Weymouth High School - Campus / Reflector Yearbook (Weymouth, MA)

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MARCH REFLECTOR 7 Buddy ' s Ride To the inhabitants of the little village of Bloomsville, Arizona, the airplane was still a source of wonder and delight. The entire neighborhood would turn out to witness the unusual passing of one of these creatures. Of course this was before airplanes were much in use, as I said before. So when Pa At- wood came puffing into the local postoffice one morning and declared he had seen one of them ' ' air-cars in his wheat field, he was met with unbelieving stares. ' ' Come now, Pa, ' ' laughingly answered one daring youngster, you know darn well no machine would land here. Pa insisted that his eyes had not deceived him, so the crowd decided to find out for themselves. They quickly piled into Pa ' s dilapidated Ford and started for his farm. The car bumped along over the uneven ruts, sending its occupants in a huddled heap, first to one side then to the other. Almost there, yelled Pa excitedly above the terrific noise of the engine. I — I should t — think we ought, gasped Neilson the postoffice keeper, as he vainly clutched the side of the car for support. The contrivance drew up before Pa ' s shack and the group stumbled to their feet. They were soon headed for the place where Pa said that he had seen the plane. Now, the men had not once given a thought to its pilot, until they saw the figure of a young man half pro- truding from a wing of the fallen plane. They hastened to the plane and carefully drew the body from the sagging wing. The young man was not seriously hurt, and after a glass of brandy had been forced between his parched lips, he sat up and looked about him. You fell into my wheat field, Pa replied to the injured man ' s questioning gaze. Yes, I remember, Dan Stamford replied dazedly, the stick refused to work. To go back to the scene in the postoffice. Buddy Watson, the youngster who had dared to question Pa ' s eyesight, had not waited to witness the departure of the men to Pa ' s farm. Climbing on to the back of his beloved pony, he rode quickly to a little, white cottage at the end of the street and called out in a cautious voice. ' ' Hey, Margy, want to go for a ride ? ' ' A little girl of ten appeared from around the corner of the house and ran out to where Buddy was impatiently waiting. After a whispered conversation, Margy climbed up in front of Bud and they set off in the direction the excit ed men had taken. The two children watched the men carry the injured pilot into the house. They glanced toward the spot where the engine lay. Already the news had spread throughout the village, until it seemed that everyone had turned out for the event. Gee, Buddy, can we really go for a ride? whispered Margy eagerly. Her companion glanced about him. Sure, why not, he returned, they ' ll leave the plane where it is and tomorrow morning no one ' 11 be around. Of course we won ' t be able to fly, but we can have lots of fun in it, he added. Buddy met Margy the following morning by the little picket fence, and the two young- sters set off across the pastures for Pa ' s farm. Everything was still, and only the faintest pink creeping above the horizon proclaimed another day. The children reached the plane without mishap, and under Buddy ' s careful directions, Margy climbed into the front seat. Fie then got in himself and made a pretext at starting the engine. The machine had been placed in position the night before, and Buddy, who had some knowledge of the mechanism of planes, saw that it could be started if one could move the propeller. Say, Margy, he cried excitedly, I am going to get the thing going. ' ' Huh — what? asked Margy, standing up in the seat, Mother wouldn ' t want me to go riding like that, she added doubtfully. She won ' t know anything about it, Buddy returned shortly, and began to place heavy blocks of wood in front of the wheels. All ready? called down Margy. Buddy glanced helplessly about. What would one do in a case like this ? Hey, Margy, you get into the other seat, and when I yell, take hold of this stick. Like this. He climbed up and took hold of the

