Winthrop High School - Winthrop Winner Yearbook (Winthrop, ME)

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T28 WINTHROP WINNER Sapphire Bradley gazed around the room. His eyes roved carelessly from diamond rings to pearl necklaces and glittering bracelets captured his attention for breathless seconds. He though of how fortunate he was to have met the charming Lady Easton. Now he was working in society. He was no longer an ordinary thief. He recalled the following conversation which came to his ears quite unexpectedly, then droned on monotonously: My dear! Wotild you believe it! She is going to wear it tonight! Really? How can she dare! They say there is a curse on it. l shiver to think of having it in my possession! The greatest prize to a thief would be the Compton sapphire ! She probably just can't resist the temptation to show it off. You know how she is: but darling, l can hardly wait to see it ! XVell, all I can say iswetc.-etcf- Bradley's purpose was to get the Comp- ton sapphire. He couldn't waste time marveling at other brilliant gems. His eyes darted endlessly around. There! There it was! He mustnit lose sight of it! He mustn't become excited! Keep- ing calm, cool and collected was his big asset. The evening wore on with Brad- ley's eyes fixed on the beautiful sapphire. Finally, guests were leaving. The Comp- ton sapphire was unclasped, handed to a tall, distinguished looking gentleman, and placed unnoticable in a tall silk hat. In a second it would be safe again. Brad- ley was the only person who noticed this movement. He mulst work fast. His actions were smooth and clever. Then, he hailed a taxi. Then he was speeding away to safety. No one would know who took it. Many people had the op- portunity. He would show jones his prize. jones would be amazed. Bradley had worked with him for a long time. But if he ditched jones wouldn't he be more profitable? lt would be safer to work alone anyway. The cab stopped. Bradley paid the driver and strode up the steps. He reached into his pocket to clasp the jewel into his hand. He swal- lowed hard. The jewel was gone! Wfhere? The taxi! Maybe he dropped it in the taxi! Hey! Wait a minute! He rushed down the steps and ran for the taxi, but the cab driver drove on unheeding. Now what? Hey taxi, follow that cab and hurry. As soon as he caught up with the car, he changed cars and searched desperately. His fingers felt along the seat. Cold beads of perspiration stood out upon his forehead. Then, his fingers felt a hard cold object. He found it! XVhew! That sure was a close one! He moped his brow and heaved a big sigh. His heart beating wildly, he returned to his hotel. 'When he opened the door of his room he found jones sitting upright in his chair with an excited look of ex- pectancy covering his long face. How was the luck tonight, Bradley? Did ,ja get it ? Bradley snapped, Yeah, I got it. But never mind that now. Grab your bags and step on it. VVe've got to catch the S. S. Rumaniaf' Bradley grinned, thinking of his clev- erness and how he was going to give jones the slip in Europe. On the boat in the seclusion of a state- room, Bradley thrust his hands into his pockets and squared his shoulders. He said, VVell, jonsie, want to see it? This will show you that I can tell a jewel when I see one. There is no use denying it. lim clever and I know it. Here-here it is. See? Isn't she a beauty PM jones turned his eyes upon the shining object. He paused, then his eyes widened and he said, Bradey! thatis -'l Bradley interrupted saying, Yeah! Tsn't that a wonderful job, though ?!! jones gazed at him for a second, then smiled and said. Sure, Bradley, Sure.

