Central High School - Cog N Pen Yearbook (Newark, NJ)

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The governor refuses to send any more until broke. the first of the month. Frankly, I can't pay you.” De Forrest's truculent countenance became still more forbidding, as with unbridled malice he said: So that's the way it stands. The governor's wise to his son's antics and closes down on the money bags However, I want that money, and there's only one thing which will save you from being fired out of college, both by your father and the ignominy of your position as a bluffer, if I choose to divulge. This is the proposition. His eyes refused to meet the unwav- ering look of Scott as he continued. Scott, Г want those two cups which you won to- day. Had a thunderbolt struck him Scott could not have been more dazed. He turned alternately hot and cold and involun- tarily made as if to spring at De Forrest's throat. That anyone could stoop to so low an act was in- comprehensible to him. He meant to show this cur how such a fellow should be treated. At the change which he had wrought in the other's bearing, De Forrest stepped toward the door. His ashen face showed the fear in which he held Scott in his present mood. You dog, ground out Scott, you come to me with that vile offer. Get out of my room before I throw you out. Shaking like an aspen leaf, the other hastened to comply, but, with his hand on the door, he essayed a parting shot. Remember, Scott, it means the end of your college career. It means your finish at Andover. What are two cups to you? No one will be the wiser. I want them because I promised to bring back to my folks the two trophies which you won and which I was supposed to have won. They don't know I've quit the game. My father was a track star. If he knows Гуе failed he'll be heart-broken. What do you say? You'll never miss them.” Scott hesitated. His father's threat to withdraw him from college seemed distant and dim. That De Forrest would expose him he had no doubt. Не form- ulated a plan of action. Why not exchange his two trophies for the slip of paper. If De Forrest's tale was true, he was in no danger. Att any rate, forestall- ing De Forrest would give him some respite in which he could raise money enough to redeem the cups. They would be only out of his hands a few days at the most, or even a few hours. If De Forrest had conceived a plot to do him fur- ther harm it was unfathomable to him. His story was logical. Should he give up his college career rather than stretch his principles for a short time? It would not besmirch his athlete standing. Eager to carry his point, De Forrest burst uncere- : moniously into his train of thought. “There's no alternative. You accept or you're through for good. Scott determined to risk everything on one stroke. “АП right, he said. Remain here and I'll get the cups. Without further ado he grabbed his hat and coat and bolted through the door. Breathing more easily, De Forrest sat down weakly in a chair and lighted a cigarette with a trembling hand. Synchronously, in the adjoining room Bruce Lamont arose from his cramped position’ at the keyhole of the connecting door and flung himself on the bed. “That of all things. I never would have believed it of Don Scott, he groaned. What can have hap- pened to him?” As he began thinking more rationally the thought came to him that Scott was playing a game deeper than De Forrest's. Lamont never for a moment entertained the thought that De Forrest's story was true. He knew that De Forrest’s departing look the night of the poker game boded no good to Scott. On their way to Scott’s room after the hilarious cele- bration, Longstreth and Richardson stopped to pick up Lamont in his room. His grave face convinced them that something was badly wrong. Не did not respond to their good-natured raillery, but sat with unseeing eyes on the floor. Should he take these two into his confidence? Could they be trusted? He knew the transfer of the cups did not end the little drama being enacted in the other room. It would be well to have two such staunch ad- mirers of Scott on his side. Lamont’s reticence only served to accentuate his two friends’ curiosity. Lamont decided to tell them everything, and he did. Luckily for De Forrest's mind Richardson's and Longstreth’s anathemas and execrations did not reach his ears. “Со easy, fellows,” whispered Lamont. He's in there yet, pointing to the next room. “We'll stay here and await developments. Scott's promise to get the two cups was in itself a hazardous undertaking. With a score of others, the trophies rested on a case in the Dean's inner office, ready to be presented after chapel exercises on the morrow. Scott kept in the shadow of the clustered buildings and reached the office of the Dean. It was the work of a moment to find a window carelessly left open by the absent-minded professor. With a twinge of mental torture, he selected his two hard-earned prizes, and carefully closing the window he retraced his steps to the dormitory. De Forrest had not moved. A complacent smirch overspread his callow features as Scott re-entered with the trophies. Scott eyed him repellently, loathingly, as if he were near a snake. Не said: “Неге are the cups; now give me that I. O. U.”

