Barre High School - Barretone Yearbook (Barre, MA)

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14 THE BARRETONE But that was not all. Don was engaged to Alice, Dr. Gregg ' s only daughter. While Bancroft Rogers lived. Dr. Gregg never spoke against this engage- ment, but the evening after Hr. Rogers ' s burial, he called Don into his study. Don. he said, “if you can carry out the plan of your father, you will not only receive the estate, but Alice, as your wife. If you fail, forget Alice. I ' m not doing this to get rid of you, Don. I know you will succeed. I ' m doing this for the benefit of -Alice and you. A ou know yourself that you have been uncommonly wild in your youth; that you still are. Turn over a new leaf, Don. You can do it. I have spoken to Alice and she agrees with me on this. Report to me one year from to-night by eight o ' clock. Good-bye, and good-luck. From six o ' clock that morning, with the excep- tion of an hour during which he had satisfied his hunger with two sandwiches and some “borrowed tomatoes from a roadside garden, Turk had been on the road and had not yet reached Washington, his destination. Y ' alking was slow, and his only lift was a four mile ride in a darky’s “caterpillar.” Thereafter, proud Dame Fortune ignored him. “Golly ! he muttered to himself, looking at the sun, which served as his “Big Ben.” It’s almost five o ' clock, and here T am still twenty miles from Washington. I’ve got to get a ride or I’ll only dream of the city to-night.’’ “Toot ! Toot !’’ sounded a horn behind him. Turk stepped aside and. as the auto flew past, he cried. “Lift?” Rut the driver, his attention fixed on the long hill which loomed before him continued on. The same thing happened several times again and Turk pro- ceeded to the top of the hill. “On the down-grade they might possiblv stop,” thought he. as he slowly descended. He heard the roar of an approaching truck. “It might aid mv cause. There’s alwavs plenty of room in trucks.” He turned, just as it came over the crest, and waited. It was a truck owned by the Outdoor -Advertising Co.. Inc. Painted on it were some of the popular advertisements of the dav. Turk’s wave went unheeded. He grumbled indignantly. “See -America first? AYah ! They advise you to and then they don’t help you out a bit.” .After making six or seven more attempts during the course of the next mile, he plodded onward through the town of Laurel. “I ve got to get to A ' ashington before eight o clock. Aly one year is up tonight. Something radical must be done. He toiled onward slowlv. “By golly! I ' ve got it! I’ll try it, at least.” W hen he arrived at the crest of a fairly large hill, he stopped, took his red handkerchief from his pocket, and waited. His wait was almost immedi- ately rewarded. He heard a car coming and rushed to the center of the road waving his danger signal. The a])proaching motorist momentarily slackened his speed, then pushing the accelerator to the floor, swooped down upon Turk like a hawk upon its prey. But he. unlike Mr. Coolidge. chose to run and with a leap landed in the dust by the roadside. His ruse as an inspector of something or other had failed ! He slowly rose to his feet and brushed the dust from his clothes. He began to walk, but after a few steps, he halted. His ankle pained him so intensely that he realized it was sprained. It was rapidly swelling. Down on one knee he deliberated. His whole future depended upon his getting to Washington that evening. A es. he must go on at all costs. Turk pulled himself to his feet and gazed down into the valley. Xo farmhouse was in sight. Dusk was slowly coming upon the gloriously colored landscape. In depths of despondency he continued onward with a limp. Every other step served as a test for his nerve. To each car, going in his direction, he waved his hand, but still his efforts brought no result. For a mile or so he limped on. The pain had affected him so that he was pressing on in a daze. “Fate, he thought, “has decided against me. I am being punished for my early sins. All this year 1 have been learning lessons. I have tried to carry out the clause in the will, and have learned what my father wished to teach me. For three hundred and sixty-four days Lady Luck was with me. yet on this last day she sought a new com])anion ! X ' othing is over until it — Ow !” he cried with pain as he twisted his injured ankle by staggering off the road. “Golly, it’s no use going on through the darkness this way. If I go much farther. I ' ll drop in my tracks. AYs.” sighed he slowlv shaking his head. “yes. I have to give np — .” “He ' s hurt badly. came a frightened feminine voice. “We’ll have to rush him to the hospital — to AAYshington !” “AYs. was the faint response. That was enough for Turk. He kept silent while thev dragged him into the car. All his injuries and sore spots were forgotten ; he would get to his destination that evening before eight ! They headed for Washington, but alas ! When they had proceeded a short distance, the driver stopped, turned around, and headed the other way. “It’s onlv ab out three miles to Laurel.” she ex- plained. ‘We’ll get there in a jiff} ' -” Another twist of fortune! Turk’s heart stopped. Then he realized what was happening. He wanted to erv out. but something restrained him. Tears of despair rolled down his cheeks. This was life with

