Butler High School - Magnet Yearbook (Butler, PA)

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8 THE SENIOR [MAGNET THE SWINDLE Esther McChesney I he last “All Aboard!” rang out, the gangplank was lowered, and at last the “Olympia” began her journey to France. It seemed that every one on board had someone on the shore waving good-bye. But if you had looked closer you would have seen a young man leaning on the rail, looking into the water below. Had he no friends? we may ask. If he had they would not be here, for he had left in secret, and we may as well say, in disguise. Ted Barlon was an employee for a large manufacturing company located in the United States, but also had an office in Paris, France. The company had become suspicious of the man they had sent to take charge of the office several years before and had decided to send Barlon to investigate. The company had hoped for large returns, including cash and many contracts. Although they had received some of both, they were not satisfied. O’Connor, the man now in charge, did not know Barlon and this the company thought would be a good thing. Barlon was to pose as a prospective buyer and also to have many wealthy friends, whom he might interest in the products. After the boat had landed and Barlon had taken up his residence at one of the well known hotels, he began to make plans how he could manage to meet O’Connor. But Fate helped him there. During the day Barlon had hired a horse and gone riding outside the city. A galloping horse passed him but without a rider. Barlon got curious and rode in the direction in which the horse had come. He had not gone far when he met a young lady in riding habit, evidently the owner of the horse, coming limping along the road. I le got off his horse and offered it to the stranger. She hesitated, then told him that her horse had become frightened and thrown her from the saddle. She accepted the horse, but not before telling him her name and inviting him to her home the following eve. Barlon also told her his name and that he was a stranger in Paris. The next evening found Barlon ascending the steps of the Delaney home. He was ushered into the reception room, where he found other callers besides himself. He was introduced and was surprised when presented to Mr. Clarence O’Connor. So, this was how he spent his time, in company with the rich, instead of looking for customers. During the evening O’Connor and Barlon were some way thrown together and a conversation sprang up between them. Before they had parted O’Connor was made to believe he had a wealthy customer and one from whom he could get a little extra money, too. For this was how he was making money. Whenever O’Connor met with a man of wealth he sold him some of the company’s products, then instead of sending in all the amount, he retained a certain amount for himself, then sent the rest in to the company. But of course the buyer was cheated out of some of his goods, too, but O’Connor had a very good way of getting around them that they soon forgot or at least pretended to forget. Barlon became a regular caller at the Delaney home, but he always found O’Connor there. Barlon had begun to see through O’Connor’s scheme and already had evidence against him which he had sent to the company. In the meantime he began to wonder if Mignon Delaney could be helping O’Connor, and although he tried not to let himself believe it, she was in a position to do so.

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THE SENIOR LMAGNET 7 That night when a silver cup was placed in his hand, Bob thought only of what Sandy had gone through for him. and. like Sandy, he remained silent to the cries for speech, and said that he would let the surgeon speak for him. “He’ll make it,’’ came the unexpected answer, and at the words a look of pride and love for his dog came into Bob’s eyes. And he, as Sandy would have done, looked the judges straight in the face and said not a word, but they all understood, and with many a backward look, they left him alone, with a man’s best friend, his dog. ------------b.h.s.------------ THOUGHTS AT THE SWIMMING HOLE IN THE WINTER John Byers I look a funity notion; 'twas on a winter day, To bike down to the swimmin bole, at least a mile away; The snow was to my ankles, tbe wind was rather chill, But heedless of impediments, I started o’er the hill. And finally I got there, although ’twas quite a task, To find the creek unfrozen; no shield from wintry blast; Snow was to the streamlet’s edge and met a fringe of ice, The cool rippling water—as yet did not entice. I strolled o’er the snowy beach, where we were wont to lay, In the damp and cooling sand, on a hot summer day; These very feet, leaving an impress, now warmly shod. That dripping cooling water, the selfsame beach had trod. While thus in rumination, a sudden thought escapes, And ’minds me of the time we played Tartan of the Apes. We climbed o’er the cotton woods, and naked, ’twas a trick, To swing from bending branches, then drop into the creek. And this thought brought up others, to mem’ry no less dear, Of this most cherished place, and times that we spent here. One time in particular, spent in yon rippling pool, Was, if I remember right, a day that we had school. We swam, and dived, and dashed in spray the sparkling waters; Now on the top, now underneath, like playful otters; fust three of us together, and so that we could stay, We’d packed and brought our dinners, to swim the entire day. Then when we tired of swimming, we explored up the stream, Or sprawled out in the sand to catch the sun's burning gleam; And as the sun was waning we, feaful, homeward ran, In dread of folks suspicions on seeing such a tan. And when a friendly hand would slap on shoulders burnt and sore, Then were we being meted out reward in ample store. And were it not for pranks like these all life would be a bore; Eor not dislike of the teacher, or hatred for the book; ’Tis the spirit of adventure that prompts us to play book.

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THE SENIOR {MAGNET 9 She was rich, beautiful, and talented, and men were glad to be invited to her home. And by having O’Connor there, she introduced him to all the wealthy people and swindled both them and the company. Barlon had been in France about six months when the crisis came. A buyer who was not so easily put off at not receiving all his goods, as some of the others had been, came to O’Connor’s office and stormed. Barlon was in the waiting room and heard the conversation. O’Connor tried to hush him up for he saw his ruin should this man tell the truth. But the Frenchman was not to be quieted, lie left the office in a rage but was confronted by Barlon, who, after telling him who he was, asked him his trouble. The Frenchman told Barlon how he had paid O’Connor about $5,000 and in turn had received only about $3,000 worth of material. Barlon asked him if he would appear as a witness against O'Connor. The Frenchman said he would and that he thought he could get several others. Barlon wired the company his report and the following day O’Connor received a wire that he was dismissed and to come to the United States at once to face charges of defrauding the company. That evening when Barlon visited the Delaney home, he was both surprised and glad to find himself the only caller. For Barlon had faced himself with the confession that he loved Mignon Delaney. But should she be an accomplice of O’Connor’s, he must forget her; but he had decided to learn the truth this evening. As he told her of the dismissal of O’Connor, Fed watched the expression on her face, and was glad to see it was of surprise and not fear. She then told him how her father had invested his money through O’Connor also and it was found that he had been swindled out of about $10,000. A wire the next day from the company told Barlon of his promotion and that he would have charge of the office in France. Just two weeks later the company received a wire from Barlon announcing his marriage with Mignon Delaney. ■B.H.S.------------ ERESHMEN Ray Vaughn, '23 A ship once bravely sailed away, To breast the stormy sea; The recollections of that day, Are clear to you and me. A human cargo trod those planks, As pirates did of old; While hope unbounded filled their ranks, And brightened every hold. SOPHOMORES A trying year has made its trip, The prow still cleaves each billow; And he who never manned his ship, Now seeks some downy pillow; But there’s no rest for him who shirks, His course won't lead to fame; The sea is calm for him who works, And he may stake his claim. JUNIORS The mammoth waves have ceased to roll, No shipwreck or collision Has marred the trip. And on the ship. There’s energies, still fresher hopes, Surge thru each longing soup While every hand bends to the ropes, To reach the aimed-for goal. SENIORS The caravel now touches port, A joyous shout arises; The crew, departing have a sort Of Earewell Exercises. The world now stands in finest dress, They made the course aright. The ship they sailed called ‘73. II. S.” Sailed seas of “Gold and White.”