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

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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,

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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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She wished that Jerome Howard were there. He could advise her as to her action. She deliberated over her course during the day, but arrived at a de- cision only when the whistle blew. She decided quickly and was determined that she would follow out her plan. She quickly went to her house and changed to a dark blue suit. She then caught a trolley out of town and alighted in front of Russell's and entered timidly. Looking around her she saw that the place was still practically deserted. It was too early for the revelers and only a few were sitting at the tables. A waiter hurried forward and she chose a table near the aisle and sat down facing the rear of the room. At the end of the room was a large mirror. This she watched closely for the appearance of the persons she expected. Time went slowly and she thought that her trip had been in vain when, at ten-thirty, the men had not appeared. Suddenly her heart leaped. The three men came in and were met at the door by a fourth. The latter escorted them to the rooms above the ground floor. Grace's spirits sank as suddenly as they had risen. She could not follow the men. She did not know to which room they had gone. Still she decided to wait for their reappearance and to follow them. About half an hour later the three men came down and sat at a table near Grace. None of them noticed her and she studiously kept her face averted. She bit her lip in vexation. She had failed to find out what the plans of the three men were. She had come to this place in vain Suddenly she heard the low murmur of voices from the conspirators’ table and tried to catch what they were saying. “Ja, it must be to-night,” she heard Bauer saying. Then his voice was lowered and she could only catch certain words. Not home to-night—must act—get away. Then she heard Barton talking. It seemed he was remonstrating with the others. He talked in a low tone of voice and she could not hear what he was saying. Brenner then started. He was evidently excited and his voice rose so that Grace could hear plainly what he was saying. “Haf I not said that it will to-night be?” she could hear him ask. “We haf already too much time wasted. We must get to work now. This job must be completed by to-morrow morning. Der train leafs the station by half-past seven and we must make that train or take a chance of being caught. Bauer had been gesturing to him to lower his voice and now growled something to him in German. Bren- ner immediately subsided. The three men called the waiter, paid their check and left the place. Grace followed them. When the three had reached the open they entered a high-powered car that was stand- ing near the entrance, and with a roar they were off. Grace looked wildly about in hopes of seeing some vehicle in which she could hope to follow the high- powered car. Нег eyes alighted on a high-powered racing car that was a little distance down the road. А young man was just getting into it and the engine was already working. Wait! she cried, as she darted down the road. The young man paused in astonishment with one foot on the step and waited for her to come up to him. Will you follow that car? she asked, as she indicated the fast receding lights. She explained her suspicions regarding the men and the young man quickly agreed to help Grace follow the men. A roar, a flash of lights, and they were out on the open highway. The driver urged the car to greater and greater speed. They did not seem to gain on the car ahead of them. The needle of the speedome- ter pointed 80 miles. Slowly it crept up to the 100 mark, They fairly hurtled along the road about a half-mile in the rear of the other car. Then suddenly the red lights ahead of them disap- peared, The driver immediately slowed down and, at the point where they had last seen the lights, stopped. The road forked at this point. Which branch had the conspirators taken? No lights were visible on either road. Suddenly from the road to the right came a report as of a shot and then another from one of their front wheels. The young man swore softly under his breath. Fine shooting, he admitted grudgingly. “Blew out one of our tires. Our lights gave them a mark to shoot at and they succeeded.” They heard the other party get under way once more while the young fellow was tinkering around changing the front wheel. A few moments later they were off again. Once more, in the distance, they could see the red lights of the other car. This time there were not any stops. They flashed through several small towns and then Morganstown loomed in the distance. The driver with Grace urged his car to its greatest speed and slowly they drew up on the other car. Then they were in the limits of the снућапа had to slow down. They were only about half a block in the rear now. The conspirators chose a crooked way across town. Around corners both cars tore. The men in the other car now evidently had no thought of being followed again; they were pretty sure that they had stopped their pursuers, and did not think anything of this small racer drawing up on them. They stopped their car in front of a large house on one of the quieter streets and stole to the back of the building. Grace had the young man stop the car some dis- tance from the house and they went after the men. Have you a gun? whispered Grace to her com- panion. “There is one in the car, he answered. here and I will get it. Wait