Lowell High School - Red and White Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

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0 Tl-HIE LOWELL 5535 BECOMING A HERO By FREDERICK C. ROTHERMEL LTHOUGH his full name was Harry Gracchus Augustus Tibbs, he was human, at least to the extent that he liked to soak bread in his soup, could whistle Traumerei without crying, and, above all, hated God- frey Weeks, his opponent in love. Now Marjorie Hopkins doted on heroes, and VVeeks was one, having once pulled a tramp out of the bay on the end of his cane. Harry's only recourse, therefore, was to become a greater hero than Weeks, cost what it wou d. He could whistle Traumerei without crying One Saturday night Harry met Jacob Jackson, gentleman polisher, who adver- tised to produce the best shine in town for the small sum of 15 cents. After due deliberation plans not of a lawful nature were agreed upon, and the two departed under solemn oath to meet the following night. Now, Harry's father and Godfrey's father were partners in the firm of Weeks 8: Tibbs, Counsellors-at-Law. Accordingly, at 12:30 Sunday night Harry and Jacob met in the entrance of the office building in which the firm did business. After walking up fourteen stories the two arrived at the office door, entered on tiptoe, and proceeded to open the large safe that stood at the far end of the room. From a card which he had brought from home Harry read the combination to his accomplice, who, it may be said, was Well schooled in that particular branch of mathematics. The heavy iron door swung slowly forward. A grin of satisfaction spread over Harry's face as he turned his flashlight upon the interior of the safe. He could now buy all the heroism he needed-and the girl was his! And then down the corridor there came the sound of approaching footsteps. In a spasm of fr1ght,' Jackson shoved Harry into the vault, slammed the door, and crept behind a desk just ln time to escape the eyes that peered into the room. The door closed as the night watchman went down the corridor on his round V- 'x , 'qi xii I UI I 4 i l l I l 2 -d

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iiifgz, W THE Lowlam. At 2:20 both teams were on the field and Jackson won the kick- off. The great game was on! Jack watched Jones as closely as his own position on the field per- mitted, and the more he watched the surer he became that his protege was the Marvel. As Tom Langdon said afterwards, That halfback may have pulled off some startling stunts before, but those of today were two or three times more startlingf' During the first half neither side scored. Jackson was in danger several times, but Jones came to the rescue with some un- expected play. It was within the last ten minutes of the second half that the real excitement began. Jones got the pigskin un- der his arm and started for the posts. In the words of one en- thusiastic Jackson rooter, Those he didn't cripple for life, he mur- dered. Nothing short of a loco- motive could have stopped him in that rush. lt was the first and last touchdown of the game. 1 Jackson failed to convert, win- ning by a score of 3-0. After the shouting was over, J3Ck looked about f01' Jones and A shiny object caught his eye. He picked it up. found him by the grandstand talking to ali officer of the U. S. Marines. He was about to turn away when Jones called him over. I want you to meet my brother, Jack. Harold, this is the Jack Kingsley I was speaking of. My brother here has been telling me a lot about you and your wonderful playing. He tells me you taught him all he learned. You must be a good teacher, for he played pretty well himself. Say, stammered Jack, isn't he the 'Marvel' that played for Eldridge? No, laughed the officer, that was I. He has never played much before. Well, I'll be jiggered! But, after a moment, I guess I wasn't so far off, after all. He'll be called 'Marvel No. 2' after this? w

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'fZ?5ve A--TIHIIE. LCOJWELL Is there-anything-I-can do? Again they dropped-a long drop that required every ounce of courage from the aeroplane's occupants. Nor did they stop as before! Down! down they were falling! Down they were being drawn through the vast expanse of space, as though in a bottomless pit. She felt the cold air rush through her as if a keen, razor-edged blade were cutting her limbs. A cold wind entered her body. Down! faster they were falling! Still faster they fell! NVould the machine never stop? She thought of all that had happened in her short span of twenty ears, and she wondered what her mother would say when the news should be brought to her. The events of her life passed before her in rapid kaleidoscopic procession. Was her companion speaking? Put your foot-foot-on the clutch-where my left foot is-quick! She heard him as in a dream and obeyed. The descent was checked, and presently, as the girl put more force on the regulating apparatus, the aeroplane began to rise. She felt relieved-immensely relieved. My foot is numbed, he explained. I can't press down on the regulator. The girl accepted his statement without comment. She lessened pressure on the clutch according to instructions and at length the machine touched land. It must have been beyond the city limits, for no habitation was in sight-only low, rolling hills as far as the eye could see. The engine coughed and died out, and the man limped from his seat and began rubbing his leg vigorously. After a time, when the numbness had departed, he straightened up, turned to his companion, and spoke. Aurora, he said, you saved me at the critical moment. Another fall and- I hate to think of it. My life belongs to you. Will you accept it? She lowered her eyes, swallowed once or twice, and whispered: Yes-only my name isnit Aurora. It's just plain Mary. My life belongs to you. Will you accept it?