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

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‘“Gee, I wonder if I could do it.’? He looked the machine over, examined every part, and tried the mechanism. His reading had given him a great familiarity with the working of a machine, yet he hesitated at putting his knowledge into practice under such con- ditions. He was brought face to tace with the fact, however, that the aeroplane offered the only means of warning Prof. Gale. ‘‘ Yes, I’ll do it,’’ he muttered. He oiled all important parts; looked at the register on gasoline tanks, and shoved the doors open. Everything seemed ready for departure. He donned a thick jacket and cap that were hanging on the wall. With quite a good deal of difficulty he climbed into the aviator’s seat. The self-starter responded to the turn of a button. Bang! Bang! The motor started with a noise like a machine gun. It sounded good to Stanley, however, especially since the explosions had now become regularly timed. He shoved in the clutch. Whir! It seemed as though a wind had sprung up. The aeroplane moved. Slowly it cleared the building. Gaining speed every second it rolled over the level ground. It seemed an age to Stanley before he felt the machine leave the ground. He was really flymg. What a sensation it was. Up, up, he went, almost intoxicated with the new experience. Now he was high enough to pay some attention to his course. He must follow the river and land very near to Cedar. He judged it to be about 10 o’clock. How cold it was! Underneath he could distinguish the course of the river by its chim- mering reflection of the stars. He turned the direction of the machine. Directions came to him mechanically. He seemed to be living In a dream. The wind was rising. It chilled him to the bone. Suddenly the machine pitched down. He righted it, scarcely knowing how he did so. If he only could go a little farther without mishap, all would be well. Every minute he was increasing the angle of depression of those twinkling lights of Cedar. There a little ahead of that bend of the river was a large meadow he knew well. He fnelined the planes toward the earth and shut off thé motor. How often he had wished to volplane in reality. Now his wish had come true. The earth came to meet him with rapidity. Quicker than he could tell the rubber-tired wheels struck the ground. Stanley felt as though he were on a rubber ball. When would the bounding cease? The more pleasing bound soon merged into a nerve-racking jolt. His teeth rattled. He surely knew he had reached the ground. He appled the brakes carefully. The machine came to a stop. It was finished; the flight was made. He really could fly. He could warn Prof. Gale and outwit the gang of plotters. All these thoughts tumbled through his mind in quick succession.

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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

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He was cold through and through. Climbing out of the ma- chine, he hobbled around and beat his arms together. The sound of an approaching automobile made Stanley start for the road as fast as his chilled bones would permit. He reached it just in time to hail a passing car. It was Prof. Gale. His aston- ishment was unspeakkable when he found that Stanley was tl speaker and more so when Stanley’s story was told. ‘“And you made an aeroplane flight to warn me of a treacheror plot,’? he ejaculated. ‘‘Shades of St. Anthony, this world is ‘ne dead yet.’’ He continued. ‘‘Why, boy, I appreciate your action but it was too much risk to run for the reason involved. I wouldn’t have let them tar and feather me. You see I always carry a life preserver when I’m out like this. I’m pretty glad you warned me, however. Climb in and we will see about these bandits.’’ As they drove along the road Prof. Gale would burst out in a remark addressed to himself, something like this: ‘‘Jupiter, an aeroplane flight at this time of the night. Never flew before. Nerve? What do you know about that.’’ Turning to Stanley as they were nearing the place of ambush, Prof. Gale said, ‘‘I believe we will find the bandits have skipped out. They couldn’t help but hear you start with the aeroplane. I think they will have had so much respect for your nerve, that they will have disappeared, bag and baggage.’’ So it proved. The fire was still burning but there was no sign of Bill and his gang or the tar and feathers. They continued on their way and reached Vanderbilt in safety. As they drew up before Stainley’s home, Prof. Gale said earnestly, ‘“You’ve done a great thing tonight, both for me and the school.”’ “Tt wasn’t much, Prof. Gale. Any other fellow would hava done the same thing,’’ Stanley replied. ‘‘Maybe so, maybe so. Well, goodnight. I will see you in the morning.’’ The Professor drove away and Stanley once more watched the disappearing ear. Sleep for Stanley that might was a succession of dreams in which canoes, aeroplanes, tar and feathers, rubber balloons and Prof. Gale were the principle features. The next morning Vanderbilt college was assembled in a mass meeting. Prof. Gale told the story of the night before to the won- dering students. Stanley was forced to come forward and receive the congratulations of the President of the College. As cheer after cheer rang out for Stanley Ellis, he knew that his days of solitud: were over and that he had proven his worth. F, W. MORRIS.