Athens Area High School - Athenian Yearbook (Athens, PA)

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words misgivings of the same nature as before appeared, but somewhat stronger, and more deepseated, giving rise to the supposition that they had been steadily growing since I had first seen him that evening. As I am sure that you would like to read his story also. I will proceed to set it into print: “I’ll give you fifty dollars if you’ll loose that race. No? One hundred. Stop and think it over. It isn’t very often that a person gets a chance to win a hundred dollars by losing a race. Just sprain your ankle or postpone your sprint at the finish too long and the hundred is yours. Refuse to enter and I will make it two hundred. Well, what do you say?’ The speaker, a short, slender man. dressed in clothes notable mainly for their lack of taste, pulled out a roll of bills and fingered them enticingly. “I say no! I wouldn’t accept if it were twenty thousand instead of two hundred. No half respectable person would think of taking your money. The chances are. at that, that you blackjacked someone to get it. or else robbed a bank. You’d better get out while the getting’s good. You wont get off so easy next time.’’ “That’s the boy, keep it up. I don’t blame you for wanting all you can get. I’ll make it three hundred. No? Four hundred. I hadn’t intended to offer you so much, and I wouldn’t anyone else, but you’re sure to win first place, and— here he broke off as he preceived his companion quite evidently preparing to use force in his ejection from the room, but as he disappeared through the door, he went on, “I’ll make it five hundred. If you decide to accept the offer let me know.’’ Paul Leonard, best known for his athletic abilities, particularly in the crosscountry races, stood watching the gambler as he ran down the stairs, then he sat down on the edge of the bed to think it all over. He had felt that either he would have to drive the gambler from the room or else be compelled to accept the money. He could undeniably make good use of the money, but here his thoughts were interrupted by the entrance of two more visitors. A few months before. Leonard, with the two young men who had just entered. Donald Perry and James Burns, had formed a union for the purpose of promoting their mutual interests. They realized that with the combined energies of the three and by joining their capital, they would have a much better chance of becoming successful in business than they would otherwise. They had evidently come this evening with a definite intention, for they immediately got down to business. “Leonard, you have probably heard that Smith is going to leave for the West. That’s what we have come down here for. He runs the only electrical shop of its kind in town, and Don says that he will sell to us for $2500 cash. Between the three of us. we have about $1400 on hand, and I know where we can raise another thousand. That would leave us a hundred dollars short. With a little energy and enterprise on our part. I am sure we can make our first venture a success and Don says that he can run the shop until we know something more about it.” “It will probably take several hundred dollars for improvements and for running expenses, which you don’t want to forget. “We can see about that after we have decided whether we shall take the shop or not. It s up to you. You say no. why we’ll give it up. Mr. Smith wants his answer by Wednesday night, so that I think we can have $2500 ready by then. ' “I for one. think that it’s too good to be true. It’s just the chance we have been waiting for. What did Mr. Edwards say? I suppose that it was from him that you borrowed the money.” “He thinks that it is very possible, and that the three of us ought to put it through in great shape. Well. I guess that I’ll have to be going. Don will answer 11

