Acton Boxborough Regional High School - Torch Yearbook (Acton, MA)

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22 THE TORCH the glory to you, go down to the clubhouse and get William VanNorton, for the murder of his brother Rodney. Don't stand there ,.,...,. MOVE! ! Kelly obeyed- The arrest was made. Kelly and the other detectives hurried back to Head- quarters and into O'Malley's office. Say Chief, Kelly asked, What's the idea? VanNorton confessed, but how the devil did you know that he was guilty? You must be getting smart all of a sudden! Elementary, my dear Kelly, elementary. Let me explain. The floor of the smoking room in which Rodney VanNorton was murdered has a white linoleum floor. Right? Well, by the door that leads to the stables I noticed some -heel marks made with red clay. The print was made with Firestone rubber heels. William Van- Norton had a pair of sport shoes on today with Firestone rubber heels. He had been out to the stables to look over the new polo ponies he had just bought. The small inlet, where they put the unshod ponies, has a soft floor of red. dirt that is wet down each noontime. Evidently William VanNorton had stamped his feet upon entering the clubhouse. He then had 'had an argument with his brother about a debt he owed which Rodney refused to pay. This argument resulted in murder. But Chief, interrupted Kelly, what about that young Ned Black who was so tough when you first arrived at the scene of the murder. Wasn't he in on it? He was, answered O'Malley, but he didn't play his part very well, he was just a little too tough and wanted to attract attention. A murderer never does that: he stays out of the picture as much as possible. I knew at the beginning he had nothing to do with it. He had on riding boots. They don't have rubber heels. There was a lot of back slapping and congratulations for O'Malley who insisted, It wasn't anything. I m just not afraid of anything and that's why I solved the murder so quickly .,..,,., The 'phone rang shrilly .....,.. 0'Mal1ey answered grufly, Hello ,,,,,, followed by a very soft, Yes darling. B. COULTER, '40. APRIL IN VIRGINIA I saw spring in Virginia once Its beauty captured for a single week in April. Nature's first wild snatching at new life was over, Replaced by a tranquil sunny growth Setting the music to a new and breathless score. The dogwood hung in wreathing glory, Judas' flery glance, glaring from each mountain, Fiercely clashing with the sifted softness of the red earth. ' E. REED, '37.

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THE TORCH 21 GRADUATION Most seniors agree that a peculiar feeling overtakes them on the verge of gradu- tion. Through the first three years we go merrily on, first as very green freshmen, the butt of practical jokes and wise cracks. Next we are Sophomores, a rather inter- mediate state. As Juniors, we awake and begin to take a very lively interest in such activities as the Junior Play, or the Junior Prom. Now finally as Seniors sitting on top of the world, we suddenly feel a little bit uncertain. Out of the rosy mist of unreality and future events, graduation begins to loom large and is suddenly very near. That which we thought a pleasant but distant occasion is at hand. Committees are chosen. and at last completely reconciled to fate, the Seniors plunge into preparations for this final and greatest high school event. Another year and we may be in college, or working, and far removed, in many cases, from the happy associations of the past years. Little wonder that we stop a moment and feel a sensation of loss that somehow seems all too imminent. But soon, we are on again in a whirl of preparation for the final Iiing. . V. HODGEN, '38. YES DARLINGH Detective O'Malley sat at his desk at Police Headquarters, in one hand he held a half eaten banana, and in the other, the telephone receiver. Every once in a while he stopped his conversation to take a bite of the fruit. Apparently he was talking to his wife, because at intervals -he would grunt, Yes, dear, or All right, darling. Finishing the conversation, Det. O'Malley tipped his chair back and planted his feet on the desk. The banana gone by this time, O'Malley leaned over and took a large pear from the bowl that stood on one corner of his desk. He then picked up the Thrilling Detective Stories magazine, sighed, and turned a page. Suddenly the door opened and young detective, Pat Kelly, entered. Say Chief, he shouted, there's been a murder down at the 'Sportsman Club' ,..,,.. Rodney VanNorton 'has been murdered in cold blood! The chair crashed to the floor, O'Malley grabbed his hat and tore out of the office. shouting after him Don't leave this room 'till I call, I may need you. Detective 0'Malley arrived at the clubhouse in five minutes flat. Tearing inside he pushed the crowd aside. One side you guys ,, don't touch a thing ,, all right every- body go along and mind your own business. 1 One tall, dark, young fellow whom O'Ma1ley had pushed aside, shoved back and said. Say who do you think you are ,the King or somebody? O'Malley stopped with a jerk ,,.,,.. Just a minute, young fellow, come along with me, we may need you. The young fellow growled, Aw nuts, I gotta scram ,.,,,,,, I gotta date. With this he turned and hurried away. O'Malley sent one of the young cops after him, but he was gone. The whole case was turned over to O'Malley when he arrived. He studied it for a couple of hours and then returned to Headquarters. Kelly, he said, I'll give

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THE TORCH 23 ALUMNI 1927-1937 Since 1927 there have been 295 students graduated from Acton High School. Many of the recent graduates are in business schools and colleges, but still more are engaged in gainful occupations. 1927 Number in class, 14 J. Gates, Engineer Girls Married, 8 R. Holland, Business Insurance F. Clifford, Secretary 12. Whitney, Extension Service G. Braman, Manual Arts Instructor 1928 Number in class, 22 A. Davis, Jr., Bookkeeper Girls Married, 5 W. Toohey, Poultry Farming At home, 2 E. Heath, Factory C. Byron, Office M. Wamboldt, Clerk .R. Perkins, Truck Driver 1929 Number in class, 26 ' R. Jones, Engineer Girls Married, 10 L. Feltus, Operator At home, 3 G. McGovern, Weston's Baker E. Jones, Teacher 1930 Number in class, 25 Girls Married, 5 R. Johnson, Middlebury M. Duggan, Pharmacist ' College 1931 Number in class, 26 Girls Married, 7 At Home, 1 Batchelder, State Dept. Granberg, Waitress Callanan, Teacher Hagen, Business College . Coombs, Secretary Hagen, Tufts Medical School FJPSFU S F' 42222525 Qrwgagia -1P'4--m gi ng'-xcbqgg-1 6.101-v-mop 5Q',55 : '1 'U'-Puls 0 cb Mez P-2 assi? ri 5-1'-:QQ N 35 og 9 F053 gp- PJ 53 5' 5' I O 9 A1932 1933 Number in class, 28 Girls married, 5 D. Willis, Housework A. Haynes, Insurance Salesman W. Berglind, Radio Factory S. Hill, Farming W. Bursaw. Oil Business C. Callanan, Teacher J. Edney, Extension Service D. Roche, Registered Nurse S. Hager, Poultry Farming J. Whitcomb, Insurance TU Z cn if o F Fi no 0 5' 5 ,... c ..- Q 5 F459 Condon, Insurance Costello, Clerk Jones, Office C. Cunningham, Truck Dispatcher P. Duggan, Clerk N. Perkins, Truck Driver A. Flagg, Farming R. Sanborn, A. and P. Manager R. Tompkins, Cushman's Baker A. Massle, Teacher A. Sadler, Harvard College M. Parks, Optical Adjuster M. Heath, Secretary L. Reynolds, Truck Driver L. Ineson, Office M. Soares, Office R. Thompson, Insurance T. Callahan, Factory A. Parker, Office I. Dunn, Holland Motor Co. D. Peppard, Springfield College H. Feltus, Tree Surgeon W. Thompson, Boston University R. Flint, Office J. Kullesus, Farming x M. Middleton, Teacher