may be sure. VVho can de- pend on you I'd like to know. All this came in one breath from a tall, good na- tured Senior girl and the answer came from a class- mate. Did you ever know me to keep a promise? I was too lazy to come, but I know Margaret had a good reason or she would have been there. Here she comes, we shall soon know her reason. As the girl finished speaking, a tall girl, with dark hair and eyes and a soft velvety skin, entered the room. She was plainly dressed, but that compared with hzr sweet face was nothing. She had a bright smile for -everyone, but she was not to give many more such smiles that morning, for as she entered the room, Miss Beacon, principal of the school approached her in a very haughtygmanner. All of the girls saw the flow of color that came rushing into Margaret's face, and heard her murmur 'ffor what can I be called to the superintendant's of1ice? -' Miss Beacon and Margaret moved out of the room and down the long hall to the superintendent's pri- vate ofiice. As the door closed Miss Beacon produced a. piece of paper and unfolding it, handed it to Mar- garet with the words Miss Ames, will you please tell me why you received that note? The note was written in relation to a frolic the Seniors were planning, and ran as follows: Plans not fully developed, but we'll have a time and keep the Juniors from their banquet. Vile girls can do nothing much, of course, but we'll get to see it all and won't me have a jolly time? On the other side of the paper was the following an- sw.r: '1Of course, wc'll all be there. and of coursc we'll have a never-to-be-forgotten time. M.A. As Margaret finished reading the note Miss Beacon very sterrly said to her: Miss Ames you know that you are breaking one of the rules of this institution when you receive and answer a note within this build- ing or on th.se grounds, and furthermore there is no rcason why you shouldn't know that such actions as are mentioned in this note have long since been for- bidden by our worthy president. You will pleace give an account of yourself or I shall call the superindend- ent, which I dislike, very much, to do. Miss Beacon, I neither received nor answered this rote, was Margaret's reply as she looked fearlessly in the eyes of the principal. M.: Beacon was furious and almoststormed out the question: Would you do a thing and then deny itil Margaret could control herself no longer and be- came angry, whereupon she answered: i'Miss Beacon I did not receive or answer that note. Miss Beacon dismissed Margaret and crossed over to the telephone, She rang vigorously and called: Hcllo, Central, please ring numbrr 293' The superintendent, Mr. Travers, came to the tole- phone and answered. Miss Beacon told him she would like to speak to him in his oiiice as soon as he came to school. When he came she explained how she had found the note and how Margaret's initials were sign- ed to the answer. Mr. Travers looked quite serious about the matter and Hnally decided to have a meeting of the officers of the institution to talk the matter over. I IVhen they had come together. although some did not take the matter so seriously as others, all agreed that something must be done to show the pupils that the few rules of the institution must be observed. So Margaret was called before the directors, The presi- dent, Mr. Kipplo, arose and began in rather a stern manner, Miss Ames this is quite a serious matter, which you will be called upon to explain. You are fully aware of the fact that writing notes and plotting class wrongs arc actions which cannot be approved by those who are planning and working for thc good oi' thc school. However, wc will pass over all this and come to the point. In the first place, who wrote this note? Mr. Kipplc, with all due respect to yourself and all members of this school board, and without the slightcst desire or attempt to be or appear discourt- eous, I must say that I cannot answer that question. Miss Ames, do you intend to insinuate by this statement that you do not know who wrote the note, which you received and answered? 'II certainly did not intend to convey any such idea. I do know who wrote it because I recognize the hand- writing, but what I said to Miss Beacon this morning I will repeat to you, that I did not receive or answer that note, nor did I even see it until she showed it to me this morning. As you are the only young lady in school who has the initials M, A.: as the note was undoubtedly writ- ten t oyou and received by you, I do not see how you can deny answering it. Miss Ames, once again Ishall ask you this question and if you refuse to explain this little aiair, then I, for one, think that you no longer have any respect for the officers and teachers of this school or any self-esteem, and shall be in favor of expelling you from the school. Again, who wrote it and furthermore, why did you answer it? Again, Mr. Kipple,. I answer your question. I will not reveal the name of the one who wrote that note, I did not answer it, and I do not know who did answer it, although the writing looks somewhat fa- miliar. If- 'tThat will do, Miss Ames. The president threw back his head in rather a haughty manner as he in- terrupted her and pointed to the door, You may leave the room. As the door closed behind Margaret she began to realize