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VVINTHROP HIGH SCHOOL 27 Silence prevailed a while and then Davis spoke up. You can't be a killer, not with what you've done for me. I-Iow did you hap- pen to kill the man? Well, it was over money that I bor- rowed from a loan shark. He threatened me and one night in his office, more of a den, when he saw I wasnIt able to pay the money plus the enormous interest, he pulled a gun. In the dark his gun went off during the struggle and I left him there. Afterwards I learned he was dead and knowing the odds were against me, I skipped town and hit for Canada. The rest you knowf' I see, mused Davis. Why didn't you leave me outside there to die in the storm? 1' Iyd rather not answer that one, re- plied Reed looking away from Davis. A week went by and Sergeant Davis was well again, ready to go back with his prisoner to headquarters. Some- thing seemed to trouble him however, and finally when Reed said that it was time to go back ffor some reason he didn't escape when he had a chance toj, Davis spoke. I've made up my mind. Iim going to let you go freef, The other one stared. I Are you mad? VVhy you'll be risking arrest and - That can take care of itselfff Davis cut in. Three days later two men stood on the bank of a river near a canoe. Best of luck to youf' spoke Davis with a tremor in his voice and shaking Reedis hand. The money I gave you should take you back to civilization, by a round about way and give you a new start in life. I-I know you,ll make good. You donit know what this means to me, replied Reed. I'll go to some small town so the police wouldn,t have so much chance to recognize me and you can depend on me to live an honest life. I -I -, his voice choked and he turned abruptly and quickly disappeared in the woods behind. A week later back at headquarters Davis turned in his report. This is what it read. - DEAD BILL REED FOUND DEAD OF EREEZING STOP 58 M I L E S NORTHVVEST OF FORT JACKSON STOP fSignedj Sergeant Davis Lewis Hozempa, ,'39. Hispaniola In 1700 before you were alive, A treasure ship sailed with the outgoing tide. Her crew amounted to seventy-live But not one of them is now alive. The HispaniolaH was the big shipis name And when sailed she made great fame. The bow of theiboat the captain had aimed At 'Treasure Island off the coast of Maine. They reached Treasure Island in early morn, And they found the treasure at jamaica next dawn Of the very large crew of seventyfflve Only six reached home alive. The treasure was taken aboard the ship And each man got his share to pay for the trip. Every man went home with very good pride And knew he was lucky to get home alive. Chester Lavalle, 40

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XVINTHROP HIGH SCHOOL 29 let's drink to your cleverness, eh? old man ? Paris in the Spring! The boastful young man walked along the street with a carefree swing in his arms. He was rid of jones now. Ha! ha! he really was clever at that. That evening in his suite Bradley took out the sapphire and turned it over and over in his lingers. Suddenly the door flew open. He looked up. His face turned white. jones was standing before him! He said, I know what you're here for, jones, but it won't work, see? It wonlt work because I won't let it! A shining metal object flashed in his hand. jones raised his hand and gasped, No! Bradley! wait! I--- No! jones, it won't work, it's mine and I'm going to keep it, see ?'! jones suddenly grasped his wrist and both men struggled fiercely. The gem dropped to the floor. Then a shot rang out through the room. jones staggered back and fell, lifeless, to the floor. The hard, cold, shining stone glittered up at Bradley mockingly. At' that instance, across the ocean, in the richly furnished room of a large es- tate, a beautiful sapphire gleamed forth its brilliance to a pair of deep, blue eyes. A soft, low voice said, Oh! You lovely thing! How lucky I was not to have worn you that evening instead of that horrid paste and imitation!! Barbara French, '39 Watching the Clouds Often in the summertime Upon a hill I go To sit and watch the clouds go by lVitl1 stately grace and slow. I like to watch the changes lVhich the gentle breezes make To see the graceful forms The wind-blown cloud banks take. Ruth Knowlton, '39 Are We Getting Enough Out ' of Life? It is very hard to determine whether or not most people get enough I' out of life. The people who seem to be getting the most out of life are often times the very people who are really failures. Their appearance of gaiety is just a shell built up, to hide from the world and also themselves, the fact that their lives are meaningless. On the other hand, the person whom you see every day going about his own business quietly enjoying the little things of life is very apt to be the person who will be the happiest. Happiness does not depend upon action, excitement, thrills, rush and ballyhoo . In fact, happi- ness which depends upon these things is not true happiness but just a hollow thing which will easily disappear and leave only a nervous strain behind. Do you enjoy the right things? Is your happiness built around the right kind of life? Take for instance the people around you. Do you enjoy the elderly people as well as the K' younger set ? You should always remember that the young may die soon but the old must. Remembering that fact, you should spend all of your available time with your older acquaintances and, whether you think so or not, you will find that the older people are much more entertaining, interesting and uplifting. Children too are easily slighted. Do you remember the other day when you were already to go out for a walkwith your best churn that you were too busy to notice little johnny who lives next door? Or maybe, I am ashamed to say, you neglected him because perhaps he had a dirty face or soiled clothes. Perhaps you never have time for little sisterys who, crying over a broken doll,', you scorn- full y say. But you should remember that she is much smaller than you are and that things which seem very small to you are large to her.