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

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E = — Cn) By SAMOE EROME HOWARD. looked at yawned, reached for his hat and prepared to leave the office. He was a tall, lithe young chap; keen-eyed, square- jawed and broad shouldered. His dark brown hair had a curly wave and was combed straight back. After his graduation from college he had opened an office as an attorney-at-law. He had not been very successful at first but, after a few cases, had become one of the leading attorneys in the county. His hobby was sleuthing and by this he had un- covered many facts in several of his cases which would otherwise never have come to light. About time to call it a day's work, Miss Graham, he said to the young girl who acted as his stenog- rapher. She was small and dainty. Her deep blue eyes and her frank smile instinctively made you like her. She wore her black hair in a loose coil which hung low, offsetting and emphasizing the pure white- ness and beauty of her throat. his She smiled at her employer as she nodded, without stopping her work. “Just a moment, Mr. Howard. This will be finished soon and must go out tonight. Your signature is necessary.” Jerome grimaced at the delay and went back to his chair to wait. During the delay he thought of the events of the past few months. He went back to the PRESSE watch, 4 memorable day, April 6, when this country the Great War. The town had been agog with ex- citement. Men and boys had enlisted rapidly until only a few were left. entered These consisted mainly of boys who were too young, men who were too old, or those who were not physically qualified. One of the few to remain behind was Jerome Howard. His reasons for staying were known to himself only. He smiled bitterly as he thought of the criticism and sneers he had received; how the people who had been his best friends for years had turne and shunned him. Even his fiancee, Genevieve Wahlen, the daughter of Old Man Wahlen, the mayor, had refused to be seen in his company and had given back the engagement ring he had placed on her finger only a few months before. His thoughts were suddenly interrupted. A sheaf of papers were placed in front of him, ready for his signature. He looked up at the girl and smiled rather wistfully. She knew what had been going through his mind. She had been the only one in the town who had re- fused to criticise Jerome for his Unpatriotism, as they called it. She resented this criticism because she believed it to be untrue. She did not know of the reason which had caused him to remain behind but, as she told her friends, it would have to be a good their backs,

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GRADUATION For a lot of us, our graduation from high school final with an institution of It is Our business world and we go out into it marks our acquaintance learning. the jumping-off place. next world 15 ће fully or only partially equipped, depending upon the degree of intensity to which we have applied our- selves during our high school life. If it is the latter, let our timidity be a w arming to those who follow in our wake. But the majority of us are equipped and will know no timidity. Spring, and the graduation of the class of June, 19, occur simultaneously. Is it a good omen, or merely a coincidence? It should be a good omen. This is the springtime of our lives. Let us step out confidently and tread the new paths with the sure step of youth and the optimism of springtime forever in our hearts. Service Notes PERCY BULGER WRITES FROM FRANCE Battalion, Наа. Det., 312th Ini., | Section, Атепсап Expeditionary Force. Our division (the 78th) was reviewed by Gen- eral Pershing a few days ago. The Chief Com- mander gave the boys a great send off. The 78th passes into the hands of the S. О. S. and conse- quently out of the A. E. F. on Арт 6th. This means that we are subject to leave our area any day, and start our journey home. We leave here not later han Арп 16th. We sail for the U. S. early in May. All arrangements are being completed for the move, and Зи Percival is ready right now. А fel- low feels great to be just on the verge of starting for home, after he has been 5,000 miles away and in a foreign land for nearly a year. Supply Co. 323, Q.M.C., Base Section No. 4, S.O.S., A.E.F., A. P. O. 760, Le Havre, France. April 17, 1919. To THE Pivor Staff: I am ih receipt of THE Pivot for March. It was very interesting, 1 can assure you, as it made me feel as though I was back at dear Central High School again. I wish to thank you for your kindness in sending me THE Pivot each month. I hope before long I will be able to read the paper back in dear old New- ark instead of France. Trusting to see you all in the near future, and thanking you again for your kind consideration, I remain Sincerely yours, Lewis LEFKOWITZ. P. S.—Kimdly extend my best regards to Prof. Wiener and also to Prof. McMillan. Sergeant Frank A. Williams, Central, June, 12, and Harvard, '16, recently returned with Ње 155th Infantry. Не enlisted at New Orleans, where he was engaged in the piano business, and after five months training went to France, where he saw seven months of service If any of the students know of Central girls who are or who have been m any branch of the service, be it army, navy, marine or welfare work, please give their names to any member of the Prvor Board = that these stars may be added to Central's service flag.