how serious the aiair was becoming for her. At first she was angry. Why must she be accused of this misdemeanor, scorned by the president and other ofiicers, niistrusted by the teachers, pitied by the girls, her friends and classmates? and probably -L Uh! what was it the president had said! What awful word had he used in speaking of the punishment which should be dealt out to her? t'Expelled! unjustly expelled, near the end of the term. And this y.ar was to have been her last. A glorious four years had been hers during her school career, Elled with many victories and triumphs, and best of all, many friends. Only one week before she had heard the announcement from the lips of the sup- erintendent, The highest honors of the class belong to Miss Margaret Ames. She, of course, will deliver the valedictory address. How proudly she had heard the cries of the classmates when her name was min- gled with their yells! Now their exultant cries would cease and she would be compelled to witness their scorn. She could scarcely get through with her recitations, so greatlywas she troublid over all that had hap- pened. Still she trusted that some evidence would be brought forth to show that she was innocent. But after school, Margaret ,was called to the ofiice for the third time. The superintendent wished to have a private interview with her. .Vilhen she entered the room he saw that she looked pale and kindly placed a chair for her before he began speaking. Then he said: Miss Margaret, you have always been an excellent student, and never before this day have I had the slightest occasion to correct you in any way. Because this was your Iirst off.nse. some of us desired that your punishment be light, but the majority insisted on cn- forcing the few rules we have here, even if the whole Senior class should have to bc expelled, during com- menccwent week, for some misdemeanor. But wc fin- ally dccided to give you one more chance to finish the course which you have started, and almost completed, so splcndidly. Miss Margaret, thc condition is the one stated to you before. Give us the name of thc person who wrote you this message, und your punish- ment shall bc lightened. If not, then my instructions are to give you thc decision of the dirci-tors. Margaret turned a shade pulcr, but sho looked the rx va wi.-ar 1-i1vT ' ?3 i'.51 1 hl? ' W1

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Y1iN: f' nhR- could not say in behalf of all his city neighbors, be cause, in general, they weri very pregudiced against darkies Jack Henderson and Tom Fremont were two coun try boys, who had been going to high school for three years past and were, this year, the two best in a class of tw nty pupils Each was striving for first honors, but the outcome of their eiorts was as yet very doubt ful Ralph Carmack had for the past three years gone to a high school in his home town, but had come to this school to finish, as its standard of work was higher than that of the other, and he was anxious to avail himself of the advantage this would give him in hrs entrance to college It is not worth while to give the characteristics of each of these boys, but rather allow the reader to infer this from the succeed ing story Buzzard's cave is rn Kansas, and is noted for its passages, sub passages and the drfliculty which it af fords to those lost in its labrynths rn finding the way out The passages cross one another and twist around one another as a snake lying coiled around the branches of a tree and many times one passage branches off from the main path and before you are aware of the fact you ind it has entered the same path again The diiiiculty of the task of getting out may be imagined, when I say that expert leaders have often been lost for hours at a time When they have incaut ou ly entered deficient in some means of es cape, and to show the degree of horror and fear at tachrd to it it rs sard, if you say to a crying baby, Hush, or I will throw you into Buzzard 's cave is quite sutlicrent to secure the desired result This gives you an idea of the condition of the place to which these boys went and will possibly destroy your rncredability as to the outcome of this story As arranged on the preceeding day, the boys arose early and began to make their preparations for their day 06, ' as they called it In a short t me their luncheon was prepared old clothes put on and every thing else was prepared, except the lantern which th.y were to get at a farmeris house on the way. Just as their arrangements were completed, Billy Coon showed his grinning vesage around the corner, apparently as well pleased over the prospects of the day as any one of the boys. Swinging loosely under her arm, his violin case seemed to suggest something unusual, something beyond the ordinary, but still something that was necessary to the full enjoyment of this day. Little did it bring to the minds of these jovial students, who for the present time thought themselves free from cars, and books, the sadness and heart aches which would soon establish itself in their hearts. Little did they think that a day begining with such pleasure and happiness could end with a calamity that would make them sorrowful throughout life, when suggested to their minds. Little can any of us, in the pleasure of our lives, tell what the close