Arthur Hill High School - Legenda Yearbook (Saginaw, MI)

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‘Well, Bill, we’re here for that purpose, if you don’t make it too strong.’’ ‘“Too strong! Nothing less than tar and feathers will do the business. ”’ “Do you think we’re living in the days of Salem. We’re not savages.’ ‘Oh, eut your talk. We’ll just put ’em on his clothes. It’ll be hot enough at that.’’ Bill continued, ‘‘Now here’s the plan. He has gone up to Cedar to-niht. We'll drive back at eleven. About half a mile down the river there is a sharp bend in the river. The road also turns at quite an angle. We will wait for him there. I’ve got the ‘tars and teathers’ on the spot already. He won’t see the tire until we are ready for him.’’ ‘ But, Gosh, Bill, it’s a State’s prison offense.’’ ‘ Aw shuckks, brace up. Here take a drink all round on me.”’ Stanley’s nerves were strained to the breaking point. His blood boiled and thoughts passed through his mind like a mill race. Dur- ing the last sentence he leaned too far toward the bank. ‘To save himself trom upsetting, he grasped the bushes. This made consid- erable noise. ‘lhe four jumped up, saw Stanley, and made for the bank. With a quick thrust Stanley sent the light canoe out from shore. He headed downstream and paddled with all his might. Two of the young men had jumped into another canoe and weré giving chase. The race was short. A flash-light was turned on Stanley. Buill’s voice spoke. ‘‘Spying, were you, you contemptible little scalawag. We'll teach you better manners. Give me your paddle.”’ ‘““What if I don’t,’’ Stanley replied erisply. ‘‘Upset you, that’s all. Come, hustle up.’’ Stanley thought quickly. Should he fight or wait for develop- ments? He decided on the latter course. He would be in better condition to help Prof. Gale. Bill tossed the paddle in the bottom of the boat. He motioned for his companion to paddle. He, being in the stern, steered with one hand and kept hold of Stanley’s canoe with the other. The two boats reached the bank and all clambered out. By the fire- light Stanley obtained a better view of his captors. Althought he judged they were prominent in inter-collegiate affairs, yet they were unknown to him. ‘“‘Now, Solitudinary, or whatever your name is, you think you’ve discovered quite a plot. Little good it will do you. First thing you’ve got to promise you will never say a word about this tx anyone. You know we might tar and feather you.’’ Bill spok. sarcastically.

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The three aeroplanes of the three schools were moving across the field. Gracefully they rose into the air. The no ise was deafen- ing both from the motors and from the crowd. ‘The flight was to be to a nearby town and return. The planes swiftly flew away as birds on their way south. But a short time and they were mere specks on the blue of the sky. A half hour passed and the three were seen returning. The race was close for they were very jnear together. One plant shot down under the others in a long slanting direct line for the fairgrounds. It struck the ground a half a min- ute before the others. Vanderbilt had won. Cheers upon cheers rent the air. Stanley, even, joined in the shouting. There was great commotion, indeed, while the crowd dispersed. Prof. Gale left Stanley at the gate with a friendly goodbye. ‘“Come up to my house some evening, Stanley. To-morrow night I’ll be at Cedar, but any other time. Good bye.”’ Stanley watched Prof. Gale’s auto until it turned a distant corner. While he was standing thus he heard people talking not far away. ‘‘ Who is that young man over there?’’ ‘‘Oh, that’s Stanley Ellis, alias ’Solitaire.. Always goes around alone. Don’t know what he is worth. He has never proved his value. The people were moving away and the last few words were very indistinct. Stanley’s tace lost its cheery expression. ‘‘Soilitaire’’ he spoke aloud. ‘‘So that’s what they call me. My non de plume. Very expressive and romantic. Well, I suppose there’s no help for it. I must continue to live my life and let others live theirs.’’ He turned down the street to his home, two blocks away. The following evening, Stanley paddled slowly up the Wa-Wa- soo-kee river. Canoe riding in the evening was getting to be a. habit with Stanley. Lacking human companions, he found severa friends near to nature’s heart. -To-night the banks of the little stream had become indistinct soon after he had set out. Vander- bilt college had been established in a rural district and a sparcely settled one at that. The Wa-Wa-soo-kee could hardly boast of one house overlooking its beauties for ten miles along its course nort! of Vanderbilt. For this reason Stanley felt very much alone alone with nature. Suddenly he saw a flash of light on the shore. It was a small camp-fire. Quietly Stanley turned the canoe closer to the bushes along the bank. He could give no reason for spying only that he felt that something was wrong. His hand brought the canoe very near the bank and he obtained a good view. There were four, young men around the fire. It was easy to hear their conversation. “ T tell you, fellows, we have got to get even tonight and even for all time. Gale is all to blame for not playing in next Satur- day’s game. If he hadn’t caught us in that gambling hole and hadn’t told the Dean we would have played against Vanderbilt. Without us Clemens hasn’t much show to win. Gale knew it, too, that’s why he told. I tell you we’ve got to take it out of him.”’

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‘“There would be a hot time here if you tried that; but there’s no possibility of such a measure. As to my promising to keep quiet, 1711 do nothing of the kind.’’ ‘Ho, you won’t. We'll see.”’ Stanley was suddenly grasped from behind in a wrestling hold that throttled him. Struggling was useless. His arms were tied behind by a rope around his wrists. “We will put him in Rundo’s aviation shed. He will be out of the way there.’’ Bill motioned for Stanley to. follow him. The other three brought up the rear. Atter walking perhaps a quarter of a mile, they came to a large clearing. ‘Lhe dusky outline ot a low build- ing could be seen not tar away. Crossyng the level ground, they drew up betore the sliding doors of the aviation shed. Bill un- lovked these and they entered. ‘ You may rest in peace here. Hope you will enjoy yourself.’’ Bili spoke again with a sareastic tone. With this the four turned and went out. The doors shut and Stanley heard the snap of the padlock. His heart sank. He wishea he had tought it out at tne start. ‘I'he prospect looked vioomy indeed. ‘‘Bosh, such thoughts won’t do any good. The question is, how am Lt going to get Out or here?’’ he thouht. He managed to work a small flash-light ou. of his coat pocket onto the tloor. te could make out the general details ot the in- terior by the light. A large aeroplane stood in the front next to fim. At the back was a carpenter’s bench. Upon this bench he tound a pleasant surprise. A saw had been left in a vise prepara- tory to or aiter sharpening. Very laboriously he managed to Gllmb upon the bench. With a great deal of trouble he succeeded in hacking into the rope with which his hands were bound. : Now he could do something. He examined the doors. Yes, the lock could be cut entirely out. After a little he found a brace and bit and keyhole saw. ‘the doors were made of soft wood and ottered littie resistance to the process. He knocked out the piece and again heard the rattle of the padlock, this time with joy, for now tne doors sid open. He was free. How was he to warn the Professor? He had taxed his walk ing powers considerably already. Then, too, the road was on thy opposite side of the river. li he were to hunt for his canoe he might run a great chance of detection by Bill and his bang. He could not go tor assistance. There were no houses for miles around. Despair again crept into his heart. He turned and hobbled slowly back into the shed. His flash-light made visible the aeroplane. He stopped short, seized with a wild thought. SAGINAW, Mi LAVT ee | PUBLIC LIRPARY NIP TOs i {} QQ ULL LU OO