Conneaut High School - Tattler Yearbook (Conneaut, OH)

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THE TATTLER 11 pill for the boys to swallow, for one week later they mounted the platform in chapel and made their humble apology. They had missed one whole week of school and were thus ineligible for athletics. They spent but few nights at the “Red Star’’ for the next two weeks, for if they wished to play in the championship game on Thanksgiving they had to be up in their studies. Tuesday their lessons were all in, Thursday was to be the big day. A terrible suspense reigned in the minds of the boys all day Wednesday but that night after receiving a severe lecture in the office they were given permission to play. The next day as the team was journeying to the “Shipyard City,’’ “Micky” turned to Jite, who sat beside him, and said, “Well, kid, I guess we got out of that pretty slick.” They entered the game that day with all the vim they had and in the last game of the season “Micky” carried the pigskin over the goal for C. H. S. NED AUSTIN’S MISTAKE. A. W. Spring had come and with it that irresistible longing to be out of doors, linked with that peculiar dreaminess, which every one has felt. So it happened that the attention of many of the solid geometry class at Morton High wandered from the face of Professor Welsch to the beauties without. But suddenly all were brought back to life by his words: “As you all know,” he was saying, “it is a rule that no one shall take part in our annual track meet who oes not have a passing mark in all his studies. In order to ascertain who will be allowed to take part in our coming meet there will be a geometry exam tomorrow.” Astonishment could be seen in every face for this, an old rule, had never been enforced and there wrere many doubts as to the rating of some of the best men. Morton Hi and Heyward Hi had been the most bitter rivals since the time when the old confederate soldier, Major Heyward, had founded a school, and Colonel Morton, a Union man, had founded another near by Founded by enemies, it was not strange that they were rivals, and it han pened that the annual track meet was the scene of many a hotly contested struggle. This year Morton, anxious to wipe out a defeat of the year before, was making every effort to win. The announcement of the geometry exam was especially unpleasant to Ned Austin and Harold Wilson. These young men, while not brilliant in their studies, were the main strength of the track team. As they left the room together they were met by the Morton coach. Calling them to one side tibe coach addressed them, “You fellows must see to it that yon pass that geometry exam tomorrow. You know that I depend on you and Halton to win that coming meet. Professor Welsch tells me that there is no danger that Halton will fail, but he is not so sure about you.” The coach noticed the scowl that passed over Austin’s face as Halton’s name was mentioned, and sighed as he turned away. He knew that the hardest task a coach has is to making a winning team out of men who do not trust each other. That night Ned and Harold were in Ned’s room when some one knocked. “Come in,” Ned called out, and Halton stepped into the room. “I thought perhaps you fellows would like a little help on your Geom. You must not fail, you know.”

