Lincoln High School - Lincolnian Yearbook (Tacoma, WA)

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22 TI-IE LINCOLNIAN a man! If Donnelly were only there! Perhaps--oh, perhaps he COULD be there, if she could only slip by with- out being no-ticed. She listened! So you're a thief, Carver? Well, I suspected something of the kind. Now that you're here, and Ilm here, what are you going to do? How are you go- ing to get the money? 'Tm going to give you just five min- utes zto tell me the combinfation of the safe. I could work it out, but I'd rather have you give it to me. And if I don't? This gat isn't empty, threatened Carver. Ann Mary held her breath, terrified. I-Ie couldn't mean it! This was La- fayette High in nineteen-tw-enty-one, not a bandlt's den in the midd-le ages. What would Bob do? He answered steadily: You wouldn't shoot-an-d I won't tell. There are four persons who know the combination of that safe. You are not one of them, and s-hall not be. You'll not tell? I will not. We'll see-in live minutes. Five minutes! How brave Bob was! Something must be done-she was the only one to do it-she must get Don- nelly-she must run-but they would 'hear her running-not if she were in -stocking feet. Quickly she took oft her shoes and crept from her hiding place. Free of the statue, she ran through the dark hall. thankful that she knew the building so wen. Her ankle hurt, but she paid -no attention to lit. Slhe must save Bob! Down to the lower floor she sped. and to the door at the back. It open-ed from the inside, and she stopped a moment to flx the catch that would hold lt open. Carver had probably taken Donnel1y's keys. But where was Donnelly? Somewhere back of the building! Could she find him in time? She called softly. A Mr. Donnelly! Mr, Donnelly! ' No answer. Hurrying farther along the walk, she called again. This time she -heard 'his voice. Who is it? Never mind. Vlfhere are you? By th-e drinkin' fountain. In an instant she was beside him, feeling for the knots in his bonds and explaining matters swiftly. Oh, we must. hurry! Have you a knife? She which ropes. Go quickly! He said only flve min- utes! Please -hurry! Not so fast, objected Donnelly. Where's that gun o' mine? Ah, here it is! I thought they -didn't throw it far. Can ye handle a revolver? I never have. Why donst you hurry? Because they'd hear me comin' an' be prepared. Now, a light little thing like you could creep upon 'em unbe- knownslt, an' hold 'em while I follow- it' ye could' hand-le the gun. ' Eagerly Ann Mary grasped the re- volver. Oh, I can, I know I can, if it's best! You'll follow quickly? I will that. Run ye, now. Ann Mary ran, even faster than she had coming out. As she neared the office she paused and listened. Un- speakable relief surged over her upon hearing Bobfs voice. She advanced more slowly. The light in the olilce had been switched on and she could see Carver reaching for the revolver which lay on a. near-by table, 'while Bob laughed dzerisively. You -don t dare, said Bob. Oh, don't I! The revolver was almost in his graspt Ann Mary stepped through the doorway, -surprised at her own stead- ines-s. Drop that and put up your hands! found one in -the pocket to 'he directed ther and cut the

