Butler High School - Magnet Yearbook (Butler, PA)

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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?”

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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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24 THE SENIOR MAGNET The young man was about to speak when Elaine opened the door and said, “Thank you for driving me home, Jack. Good-night.” Jack Fitzgerald watched her go in, and when the door w-as closed, he turned and walked to his car. Jack was a junior member of the Mellon Manufacturing company. In the short time he had known Elaine, he had learned to think a lot of her. He saw her every day and drove her home every night from work. He did his best to get Elaine a position in the main office; but, due to facts which have already been explained, it was quite impossible. Elaine was surprised and glad to see Faith so happy. This made her feel better, and indeed, she hummed a little tune while preparing their evening meal. It was not often that Elaine felt like singing. Months passed and each day Elaine noticed the marked improvement in Faith. Days were shorter and not so hard for Elaine. Elaine couldn’t understand the sudden change. One Saturday, on her way home from work, Elaine stopped in a book store for a book for Faith. Her attention was attracted by the advertisement of a book. Upon asking the clerk about it, the clerk showed her a pretty little book bound in red. The title was “Mother’s Prayer.” Elaine opened it to the dedication page and read: “To mv dear Mother, now in the great beyond, I dedicate this book,” —signed A Plagiarist. Elaine looked through the book and decided to purchase and take it to Faith to read. She paid the clerk for it, and as he handed her the package, he remarked that “Mother’s Short Stories” was another good book by the same author. Elaine hurried home, and as she turned the corner of the street on which she lived, she was surprised to see Jack’s car in front of the house. Her first thought was, “Could anything have happened to Faith?” She seemed to run down the street and up the steps. At the top of the stairs she ran smack into Jack and Mrs. O’Brien who were coming out of Faith’s room. Elaine saw at a glance by their faces that Faith was all right, but what could it all mean? “Why, Elaine” said Jack “I just stopped in for a visit with your sister. I missed you after work, or I would have brought you home.” “Oh, then,” exclaimed Elaine, “is Faith all right?” “Why, what do you mean dear?” asked M rs. O’Brien. Elaine explained it and they all laughed. Jack remarked that a few more frights and Elaine would he a wreck. Faith called them into the room saying she didn’t want to miss anything. After Jack and Mrs. O’Brien had gone, Elaine presented the book to Faith. A look of surprise came to Faith’s eyes, and Elaine, seeing this said, “have you read this, Faith?” “Yes, you see I—er—” stammered Faith. “You see Mrs. Karmen across the hall brought it over for me to read, and 1 have just sent it back.” “Was it good?” asked Elaine? “Uh-huh,” answered Faith, seemingly in deep thought. That evening after the dishes were done and Faith was busy mending. Elaine took the book and sat down near Faith to read. “Say, Faith,” said Elaine, “things have been sort of queer lately. For the last few months at my regular whistle as I come up the stairs, i hear the rattle of paper in here, and I come in to find you sewing or knitting or reading. I did not think so