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WEYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL never tell that. ' ' I say. With Alice, I ' ve had enough. Let ' s all go back to ' Rock-a-Way ' for an early tea. ' ' Any suggestion for physical motion would have been snatched then. Yes, yes, let ' s, and Come on, Sunshine, we want the rest of your tale. ' ' We all trooped home. Half an hour later we were all settled com- fortably on our porch, ready for the tale, and rather glad of the natural sunshine to offset the weird atmosphere developed about King Sol ' s namesake. Now, Sunshine. I think we ' re settled to listen quietly, said Mother in spite of the fact that she had spilled a little of every cup of tea she had poured. He said I made him do it. I did love Jack; but I didn ' t love that murdered when I married him. I told him so. He was jealous of my real sweetheart. I wouldn ' t bring up his child. I couldn ' t. She spoke rapidly, nervously. Then he followed me up here. He couldn ' t force me to take Elsie. I was as strong-willed as he. So he murdered her and built over the cottage. Hotel ! Ha ha ha ! Her laugh made the shivers run up and down my back even though I was seated in the sun. He tried to frighten me away from this place. I was too clever for him ; I found out his design. He didn ' t intend to be discovered. That ' s why he built over the cottage in that way. Hotel! Summer guests! Guests of the devil himself they would be. But who are you? Yes. And who was he? Our company was not easily satisfied. Do you want to know who we are? She leaned forward in her chair, thrust her head forward, and narrowed her eyes. Then look in Rogue ' s Gallery! she shouted, springing to her feet like a cat. We ' re there, finger- prints and all. In a hard tone with a swag- gering step or two toward the steps she sneered, But you can ' t get me. I won ' t be caught! She dashed her cup and saucer to the floor for emphasis. And don ' t dare to follow as you value your life ! ' ' The last word was a shriek. In a flash she was gone back up the beach toward the old hotel. We were all standing, rooted to the spot, anxious to follow, yet too astonished to think clearly. Twas nearly five minutes before any one spoke. What do they do with people like that? I asked. Lock them up in padded cells, I should say. Of all the absurd notions ! ' ' Alice was still skeptical. Well, now, admitting what she said to be true, should that building remain standing? What is it that she started to tell us about when we were down there ? ' ' Mr. Anderson ' s friend looked at the matter from a more practical point of view like one accustomed to difficult situations. Bob was on his feet in a moment. I ' m going down to investi- gate. Jigged if I ' ll let a lunatic stump me, he cried. He turned to pick up his shovel. It was missing. A moment later we heard a crash. Then dead silence followed. All eyes were strained in the direction. Sunshine had fled. Every ear was alert. Then came a splintering sound, then a dull thud quickly followed by a triple explosion. Boom! Boom! Boom! and sand flew in every direction. By George! She ' s done it! B. B. Beed ' 30. Twilight After the sun has left the sky, It seems that the world ' s about to die ; The sky dresses in a gown of black, And mourns for the day That can never come back. John Newton, Jr. High School, Grade VIII Guess Who The tinkle of a school-girl giggle ripples clear, And the gay bucks of 218 turn toward the rear. The slender form of a fair demoiselle Takes her seat at the chime of the 8 :30 bell. She ' s a darling maid with raven locks, And dusky eyes, which are like Trojan rocks, To the heart of the gentle country youth, Who believes in the oft repeated truth — That gentlemen prefer blondes. Charles French ' 30.

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8 WEYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL protruding lever. Buddy gave the propeller a vigorous turn. Nothing happened. ' ' Contact, ' ' he yelled and turned the wheel again. The engine sputtered into life with a wheezy groan. Buddy dashed around and climbed into the seat beside Margy. It was a tight squeeze, but the excited children did not mind. A sudden yell from Pa ' s shack attracted their attention. Three men dressed in heavy overcoats came running toward the plane. Buddy cast one look at the strangers and pressed the nearest button. The plane bumped along the uneven ground with rising speed as he continued to press the starter. ' ' Steer it into the road, ' ' gasped the white faced Margy, as she frantically clutched her companion. The plane lurched from side to side, and as Buddy complied with Margy ' s command, it turned almost on its side. The men were still coming. Buddy could hear them shouting curses and threats after the moving plane. With a mighty effort, he righted the wings and got the wheels into the ruts of the ro?d. A young man standing on the postoffice platform was the first to discover the distant approaching cloud of dust. His cry brought a gentleman in the uniform of a mounted police to the door. Together they ran out to meet the now distinguishable plane. Clutching at the wings, they were dragged along several yards before they could bring it to a stand- still. Two white and frightened faces ap- peared above the rim of the seat. My word! exploded Major Litchfield, as he stopped the engine. Buddy and Margy were carefully helped from their cramped position and taken into the nearest house. Major Litchfield and his assistant questioned them carefully, and upon hearing Buddy ' s description of the three men, sent his assistant with help to his friend Stamford. They found Pa and the young pilot tied fast to the heavy table in the kitchen of the shack. A heavy blow had ren- dered young Stamford unconscious, and Pa was cussing like a trooper when help arrived. Stainford was again revived and his first words were — The mail, don ' t let them get the plane. That ' s all right, answered Major Litch- field, entering the door, ' ' two of the pluckiest kids that were ever born brought it in 0. K. Thank God, whispered the pilot, and sank back again to the floor. E. EowUnd ' 30. The Climber Nutsy Clutts was born in Kalamazoo, Al- aska. He was born on the side of an ice- berg, and so had to climb down to reach the ground. Thereafter he devoted his life to climbing. At the age of two he climbed the highest tree in Palm Beach, much to the astonish- ment of a happy crowd of flying fish that were playing leap frog below. Age eight found him climbing the Woolworth Build- ing one-handed with three trillion amazed spectators looking on. At fifteen Nut could walk up a flagpole. Papa Clutts said, He will become the world ' s greatest and most famous Mountain Climber. He will, you know, answered Mamma with a giggle. After a while Nutsy grew r up. He was arrested and given a life sentence for porch climbing and second story work. Thus ended the noble attempts at renown by Nutsy M. Clutts. Warner ' 31. Difficulties When called upon, a play to write, What are you to do, If, after pondering all the night, Not one idea will come to you? You sit, with chin in palm of hand, To think the matter through ; Ideas may come, a while to stay. Then go — are gone forever ; Will not some person please delay, To help in my endeavor? Vera Fogelholm ' 30.