Humberside Collegiate Institute - Hermes Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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X THE werewolf When are Plays J. Allan Saudner was sitting at the wheel of his high-powered automobile. The needle of the speedometer was hovering between fifty and fifty-three, as it had since eight o'clock in the morning. It was now five o'clock in the afternoon, and the driver was beginning to feel the strain. For seven hours the same monotonous scene had presented itself to his eyes, the smooth road stretching in front of him like a uniform, endless, white ribbon, two feet of grassless soil at each side of it, and adjoining that, level fields disappearing in the dis- tance. ul. Allan Saudner had often made trips of this length, but none of such vital importance. Sixteen years before, he had married the sweetest girl in the world, only to have death snatch her away from him three years later. Her death left him in charge of a two-year-old youngster. For two months he had tried to act the part of wage earner and nurse at the same time, but had failed miserably. At length, under the urgings of his relatives, he had decided to leave the rearing of the boy to his sister-in-law, herself a widow. In those days he had been plain Joe Saudner, taxi-driver. He had left his son, his home, his position, everything, and had gone VVest, where he could start over again. Not once in all those years had he visited his son. All he had done was to send an occa- sional money order to the boy's aunt. Now he was returning, not joe Saudner, taxi-driver, but Allan Saudner, millionaire taxi owner. Wealth had made this beautiful road on which he was drivingg wealth had provided this high-powered automobile which was ready to dart forward at the pressure of his footg and now wealth was going to bring him the one thing he had missed-happiness. At seven o'clock, when it was get- ting dusk, he could faintly hear the distant rumbling of thunder. Two hours, however, would see him in the city and then it would only be a matter of minutes. So let it thunder, what did he care? What were hours compared to years? Two more hours and his dreams would come true. For weeks and months he had planned this trip. For years he had dreamed about what he and his son would do. His son would be about fifteen years old now. First, of course, the boy would have to get a good education, which, under a good tutor, would take about four years. After that they would be real pals. He had been rather lonely but now he would have a companion and con- hdant. Hut perhaps he was being too selfish. Was it right of him to expect his son to spend all his time with him, especially when they were practically strangers? It was almost nine o'clock now, and about ten more minutes would see him in the city. Meanwhile, night had come on, and the thunder which had at first been faint was now deafening in intensi.ty. Now and then, a Hash would illuminate the whole country- side. Queer that there should be so much thunder and lightning, and not so much as a drop of rain on the road. He had reached the city now. The

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,THE HQQM Ef NJ N ship can, if necessary, travel with a heavy load of one hundred passengers. for long distances without needing to alight. But the airplane, if it is to be used profitably, ought not to be bur- dened with too great a load of gasoline, the better course being to come down frequently for the purpose of refueling, otherwise passengers and cargo will have to be sacrificed in order to carry an immense dead- weight of fuel. Internationally important questions constantly arising make it vital that there should be frequent conventions over the destinies of the Empire. Here the use of the airplane will become indispensable. Not only in airplanes but also in giant dirigibles, the chiefs of governments, and the heads of great industries will be able to fly from one end of the Empire to the other with such speed and com- fort that it will be necessary to change our opinion of the meaning of the words time and distance The power of the Roman Empire rested upon its wonderfully-built roads. With the British Empire, so far, the keynote of its power is its world-'encircling sea-transport. But in the future, they will have to leave earth for air, and establish a mighty fleet of mercantile dirigibles and air- planes, capable of carrying mails, cargo and passengers to the remotest corners of the earth, in not more than a week or ten days air-travel from London. -Kennetlz Tlzowidyke, UI-E. A W M75 i, ii H' K 'N KKA Fl? '67

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QQTVIE XXX long ride had made him sleepy, and the street lights were not working because of the storm, so that driving was especially difficult. However, he did not have much trouble in locating his sister-in-law's house. After park- ing his car, he lightly ran up to the door, and rang the bell. A stranger answered his ring. Pardon me, he asked, does Mrs. Laidner live here ? No, was the answer, she doesn't. She moved out about eight years ago. That's strange, l've been sending mail to her here for thirteen yearsf' Well, you see, all her mail is handed over to the landlord who for- wards it to her. Wait a moment, and I will telephone him and find her address for you. Do, please. , In a few minutes she returned. She lives at 149 Radley Avenue, in the north end of the city. Radley Avenue! Even to his dim memory that name brought a flood of recollections. Radley Avenue! One of the poorest and most notorious districts in the city! What in the world could have induced her to move there? VVithout a word of thanks, he rushed down to his car. What was this? Both headlights had burned out! But lights or no lights, he had to go! With a roar the car sped away. What a ride that was! More by instinct than anything else, for he could not see the road, he made his way in the general direction of Radley Avenue. Suddenly he lost his sense of direction, and had to stop to find out where he was. Dimly, he could discern a street intersection ahead of him where he made out a sign-post at the corner. Striking a match, he read the name of the street. Radley Avenue was at his left. To find out ran was so that in which direction the street the work of only a minute, soon he was on his way once more. Barely had he managed to get some speed out of the car when he felt it strike something with a sickening crash. Stopping his car and looking back, he could just discern a huddled form on the road. To reach the body required but a moment. He lit a match and saw that it was a ragged youth, not bad-looking in spite of his pale features. lt took only one glance to see that he was dead. A terrible thought entered tl. Allan Saudner's head. No one had seen the accident, and, besides, he was in a hurry. It was not his fault if street tramps persisted in walking around at night. Most likely the lad was home- less, and would not be missed, so why not leave the body at the side of the road? Grimly he carried the lifeless burden to the curb and dropped it there. Slowly he made his way back to the car, started it, and drove to his destination, this time with less speed. He found number l49 with little trouble and rang the bell. Are you Mrs. Laidner? he asked. Yes. Er-who- ? l am joe. Hfoe! Why, this is so unexpected. Do come in. Slowly he entered the long hall with one small light in the centre of the ceiling. The wall-paper was torn, and in parts the plaster had fallen away. Mary, he said, what is the mean- ing of this? What in the world made you move here ? Well, what else could l do ? She resented his reproach. My only source of income was your very infre- quent money orders. A pang of regret shot through his