Paxton High School - Reflector Yearbook (Paxton, IL)

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THE PAXTON HI OH SCHOOL REFLECTOR V was a little late. Before she came Belle asked the girl if they had seen anything of her money. When they all said they had not, Mary told how and why she suspected Alice. Alice came in a few minutes later, and was surprised that all the girls stopped talking and looked meaningly at her and then at one another. She woul 1 have asked them what the trouble was, but they acted so queer that she did not dare. They continued to act this way, and would hardly answer her when she spoke to them. This went on for nearly a week before she found what the trouble was. One morning after t! e girls had all come, Mary turned 10 her suddenly and asked why she lid taken Belle’s money on Saturday n ght. For a full minute Alice was too surprised to say a word. Then s' e grew pale and the tears came to her eyes. “You can easily see that she took it. Just look at her,” exclaimed Mary. “But I didn’t take it, and didn’t e en know it was lost,” protested Alice. Oh yes, you did You can’t deny it”, replied Mary. Alice declared that s'e had not taken the money, but none believed her. She soon began her wmrk, although she did not feel much like it, for she could not forget what Mary had said. Later on, she was carrying some 1 oxes to the back part of the fatcory, and in doing this she passed through a large unused room. She thought s’ e smelled smoke and stopping a moment, decided that there must be a fire some where near. Quickly crossing the floor she opened a door which led into a small room. The floor of this room was covered with loose paper and boxes. As she threw open the door of this room, she saw with horror that half of the room was in flames, and that the fire was rap idly spreading among the loose paper. She quickly gave the alarm and then hurried to the room where the girlo were busy. As soon as they heard that there was a fire, they jumped up and rushed out of the building, push- ing and shoving one another. When Alice reached the door she stopped suddenly. She remembered that. Mary Grimm’s younger sister had been sent upstairs on an errand. She wondered why she did not come down when she heard the fire, and decided tnat she must have been hurt or she woul have hurried down. The fire had spread over the east side of the factory. If Alice should try to go up- stairs, she would have to go through one of the rooms now burning. She quickly decided to try it, and dashed up the stairs. When she reached the top she saw the little girl sitting on the floor crying. She told her to come quickly because there was a fire, and they would be burned if they did Dot hurry. I can’t” answered the child, I slipped and hurt my foot so I can’t walk.” Alice picked her up and hurried down through the flames. Rushing blindly through the smok°. she finally reached the open air. Her face and armes were burned very badly. After they had been bandaged, Mary Grimm offered to go with her home. ‘I don’t know how to thank you enough for saving my sister,” she said, “but I wrnt to tell you some- thing. When I first knew you I didn I like you and wanted to get you into trouble. I took Belle's money and hid it, trying to put the blame on you. I’m awfully sorry, and I’ll get the money and tell the others girls.” And Mary did tell them soon, for they were able to begin i irl; in a few days, as the factory was damaged cniv a little and was soon rep «’red. Laura Johnson.

