Mechanic Arts High School - M Yearbook (St Paul, MN)

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AGM!! confining his exercise to that amount requisite for health, is enough to drive any athlete mad. Jimmy was busily studying one afternoon, when Jack Reeser, his roommate, came bursting in with a yell, First football practice tomorrow! Coming out? James looked up from his book. f'Why, no! I told you that I saw no reason for going out for football. Jack groaned in despair. An impulse to tell this bozo his weakness struck him. Listen, you sapf' he shouted. You have been here for two years and what have you done for this school? Not a thing! Shut uplf' he continued as Jimmy tried to interrupt. You have looked upon yourself as one who is giving the school a break just by attending it. You think you have repaid her for your education by doing this, but you are mistaken. You havenit even joined any of her clubs or tried out for the debating contests. No! Why? Because you want to get your degree and get out. You haven't a bit of spirit. You're yellow. Jack paused to let tthis sink in. And another thing! A certain young lady has been watching your actions and, believe me, she hates cowards and those who haven't grit enough to come out for football. Even if you have to sit on the bench all year, you should come out for her sake. With this outburst, Jack walked out, leaving Jimmy amazed. He had not ex- pected such an attack from the little quarterback. So this is why Mary has been so cold and distant lately, he mused. Jack's words had cut. He had never before minded the half-concealed sneers of the athletes but maybe he'd better show them he wasn't yellow. And Mary Allyson, laughing, blue-eyed Mary, who had been his ideal of a girl since that first freshmen party-did she think he was yellow? Jimmy looked up suddenly to find himself approaching the gray stone buildings of the library. He caught sight of a slender person clad in black, her dark hair disordered by the winds, crossing the street just a half block away. There was no mistake, those saucy curls could belong to none other than Mary. Jimmy quickened his gait. Surely Mary had recognized him. He was certain she had seen him, but with a toss of her head she turned from the walk and ran up the steps of a sorority house. Jimmy stood a moment stunned, then turning walked slowly back to the college. That evening, he called Mary on the telephone. f'What did you mean by snubbing me today? he questioned. I did that because I do not want to be seen on the streets with a coward, she answered. What do you mean?,' Are you out for football? No 66 is Then that's what I mean. You did not think so last year.', I thought you would outgrow your foolishness by this timef' she told him. Mary, may I see you tomorrow? he asked. f'Sorry, Jimmy, but not until you have received your Varsity numeral, she answered and hung up. For the second time that day Jimmy was told what was what. He sat up late: that night thinking over what he should do. Long after all the rest of the school slept, Jimmy still sat in his chair. The next afternoon, the school was shaken by the news that Jimmy Dyke was out for football. Jimmy had reported for practice and had been issued his equipment under the supervision of the coach. A whistle blew, and the coach instructed fthe men to run around the cinder track. Running was Jimmyis 'fmeatf' He had kept himself fit and was soon among the leaders. 44 GG Page Seven

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GEMM Throwing open the door, she stepped into the room to be greeted by a chorus of shouts. Hello, Ginnylz' Well, look who's here! If it isn't Ginny!,' Virginia, merely stopping to bid a cheery Hhelloi' to everyone, rushed across to the bed. g'Oh, Rod, I just heard! Iam so happy. Gee! You're slow, girl. We heard ages ago. That's why we're herew, a former feminine admirer of Rod's spoke up. I just got home from another visit to Aunt Maeis. I didnit know they were going to operate before next weekf' Virginia answered. But how did you hear?,' Oh, President Gilman announced it at schoolf, Virginia threw off her coat and hat and knelt by Rodis bed, a beautiful light shining in her eyes. Why did they decide to operate so soon? Why didn't you have them phone me? Why didn't my mother tell this morning?', she burst out in a jumble of words. One at a time, one at a timeli' laughed Rod, who, weak but happy, had been lying with bright eyes watching the whole proceedings. They decided to operate so soon, because that doctor from Philadelphia was in town and 'he assisted. I didn't telegraph you and your mother didnat tell you, because we wanted to surprise you. Now, are you happy?', Perfectly. Oh, Rod, just-3, she broke off shortly as she noticed the queer look in Rod's eyes. Will you?', he asked so softly that only her ears heard. She nodded, far too happy to speak. Shall I tell them, Ginny? he laughingly said a minute later. Tell us what? ' Now what are you two planning?,' Is it something nice?7' Anything to eat? ' Various other questions were fired at them. Ginny and I are engaged to be married, Rod said simply. HALFBACK JIMMY DYKES By FRANK SCHMIDT, '31 James Endicott Dyke was from Boston. For hundreds of years the Dyke fortune had been so firmly established that it was not necessary for a member of the house to soil his hands by so vulgar a thing as work. Yet in spite of this, never was a huskier specimen of manhood turned out than was James Dyke. All the Dykes dating back to the Mayflower had been gentlemen and scholars, and the youngest descendent was no exception. The year nineteen hundred and twenty-eight saw James Dyke enter his twenty- second year of life, and his third year at Randon College. James was popular among the students, for like his brothers before him, he had a way of making friends. Popularity usually demands a nickname, so James became 6'Jimmy.,' Only one group of students did not approve of Jimmy. In the opinion of the athletes he was very nearly a total loss. Such a thing as a man who stands six feet two inches in his bare feet, weighs one hundred and eighty-five pounds, has broad muscular shoulders and a well-proportioned body, refusing to participate in athletics and Page Six

