Rockland High School - Cauldron Yearbook (Rockland, ME)

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8 THE CAULDICON and implicate her in the first killing. Duke also confessed to the murder of the banker. Patsy asked for mercy because she claimed that she had changed her way of living. Both verdicts were-- guilty as charged. They were to die in the electric chair within two months. Jim testified at the trial. Well, Jim, it's time to go. Are you sure you want to? You seem to be taking it plenty bad. Yes, I want to go, and I'll be all right. Jameson didn't believe him but said nothing. Neither spoke on the way to the prison. Hello, Warden Kaler, this is my assistant, Jim Lassen. The warden was a tall chunky man, who puffed impressively on a cigar. Howdy, Jim. This is a bit unusual, you know, but go right in. There are only a few minutes left. As he said this he went to the prisoner's cell. Come then, J img the reporters must be there already. The lights were bright as Patsy was led to the chair. The priest was mut- tering a prayer. Before she sat down Patsy looked up to the observer's window and saw Jim. Then they placed her in the chair-put the clamps on-the lights dimmed-the warden nodded-the switch was thrown and Jim jumped. Half an hour later the prison doctor pronounced Patsy dead. That was about noon. Late in the afternoon just before closing time Jameson looked up from his work to notice Jim coming through the door. I've been Wondering Where you ducked out to. Couldn't find you any place. Oh, Jim, don't mind if I ask you but how come you wanted to go to the girl's execution and not Duke's ? I've got something for you, Hal. It's my resignation. Your what! You must be kidding, Jim! Why this case made you. You've got great possibilities! You'll get used to these things. I'm not fooling, Hal. Here it is. Jim's voice was hard and his face strained. You asked why I went to Patsy's execution-and why this, well, I'll tell you. I can never be a lawyer or have anything more to do with a court room again. You see, Hal,-I loved her! ELIZABETH FRASER COMING HOME The moon was sinking low in the west and the twinkling stars were beginning to dim. A lingering moonbeam extended its ray until it illum- inated an earthly star-a blue service star, the kind that was found in many lonely windows during the grueling war years. This particular star had been receiving the moon's rays for three years, but tonight it seemed to shimmer and dance in the moonlight, perhaps because this day was destined to be a special one. Inside the house, all was serene. The hungry fingers of light from the street-lamp outside found their way to the picture of a smiling soldier, dimly lighting it. The family clock had just chimed three, when all this serenity was pierced by the shriek of the telephone. It rang impatiently as if eager to have its receiver lifted! After what seemed an eternity, Pam, the teen-age daughter of the family, came stumbling down the stairs and, taking up the receiver, said in a drowsy voice, Hel.lo . As if by magic her whole countenance suddenly lighted up and turning, she fairly screamed upstairs, Oh Mum! Dad! It's Jimmie! Oh, It's Jimmie!

