Farmington High School - Laurel Yearbook (Farmington, ME)

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24 THE LAUREL The debating team was announced, with two Seniors, Helen jameson and Frank Marlowe on the affirmative and Barbara Grey and Sam Prentiss on the negative, for the Juniors. Some of the members of the Senior Class were not wholly satisfied with the selection of their team, for Frank Marlowe was known among his classmates to be some- times of a questionable character, a fact which was unknown to the faculty. The corridors at school this particular week were one continuous buzz about costumes, partners, exchanging dances, and other necessary matters. On this particular Wednesday morning as Sam and Barbara swung down the street together, their conversation was divided between the two all-important topics. Honestly Babs, remarked Sam slowly, hurling a snowball at a passing chum, I don't see any reason why we should be de- feated this year. By the way I've brought my speech to school with me for a last reading over tonight. I know, Sam, answered Barbara, but do you know, I'm rather afraid of that Frank Marlowe. Why, whatever do you mean, Babs? Oh, why-- nothing, I guess. I suppose I am horrid and suspicious to say this, but mark my word, Sam Prentiss, if Frank Marlowe debates fairly and squarely Satur- day evening, it will be the first thing I ever knew him to do on the level! And she shook her black head vehemently. 'Sam looked at her in amazement, then quickly changed the subject. Speaking of masquerades, I'm going to have a spiffy costume, Babs. If you weren't going with me, I'd guarantee you wouldn't know me. I'm about the 'same size and complexion as Harry Mason, and -- Why by George, Frank Marlowe, too! Say, wouldn't it be a good joke on you if some- one should call for you whom you thought to be me, and then when you and all your H i Hnery had arrived at the gym, you would suddenly discover that you had been es- corted thither by your dearly beloved Frank Marlowe. Then, panic stricken, you would rush around the gym looking for little me, whose virtues you appreciate only when I am far away. And Sam's hearty laugh rang out, as he pictured the pre- dicament of his chum. Oh Sam, she laughed reproachfully, As if anyone could take you for Frank Marlowe. But how little was she to know that such might be the case! Sam did not have time to look his speech over that afternoon or Thursday after- noon, and it was late Friday afternoon when he went to his desk to take his speech home for a hasty perusal before the dance. He opened the cover of his desk, and looked in his Latin Grammar where his notes and his precious speech had been carefully placed. As he hurriedly turned the leaves of the book he stopped short. The speech was gone! In feverish haste he skimmed through all his books, and then through all of Barbara's, thinking she might have taken it to compare with her own. But, no it was absolutely gone! He slumped into his seat in the de- serted schoolroom totally discouraged. If only his notes had not been taken, he could talk from those easily enough. But with everything gone, and the debate less than twenty-four hours off, what could he do? It would be useless to try to look up all the statistics again, and anyway, both the school library and the public library were closed now. At first he was undecidedg but after a long consideration, he decided to go to the Masquerade as if nothing had happened, and not to tell anything to Bar- bara until it was too late for her to suggest that they stay home and work on a new speech, for he knew that Barbara had an- ticipated this dance for many weeks. Then, he concluded, I'll borrow Bab's

