Mechanic Falls High School - Pilot Yearbook (Mechanic Falls, ME)

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M. F. H. s. PILOT 29 Q 1 erG0'5e Hnzxtoflfi for.,5. an is su. ' wiv- - sfs WSL TH A J TE CURING AARON On a stormy evening in October, three figures could be seen cautiously approaching a dismal looking old mill tavern. Joyce Wilsoii, her younger sister, Lillian, and their colored maid, Belinda, were on their way to look the building over with the idea of buying it and turning it into a tea room. As they drew near they could see no lights, which was not surprising as the structure had been deserted for three years. The story was that three years ago on this night an old woman had committed suicide in this very tavern, because of a crime that she had committed many years before. The girls were aware of this fact, but did not know that her spirit was sup' posed to haunt the place! And so, unaware of what strange hapf penings they might be running into, the three cautiously approached the battered weather-worn door. Not heeding the pleas of her sister and Belinda, who wanted to wait until daylight, Joyce was determined that she was going to look the place over immediately. Throwing the beam of her small flashlight over the door, Joyce found the latch, opened the door, and peered in. Assured that every' thing was all right, and that no one was there, she entered and motioned for her sis' ter and Belinda to follow. Joyce flashed the light quickly around the room and spied an oil lamp on the table. The light from the lamp cast dim shadows over the room. The girls noticed that it was practically devoid of furniture. One large table stood against the further wall, with three straight backed chairs grouped around it. On the left side of the room there was a wobbley staircase probably leading to a small attic. To the right was a large brick fireplace, covering practically the entire wall. There was only one window in the room, it looked out on the walk. Two doors led from the roomg through one they had just come from outdoors. Upon investigating, they found that the other one lcd into what they thought must be a shed. The two girls became very much en' grossed in planning how they would attracf tively refdecorate the room. Belinda looked about, talking to herselfg she wished she had never come to this placeg she was sure something dreadful was going to happen very soon, for she could feel it in her bones . As she approached the window and looked out, she saw a face looking in at her. Eyes popping open with fright, she uttered a muffled scream, backed away from the window and ran towards thc girls. I know'd we ncber should hah come to dis place. I just saw de mos' terrible face a lookin' in dat winder at me! As Joyce tried to tell her that she was just imagining things, she was interrupted by a light rap at the door. The three ex' changed glances. Belinda grabbed Joyce imploring her not to open it. Nevertheless Joyce slowly opened the door, and jumped back into the room.

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28 M. F. H. s. Pitor BOYS' BASKETBALL Back row, left to right: Gerald Gammon, Peter jordan, Malcolm Sawyer, Rohert Spaulding, Mr. Jordan Q coach I . Front row, left to right: Raymond Ahhott, Randall Allard, Richard Sargent, Charles DeBiase, Norman Faunee, Palmi DeBiase. BOYS' ATHLETICS FllOTBALL Owing to the shortage of hoys and the 6 man foothall teams in the state, foothall was eliminated last fall. GAMES Because our fuel supply ran out, the Bas' kethall schedule had to he cut, leaving only half of the games for the lvlechanic Falls cagers to play. Although the Wildczits won only three out of nine games in the season of 144 and '45, things look hrightcr for the future as the Freshmen and Sophof mores are looking good and few Seniors are to he lost from this year's team. The first string was as follows: Forwards: Palmi DeBiase, Donald Russell, Gerald Gammon, Vernal Duchette. Centers: Bill Wheeler, Richard Sargent. Guards: Norman Faunce, Charles Def Biase, Raymond Ahhott. Here, the haskethall team would like to salute Dave Bryant who left our school and squad to join the Navy just hefore the sea' son opened, and Donald Russell and Bill Wl1eele1', who left during the season. B,xsEBALL Under the supervision of Coach Jordan we should have a very reliahle team, Capahle of winning a good percentage of the games. Speaking for the sport department and all of the participants we sincerely thank all those who made this year so successful. CHARLES DEBIASE '45

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30 M. F. H. Much to her surprise, standing there was a timid looking boy whom she recognized as one of the Freshman boys at the nearby college. After questioning the boy the girls found that his friends had sent him to this place to spend the night, as an initiation into their fraternity. They had also told him the story of how the old woman's spirit was supposed to walk. He said his name was Aaron Slushbottom. The girls found that he was very much in the habit of stuttering. Lillian, about to ask Aaron a question, was interrupted by a low moan coming from behind her. They turned in time to see dark grimy hands clutch Belinda by the neck and draw her into the darkness of the shed. The three could not move. They seemed to be rooted to the floor. Joyce slowly regained her poise, and started to' ward the door through which Belinda had disappeared. Aaron jumped in front of her and begged her not to go near the door. IfIfIf you gfgffgo nfnear tfthat dfdoor s-something wfwill gfgrab y-you tftool Joyce paid no attention to him, thinking more of Belinda than what might happen to herself. She opened the door, shining her flashlight around and calling Belinda! Belinda ! No answer came, she called again, but still no answer. Then things really started to happen! The light flickered and almost went out, as if it had been blown by some invisible person. A blood curdling scream came from the stairway. Strange tappings were heard as if someone were in the walls. A banging was heard coming from the fire' place. All eyes were pinned to that spot. A bloody hatchet fell from the chimney. A withered face with long strangling white hair appeared at the window, screaming as if in pain. During these happenings the S. PILOT girls had been clinging to each other. Aaron had been standing rigid in one cor' ner of the room, too scared to move. Now he managed to stammer: IfI cfcan't s-sfstand anfanfanymoref' Weakly he fell to the floor in a dead faint. The girls tried to revive him, and sud- denly became aware of footsteps coming from the shed. Belinda entered followed by a rather good looking middlefaged man. Aaron had recovered enough to see him. He jumped to his feet. UfUncle, wfwhat afare y-yfyou dfdfdof ing hfhere? Well, son, I will tell you. But first I must thank these girls for coming here to' night. Although I hadn't planned on them, they helped put this over in a big way. IfI dfdon't kfknow w-w-what yfyour tftftftalking about. HI hired people to make the noises and the different happenings to cure you of the habit of reading detective stories. And now that I have you cured, I would like to give you anything you want. DfDfDo yfyou mfmean yfyou wfw'will gfgfgive mfme afanything tftftfthat IfI afask fffor? Yes, anything. Wfwell tfthen IfI w-wfant a s-s-sfsubf scription tfto a dfdfdetective mfmfmagaf zine. BARBARA LANE '47 SIR ROGER RETURNS My usually serene and complacent grand- mother looked up from her book, half amused, half annoyed. I was the reason. Good gracious, Elaine , she asked, L'can't you just sit in the chair for awhile? With your feet on the floor?