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THE CAULDRON 7 and that he was going to be the star witness against him. Duke Basil did the actual shooting. You think that there were more than the one ? Jim was really interested now. Certainly do. Duke's girl, Patsy, was mixed in it somewhere. Last night there was another murder, an old cronie of Duke's. Think you can handle it? Jameson hoped he could. What plan do I use? Jim wanted it so he could prove that he was able to do something by himself. You'll be a veteran who is sick of the way he's being treated. You've got no job and want to make money . The veteran part will be a snap. Do I use my own papers? I don't think anyone knows meg I'm not that well known yet. A pleasant grin came to J im's face. It will be all right to use them. Take a room down town, send in your reports by mail. Don't take any chances and try to get acquainted with the girl. Good luck, J im. They shook hands. Jim paused, then turned and shut the door hard behind him. Pkvkfkvkilf Sally, can you spare a moment ? Yes, Mr. Jameson. I'll be right in. As Sally went into the office she saw Jameson, standing before a window smoking a cigarette and thinking hard about something. Did you want to dictate a letter? Sally felt a strange silence in that room. What? Oh, Sally, will you get J im's reports on the Basil case? I want all those up to today's. Here they are, Mr. Jameson. Is that all ? Yes, that's all. I don't want to be disturbed until I tell you. The door closed softly. He took the batch of papers over to his desk, sat down and started to scan the reports. They were suspicious at first.-Haven't met Patsy yet.-Duke satisfied after first week.-Asked about old pal that was killed. A mistake. Learned to be more careful.-Took Patsy dancing.-Three weeks later :-Duke going to lie low. Plans small jobs for others.-Boys wonder what I'm doing in the outfit.--Haven't pulled job yet.-Spent evening at Patsy's apart- ment.-Trying to put off doing any job with Duke's boys.-Patsy threw over Duke for me.-Will have to hurry up plans to catch them. Darn fool, I told him to be careful. Jameson looked Worried and had reason to. Better read today's report. Planted dictograph in my room. Having Patsy up after dinner.-Think I can get her to confess.-Be glad when it's over. My God! If Duke ever gets wind of that, Jim's a goner. But I can't do anything now he's gone this far. Picking up the phone he says, Sally, you can close the office for the day. Early next morning as Jameson was leaving his apartment he heard someone coming up the stairs. Jim, It's good to see you again. Have you got what we need ? His voice sounded anxious and worried as he looked at Jim. I've got it. Let's get it over with quickly. The weariness showed in his face. It took only three weeks to complete the trial. Patsy confessed to the killing of the old member of the gang because he was going to the police

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THE CAULDHON 9 In a fiash Mother, Dad, and ten year old Donnie came rushing down the stairs. Pam handed the phone to her mother and from then on there was a hubbub of happiness as each had his turn at the phone. The sound of J immie's voice had transformed this lonely household. Dad's shoulders straightened up, Mom looked years younger, glowing in the warmth of finally realized relaxation, and the children were excited as they had been when awaiting their first remembered visit of Santa Claus. As soon as Dad put down the receiver, the family began piecing together the scattered details of Jimmie's coversation. The still only half-appre- ciated fact was that Jimmie was coming home as soon as the train could bring him. Sleep was impossible for the rest of that night. Mom was busy making a list of Jimmie's favorite meals. Dad sat in his favorite chair, thinking how nice it would be to have his eldest son home. Pam was worry- ing about what she would say to her big brother who had been just a memory for three years, while little Don was thinking of all the questions he would ask Jim about B-29's, Jap air attacks, and the other things which make up a ten year old boy's dream world. No one thought of the time until little Donnie said, Look, the sun is shining ! Each member of the family put aside his reveries, and the house was filled with joyous laughter. Jimmie was coming home! CAROLYN HOWARD THE MIRACULOUS PRANK It was an established fact, founded upon experience by the juvenile citizens of Harborsville in the year 1890, that Mr. Percy Vaughn was a mean person. Therefore, the fact that he was the schoolmaster was con- sidered the hateful injustice of fate. To have to go to school, according to the younger generation, was worse than a big dose of horrible boiled herbs, administered each spring. Alas, Mr. Vaughn was also a firm believer in wielding the rod and disci- plining the child, and if practice makes perfect, he was a champion in his own right. Like the rod, he laid down the law where it would do the most good and expected to be obeyed, which he invariably was. The complaining words of their offspring fell unheeded on the parents' ears. If there was any person who could put the fear of chastisement into the minds of their little darlings, he had their blessings. On one stormy winter's day, Mr. Vaughn sat, as usual, upon the long low platform behind his wide desk. The lines in his forehead formed their un- ceasing frown and his spectacles hung precariously off the tip of his very long nose. Every now and then, he raised his head from the map he was studying and surveyed the classroom with a quick scowl. Assured that no foul-play was in progress, he returned to his work, giving a long grunt which never failed to give the dainty maids cause to jump. The pupils, pigtails occupying one side of the room and swains, the other, were supposedly delving into the history of the world when the big oak door opened and closed again with a decided bang , All eyes jumped to the right and grew wide with pity at the sight of a fellow-child, although a stranger, standing there, one hour late. The young man swaggered nonchalantly across the room and stopped