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GEMM Ah! this is easy, thought Jimmy, but his idea soon changed when he was told to stand and bend, to dive and roll, along with other things that a coach uses to put a man into condition. After practice Jimmy, stiff and sore, went to his room and to bed, without a thought of food or books. Practice during the next week was at its height. Jimmy could not study his lessons. He had other things to think about. Jimmy, try as he might, could not hit the tackling dummy as the coach wanted him to, and the coach thought Jimmy did not care. When the time came for scrim- maging, Jimmy was placed at right half on the second string. Their signals were outlined and plays started. Tlhe Varsity tore up the field, pushing the scrubs back, all the plays being aimed at Jimmyis half on account of his weakness in tackling. ' After a touchdown was scored by the Varsity, the coach gave the ball to the scrubs. The signals were called and the scrubs advanced slowly up the field. H15-48-32-6-9-l, called the quarterback. It was Jimmie's ball-his chance to make a berth on the squad. The ball snapped back. Jimmy started for the end. Viihat was coming? A tackler. Jimmy startled, became confused and stopped, to be hit by three tacklers. You big apelw bawled out the coach, 6'You white-livered pup, you haven't the guts of a mouse, get to the showersll' Jimmy, blushing with shame, did as he was told. The next afternoon Jimmy was back on the field, but things did not go so well and for the rest of the week he was in the 'idumpsf' His classes suffered-likewise the patience of his roommate. But Maryis words, 'iWhen you receive your Varsity numeral and play in the regular games, then and only then will I consider youi' stuck in his mind. This it was that gave Jimmy the power to keep driving into the Varsity line time and again, putting every ounce of strength into his drive. Gradually Jimmy learned to use his weight and his muscular shoulders to the best advantage. He watched the husky fullback throw his whole weight at the line, and Jimmy, practicing this, soon learned the trick of balancing his weight. The coach had noticed this improvement and had tried to help Jimmy along- not by pleasant words of praise but by the traditional verbal abuse affected by the usual coach. He was convinced, as scrimmages went on, that Jimmy was the man to fill -the position, so hard to fill, in his backfield. The coach had thought of putting Jimmy into the line, but Jimmy was not clever enough with his hands, and besides, he needed a heavy, quick-thinking, fleet- footed man at right half. So the coach watched Jimmy closely at practice, and the way he battered up the line and himself was convincing that he had driving power. One day at practice the scrubs had the ball on their own twenty-yard line. 15-48-32-6-9-lf' chanted the quarterback. A right end run! Zip! the ball went hurtling back straight into Jimmy's out- stretched hands. He sprang forward, a plunge, a pivot, a sidestep, and he was free of the line. On he sped ten-twenty- -thirty yards before the safety man threw him. Jimmy, dusty, bruised, but smiling was pulled from the ball by his yelling playmates. The practice went on for weeks, but a new factor had entered into the playing. The hole in the scrubs backfield had been filled by Jimmy Dyke. The evening after the last practice before the Coldren College game, the players were assembled in the coachis office for a general discussion before the game. The players were excited. The starting lineup was to be given. fllVlen,,' the coach began, 'Lhere is the starting lineup. He then called out the names of the men, but paused when he came to the eleventh man. Page Eight