Butler High School - Magnet Yearbook (Butler, PA)

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8 THE MAGNET A New Point of View. HE Tucker family lived in a very beautiful house surrounded by large, well-kept grounds, through which a long graveled drive led up to the house. In the library a very heated discussion was being carried on by Mr. and Mrs. Tucker and their daughter, Anita, who was twenty years old. She was their only daughter, and their son, who was three years older, was away at college, but would be home before long, as it was now the early part of May. Anita had had an attack of grip during the winter and had never gotten altogether well again. Dr. Roberts, the old family doctor, had just been there and said that she must go to the country for several weeks. This caused an outburst from Anita, who had always enjoyed every luxury and had been used to having her own way. “Mother, I just won’t go,” she exclaimed. “Imagine having no electric lights or gas! I was never there to stay, but they say the people go to bed at eight o’clock and get up at five. That would never make anyone well. Anyway, I’m not sick; that horrid old doctor is just trying to make me believe I am.” Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes bright, but her parents could tell that it was not a healthy color, but only nervous excitement. Her father threw back his head and laughed at her idea of the country. “I was a country boy myself once, daughter, so don’t try to say anything against the country people. It’s true you’ll have no gas or electric lights, but Dr. Roberts said he would find a place where we need not worry about your comfort or good care. I must go to the office now, but you be a good girl and go and get some roses in your cheeks. Goodbye.” “Well, maybe I’ll go if you promise me that I won’t need to stay long if I don’t like it. Good-bye.” “That’s a good girl,” said her mother. Of course, if you are not comfortable and satisfied, you will not need to stay.” Out in the simple country home, several miles from the railroad station, there was great excitement, for Mrs. Moore had received a letter in an unknown hand. She was seated in the kitchen, where she had been making pies, and the whole family—the father, three boys and two girls—gathered around her while she read it herself first. “Well,” she began, “do you mind that doctor who stopped here last summer when his automobile broke down? It’s from him, and he wants to know if we would board a city girl, who is not strong and needs the country air. Poor girl. He says she had the grip last winter and didn’t get well right, after it. I think we can do it all right, don’t you, father?” “Yes, Mary, I reckon we can. I’m afraid some of the fruit will be lost from that late frost, so a little extra money will come in handy for you and Rose next summer.” “Oh! won’t it be nice to have another girl. I wonder how old she is, though; he didn’t say, did he? I hope she isn’t so sick she’ll have to stay in bed, for we can have such good times together. When is she to come?” said Rose, their nineteen-year-old daughter, all in one breath. “Pie says if we will agree, to write at

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THE MAGNET 7 were to be entertained at the Decker home. He thought that by keeping the information to himself, he could use it to his advantage By means of his sister he persuaded Ruth to help him out, and on the evening of the dinner he flew out from Washington in his friend’s machine and alighted carefully on the roof of the house. As he did so, the trap in the roof was opened and Ruth came out. He succeeded in overcoming her objections to the plan, so she went below and returned with the plans, secured from the safe in her father’s room. He then started the engine and glided quietly from the roof, rising rapidly into the air and starting toward Washington, which he reached without any mishap, and his friend placed the papers in the department vault. Needless to say that although the attempt to secure the plans was made by one of the agents of the conspirators, nothing could be found. Mr. Decker had completed the papers that day, and, after the guests had departed, he decided to look them over to see that they were in shape, as he was sending them by one of his agents to England the next day. Upon opening the safe he discovered that they were not in their usual place, and, thinking that he might have placed them somewhere else, he searched thoroughly, but without avail. He was mucl disturbed and immediately telephoned to the detectives attached to the legation and notified them of the loss. He did not tell Ruth, as he did not wish it to become know, but as several days passed and he could find no clue to their whereabouts, he finally told Ruth about the loss, and she decided that it was time for them to try their plan. She, accordingly, told Russel, when he called that evening over the phone, as he had done every day since the papers were taken to come out that evening. He came and told Mr. Decker that he, by a little detective work of his own, had discovered where the plans were. He could also guarantee that they had not been examined and would produce them on condition that Mr. Decker would agree to the marriage of his daughter to him. Mr. Decker could not do otherwise than give his consent, saying, as he did so, that he admired Russel’s persistence and ingenuity and believed that he would get along very well with him as a son-in-law. M. VERNE REED-

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THE MAGNET 9 once and she will come in about two weeks.” The next day when the mail man came, he found a letter to be taken. The two weeks following were very busy ones for the Moores. The pleasant spare room, with its sunny east windows, was cleaned as thoroughly as if it had really been dirty, although it wasn’t at all. At last the great day came. Mr. Moore and Henry, their oldest son, drove to the station in the surrey to meet the doctor and the “boarder.” The doctor had thought it best for Mrs. Tucker not to go along for fear Anita would not let her go home. When they came in sight Mrs. Moore and Rose came out to the gate to meet them, while the younger children hung back, for they were bashful. They took her up to her room and, as she was very tired from the journey, she stayed in her room the rest of the day, and Rose carried her meals to her. As the next day was warm and bright, Anita ventured down stairs and, before she realized it, her curiosity had led her out into the yard. Some of the orchard trees were still a s mass of blossom and the lilacs were in bloom. Things were so beautiful that she could not stay inside and she was soon writing letters home and wanting them to come out to see how nice it was. So the day was set, and her parents and brother came. They were surprised to see how much good the few weeks had done her and what a different girl she seemed to be. Strange to say, her brother did not look at her all the time, but seemed very much interested in Rose. Anita was to stay several weeks longer, (much to Henry’s delight), so her brother promised to come back to see her often, thus surprising her parents. So it came about, through time, that Anita was willing to settle down in the country—with just enough city improvements to make it more convenient—and Rose to become a city lady. GLADYS KAMERER.