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most rabid devotees. Like all beginners, he was а con- sistent loser, and this had culminated in a “blowup” with the “governor.” As a result he was forbidden to play the game and his allowances were split in half. Tonight, unable to resist its lure, he had sought the Clandestine Club, as Lamont had named it. Not much persuasion was needed to induce him to join in a game. De Forrest, until tonight, had succeeded admirably in hiding his pent-up hatred for Don Scott, but as the latter kept losing he was unable to keep from gloating. “Ном much are you out, Поп?” queried Richard- son, as the players pushed back their chairs. Four hundred and ten dollars, came the laconic response. The questioner whistled. It might have been worse, put in De Forrest. “Oh, by the way, Scott, could you oblige me with that two hundred? I want to be going. Without looking up, Scott said “I haven't got it. The others looked at him askance. Aha, so you were betting on your nerve, sneered De Forrest. But then, he continued, in a careless sort of manner, that surprised the others, your I. O. U. will do just as well. You can pay me any time. I’m not in a hurry for it?” “I wonder what's happened to make that fellow so generous all of a sudden, communed Lamont to himself. There must be something behind that. Surprised at the matter-of-fact way in which De Forrest had passed off his violation of the rules of the club, Don hastily scribbled out his note, and said: “Га never have ventured to risk it, but, you see, I didn’t think that hand could be beaten and I thought I was playing safe all the way through.” Oh, that's nothing, the other hastened to assure him, smoothly ; I would have done the same thing my- self under those circumstances. It was a hundred-to- one shot that you'd win— but you lost. А bit of hard luck, that's all. Forget about it. When you get some change come around and see me. Scott passed him the note and De Forrest carefully placed it in his wallet and prepared to take his de- parture. As he reached the door he paused and, turn- ing, said: Well, good night, fellows, and pleasant dreams. The last words were meant for Scott, who was staring moodily at the upturned cards. Lamont was the only one who caught their double significance and the malevolent glare which De Forrest levelled at the unseeing Scott. Then the latter went out. After his departure Lamont made haste to obliterate all signs of the night's activities. The four roomed in the same building and it was but a short time after De Forrest left that the four were asleep in their beds. Scott roomed next to Lamont and Richardson: Longstreth was across the corridor. The former's thoughts before sleep were a strange co-mixture of sor- row and anger. He bitterly arraigned himself because his developed penchant for gambling had led him into a debt which would be very embarrassing to meet if De Forrest should demand payment. If his father by any chance should hear of his latest break, his career at Andover was finished. Layton De Forrest is the last person in the world whom I ever wanted to be beholden to, he thought, and then dropped off to troubled slumber. A week later came the biggest track meet of the year—the dual meet with Phillips Exeter. Intense rivalry caused each event to be contested fiercely, and as Don Scott romped off with the quarter-mile and half-mile runs in record time, the deafening acclama- tions of the vast throng of under-graduates and specta- tors gladdened his spirit. Don had his eyes fixed on a spot of white, away up in the grandstand. Eleda Rossalind had come all the way from New York to see him run. He had no eyes for a figure that sat crouched back in a near-by seat. Layton De Forrest bit his lips vindictively as Scott breasted the tape in the half-mile. He alone took no part in the cheering as the Andover section rose en masse at Scott’s record-breaking run. For two years De Forrest had been the recipient of these hoarse cheers. Now, he was forgotten. It was unbearable. He rose and elbowed his way through the happy throng. Their gayety but added to his hatred of Scott. “Tonight is the time, he muttered, and strode out from the park. Lamont, ever watchful, was the only one to see the actions of De Forrest and he mentally resolved to keep his eye on him. With Eleda and her father seen off on the New York Express, Scott’s happy frame of mind vanished. A sort of premonition seized him. That note for the two hundred weighed heavily on his shoulders. He returned thoughtfully across the campus to his room just as Lamont entered next door. The riotous celebration of their overwhelming victory over Phillips Exeter was at its height. Bonfires dotted all parts of the campus and myriads of sparks shot to- ward the darkened sky. Somewhat cheered, Scott walked to the dormitory window to look out at the merry-making. There came a slight knock at his door. quickly, he said: “Come їп.” There was no greeting. the other’s mind. Well, I’m here, began De Forrest. “I expected you, said Scott quietly. De Forrest looked taken aback, but continued iron- ically: “Your sapience seems to be infallible. I won't take your time, though. I guess you know what I’m here for. I need that two hundred. You see,” he went on suavely, unexpected contingency— Oh, never mind that stuff, broke in Scott. “The truth is, De Forrest, that I expected you'd give me at least two weeks to raise that money. At present I'm Turning In walked De Forrest. Each knew what was in