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one to keep a man like Jerome Howard out of a man's war like this one. She put on her hat and went out. Just as she reached the street the whistle of the huge ammunition plant blew and a stream of girls poured forth with only a few men amongst them. Grace stopped and watched the familiar faces as they hurried by. Suddenly her gaze was caught by two strange masculine faces. She looked intently at the two men and noted their foreign, military bearing. As she stared at them Jerome came out of the building and they walked down the street together. As they walked she told him of the two strangers and of her uneasy premonitions regarding their pres- ence in the huge ammunition plant. Jerome laughed away her uneasiness and said that they were probably only honest laborers who wanted to do their bit by working in an ammunition plant. After he had seen Grace home, Jerome immedi- ately set out for the ammunition plant and succeeded in getting the superintendent to give him some infor- mation regarding the two foreigners. Не learned that they were two German-Americans whose names were Bauer and Brenner. They had applied for positions and had furnished the best of references from an am- munition plant in Cartersville. Тће next morning Howard did not show up at his office at the usual time. At twenty minutes to eleven his secretary became alarmed, as he had a big case at eleven-thirty at Jones Junction, which was ten miles from Medford. She called up his residence and was told that he had not been in all night but that this was not strange as it happened frequently. Eleven-thirty came and still Jerome did not appear. Miss Graham tried several places without success and finally gave it up in despair. Several days went by before Jerome appeared at the office again. Не walked in as if he had not been absent at all and waded into his work as if there had been no time for it to accumulate. Late that afternoon he called Miss Graham to his desk and told her that he would have to dispense with her services in the office. He smiled at the look of dismay that passed over her face. “I am not dispensing with your services entirely, young lady, he said. “I think I remarked ‘in the office.” If you care to accept the position, I am in need of someone to assist me in some special work I am doing. This person must be one I can trust and whom I know well. You would just fill the bill if you would accept. You have assisted me on several sleuthing jobs and I am sure you would like this work just as well. “I am ready to listen to your proposition, was her answer. Very well, listen carefully. Tomorrow morning go to the employment office at the ammunition plant and apply for a position in the shell loading depart- ment, where you will be given a bench near the two foreign fellows you noticed the other day. I want you to keep your eyes and ears open and overhear as much as you can of what they have to say. If you should happen to hear anything against me, disregard it. If, by any chanc e, I should disappear address a letter to me in care of the General Delivery Depart- ment of the Jones Junction postoffice; that is, if you have overheard anything which you think might inter- est me. Аз soon as this job is finished I will want you back in the office again. “I regret greatly that I have to leave this position even temporarily and will be glad to come back to it after this job is finished. I will do my best at it, Mr. Howard, and will report according to your instruc- tions if I hear anything. They left the office and walked slowly to the street. They separated at the entrance to the build- ing, Grace hurrying to her home while Jerome cut across town. That night Jerome Howard disappeared from Medford. He had been seen boarding the 7:30 train for Morganstown and he was not back in Med- ford for some time. The next morning a tall young man with a light brown beard and mustache entered the employment office of the ammunition plant. He gave his name as Barton and asked to see the employment manager. After a great deal of wrangling the clerk finally con- sented to pass him into the inner office. Barton held only а few minutes’ conversation with the manager, who then told the clerk to place him as an assistant foreman in the loading department. Barton was a likable fellow and soon made friends. Among the first to cultivate his friendship were Bauer and Brenner. He was often seen con- versing with them, although none of the other work- ers would talk to them. Не also seemed to like the company of Grace Graham and often escorted her home after working hours. Grace had watched the two men very carefully, but had not been able to see or overhear anything of any interest. Up to the day that Barton came their conversation had been general. A few days later, however, Grace heard them con- versing in low tones with many side glances to see whether anyone could overhear them. “Well, Bauer, he has arrived and it is time for us to get to work. We will meet him to-night at Rus- sell's Inn and there we will form our plans for the work ahead of us. Ја, I think that Barton is just the man for us. We can use him to our advantage. Не has brains and is also strong. Grace was troubled over this conversation. She had come to like Barton and now she found out that he was hand in glove with these aliens. She did not doubt now that they were about to commit some treacherous deed, but had no inkling of what it was,