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THE LINCOLNIAN ZI Mary stood rooted to the spot. lt coulcln't be Donnelly, or he'd have an- swered! A flashlight blinded her, and she heard an amazed exclamation. Good Lord! A girl! It was Bob Jarvis! He lowered the flashlight an-d -spoke sharply. Who are you? What are you doing here? V h His tone suggested a new idfea-per- haps he thought she was a thief! It was too muchg Ann Mary began to cry. Bob was disconcerted. O-h, I say! Please donft! I-I hate to see -a girl cry: I won't hurt you. Really! Ann Mary forced back the tears. She was not 'frightened now, Bob would not let anyt-h-ing hurt her. 'Tm just Ann Mary Willettf' she exf plained. I -stayed after for chemis- try, and hurt my ankle, and falnted. I'm not after the money, truly. Bob started. V What do you know about the money? I heard you and Mr. Garth talking after assembly. I oouldn't help it. It's all right, isn't it? Yes, yes of course-what do you mean? The money. Oh! So far, yes. Since you know so much, you may as well know the rest. I didn't trust that new clerk, and I'm sure Donnelly isn't capable of being every-where at once, so I came down to keep watch on my own. As a proof that one night watchman isn't enough, here we are, with Donnelly not knowing that either of us is here. But what about your people? Ann Mary sighed. There's only grandfather, and he won't worryg he'lllscold. - Poor kid! Come to the ofiice and call him up. It i'sn't so bad over a. phone. She followed the circle of light on the lloor and waited until Bob nn- lock-ed the oiiice door. As he threw it open, there was a quick movement within and a' low command: Hands up! Stifling a scream, -Ann Mary shrank back into the hall as Bob reluctantly obeyed.. . Who is it? came the low voice. Bob Jarvis. Q I Anyone else? 1sNo-as Ann Mary took her cue and crouched behind the statue of Lafayette which stood in the entrance near the office. The owner of fthe voice came out, llashed a verifying light around t-he h-all, and turned back, calling to some- one inside. It's all right, Joe. He's just a kid, and alone. Better ,tie him up, though. Tie me up! exclaimed Bob. 'Look here! What are you up to, Carver? Carver! So it was the new clerk, after all, and Bob had been right in distrulsting ihim. Carver laughed, rather unpleasantly. Use your head, boy! What do you suppose Fm atiter? Going to Sunday school, of course! If Donnelly .should come, you'd- Listen tohim rave! Do you think Donnelly is roaming around, ready to upset everything at the last minute? If you do, -take another think! When work like this is afoot, night watch- men are much better off out behind the building, where they won't see what's going on. Come on, now, be- have yourself. I won't! If you try to tie me up, you'll have some job on your hands. Peering -cautiously around the statue, Ann Mary saw Bob make a. leap for the door. Carver, expecting such a. imove,gwas too quicfkffor him and, Joe coming to help, Bob was soon securely bound. Ann Mary was furious. How dared they treat Bob like that! Two against one wasn't fa-lr! Oh, if she were on-ly

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THE LINCOLNIAN 23 Carver 'whirled in surprise, ha-nds high. Then he started to lower them. Bah! Only a. girl! Ann Mary caught Bob's encouraging glance and held iirm. Keep your hands up, she com- manded. I may be only a girl, but this revolver doesn't know it. Bob laughed, and Carver ltept his hands up. Ann- Mary wished Donnelly would hurry. In response to 'her wish, a .strong hand took the revolver from her and Donnelly said: Suppose ye untiie the boy now, an' let him put the rope where it belongs. Here's another that may come in handy. Whilre she untied him, Bob smiled .it her. He really wouldn't have dared, you know: but, just the same, I never en- joyed a speech more than yours in my whole life. And Mary's iingers fumbled with the knots. You-you-are very brave. She wished she hadn't said thatg it was .so unnecessary-like 'praising a bird for flying. It was perfectly nat- ural for Bob to be everything good. What was he saying? , Brave? Not at all! I was so' scared that I had to talk to keep from keel- ing over. Ann. Mary smiled incredulously and stepsped aside to let him reach Carver and the other -man. The much-abused ' ankle rebelled, and, for the second time in her life, she falnted. The next two we-eks brought Ann Mary more -happiness than she had ever dreamed of. The newspapers said glowing things about her and printed 'her picture on- the front page beside Bob's3 with Donnelly's just below. Her grandfather was very proud' of her, and much concerned over her ankle, even calling in a 'famous bone specialist to make sure -that it was only sprained. Her classmates besieged her with flowers and candy and books and visits. Mr. Hun-ter and Mr. Garth call-ed to thank her in person-. Even Mr. Peters sent a huge bouquet of ex- quisite roses, and with them a note apologizing for his inconsidera.-teness in putting her to so much trouble! Be.st of all, Bob Jarvis was a daily visitor. When at last she was back in school, she was overwhelmed with unaccus- -tomed popularity--for her classmates had suddenly waked up to the fact that quiet little Ann- Mary Willett was a girl worth knowing, and they were making the most of it. As for Bob Jarvis-well, you may draw your own conclusion. Perhaps, as Bob had told kAnn Mary, Carver wouldn't have dared: but there had been a. very unpleasant possibility that he would dare, and Bobl. As I said, you may draw your own conclu- sion. GQ. . D