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De Forrest handed him the slip of paper and ап- swered: “You needn't be so surly about it, Scott. A fair trade is no robbery. You have the better of the deal. You ought to throw in a few medals to boot.” This was too much for Scott, who cried: Get out, damn you, before I kill you! De Forrest got out in a hurry. Lamont, Longstreth and Richardson were interested auditors of the conversation. When De Forrest left Scott's room, Lamont whis pered excitedly, We'll follow him. I think I know just what his game 15.” The three stealthily descended the stairs after De Forrest. The latter struck out across the campus to- ward the residences of the faculty. In his wake they followed. De Forrest wended his way in and out through the buildings until he reached the residence of Skeets Murray, the Dean. There was a ring of anger in Lamont's voice as he spoke to the others. The unspeakable cad! Just what I thou ght. He's gone to inform the Dean. Scott will be declared a professional tomorrow for selling his prizes. That dis- grace is a thousand times worse than the one he evaded. Fellows, we can't let De Forrest get away with that. He's got the cups, that's conclusive evidence that Scott asked for them before tomorrow and then sold them to him. We can't inform the Dean of the truth of the affair, because we'll all get fired out for gambling. Think, will you? Think! We've got to do some- thing. We can't let Don go under like that. De Forrest had reached the residence of the Dean. It was after ten, but the latter was still up and the trio saw De Forrest admitted. The three were in a panic. Something had to be done and done quickly if they were to avert the worst scandal ever perpetrated at Andover. Poor Don, murmured Longstreth. if it’s all up with him. It looks as It seemed as if Then suddenly his face Lamont was plainly nonplused. Scott must take his medicine. lighted in a bright smile. We'll fool him yet,” he almost shouted in an ecstasy of joy, and, with that, he outlined his plan to the oth ers. The magnitude of its scope astounded them. “It’s big, said Lamont; but it's the only way out. Are you with me, or shall I go it alone? The two chorused their eager support and they fairly raced across the selfsame path which Scott had taken but a short while before. They found the same window as did the first. in- truder. Ву the moon's rays they sighted the pile of trophies in the center of the room. They stood as И awed. “I hate to do it, said Lamont, but it's got to be done. Come on, take an armful. Lamont had unearthed а bag on the way across and the trophies were carefully placed in it. “There will be some terrible howls when this is found out in the morning,” whispered Richardson, as the three made their exit, leaving the window half open. They returned unseen to Lamont's room, where the latter took the bag and buried it in a long unused trunk, where no one would ever be likely to hunt. De Forrest had stated his case well—so well that ruin and disgrace awaited Don Scott on the morrow. Skeets Murray’s ideas of honor were rigid. That De Forrest's disclosures affected a boy whom he liked very much personally did not alter the Dean's de- termination one whit to carry out the steps which his code demanded. On De Forrest leaving, Murray said: “This is the most serious charge ever preferred against an Andover athlete. I do not know what to make of it. It seems impossible that such a fellow as Scott should stoop to such a thing. Still, the evidence is indisputable and I shall attend to it in the morning. Scott slept away, all unthinking of the skein set to enmesh him. De Forrest proceeded to his room, where he rested serenely in the knowledge of Scott's disgrace the next day. The next day's events followed in trip-hammer order. One of the final tableaux was set in Dean Mur- ray's office. A messenger came to De Forrest's room with a per- emptory command to report to Dean Murray at the office immediately. Worried beyond an extreme which he did not care to show, De Forrest hastened to the Dean's office. As he entered the sanctum of Andover's head-mas- ter a sense of calamity brooded over him. Murray turned and began in a sarcastic tone, which fairly shriv- eled the other: De Forrest, I gave you more credit than to try to ‘put over’ anything like this. Why, a two-year-old baby would know enough not to try anything as thin as this little nightmare of your fancy.” De Forrest endeavored to interrupt, but with a gesture of contempt Murray stilled him. “Мау I ask what you have done with the other trophies? You are just a common thief. Did you think that I was brainless enough to believe your tale after what I’ve seen this morning? If you return the cups, Í promise immunity; but if not, you're through at Andover.” “A thief,” sputtered De Forrest, indignantly. What do you accuse me of?” Murray's sarcasm became more vitriolic. “Тһе game's up, De Forrest. I have no sympathy Гог a common thief and also а perjurer. I gave some credence to your tale last night, but when I entered here this morning, found the window open and the twelve cups taken, I needed no further confirmation