Butler High School - Magnet Yearbook (Butler, PA)

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well— He hesitated a moment, and then went on in a husky voice, You see, this belonged to Dad. He always wanted to be o surgeon, but he couldn't make it. Didn't finish school. He died when I was just about through high school, and he gave this cose to me. I knew then what he wonted me to do, so I did it—did what he had tried so hard to do, but couldn't—become a surgeon. That black box has been on inspiration to me when I was discouraged, and it seems to hold all my ideals. So—he stopped suddenly and with a despairing gesture turned and strode across to the fireplace. I-I'll go with you now, Jack. The Corporal looked from Jim to Maureen with shining eyes, and then backed to the doorway. Jim, he said, you can't tell me that a man like you ever voluntarily killed a man. Guess I’ll be mushing. I should make headquarters by tomorrow night, if the weather holds. And don't forget —Jim and Maureen listened breathlessly,— Robert E. Curts is dead, at least officially so. Isn't he, Dr. Manley? He turned to go, then added with a grin, Good-bye, and good luck! But he did not get away before Maureen, tears welling in her blue eyes, had kissed the blushing Corporal right on the cheek; and Jim, trying to keep the tremor out of his voice, had gripped the Corporal's hand firmly with a hoarse Good-bye, and God bless you! Then together they watched him disappear through the softly falling snow. The Fish That Got Away Elmer Honenberger I went a-fishing at Oneida And I'll betcha that I tried a Million times to get my bearing So I could land a pickled herring. He ate my bait and then the sap Just went below to take a nap. Suddenly I got a hunch Maybe he'd like a midnight lunch; So I stuck around till twelve o'clock, Determined to make that herring talk. Even the hook began to squirm When I baited it with a half a worm; But after all, the fish wasn't hungry; He just had downed a chocolate sundae. I plunged my sinker into the deep, To wake that fish from his beauty sleep. I felt a tug but jerked in vain— He came out of the water and in again; You should have seen the size of that fish! Twas all any fisherman could wish. Tho' I didn't catch him, there is no question, That he later died of indigestion. Page Twenty-six

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his face went suddenly white as he glanced at Maureen. Jim quickly recovered himself however; the three people soon retired, and all was dark and silent in the little cabin. Silent, that is, until about four o'clock the next morning, when Jack suddenly awake in the kind of agony that strikes terror into the hearts of the bravest in the north woods. Just a little pain in my side. Guess I'm getting old, Maureen, he tried to say jokingly, as she straightened the covers and sheets on his bed. But the perspiration stood in big beads on his forehead, and his breath came in thick gasps. Maureen made him as comfortable as possible; then out in the other room, she and Jim faced each other. It's acute appendicitis, Maureen, said Jim quietly. I can't get a doctor in time, but I still have my instruments, and maybe— No, Jim. You can't. You can't. He'll take you back, and you'll go to prison. You know that it wasn't your fault that you killed that man. But you can't prove it to a jury now any more than you could when we first came up here. Go for a doctor. Oh, please—then if he dies it won't be your fault . . . Oh, yes, I know he'll die if you wait—and I can't bear to see him die—Oh, what shall we do, Jim? What? Maureen tried to stifle her sobbing. Jim stared at her, his face white and drawn; then suddenly, there before the fire, he kneeled down. Oh, dear God, help us to do what we ought. Forgive my weakness and give me strength. Guide my hand as I relieve the suffering of this man. Restore in me my forgotten skill . . . He rose, called Maureen to help him, and suddenly became the calm, cool surgeon of other years. They used the table for the operation, lifting Jim up on it tenderly. Maureen brought a pan of boiling water for sterilizing purposes. Then Jim brought out his black case of surgical instruments, with the unmistakable R. E. C. on the front. As Corporal Jack Preston s eyes rested on those condemning letters, Jim nodded his head slowly. Yes, Jack, I m your man. But we have to take care of you first. I—! I! do my best for you, Jack. Mercifully, Preston lapsed then into unconsciousness. For many days after the operation, Jack hung between life and death. He needed constant attention, and either Maureen or Jim was with him all the time. Finally, one morning he woke and acted normally. The crisis was past. With the tender care of Maureen and the careful guidance of Jim, he was nursed back to health at last. Jim and Maureen often talked together during this time, wondering whether Jim should stay or should escape. He always decided to remain. They never discussed the matter with Preston, and he never mentioned it to them. At last the day came when Jack prepared to leave. Maureen was sorrowful; Jim, silent, as Jack came out into the living room of the cabin. As he paused, a little uncertainly, both knew that the terrible moment was at hand. Jim, he said unsteadily, may I see that surgical case? As he held it up, the initials R. E. C. gleamed in the cold morning light filtering through the snow on the window pane. Jim, said the corporal quietly, why couldn't you have left this thing in the States? It would have saved so much trouble and anxiety and sorrow. Jim, nervous and embarrassed, was silent for a moment, then a wry smile spread over his face. I suppose it seems funny to you, but I just couldn't leave it behind. It just seems a part of me. I knew when I brought it I was doing a crazy thing, but, Page Twenty-five

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The Mystery of the Otzinachin Valley Jack Hetrick Were the correct name of this valley mentioned, many would recognize it. For the present, we will refer to it by its Indian name of Otzinachin, which means The Place of the Demons . It was so called by the Indians, because the peculiar rock formations of gigantic proportions which abound there led the Red Men to believe that the demons met there in conference. Here are found high, steep mountains with precipitous sides and broad flat tops several miles in extent. In Colonial times, these mountains were covered with virgin pine, the size of which may be determined by a visit to our famous Cook's forest. Today, they are covered with both evergreen and deciduous trees which present a beautiful spectacle in the fall when the colors run riot. This, the setting of our story, is laid in the north central part of Pennsylvania. On a summer morning within the last decade, in a little country churchyard, two young men were busily plying pick and shovel digging a grave. Suddenly, one ceased his work, and with a cry of astonishment, knelt and recovered something from the grave. It was a human skull. As was the custom in the little village where this incident occurred, anyone who had time to perform the duties of sexton did so. Often, this service was performed for a very dear friend. No charge was made for their neighborly act to a bereaved family. It was for this reason that these two were engaged that day in preparing a final resting place for a fellow man. Taking the skull, they hurried to the home of the superintendent of the churchyard, in order to ascertain whether or not a mistake had been made in the location of the grave. Consulting the records, they found that no error had been made. The records consisted of a map upon which was the location of each grave and the name of its occupant. This had been kept ever since the church had been built. Accordingly, the self-appointed sextons returned and completed the grave. In the course of the excavation, two additional skulls and many bones constituting the complete skeletons of three human beings were unearthed. These, together with the first skull, were taken to the home of the superintendent, there to be discussed and their history unearthed, if possible. Of course, as in any small town, the inhabitants soon learned of the discovery. There was much talk over corn-cob pipes and much gossiping over back'yard fences. Dire tales began to circulate—tales of murder, secret burial and the like. The superintendent, upon hearing these tales, took it upon himself to get to the bottom of the affair. He consulted archeologists upon the characteristics of the bones, and after much investigation he at last came to a definite conclusion. He then called an open meeting at the town hall. When the assemblage had come to order, he began his discourse as follows: Friends, recently in our little town, a strange matter has come to light. Two good brothers, while digging a grave in the churchyard, uncovered three human skeletons almost entirely within the confines of the one grave. Naturally, you all have ideas os to what happened. Strange and fantastic tales have been invented. The purpose of this meeting tonight is to acquaint you with the truth of this matter. Our story takes us back to the year 1780. In that year, there occurred in Page T wcnty-scvcn