Hanover High School - Hanoverian Yearbook (Hanover, MA)

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30 THE HANOVERIAN more. Before I do any work I'm going to ask you a question. Until after the school play has been staged, isn't it possible for the busses to leave at three o'clock in the afternoon instead of half-past one? That would give about an hour more every night for rehearsals and two weeks from now, when the dress-rehears- als come, no one will have to walk home. The other pupils ought not to object for they can take the Junior High busses, which leave only twenty minutes later, they ought to do it for the sake of the Association. Extra time for rehearsals won't do much good, Rhoddy, said Mr. Gilmore, when those taking part are not willing to stay after school. But I have a plan, cried Rhoddy. Several of the girls, and two of the most popular boys in school are going to help me put it across. We are going to make a success of this play and We want to have more time for rehearsals. Take a look at our sign out here. Mr. Gilmore followed her excited steps, not because he had any hope in new ideas, but just to please his young secretary. He glanced at the big sign. Then he opened and closed his eyes in astonishment. His old-time contagious smile lit up his face, he broke into a hearty, happy laugh, uttering the one word, Great 1 Rhoddy quivered with delight. Don't you think our plan will succeed, even if we demand a longer and harder period of rehearsing? she asked with shining eyes. If you can put this across, it will lift a great load off my shoulders, said Mr. Gilmore, gratefully. I think that matter about the busses can be arranged. In an hour, the whole school was buzzing with surpressed excitement. Groups of pupils went the rounds of about a dozen signs, all different. One of them read as follows: JOIN THE McD. H. S. A. A. TAKE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE SCHOOL. BOOST THE PLAY! Give application for admittance to Rhoddy Blaine before Friday. Initiations will be held Saturday night in Assembly hall. COME ONE! COME ALL! DON'T STALL! GIRLS! Bring one old broom for Saturday night-

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THE HANOVERIAN 29 A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The principal of McDurfee High School sat at his desk, fingering squares of white, yellow, blue and pink paper. A frown passed across his tired face. With a sigh he gathered up the squares, placed them in the file basket, mentally making this re- mark- Two hundred dollars odd, where is the money coming from Y Taking his hat from the stand he walked slowly out of the office, shoulders drooped and his face registering disappoint- ment. Rhoddy Blaine, coming out of the Senior room, saw it all and knew something had gone wrong with Mr. Gilmore. Yes, she just knew something had. She stood still a second watching him, then hurried along to the Office to finish some filing for he be- loved principal. Picking up the wire basket she carried it over to the files and with deft fingers placed the papers in their proper places. Bills, bills, bills! What could they be for? None of her business but she just couldn't help noticing them. A. A. equipment, trans- portation, constabulary service. Quite a bunch! And then Rhoddy Blaine's fingers snapped. She knew just what was the trouble with Mr. Gilmore. It was those old A. A. bills. And then all in a Hash she remembered-the boys and girls wouldn't stay for play rehearsal last night on account of the forest fires, and tonight they had begged of to go to the game. No rehearsing meant a poor show and that play had been planned as a means of putting across the A. A. program for the year and it was coming off in two weeks. Mighty mean, mused Rhoddy. Rhoddy's mind worked like a whirlwind when she wanted it to. Back went the basket on the principal's desk, ting-a-ling went the telephone and click, click, click went Rhoddy's stacatto voice interrupted only by more ting-a-lings. Then silence. Back to her locker, hat in hand and homeward bound hurried a radiant Rhoddy. f The Midget oifered a prize to the student who submitted the best ending for this story. Katherine Townsend received the prize.J A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE-Concluded Very early next morning, Rhoddy hurried into the office, greeting the principal with a happy, Good morning, Mr. Gil-

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THE HANOVERIAN 31 with a string attached to it, one ladies' hat and any babies' clothes you can find. BOYS! Bring a bottle, a spoon, and oh yes! bring mice-we furnish chairs for the ladies! On Monday, the MCD. H. S. A. A. will show you how the interior of a butcher's shop ought to look and will sell you all kinds of rare meats. In the basement-first room to the right. Dolly Dotson and Goofy Russell will be in charge. At 3 O'clock every afternoon, REFRESHMENTS will be served to those taking part in the School Play. For further details see Mavie Walker, Pusher-in-Chief. By Friday Rhoddy had received applications from nearly the whole school. And oh! what a wild time those children had Saturday night. It was rumored that the actors of the play had a speed contest in learning their parts. The School Song was sung a dozen times. And last of all, just before the refreshments and dancing, Mr. Gilmore was brought in, blindfolded, and was initiated by the whole crowd. On Monday, the Butcher Shop was opened. At the back of the room, against the wall, four old brooms and five dead mice fthe relics of Saturday nightl were strung. Flowers were on the window sills, on the counters, on the floor, in the cupboard- everywhere. Long streamers decorated the room. Ice cream, cake and candy were being sold at one counter by Dolly, who was wrapped in her father's rain coat. And the grab box, in which Saturday night's baby-clothes could be seen, and the more sub- stantial refreshments were taken care of by Goofy Russell, who held an umbrella over his head. In a Butcher Shop ! Don't you sell 'hot dogs' here ? asked one of the boys. Sure thing! said Russell, hurrying into an adjoining cham- ber. Tell Rhoddy to have a 'hot-dog' sign put up, if you see her, added he, as he returned with a steaming frankfurter. Rhoddy's idea was extremely successful. Everyone was anxious to help. Mr. Gilmore was able to make his program still more attractive with some new songs to be sung between' the acts by the Glee Clubs. One of the girls, who, before, had refused to help, now offered to give a solo danceg another promised to sing. All the time the Butcher Shop was making money with the cake, candy, and the grab-box donated by the members of the McD. H.