Milford High School - Oak Lily and Ivy Yearbook (Milford, MA)

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OAK, LILY AND IVY. “I tell you what,” said Barker, “tomorrow is a holiday and we will cele¬ brate it by going out in the country and holding a feast. We will take the papers and make a bonfire of them and humbly thank Fate for being so kind to us. We will take some lunch too and have a fine feast.” “Will we let any other fellows into the secret?” asked Williams. “Well, no. Possibly we might let Ellis know about it. He wouldn’t squeal. Tomorrow at ten we will start.” The voices were cut off as the boys turned the corner. The offended Prosessor arose early the next morning and formed his plans. He had no idea where they would go but he strolled aimlessly about the streets looking for them. At last when he was about to give up he saw Barker standing outside the village bake-shop- Williams soon came out loaded with bundles. He followed them cautiously, taking care to keep out of range of any chance look they might cast backward. For some inexplicable reason they lin¬ gered in front of the village high school until quarter past ten. They then started off walking rather swiftly. The Professor puffed and panted during the walk that he had forced himself to take in following them. After two miles of hard walking, as they disappeared around a bend about a quarter of a mile a- head of him, he looked about but could see no one. Finally, a great distance ahead, he saw two figures.. After more tramping the two figures turned into the woods. Professor Smith followed. He saw them bend over and scoop out a small hole in the ground. Suddenly doubts began to assail him. Those two figures were far too large to be Barker and Williams. Determined to find out if he were mistaken in their identity, he walked silently and swiftly toward them. “Young gentlemen, are you preparing your sac ifice?” he snapped out. “Eh!” answered a rough voice, and to his astonishment he discovered that the two were not placing typewritten copies but bank notes in the hole in the ground. And furthermore they were not Barker and Willi ams. “Robbers!” he gasped. “What, you have followed us!” said the rough voice. “Bill, we’d better give this meddler what he deserves,” interrupted the other man quickly. The two men advanced on the Professor and Bill grasp¬ ed him roughly. In spite of his resistance he was being gradually overpowered when suddenly he was released from their grasp. Bill and his companion start¬ ed to run but Will Barker dashing past the Professor brought down the man Bill by a fierce tackle. The two other boys dashed past the Professor in pursuit of the other man but he had made a good start and had completely dissappeared so their search was fruitless. Meanwhile the Professor helped Will Barker guard the prostrate man whose struggles ceased when the others returned. They were George Williams and Henry Ellis, “Well boys,” began the Professor, we have evidently discovered the per¬ petrators of the robberies of the last month. We also have considerable money

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(5 OAK. LILY AND IVY. Next morning Professor Smith arrived in the classroom with a bunch of typewritten sheets in his hand. The boys sighed. All forlorn hope that he might have forgotten the examination vanished with the appearance of the sheets- It was Professor Smith’s custom to give every boy a typewritten copy of the test. He passed out paper and then glanced at the first copy of the exam to make sure he had the right set of papers; he gave them to George Williams to distribute. Williams seized them eagerly and with an innocent face began to place one on the desk of every student. Will Barker received his with stolid indifference, but the other members cf the class did not. Smiles began to appear, then someone laughed. “Ellis, what do you find so amusing?” began Professor Smith in a low voice that indicated rising anger. Poor Ellis could not control his laughter, however. More than that, nearly everyone in the class was laughing. A sixth sense was not necessary to tell the Professor that something was wrong. He strode up the aisle and snatch¬ ed the paper from the mirth-filled Ellis. His eyes travelled over the paper, stop¬ ped suddenly, and went back to the beginning again. He adjusted his glasses and looked once more. His eyes had not deceived him. With a growingsense of incredulity he read on and when he reached the final question he raised his eyes and beheld the whole class convulsed with amusement. You are dismissed,” he said jerkily, “please go silently and not annoy the other classes.” Left alone, the astounded Professor read the questions again. Who could this Ty Cobb be, mentioned in the first question ? Professor Smith had heard that name somewhere in the athletic world but exactly where he could not say. Then his mind turned from the questions to another course. Who had substituted these papers? He was sure that when he left his boarding house he had the right papers. But was he sure? He admitted to himself that the only copy he had looked at that day, prior to this astounding discovery, was the top one. A week later the delayed examination came off and Will Barker passed with flying colors. The week had given him time to prepare for it. Then they practically forgot about the incident However, Professor Smith had not for¬ gotten this affront to his dignity. Two weeks later Professor Smith overheard a conversation between two young fellows. It was a dark night, and as the electric lights of the village had given out it was not possible to distinguish anyone at very close range. The Professor recognized the familiar voices of Barker and Williams. “Well, George we fooled old Smith alright,” said Barker gleefully. Yes it certainly paid for all our trouble in typewriting those copies to see the expression on his face when he read it. And then when he dismissed the class! My fondest expectations hardly let me hope for that,” returned Williams. I came across the original copies yesterday. I had put them in the closet out of sight,” went on Barker.

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cS OAK. LILY AND IVY. overlooked by the other worthy gentleman in his hasty departure. Thanks to your arrival at the psychological moment, I am-” “Pardon me,” said Henry Ellis, “but I think we better hurry to town with the money and this man. I saw a farmhouse back there a short distance and perhaps we can secure a wagon.” The wagon was easily obtained and, with George driving, they set out with the surly prisoner securely tied. In reply to a question of Professor Smith, Henry Ellis vouchsafed the following explanation: “George and Will asked me to go with them but I was late so they set off without me. I followed them and when I saw you a little ahead of me I began to be suspicious. I kept behind you until we reached the sharp bend in the road, where I took a short cut through the fields and headed off George and Will. We saw the men ahead and thought perhaps you might think they were the boys. If you hadn’t followed them we could have had the laugh on you for we were hiding in the underbrush. When you stopped and hesitated, then we followed you at a safe distance. The rest you know, sir.” “I want to say that was a mean joke we played on you, Mr, Smith,” com¬ menced Will, “and I want to apologize. It was all my fault.” “ No, I thought and planned it,” broke in George, “it’s all my fault.” “I did the typewriting,” said Will, “so I guess both of us are equally to blame.” With a smile as a token of forgiveness, Professor Smith threw the type- v r itten sheets offered him into the bushes as they rode along. At the town lockup their prisoner was given over to the authorities and the money placed in safety to await further developments in the case. The trip to the Professor’s boarding place was made in silence. At last Henry Ellis remarked in an enthusiastic voice: “If you had only hit that robber again in the jaw Professor, I think you would have knocked him cold.” And Professor Smith, being a wise man after all, forbore to comment up¬ on the English of the compliment so sincerely given. Eliot Reeby, ‘17. A BUNCH OF VIOLETS. Marian sat by the window and gazed mournfully at the dripping world out¬ side. Ever since early morning, the deluge had continued until the earth was a dreary waste of oozing earth and cloud obscured sky. Everything was cheer¬ less and melancholy,- in perfect harmony with her own sad mood she thought. Dear me, how it does pour,” she sighed, “it will simply spoil the Junior Prom tonight, but,” with a sigh, “that needn’t bother me, I can’t go anyway, I do think father is just too mean to forbid my going,” and she tossed her pretty head rebelliously.