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THE BARRETONE 13 A CHANGE OF OPINION it was late in a Alay afternoon. The sun was scLtnig and everything seemed hushed for tlie twi- iignt Hour 111 the little town of Readville. i ' ominy Lane sat on the veranda of the Black’s home, ills neart was very heavy and sorrowful, riis inotner had just died. This meant that Tom- my was alone m tne world as far as relatives went, but not as far as friends went. His pal, Joe Liack, had teased his parents to take Tommy into tneir home. They had done so. All this seemed a long- rime ago, hut in reality it was only three weeks. cneery whistle sounded from within the house, and Joe Black came out onto the veranda. Hello, old scout,” he cheerfully greeted Tom- m . , aren’t you going swimming with the fellows tonight “Oil, come on, be a sport,” he added as no an- swer came from Tommy. Tommy was in no mood to go swimming. His heavy loss was still very pressing, hut then — Joe liad ( ' one a lot for him. why shouldn’t he buck up and go ? “Sure I’ll go. I’ll he ready as soon as the rest of the gang ' , and 1 bet 1 can stay the longest under water, too,” he added with some of h.is old sjhri. returning. It was several weeks after this that Tommy met Miss Itrown on the street. She was dressed as usual in a long, black skirt that dragged along tlm sidewalk. Although it was a very warm day she had a heavy, woolen sh.awl on her shoulders, and a black bonnet on her head. She walked along the street and into the postoffice. . summer visitor said to Tommy, “Who is that old lady?” “She’s the village crank,” Tommy rejilied with- out hesitation, “she’s so cranky you can’t look at her without getting a call-down for it. She makes me sick. Why, last winter just because we bovs were ])Iugging snowballs she told us to stop, said it was dangerous and we might hurt someone.” “Well, some i)eo])le are like that,” returned the visitor and he passed on. ‘A’ou bet they are. and people like that get mv goat,” flung hack Tommv to the departing guest. The summer days went by and fall came on. with a fluttering of gay colored leaves and a chill, lively wind. One night about eight o ’clock the Black’s house eaiKrPt fire. 1 fow. nobody knew, but they certain- !v knew it was on fire, when later the house burn- ed to the ground because the little flivver fire truck couldn’t be inducei.i co start promptly. A large crowd gathered, among Avhom were Air. and Airs. Alerry and Aliss Brown. As Air. Black worked for the Alerrys, they off ' ered them a home fcjr a while. “But we won’t have that Tommy.” scornfully aided Airs. Alerry. “What are you going to do, old scout?” Joe (juestioned Tommy. “1 don’t know, guess I’ll have to be a tramp, he answered discouragingly. Both boys stopped speaking when they saw Aliss Brown coming toward them. “Have you found a home yet, Tom?” she asked looking at him. “No, ma’am, 1 haven’t,” he answered. “Come with me. then. I need a strong, young bov to work for me and I will give you a nice home.” Tommy went. The next summer Tommy and the same visitor were standing talking together udien Aliss Brown went into the jmstoffice. “Is that the village crank?” asked the visiio “Xo,” replied Tommy, rvith a sheepish grin as he remembered his answer of a year ago. She is the best friend I ever had exce]At Joe Black, and I’ll make mud of anyone who dares to call her the ‘village crank.’ ” Alberta Beaman. ’31. LUCK DE-LUXE i.ate one aftermxjn in September, at the hot com of one of those numerous long inclines on the broa ' l cement road running from Baltimore to ’ashing- ton, a])iieared “Traveling Turk.” On hrst sigh, “a k.obo” he might seem, but his clean-shaven iace and Ids nobby tie disproved t’ds For, in truth, he is Donald Rogers, heir to t ;e Bancroft Rogers’s millions. Slightly more than a year ago on the death o ' his father, he had been willed a fortune with om ' sti])ulation. Don h.r.d alwavs been a wild, reckless fellow and had never earned a cent in his life. lie si)ent money as exiiertly as h.is tather earne 1 it. ' I ' lierefore. crafty Air. Rogers knew what he was doing when he inserted in his wi ' l this chiuse — “t . possess my fortune, Donald must leave home and, without any fii ' ancial aid from friends, must travel over the United .States on his own means. stoi)ping no lomrer tlian a week in anv oim ])lace. I ' .xactlv one year from his de])arture. he must reiiort to D ' . (Ireggs. mv life-long friend. Otherwise the for- tune shall be divided among relatives and charities.”

