Butler High School - Magnet Yearbook (Butler, PA)

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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!

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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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THE SEMOR MAGNET 23 Faith’s Faith Ruth E. Greene Faith Drummond was her name, and she lived with her sister in one of the many rooming houses of New York. Her sister Elaine worked in the office of a large manufacturing company. Faith did not work though. No. She was a cripple due to an accident in which she lost her parents It had been five years since Mr. and Mrs. Drummond, Faith and Elaine had left their little home in Evansville, to visit relatives in Chicago. The train on which they were passengers was wrecked in a head-on collision. Mr. Drummond’s death was due to a fractured skull and Mrs. Drummond had been reported burned to death. After the bills were settled, the small sum of $500.00 was left, with which Elaine and Faith came to New York. With her slight knowledge of office work, Elaine was scarcely able to make a living. Their little room was very cozy with cheap but clean draperies. Elaine had brought a few old pictures from their home, and these adorned the walls. Their landlady, Mrs. O’Brien, was a jolly little woman. She took pleasure in doing little things for the girls. Faith was in her care all day; and Mrs. O’Brien’s two chubby children helped keep Faith in good spirits. The office in which Elaine worked was that of the Mellon Manufacturing company. She worked day in and day out, each day praying for a raise in salary and position; but the men and women who held positions above her, had been there tor years and were receiving such won- derful pay that there was nut much chance of their leaving or of advancement for Elaine. As Faith sat at the window of the room she had learned to call home, she thought of how hard Elaine had to work to keep them both alive. (This was her constant worry.) Mrs. O’Brien had taken her two kiddies to the dentist and this gave Faith a chance to think. ”1 am a hindrance to Elaine’s happiness. That young Jack Fitzgerald is wild about her and, if the truth were only known, I know he has asked Elaine to marry him; but she can’t on account of me. Oh dear God! Why didn’t you take me instead of Mother and Dad?” Tears ran down Faith’s pretty pale face. “If I had only inherited some of Mother’s talent for composing and writing stories!” Then, as if by magic, an expression of happiness lit up her face. A half-hour afterwards, when Mrs. O’Brien came back from the dentist, she found a very happy Faith. At the lapse of an other half hour, Mrs. O’Briei. left the room and her old Irish face beamed with excitement. At six o’clock a pretty sport roadster drove up in front of the house, and a young man jumped from it and helped Elaine out. They walked up to the door and Elaine turned to bid the young man goodbye. “Elaine,” said the young man, “when will you give me a definite answer ?” Elaine looked at the young man and said, “You understand, Jack. Must I explain again?”