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8 THE PAXTON HIGH SCHOOL REFLECTOR ALICE’S TRIAL Alice Blake’s father had been dead about half a year when she and her mother sold their small home and moved to Lowell, Mass. Her father had not been successful in his busi- ness; and, upon his death, it was found that he had left very little mon- ey for his wife and daughter. As Mrs. Blake was an invalid, Alice had to earn enough money to support them both. She thought that she could more easily find work in a large fac- tory town than in their own small vil- lage; and, as soon as possible, they rented a few rooms in Lowell, and moved there.. Alice easily found work, but as she was a rather timid girl, she dreaded the first day at the factory. She wen', early and found only one gi l there before her. This girl, after ask- ing her name, began to talk in a lively manner. This made Alice like her a; orce. The other girls soon began to come in. Alice noticed one in parti- cular—r. tall dark girl, whose name was Mr'ry Grimm. Alice grew ac- quainted with the girls in a few days and things did not seem so strange. All the girls liked her but Mary, who thought she was too quiet, for Alice w'as much quiter than most of the girls. As time went on Alice could easily see that Mary did not like her, and for this reason she tried to avoid her. Mary said to one of her friends that she supposed Alice Blake thought herself too nice to have any- thing to do with her. She tried :n dozens of little ways to annoy Alice. One Saturday evening, after receiv- ing their week’s wages, the girls were standing in the hall putting on their coats and hats One girl. Belle Dover, laid her purse on the window-sill in the hall, while she buttoned her coat. Some one called to her and said to hurry, and she went out forgetting about her money. Most of the girls had now gone, and Alice was left alone in the hall for a few mom- ents, but she soon left. Just as the door closed behind her, Mary came into the hall. She saw the purse on the window, and thought of a chance to get Alice into trouble. Pick- ing the purse up, she carried it into another room and dropped it behind the radiator, and then started home. She met Belle coming back to the fac- tory and asked her what the matter was “I left my money on the window-sill in the hall”, she answered. ‘‘Come back with me while I get it.” Mary turned and went back, but when they reached the factory sne waited outside while Belle went in. Suddenly Belle gave a little cry and Mary went in and asked, in the most innocent tone, if she had found it. “No. It s gone. I put it here in the window and now I can’t find it.” “Are you sure you put it here?” asked Mary. Belle said she remembered exactly where she had laid it. Both girls be- gan to hunt, but it could not be found. At last they gave up, and Belle tried to think what had become of it. “Some one must have taken it,”she said at last, “but most of the girls left before I did.” Mary then said that Alice Blake was in the room when Belle was, and had perhaps taken it after she had gone. “I came into the room just as Alicj left and the money was gone then, ’ sho said. Belle thought that Alice would hardly do such a thing, but as they walked home, Mary said that Alic? was the only one who could have tak- en it, as she was about in the room and could easily have picked it uo without being seen by anyone. The next Monday morning, Alice

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IO THE PAXTON HIGH SCHOOL REFLECTOR SENIOR NOTES Louise Perdue spent the holidays very pleasantly visiting relatives in Bloomington. Say, isn’t it a lot of bother to be required to have a class entrance slip after being absent a half day, espec- ially just before Xmas? Ask Nelle, Ethel and Jean if it isn’t. The English IV. class is enjoying the fifteen minute talks given by the differnt members of the class on prominent American writers of the Second National Period. Ask Georiga if she likes gum. Lynn’s latest occupation, or rather amusement in Civics class is ■watching the bell. We’re glad he has some- thing new to amuse himself with. Ethel Sheldon .and Jean Holderman were absent from school several days recntly on account of illness. Donald Bainum was missed at school several days. He was confined at home by sickness. Miss Clark honored the Senior class by proving herself a very effi- cient teacher in one of the grades, one afternoon. Carrie: (narrating the various ac- complishments of a certain writer in Eng. IV.) “And she kept her parlor as clean as most people's kitchens.’’ Edna Larson was also on the Sen- ior sick list a few days ago. On account of the lessons in Ger- man IV. being reviews at present, K. Erickson deemed it unnecessary to study his lessons—but that is all right for he is the only boy in the class and is naturally the pet. Mr. T. was very much surprised on unlocking the door to the Civics room, the other day, to find two little lost girls pa iently waiting to b3 found. Ask Marguerite and Marie for further information. We, the Select” Senior Bunch, here by take the privilege of acknowledg- ing our heart-felt thanks to those low- er classmen who were so extremely generous with their snow balls while we were out sleighing Thursday even- ing, Jan 19. We certainly appreciate their remembrances very much as they took so much pains to see thjt their carefully laid plans were carried out just right. Miss Tobias also ex- tends her thanks with the Senior cias The Seniors enjoyed the Friday hol- ■ ay, Jan. dO, in various ways. We o Ij wish they came oftener. Lost -My balance on Market street