of the bright- est day has in store for us. The cold stern Angel of Fate is as exacting of one as another, and little do we know when and where our meeting with him will be. It was about six o'clock when they left home, thus beginning the events, that were to be so memorable to each of the boys in afterlife. Ralph. who suggested the plan of having the darkey go along with thzm, considered it his duty to walk with him and to enter- tain him until they reached tlre cave. Jack and Tom Walked along quietly talking, now and then takcing notes on the views of Nature. They secured the lan- tern, and thinking themselves entirely equipped, rush- ed hurridly over three miles of country between town and the cave, and soon found themselves face to face with one of the greatest mysteries of the world. Bc- fore them was a solid mass of lime stone rock rising almost perpendicular' to the height of two hundred feet above the surrounding country. .WVhile directly before them was a huge vault. tapering in the dis- tance to a small hole, scarcely large enough for one to crawl through, then it tapered to a dark vanishing point in the distance. This was the cave, this is what they came to see. and not until now did they griifm feel any hesitation or dread of their undertaking, brit for some reason there was a peculiar sensation linger ing and wrrthrng rn each of the boys, especially Billy Coon, who had inherited some of the negro superstr tions and fears But he did not wish to show any marks of fear to these boys, so he Just gritted his teeth good and hard and held his tongue between them, lest he should bertay his feelings After the boys had gazed at the cavc for some five minutes, Jack finally said Boys, we will have to be careful today, for you know this strong old prison is a treacherous place and no matter if we are only vrsrtors today, we may be mislead, unless we use every precaution Of course we have the lantern, but that is no surety against such a network of streets and alleys as are hid underneath that vast heap of lime ne rock So above all things, let's be careful Then Tom answered, I have thought of a good plan to use and rf we follow it I can't see anv pos sible chance of being lost As we go in let's always keep to the right Where there is an opportunity, turn to the right until we have gone as far as we wish then turn around and instead of turning to the r ght, turn to the left and that will lead us right out again It seems to me there rs no danger whatever about this What do you all think of itll ' Dar's de timb, said Brlly who was wan ing something pretty assuring at that particular time The plan also seemed a good one to the other boys and they decided to follow it Tom was appointed leader, as he had suggested the plan The lantern was then lighted and they started for the cave, Tom first, then Jack, next Ralph, and lastly, Brlly, whose eyes were continually growing larger They crawled along for quite a space before they came to a single passage leading to the right but this only made them enter it more zealously, for they were extremely anxious that they might test their plan On again they scrambled for almost twenty five yards, when they can-e to another passage leading to the right They turned into it and proceeded All this time not a word had been spoken, but when they had traveled the new pathway for some time, Tom suddenly broke the silence, by cxplaiming, By thunder, boys, I be- lieve we are going out! Why? asked Jack in alarm. I see the light shining against yonder stone and by my faith the place looks just like the entrance. Well, go on and let's'see, called out Ralph from behind. A They went on and sure enough they found them- selves again at the place from which they had started. They gazed at each other in blank astonishment for some time and finally after talking it over among themselves, they decided that Tom 's plan had failed, because the second pass they had taken wound around and again entered the first. 'Ihey then knew they could put no dependence in their plan, so they finally decided to go into the cave at random and to depend upon their own judgment to get out, This plan was not very pleasing to Billy Coon. who was now getting worked up to the right pitch, that he was almost afraid to go into the cave at all, but a second impulse served him better, and he did nothing but blink his eyes and shrug his shoulders in way of disapproval. Then here they started again. hit or miss into the mysterious cave, little did they care for anything now save to get into its deeper recesses and there hear that music which is famed to be so beautiful. They seemed, since their Hrst plan had failed, to be en- tirely unrest1'ained. Often they called back and forth to each other, something they did not do while follow- ing out their plan. Now they Went much more rap- idly. But it was far different with Billy Coon, every advancing step carried him nearest some appartion or terror which he constantly saw just before him. Once while straining his eyes to see it more clearly his violin case struck the rocky wall of the cave and Billy, jumping from his crawling posture, struck his head on the rocks above, so severely, that he staggered for sometime, but on he went again, still chasing that inward fancy, which grew stronger the fartlrer' he