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10 THE TATTLER Ireland. He has a beautiful home, hilt that does not concern us, as it is the barn that is to be the scene of action. His black horse Jasper is the real object of attack. We will apply this pail of paint in such a manner that Jasper will appear like a genuine Zebra imported from Africa. Now if you guys don’t get chicken hearted and flunk out we will use these brushes in a most artistic manner inside of a half hour.” With these words they started down the shore. As they walked along Clifford whispered to Abe in a trembling voice: ‘‘Do you see those bushes moving? I guess I’ll go back.” Abe laughed a suppressed, Ha! Ha! “You are a peach, can’t tell when the wind sways the bushes. Come along and don’t get scared at such little things.” 'They came to the place where the canoes were hidden in the bushes, carried them to the river, got in and paddled out into the middle of the stream. The current took them gently down for quite a distance. There the stream narrowed and flowed with swift current. When they were in the middle of the rapids the front end of the canoe, which was carrying Hughie and Jite struck a rock. The current began to turn the canoe around. When crosswise of the stream, it tipped its occupants out. The water was quite chilly, but they were mighty stars of the gridiron and by making use of all their strength they swam toward shore and landed about two hundred feet further down. The other canoe landed safely and all began action even though Hughie and Jite were rather moist. There was a steep cliff of shale about fifteen feet high where they landed. They threw a stone, to which a rope was fastened, into a tree which stood at the top of the cliff and ascended by means o' the rope. From here they proceeded to the barn, whicih stood a little ways off. Here they found that an entrance could be gained only by a side window. The window was quite loose but held shut at the side by a nail. Hugh was always bragging about his strength and especially his health (and well he might brag about the latter, for he called frequently at the home of the health officer to visit his daughter Jeanl, so he was given the job of opening the window. He gave a tremendous boost, there was a loud squeak, and the window was open. The act was just completed when the Prof, stepped out on the porch. The Hallowe’eners made a dash for the back of the barn, but returned again when the Prof, had closed the door behind him. They all entered through the window except Clifford, who remained outside to guard. The blanket was taken from Jasper, the paint bucket was onened and in ten minutes he was striped until he actually looked like one of t v e genuine zoological specimens. The blanket was put on the horse again, the paint and brushes handed out the window, to Clifford. All jumped out of the window, leaving the barn as quiet and peaceful as it was a half hour before. They returned to the canoe, threw paint bucket and brushes into the river and all except Abe, who took tike canoe down stream, walked along the stream until they came to a pile ot brush where they had hid the canoe. They were feeling pretty smart over their prank as they separated to go home but their spirits fell before twelve hours elansed. They were told next morning by the principal that they were no longer members of C. H. S. and they would have to make things right before any consideration whatever would be given to their re-entrance to school. It was a bitter

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12 THE TATTLER “No, I don’t think I need your help,” snapped Austin. Halton without a word left the room. “Why did you speak to him like that?” asked Wilson. “You know that a little help might be the means of our getting through.’ “I don’t need the help of a man who has worked for Heyward Hi,” was the answer. “But he is a Morton man, now,” protested Wilson. “Yes, he is trying to get on our track team, and who knows that he will not throw the meet to Heyward if he succeeds.” “No, I think you are mistaken. He would not do that.” Soon after Wilson left the room and a few minutes later he was at Halton’s making what apologies he could for the rudeness of his friend and preparing for a systematic “cram” in geometry under Halton’s directions. On the next day Austin needed but one glance to tell him that he would not pass the examination, but he had learned on the athletic field never to give up while there was yet a chance. So he plunged doggedly into the study of lines and planes. But when the allotted time was up Austin handed in his paper without a regret, although he had finished but four out of the seven required problems. He left the class without a word to any one, and later in his own room tried to reconcile himself to seeing the meet as a spectator, for he knew that he would not be allowed to take part. In the evening Austin walked around to the hall where the marks were posted, not because of any interest in his own mark, but to see if Wilson had fared any better than himself. His face lighted up when he saw that Harold was among the “eligibles.” Perhaps he (Wilson) with a few others who were working bard for a place on the team could carry off the victory. If only Halton could be depended upon, if only he had been mistaken about him, perhaps he was mistaken. Such thoughts as these filled Austin’s mind as he read off the names. He smiled bitterly when he noted his own mark of fifty-six. Besides these names were the names of those who were to meet at the gym on the next morning to receive their final instructions before the contest. Wilson, Strong, Halton, but. Ned could go no further. He could endure not being on the team, but to read the name of another in the place that should have been his was more than he could endure. The morning of the meet dawned bright and fair. It seemed as if even the weather were interested in the day that was the most important of the school year to every member of the twm schools. At least everything turned out to be favorable for the event. Everyone of Morton Hi was on the Morton field line before the time set for the first event. Although there were many regrets that Austin, the school's ravorite, could not enter, yet nothing could for long keep down the soirits of the school on that day. Morton had not long to wait before the Heyward team, accompanied by hundreds of loyal fans, anpeared on the scene. While the two teams were dressing for the meet, the members of the rival schools carried on a miniature battle to see which could cheer the loudest. This was kept up until the contestants lined up for the first event, the quarter mile, then both sides in their intense interest forgot to cheer. Heyward won the quarter mile, but thanks to thegood work of Halton and Wilson, the score stood even before the last event., the half mile. In this Halton of