Kew Forest School - Blotter Yearbook (Forest Hills, NY)

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THE BLOTTER F ZQQ7 mg Q31 A ff? D O G Q C kr A OQO QQ J o s 4 Gnomeland F 'Q 'IILIERE is a wondrous, magic land -LJ-I With sunny groves and dells Q? Where lives the carefree fairy band And sing the fairy bells. In this realm of witchery Are elves and nymphs and gnomes, 'Their places in childffantasy, Their only earthly homes. Lx But when the solemn, moonffacecl clock L L K Upon the nursery wall L-fx Says with knowing air, Tickftoclq, W ar J Bedtime for one and all, 4 L The fairy chimes ring silverfclear, J L And call, Come out and play, . And all the elves and nomes a pear 8 P 6 For revelry 'till day ! J 555- Zag? MARGARET KNAPP, H. S. II. 'M X3 , 21 f F fy ' V' was l f I J A P X X f QQ Q ON . f X E G LJ ' X f X X XT, ,ik 'S X NN' Ls. 29

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THE BLOTTER silver dollar was gone with Benny into the crowd. With trembling hands the little boy picked up the nickels and dimes. Hold' ing them, he stood very still, a dazed look on his face. The tide of people split about him. The sun rose higher, yet he stood, motionless. A tanned young man with a valise passed him, looked back at him, stopped, then walked to his side. What's edgin' ya teeth, li'l' fella? His blue eyes were very kindly. Spit it out, suh! Tell yo' Uncle Harry! Benny took my dollar,-an' if I don't get a license before noon, my dog'll be killed. The little boy's voice was tone' less. Well, sonny, if yo' ain't jes' the boy I'm looking fo'! Yo' see I gotta have mah bag carried to yondah subway in a big hurry, the glanced at his watch, an' whoevah does it gets one dollar. The little boy took one look into the keen face above him, seized the bag, and folf lowed the man. Through the crowd they raced. At the subway entrance the young man grabbed his bag, pushed the dollar into a grimy little paw and said, Now run for it, sonny! The little boy ran. His small body twisted in and out among the throng. He heard neither the flapfflap of his loggy shoes, nor the tearing of his heart, nor the beating in his ears. He did not notice that the sun had lost itself in a troop of clouds that came riding out of the west on a bitter wind. Now the river lay like a strip of lead before him. One more block, just one-one! Then he saw it, that great cage of death swinging out! Wait,-wait, he screamed. I got it, mister-wait--he's brown, with brown eyes-gee-big ones- As the cage dropped, the wave of tearing cries Hlled the little boy's memory and echoed through the stillness that followed. Wait-don't- His voice was a whisper. He can't swim! There were big dogs and little dogs in the pen, but no small dog that patted the wire with clumsy paws. Many brown eyes watched the little boy who crouch- ed close to the netting. But the real big ones shining through a fuzz of peculiar whiskers could not see how very, very still the little boy was, could not see that he did not stir when the bitter winds blew the dollar bill from his fingers and bore it away on its hollow breath. Win' ter had returned. LAUROSE Sci-1ULzEfBERGE, H. S. IV.

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THE BLOTTER Subway HE ceaseless rattle and elang of the sub' way turnstiles dinned in Paul's ears, but he did not hear them. He was getting used to this clamor which emphasizes the daily life of so many of the inhabit' ants of the city. He moved from his accustomed place, pulled his hat down to his eyes, turned his coat collar up, and embarked upon his journey. Today, instead of merely standing by the sub- way gates, waiting for something to hapf pen, something in the form of someone who appeared wealthy, he was to do something. different, something big. His orders were to go to the restaurant, a small, dingy hole, repulsive to Paul's sen' sitive eyes, go to the right hand corner of the counter, and wait. Soon, a tall man with one eye and with a long scar curling from the upper right hand corner of his forehead in a long waving line to the very point of his chin would meet him. The conversation had been describf ed to him in minute detail. Then, after he was sure it was the right man, he was to pull out his gun stealthily, and let it do its business. By now he had reached the restaurant. Feeling to make sure the gun was ready and loaded, he squared his shoulders and went in. Straight to the prescribed corner he went. He looked around. A man was approaching, tall, perhaps the one. A waiter asked for his order. He gave a sidelong glance at the tall man, who was now beside him, then turned to the waiter. Coffee here. Then he turned to the other. l'How about you? That was what his orders told him to say. Same to me. That was the response he was to expect. Yes, it was given. Now he must get a look at this man. Paul grasped his neighbor's coat and whirled him around. Yes, there was the scar, long and livid, curling from the upper right hand corner of his forehead in a long waving line to the very point of his chin. And there was a great black patch over one eye of this tall stranger. Subway's more crowded than usual today, said Paul hopefully. He did hope that his neighbor would answer according to instructions. Yeah More for death. Right. Paul's his move was to pull out his gun, make the quick, sure Accordingly, with a flick of his wrists, his gun was exposed. At the same time, had Paul only noticed, his neighbor made a similar movement. crowded,-more chance face lighted up. Now shot,-and then, exit. Well, goodbye, pardf' That was his final instruction. At precisely the same moment, the tall onefeyed man said exactly the same thing. Two sharp pistol cracks blazed forthgone from Paul's gun, and one from that of the stranger. Paul lurched forward, then fell against the counter. Strangely enough, he was smiling, smiling a happy smile, like that of a man who has finally realized an am' bition. Thanks, Cardigan, he said, I knew you were sent out to get me. Thanks! God, Fm glad to get out of this damned city, these damned subways. At last I'm free, free from you, and from Casey, and 30