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THE LAUREL 23 At ten o'clock it was completed and re- ceived due praise from the family. Saturday was the kind of a day that always follows a heavy storm, bright and sunshiny. About nine thirty Madge was awakened by three of her friends, who were pulling her out of bed to go snow- shoeing with themg none of them were in any hurry so Madge took her time to dress, chattered and laughed while the others over school events and studies. I went to bed at eight just imagine! last night, Ruth remarked, I can't re- member when I've done such a rash thing before. This reminded Madge of her evening's work, searching through the waste basket she soon extracted a crumpled paper, which she tossed carelessly to her friends, while explaining many of the amusing words. Looks of astonishment came over all their faces when they beheld this work of art. Eagerly they plied her with such ques- tions as Where did you ever find that crazy word? and Please define Xylobal- samun, I'd like to spring it in English class. Then as they handed it back, she again put it in the waste paper basket, and pronounced herself ready for the hike. The air was very sharp and frosty, so after tramping through the woods for two hours, they all returned with good appetites. As Madge entered the house her mother called, Didn't you have a four letter word that meant beautiful, last night? Yes, I'll go and look it up, was the reply, but sorting the contents of the waste basket revealed no puzzle. This seemed strange for she knew positively that she had put it there, and no one had been into the room since she left. I can't find the puzzle but I think the word was 'fine,' Madge called down the stairs. -or :of as ak ak ak Four busy weeks followed at school, and one evening Madge had just started up- stairs with her books, preparatory to study- ing, when she heard the mail box click, so she stopped to pick up the mail. There seemed to be only her father's newspaper, until upon shaking it, a letter fell out, a long business envelope with her own name typewritten upon it. Hastily opening it, she read the following: You will find enclosed twenty-five dollars, which is the first prize given by this magazine for the best cross-word puzzle submitted. Your puzzle will appear in our next issue. She carefully examined the envelope again, yes, that was certainly her own name and address, but how did the puzzle reach them? Her parents were as much surprised as she, and they had no idea who could have sent it in. For the next few minutes the telephone received steady use, but Madge had al- ready decided that Ruth was the guilty one, and finally she confessed. This money is yours, declared Madge, I should have thrown that puzzle into the stove and never looked at it again. I should say not, was the emphatic reply, I put it in a stamped envelope and addressed it, marked effort and intelligence on my part. Well to settle it we'll divy, was the conclusion, and this was just what they did. E. Taylor, '26. -LA THE MASQUERADE AND ITS OUTCOME F all the important weeks that Fair- dale High School had ever experi- enced, this was the most memorable one in the eyes of some, that had ever existed. For not only was the big yearly Masquer- ade to be held on Friday night, but there was also to be the annual Junior-Senior debate on the following evening. Up to this time, the rivalry between the two classes had been purely friendly and very sportsmanlike, but for some reason, there was rather a secret feeling of bitter- ness this year, such as had never existed before.

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THE LAUREL 25 speech which may help me, and write a new one after the dance. I guess I'd better tell Mr. Hale tonight, though. lk Pk il IK Pk Pk That night at eight o'clock, a very dis- consolate-looking clown, dressed in red and white, with his face whitened, mounted the steps of the Grey's house and rang the bell. The door was immediately Hung open by a gypsy fortune-teller, boisterously bang- ing a tambourine. Come in, Oh come in, Sam I'm so ex- cited, she called. Sam entered, his face wearing a forced smile. Barbara snatched her coat, ran down the steps, and executed a tango as artist- ically as possible on the icy walk. But -Sam was thinking, and thinking hard. Over and over were ringing in his ears the words that Barbara had uttered, only two days before: If Frank Marlowe debates fairly and squarely Saturday night, it will be the first thing I ever knew him to do on the level! At last they reached the gym, and Sam told Barbara everything. She was, of course, horrified, and decided that they would leave the dance early, and write another together as best they could. Then they centered their attention on the costumes. There were several there like Sam's, and they picked out the boy they thought to be Frank. Later in the evening, as Sam was stand- ing by the punch bowl waiting his turn, a small figure in the costume of an Egyptian dancer slipped up to him, pressed a small paper into his hand, then quickly vanished. Sam was amazed, but assuming a look of indifference, he opened the note and read: Have everything as directed, and will deliver them to you, if you will be at the school library tomorrow at ten. Sam's head began to swim, but he im- mediately saw the solution of his problem. I may be wrong, but I'll chance it, he muttered grimly. He informed Babs that there would be no need of writing the speech that night, and left her wondering, at her door. The next morning, at nine-thirty, Sam was seated in the school library i11 a shiver of suspense. It's a big chance, he mut- tered, 'land I may be wrong, but at any rate, it's my only chance. , Promptly at ten o'clock the door stealth- ily opened. Sam, who was apparently engrossed in a book, raised his head. There in the doorway stood Arline King, the bosom friend of Helen Jameson. Sam's heart was thumping like a hammer, but he rose at her entrance and managed to say calmly: Good morning, Miss King, I see you have brought me my speech. That is extremely kind of you, I'm sure, and he stretched out his hand as if to take the package she was holding. Why, yes, I have-I mean, no, no I mean I haven't your speech. I don't know what you're talking about, I'm sure. What do you mean? Now see here, Miss King,'you know very well what I mean. Don't you suppose that I know that Helen Jameson asked you to take that speech from my desk either Wednesday or Thursday night after school? And donyt I know that you did as directed, and gave this note supposedly to Frank Marlow last night at the dance? Naturally, Helen or Frank wouldn't do it, for they would be suspected and needed an alibi, so they asked you. Oh it was all very clever, but I'm afraid the little game is up, now. Arline turned deathly pale, and sank into a nearby chair. Sam saw that his random shot had struck home, so he continued, Give me my speech now, and the matter will be dropped, for Mr. Hale knows nothing of it. Needless to say Sam regained his speech and notes, and then-but what followed then might well be left to the imagination of our readers. C. Sweet, '26.