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A POOR RKVKNGK ‘ Humph, it's even worse than you said. I read a story the other day that 1 thought was impossible, but this fairly runs rings around that. 1 have never written a story, but I’ll bet that I could write a better one that that,” and here Kenneth Rogeis handed me the magazine which 1 had persuaded him to take long enough to read a short story in it. “That's what—. That’s easy enough to say, but you’ll tind it a different matter when it comes to actually writing a story. I’ll admit that it is some story, but you or 1 or anyone else around here can’t do any better. ou might laugh at it, but, just the same, 1 should like to see you write a better one. He is getting the money lor writing it, and that’s the main point.” Oh, 1 QianT mean that it is easy to write a story. 1 don’t suppose it is. And 1 didn’t mean that I could sit down right now and write a story that would draw a whole lot more money than that, but I’ll bet that I could write a story that to the average person would not seem half as silly as that.” “Well, what’s the difference? If you think that you can write a story so much better than that, then go to it. About the time you have written a few pages you will begin to change your mind.” Up to this time, I had considered my speeches as nice bits of diplomacy, but now 1 began to realize that perhaps 1 was overdoing it, and might fail to have the desired effect, so 1 added, “Still, you’ll be the gainer if you succeed, while you won’t lose anything if you fail. Why not try to write a short story, and then send it to some publisher? I’ll try to write one if you will. Cooper wrote his first story as a result of a wager and perhaps it may happen that way with you.” During the next few weeks 1 felt as 1 think Napoleon must have felt while planning one of his campaigns, namely, only a kind of pity for an opponent whom you feel would be surely crushed. Several times within the next few days. 1 antagonized Kenneth by my willingness to offer advice, which he appeared to be unwilling to accept, whereat I smiled to myself, and resolved to leave him to the fate which was fast approaching him. a resolution that was invariably broken the next day. I knew something of typewriting, having practiced on an old relic in our attic, and later on the one in my father’s oilice. 1 offered to do the typewriting for him, but he showed a natural timidity in letting me pry into his story before he had received an answer from the editor of the magazine to whom we had decided to send our stories. I was deeply hurt at this reluctance to show his story to me. deeming it no inconsiderable afTront, but 1 finally agreed that perhaps it was best, as 1 would, at the same time, be forced to exhibit my own work. After the stories had been sent to the magazine (or at least the story) 1 took it upon myself to make daily inquiry of Kenneth as to whether he had received an answer, and at last my patience was rewarded. One evening, while on my way home, I met him as he was leaving the house. For an instant, as 1 examined his face for the chagrin that I expected to see there. I experienced some misgivings, but 1 immediately comforted myself with the knowledge that it was impossible that his story be accepted, though I didn’t know why I considered it so. “You promised me that you would let me see your story before I saw your answer. That was part of our agreement. Well, here is my story; let me see yours.” He had evidently forgotten the agreement, for he looked somewhat surprised, but informed me that the carbon copy of the story was in the house. At these 10

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all your questions. Oh, by the way, I suppose you heard about the robbery. I wish that we had that reward. It would provide just the extra amount that we need.” No. I can’t say as I’ve heard about any robbery. Why?” Robbers entered four or five houses in Greenwich and made off with nearly $30,000 in money and jewels, mostly jewels. I hear that the Lohman house was hit pretty hard, for the crooks got off with plate and jewels worth almost $25,000. Well, so long. I’ll see you in the morning.” It was not until several days later that Leonard had any occasion to remember what had been said about the robbery. While passing through a hotel lobby, he glanced around quickly upon hearing his name spoken, and was surprised to see Madison (he had learned the name of the gambler in the meantime) talking with a person whom he did not know. As he looked, he saw Madison take out his watch and glance at it. Leonard hesitated, then walked slowly past the pair, watching the two closely as he passed. A few days later some of his friends might have been surprised to see Leonard enter the police station, and judging from the looks of the police lieutenant as he listened to his story, he found it very interesting. The day of the race dawned bright and clear, which soon changed to a cloudy sky, with but a slight wind, promising an ideal day for the racing. The start and finish were both to be at the Fair Grounds, on the outskirts of the city. A fairly large crowd had collected. Faint cheering was heard as the first group of runners left the mark, and started for the gate, which increased in volume as each group left, the last group, to which Leonard belonged receiving quite a send-off. The course selected for the run was six and a half miles long, inclusive of the final trip around the dirt race track. Quite a bit of excitement was felt throughout the waiting throng, as the first three runners, collected in a bunch, appeared over the edge of the hill just beyond the Fair Grounds. One of the runners was plainly out of the going, for he was forced to drop back as the other two increased their pace as they came within sight of the finishing line. The applause deepened into a roar as the two runners passed the stand, but was partly silenced when it was seen that Leonard’s opponent was already slowly dropping back, lacking the reserve to hold the pace that was being set. By the time the finish line was reached, the lead had been increased to fifty yards, and one more cup was added to an already large collection. That evening, at Leonard’s request, another council was held. By his very secrecy the others could guess that he had something important to tell them, though they could not guess what. Hail! The conquering hero comes,” shouted Fred, as Paul appeared in the doorway. Shut up! I've got something important to tell you. I have the rest of that $2500, and several hundred more besides that.” What! Where’d you get it?” You remember telling me about several houses in Greenwich being robbed. Well, just before you came into the room the thief tried to bribe me to loose the race today. Immediately after the race this afternoon, while he was collecting the money he won on his bets, he was arrested. His room was searched while the race was on. and all the stuff stolen was found in his room.” Yes, but how do you come in? You said that you will get the reward.” Two or three days after you told me about the robbery, I saw him in the hotel. Just as I went past, he pulled out a watch that I thought was rather high- 12