Butler High School - Magnet Yearbook (Butler, PA)

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THE SEXIOR MAGNET 21 into darkness, and a rat ran across to the door. Taking her courage in one hand, and the candle in the other, Jeanne started to follow the thiee men who could no longer be seen. She went in one door and out the other for what seemed hours and still did not find Jim. Seeing a door with light coming from the key-hole, her first thought was that it was Jim in there, so she opened the door and went in. No one was in the room, but she heard voices in the adjoining room. “You ask too much,” one man said, but the answer was a mumble. Jeanne went over to the curtains separating the rooms and peeking in, she saw Wo Chong and Ching Lee and the cat. Wo Chong had a basket on the table, and was saying—“If you don’t want these (pointing to the basket), “I’ll sell them to Hong Wing.” Ching Lee looked rather frightened, then said. “Don’t talk so loud. I’ll take them.” “You’ll never regret it. You will be the most honored man in China at the Empress Ball to-morrow,” and Wo Chong handed him the basket. Jeanne was standing on her tip-toes, waiting for the basket to be opened. Maybe Jim was right after all. Wo Chong undid the strings, lifted the lid. put in his hand, and pulled out —a kitten, “They have been a great secret, and will be the talk of China for years to come.” Not knowing how she found her way out, Jeanne at last got home and had just fixed her hair and picked up a book, when Jim came in, looking rather sheepish. In reality he was expecting an “I-told-you-so,” but his wife only smiled and said. “Did you like the kittens?” That was all the satisfaction he ever got of her knowledge of them from her, but when he went into his room, he found his old overcoat very wet and Jeannes shoes, also wet.

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20 THE SENIOR MAGNET James Blair—Detective Pkarle Forster Jeanne was looking for the office door marked “Mr. James Blair— Private.” She had been running through all the corridors of the funny old building and found so many doors that were not Jim’s. Jeanne had married James Blair exactly four months ago, and had been in Peking ever since. Jim had his government work to do, and so they decided to spend their honeymoon there, she grew to be delighted at its funny little crooked streets and its quaint open shops on the sidewalks. Finally, down the long dim corri dor she heard voices and one she knew very well. Running down the hall, she opened the door softly and walked in, just as Jim said, “Well, if I may, I’ll use two or three of your men tomorrow night.” The man, chief of Peking’s police, went out and Jeanne demanded the cause of his presence. “It’s just a little matter which I think may be opium smuggling,” answered Jim. As the two were walking home, suddenly Jim stopped and pointed across the street. Jeanne looked, but saw nothing but an old, very withered Chinaman leading a cat. But such a cat. It was a beautiful black cat with an unusual black coat. It had two balls of fire for eyes, and around its neck was a red ribbon. Jim said nothing till they reached home, then he told of his suspicions. “For two weeks now, every day 1 have seen that old man leading the cat. He was very careful of it, allowing no one to touch it, and seemed to be always looking for somebody to grab the cat. Then after much looking around, he goes into that little old cellar across from the office. I asked some friends about it and was told that Wo Chong’5 cat was the pride of Peking. It was the same breed as the ancient Em-porer’s cat, and was the only one in China. Then one day shortly after this I heard Wo Chong say to .1 friend, “Wednesday night at 10:30 here.” That is the reason I asked for some men tomorrow.” “But Jim, will there be any danger of shooting?” asked Jeanne. Jim answered with an air of bravado, “You can never tell in something like this what may happen, hut don’t worry about me.” Jeanne did not see much to he suspicious about an old man showing off a cat with a pedigree like that, but said nothing, and set about preparing dinner. It was Wednesday night, 10:30. The drizzling rain did not appeal much to Jeanne who, wrapped in Jim’s old overcoat, was going to follow the three men. After a very long wait, Jeanne heard Jim exclaim in the next doorway. “There goes Wo Chong and the cat now.” Jeanne looked across the street and sure enough there were the cat’s eyes staring at her. Just then Ching Lee, the tea merchant, came up and the two went into the cellar. It was rather spooky, Jeanne admitted to herself. Jim and the two men crept across the street and down into the cellar, Jeanne following as soon as the door was shut. Inside everything was dark and there was a musty odor about the place. A long hall lighted by a solitary candle, went winding

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22 THE SENIOR MAGNET Easy Jack” Fred Roenigk Ex-convict No. 2541, alias, “Easy Jack Rodney,” alias Jack Rodney stood before a cheap cafe. He had been nick-named “Easy Jack,” because of the ease with which he got other people’s money. Jack had been released from prison three days prior to this, and now had but fifty cents between himself and the much dreaded bread-line Suddenly, he turned and entered the cafe. The proprietor greeted him with a cordiality that was poorly returned. Jack went to a table at the end of the room and sat down. He had decided to “go straight,” and had thus far avoided anything pertaining to the old life. This safe had been his first temptation, and he had partially weakened. The waiter approached, and appeared shocked, when an order for sandwiches and coffee was given. This was not like other times, when Jack had considered coffee as being next to sarsparilla in the line of beverages. However, his order was given due attention and placed before him, after the customary long wait. Ten minutes later, three men entered the place. Jack suddenly stiffened, then, pulled his cap well over his eyes, and slouched down in his chair feigning sleep. The men seated themselves at a table to the left of Jack and conversed in low tones. In spite of this his well trained ears caught the gist of the conversation. At eleven-thirty that evening, Jack cautiously approached a large house; crawled through one of the windows, and disappeared into the room. His small protected flash light beamed here and there about the room, but did not disclose the safe. Softly, he entered the next room. The huge iron safe stood in a corner. Jack knelt down before it and turned the dial slowly. Five minutes later the safe-door swung open. He removed two long, flat envelopes and closed the safe again. The next day, the following appeared in the papers:— “BIG BOND THEFT.”—At a late hour last night, the police received a mysterious phone call which resulted in the capture of three well known crooks. They had opened the safe, but denied knowledge of the whereabouts of the bonds which are still missing. Mr. Chester, owner of the bonds, placed their value at one-hundred thousand dollars. “Easy Jack Rodney” smiled to himself, as he read this. Indeed, he was very happy, because he had just secured a good job. And it was an honest one at that! Still smiling, he made his way to the home of Mr. Chester, and asked to see the gentleman. He was regarded suspiciously, but presently the servant returned and ushered him into the large drawing room. Jack told him the story of his over-hearing the three crooks. He then explained that they had framed a joh on him, and he had been arrested, and that he had sworn that he would even the score some day. Then he told of his removing the bonds, and approaching the far corner of the room, he lifted the rug up. Two long flat envelopes lay on the floor. No, Jack didn’t marry the rich man’s daughter. He didn’t have any!