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

Page 13 text:

THE i i NSTICK 12M UPM By VIVIAN RUTHEYRFORD I wish something exciting would happen, Jack said. I wish I could capture the bandit that's loose around here and get the reward. He and his family were gathered in the living room after supper. Jack's mother looked up from her sewing with a sigh, and his dad, who was reading the 'evening paper, silently shook his head. Jack's two small sisters giggled audibly and Jack turned a dark look upon them. It was not the first time he' had expressed his eagerness to capture a thief. When Jack and his sisters had gone to bed and his mother and father were left alone, his mother said, Jim, I wish we could give that boy of ours a scare he would never forget. Maybe he would quit moping around. At least it would give him something else to talk about. Have you a plan, Mother? Well, I've been thinking about it all the evening and I wondered if we couldn't get Mr. Aiken next door to hold us up or something. Say, that's a wonderful idea. I'll see him about it tomorrow. Next day he and Mr. Aiken planned together. lVlr. Aiken was to hold them up the next night and then return their money the day after. When the evening came, Jack and the family were again sitting in the living room. As usual, Jack was seated moodily in a dark corner by the window looking out. Suddenly a voice cried out, 'Stick 'em up! Then a masked man came into the room, a revolver in each hand. Jack's father and mother smiled at each other slyly as they raised their hands, but to Jack they showed very frightened faces. Both his sisters began to whimper. The room was lighted only by the fireplace so Jack had not been noticed by the bandit. Hand over the dough and jewels, the intruder snarled, and be quick about it. Mr. Aiken certainly was acting very realistically. .Iack's dad handed his money to the man and his mother took off her few jewels. Meantime, Jack had slipped unnoticed out the door. Just as his mother handed over her jewels another voice cried out, Reach for the sky, and be care- full You're covered! and the thug felt a gun poked in his ribs. The sur- prised parents saw Jfack's head behind the bandit's shoulder. 'ATie him up, Dad, called Jack. I'll keep him covered. Then Jack took the thief's guns which had dropped to the floor. A'But wait a moment, Jack, his father cried, that's only Mr. Aiken. We decided to give you your wish to have something happen. See? and walking up to the dark figure he pulled off the mask. The face which confronted them was the face of the notorious bandit for whom the reward was offered! At this moment, the agile thug started for the window. Suddenly, he found himself confronted by a gun-behind which was another masked man. At this he turned around and snarled, holding out his hands, HAll rightl I guess I'm done for. Tie me up. Jack and his dad, who had immediately rushed after the first intruder were now standing by the window. , I Am I late? came in the familiar voice of Mr. Aiken, and he stepped in, pulling off his mask. Well, not exactly, laughed .Iack's father. It seems you were just in time to keep a real thief from escaping. Thus, while Jack's mother tele- phoned the police, his dad explained the situation to both Jack and Mr. Aiken. Then the police arrived, took the bandit, and praised Jack for his bravery. They told him to call at the station in a few days and get his reward. The funny part of it is, laughed Jack, The gun I used is only one of those water squirt guns I had when I was a little kid. Page Nine I 4

Page 12 text:

THE that Mother Earth would let me in. She refuses to accept me, and so I live. If you really wish to meet the Reaper, you'll find him down the road a space. There is a tiny side-road, go down there until you reach three large oak trees, near there you'll find him. The Rat gave the old man a shove, and the three started off. They reached their destination, and under one of the trees they found some old mossy steps leading down. At the foot of the steps a battered old door: they forced it open and entered. When their eyes became accustomed to the darkness, they looked around. Box stacked upon box, piles of kegs, bottles and bottles of the best liquor,-they had come upon a gold mine. Their eyes glistened, and their hands itched. Gee, dis will supply us wid enough dough so we can play the horses, open up a night club, and run all the rackets we want. The Rat was again the spokesman. We gotta wait 'till night before we move it. One of us has got t' go into de town to get some grub, so we'll flip a coin to see who goes. The Pineapple, the youngest one, got tails: so he was to go. When he had gone, the Rat turned to the Dope. Lissen, when dat'guy comes back, you lead him over dere, and I'll drill him. Den dere'll only be two, and we'll be able to shake dice and step out all we want. You'll do dat, won't ya? he snarled, 'iYe-s-s, whistled and steamed the Dope. You drill him from de back, and I'll drill him from de side. So the two wicked ones planned. Now the Pineapple had also been figuring, He decided, however, it was better that only one had the hoard. He conceived the plan of-poisoning the other two, He went to a drug store, had a ham sandwich, then went to the drug counter which he found behind the bathing suits. He told the man he wanted to kill a rat. The man sold him some strychnine and some arsenic. He bought some food and three bottles. In two of the bottles he placed poison: the third he'd keep for himself. He filled the bottles with sparkling red wine and started back. When he returned, the Rat's plan was successful: and the Pineapple was no more. But the poor innocents, the Rat and the Dope, selected a bottle of the refreshing red wine. It chanced they chose one with poison in it. The Rat smiled Ca real lovely smile, as he had perfect brown and black teethj and said, Tonight we must work fast gettin' rid of de body and haulin' de stuff away, but now we'll chew and guzzle some to celebrate. They bit off Qreally more than they could chewj and guzzled the wine. Soon it looked like they were wrestling-with themselves. The Rat had play- fully wrapped his leg around his neck: and you couldn't tell what was what on the Dope, he wasiso ravelled up. They were in untold agony, both gasping for breath. After quite a time, they both quietly died a peaceful, natural death. So ends the tale of Harry, the Rat, Louie, the Dope, and Tony, the Pine- apple. But gather up closer to my knee, children, while I spill you a little secret. Don't be too fast on the road of LIFE, or you're liable to have a crash up with this guy called The Reaper, 'cause he's still hanging just around the corner! CNO, children, not the same corner that Prosperity is just aroundj. Comparison 5531 CARYL BOTI-IE '31 Once I watched a pair of birds Courting in a great elm tree, And their actions, sombre one, Were very much like you and me. The hero, strutting, seemed to say Here, here. Very near, very near. And she, primping, sweetly replied Oh my dear, my dear, my dear! Page Eight

Page 14 text:

I-Qw,,,,,, ,,,A ,N ,..1,,q... W ,W Q6 Q QE U A9 J.,. r M I xg QQ ? A 'K5:,?:rff:,W ' f , NWA! Ghemsfnv owe LANES' MAN 5 ya 'TERM GULF TEAYI 45 55,15 INTERPREYATIONS ' - A . 'A . fx 4 I , 'Q f f -A 'e f 3, ,ri I . V J-- I 'M ' - amd., : . 'ff' Q.. i , ,Q , K i W ff' h' I .54 A , , ,, AM b 44, V L. ,ff rl 551, - Moo SMNDWG smnsw nmcsas srseusrsn I X :U r 4 ' W , mn: SKY mah ON Page Ten FIRST NBTNNM-