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THE BARRETONE 15 its sudden and unexpected turns. Forward the car ruslied. Around a sharp corner, an unexpected lurch and Turk was on the floor, unconscious. Turk’s eyes opened. He steadied them and gazed at the painting on the wall. He remembered this painting. Dr. Gregg’s country home, in Laurel where he had si)ent many week-ends, had one just like it. Suddenly he became aware of someone’s l)resence. He turned his head and stared — into the eyes of Alice. Behind her stood Ur. Gregg. “W ' hat time is it. Doctor?” asked Turk. “The clock is just striking eight, my boy,” replied th.e doctor. H. Puchalsky, ’31 THANKSGIVING Tony was a first class tramp, if there is such a thing. Every Thanksgiving Tony went to dine with his fellow tramps. They all met and ate in a hall that belonged to the Salvation Army. This organization spent much money each year to feed the poor and needy. Tony had dined here for the last three years. After leaving the hall this time he went to a bench in the jiark and sat down. “I wonder what fun peo- ple get out of helping others.” thought Tony. “There must be something in it or they wouldn’t do it.” In the weeks that followed, he thought much on the subject. The fact is, he thought about it so much that he became sick of it. He tried to for- get it, but he couldn’t. After a while, a change seemed to come in him. He seemed at first glance to be thinner and paler than before. His clothes were a little cleaner. His face and hands were also brighter. d ' he next ' I ' hanksgiving Day came. But Tony didn’t ap])ear at Salvation Army headquarters. He had saved ten dollars, and was spending it on a dinner for a poor family. Chester Hjehn, ’31. WHO’S WHO? As a s])ecial feature of the “ILirretone” we are ])resenting to you a group of seven well-known characters. W ' e ho])e that y ju will enjoy identify- ing each of them. In case any prove hard to guess, you will find the answers among the adver- tisements. ( 1 ) Ladies and gentlemen; standing uneasily before you now two men make their appearance, who although small in size, are large in mind. Do not let tlieir beauty sway you, but receive them for what they are. These men have not only received the world’s prize for the most beautiful beards, but also, through ceaseless toil, they have manu- factured a small drop which is a great benefit to all mankind. How many lives has this drop saved, directly or indirectly, as you like it? 1 wager there is not one among you who does not know tliis drop and who has not some feeling of grati- tude toward these men who spent the greater irart of their lives thinking out its formula. It not only soothes the throat but stops that treacherous and uncomfortable tickling. It has a most delicious flavor, that is a delight to all children as well as adults. The name of the makers is engraved and worshii)ped in the most barbarous and remote countries of the earth because they have manufac- tured such a relief for mankind. After my speech, will the man in the front row who is coughing please step forward and receive a sample of this drop with my best wishes, hoping it will cure his most disturbing cough. A. McAndrew. ’32. (2) From his tall, lanky, ungainly frame hung long, thin arms and legs. A small, flat head was i)erched upon his slender, si)indle neck. A long, shaiq) nose. ])rotruding ears, and unusual, large, green eyes, made u]) the rest of his facial form. . s the viibi e school teacher, he was a hard task-master, altb.ough when school was out he ])la} ' ed and roni])ed with th.e boys. His iiosition was looked u]) to in the village liecause of his apparent knowledge. Therefore, every .Sunday he took a ])Iace in the clnirch choir, where his voice coidd l)e heard above the rest. . . h ' rench. ’32. ( 3 ) ' I ' he most characteristic thing al)out her is her ability to get an audience and sway it to her nujod. She is one of the world’s I)est ])ublic speakers. In these days of helter-skelter s])eech, her clear dic- tion is greatly admired and envied. P y looking at her you get the idea that she has a great deal of ability to understand all kinds of people. She has a keen sense of humor, is synqyathetic. and is a very diligent and brave fighter. If you look at her closely you will see that she