Clifton High School - Rotunda Yearbook (Clifton, NJ)

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THE REFLECTOR explaining satisfactorily to Pop, left via the back door. Bill ordered an ice cream soda, and, after consuming it hastily, went back to Betty,s house, which was only a block away and around the corner. A vine running up the porch obstructed his view of it, but when he arrived there he found Jimmy waiting for some one to answer the bell he had just rung. So you're over here to speak to Pop on important business, sneered Bill. And you're here just to try out his sodas, retaliated Jimmy. Before the argument could progress any further, Mrs. Harris opened the door. Hello, Jimmy. Hello, Bill, she greeted. I suppose you boys are here to see Betty? I am, said Jimmy. So am I, echoed Bill. 'Tm sorry, boys, but she's gone to the movies. Is there any message I can give her? No, I didn't have anything important to say, lied Jimmy. Neither did I, added Bill. l'Sorry to have troubled you. No trouble at all, said Mrs. Harris. But if you'll excuse me now -Joe and Moe are just coming over the radiof, Okay. Good-night, Mrs. Harris, said Jimmy. Good-night, repeated Bill. Good-night, boys. I'11 tell Betty you were here, said Mrs. Harris, allowing the door to slam after her. USO-long, squawker,', said Bill. Here's hoping you forget the cheers. Good-night, 'Red Grange',,' answered Jimmy. Here's hoping you get the signals mixed up. The next morning Jimmy waited in front of the school for Betty. He had to see her before Bill did. Bill knew, now, that he had compe- tition and would be as anxious as Jimmy to see Betty. I-Ie did not meet her before school began. She had come early and entered the building to do some extra typing. The bell rang. jimmy wouldn,t see Betty until fourth period, and he knew Bill would see her first period. What should he do! Ah! That's it. He'd ask his sister, who was also in that Hrst period English class with Betty and Bill, to give Betty a note. He took out a pad, scrib- bled hurriedly, and then ran after his sister, whom he saw just entering the school building. He gave her the note, and cautioned her to lose no time in giving it to Betty. As soon as Betty reached room 207, Ruth Hunter pounced upon her and handed her a note, commanding her to read it immediately. Ruth was anxious to please jimmy today. Her birthday occurred soon, and she was expecting something valuable from him. Twenty-eight

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THE REFLECTOR As they reached the top, Jimmy asked, Whom are you going to the dance with? Or is it a secret?,' W'ell, no one has asked me yet, but there's plenty of time, and I haven't quite given up hope. Well,-ah,i began Jimmy. Honk! Ho-o-nk! There's Bill Dawson in his car. I think he's going to pick us up, announced Betty. Hello, Bill. Hello, Betty! Can I give you a 1ift?', invited Bill, and then, Well, well. If it isn't our illustrious queer-leader. Since it looks like you're with this representative of the fair sex, I suppose we'll have to accommodate you, too. Well, I suppose it's all right if the car doesn't objectf' Thanks,,' muttered Jimmy, disgustedly. He knew Bill didn't want him, and he wouldn't leave Betty alone with Bill now. He must forward his invitation first. Jimmy didnit say much during the ride, but Bill kept jabbering all the way, so his own conversation wasn't missed. When they arrived at Betty,s house and she had left them, Bill said, So you're going to the library, eh? Well, I'm sorry, but I'm going in the opposite direction, so you'll have to walk. Jimmy wasn't surprised at thisg he had rather expected it. He stepped to the sidewalk and started off in the direction of the library, but as soon as Bill had disappeared around a corner he changed his course toward home. He couldn't go to the library, he had just taken out a book two days ago. jimmy decided to call on Betty that evening. There was no time to lose if his ambition of two and a half years was to be realized. Hence, at eight oiclock he strolled leisurely along Elm Street, toward Betty's house. But as he neared his destination, he discovered that some one else had the same idea. For whom should he meet on the corner of Elm and Hamilton Streets but Bill Dawson. Well, well. If it ain't the chief squawker again, greeted Bill. Oh, it's the famous football hero. And what are you doing on this side of town, if I may ask? asked Jimmy, although he could make a shrewd guess as to the real reason. I'm just conducting myself on a sightseeing tour of our beautiful cityf' answered Bill. 'Tm here to try a soda in the famous Pop Warren's Soda Palace, where, I'm told, you dish 'em outf' Yes, but you won't have the pleasure of my services tonight. It's my night off. But I'm going there to talk over an important matter with Pop, said Jimmy, realizing that he needed some excuse for being so near Betty's home. Okay, I'll walk you down there, suggested Bill. There was very little conversation wasted during the course of the Walk, and when they reached Pop's Soda Palace, Bill seated himself at the fountain while Jimmy proceeded to the rear of the store, and, after Twenty-s even

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THE REFLECTOR Betty opened the note. At exactly the same time as she read, Will you go to the dance with me, she heard the same words. Looking up, she saw Bill. Why-ah-Jimmy just asked me to go with him, and--f' Did you accept? queried Bill. No, not yet. You see, he sent me a note and you asked me at the time I read his invitation in the notef' she explained. Then I've got the greater claim. I asked you personally, he argued. Betty didn't know what to do. She wanted to be polite, and Bill's argument sounded logical. Still, she really wanted to go with Jimmy. Please give me until this afternoon to decidef' she pleaded. All right, said Bill. There was nothing else he could say. After school the three of them met. I've figured a way out of the difficulty, Betty announcd. As you probably know, many of the students have been surmising and argu- ing about which of your cars is the faster and who is the better driver. Now, to settle this argument suppose you have a race next Saturday. Your car will be out of the garage by then, won't it, Jimmy? Yes, it will, replied -jimmy. But how does that solve the prob- lem of who's going to take you to the dance?,' Why, that,s simple. I'll go with the winner. That,s too easy,', said Bill. Why don't you give Jimmy a chance? Q'I'm satisfied, said Jimmy, trying hard to control his temper. It's an even chance. Although your car is newer and more expensive than mine, they have about an equal amount of power. It will be a test of drivers. I think it's a great idea. And may the best man win. Then they went into conference. They decided that the race would begin at two o'clock on the following Saturday on the Lincoln Road at a point just on the outskirts of Middleton. The drivers would follow this road for about five miles-to Ben Johnson's farm. Ben Johnson was Betty's uncle. When they arrived there, they would circle the farm and return over the same route. Red Jackson would be starter-they knew he,d consent-and he and Betty would be the judges. Word of the race spread rapidly, and on Saturday a large crowd of students, and some older folks, gathered early. Bill was there early also, bragging about how easily he would beat Jimmy. Jimmy didn't arrive until exactly two o'clock. Red gave them the Hnal instructions and started them off by shooting his younger brother's Fourth of July cannon. Jimmy let Bill take the lead from the start, but never let him get more than two or three hundred yards ahead of him. When they reached the farm, Bill was leading by about three hundred yards. Then Jimmy decided it was time to begin closing up that space, and bit by bit it was lessened, until at a point approximately a quarter of a mile from the finish line he caught up with him. Bill had done his best, but realizing now that he was beaten, he Twenty-nine