Monessen High School - Greyhound Yearbook (Monessen, PA)

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Illbz Brincipafs Story Vashti Montgomery It was growing well on in the afternoon of a dark Novcmlber day when a strange mran presented himself at my oliice in the Monessen High School. From the moment this person stepped into the room I began to regard him with much curiosity. He was of short stature and very heavy build. His skin, hair, and eyes were very dark. To sur- vey him more critically l turned on the light. To my surprise I could not make out on the instant whether I looked at a man or a boy. His cheeks were fresh and ruddy and as beardless and smooth as a girl's, while a drawn and lined forehead indicated the deep thought and per- haps craft of mature years. Nothing, however, attracted my attention to him so strongly as the manner in which his large round head was at- tached to his body. The skull fitted down on the trunk so snugly that there was, apparently, no space between them and although I looked again and again I could not rid myself of the absurd impression that the man was without a neck. My caller did not seem at all disconcerted by my close scrutiny of him, but, with a bow that would have done credit to a dancing master and as sweet a smile as I ever saw on a human face, he handed me a letter addressed to Virginia Markham, a pupil of my school. As was my duty I opened this note before delivery. It was merely a line or two from Mrs. Markham directing the girl to come home at once with the bearer, Mr. Allingham. As the individual referred to had not introduced himself, 1 called his attention to the fact. XVith another profound bow and another sweet smile he told me that, as stated in the note, his name was Alling- ham. That he was a former schoolmate of Virginia's cousin at the Michigan Universityg that passing through this section he had called that morning on his old friend at the Mark-hams, that as he would be obliged to go on the next morning they were going to give him a little party that eveningg that was why Virginia was to return home with- out waiting for the train. . The longer 1 listened to this person's musical voi-ce and observed his faultless manner the more I became impressed with the notion that he was an individual of more than ordinary intelligence and cul- 13

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9-First Pep Staff meeting. Decide to have individual pictures. That's where my money goes. 10-Meet our old foe Donora. Of course, 50-24. I3-Ye Gods! Another Monday! I4-Elizabeth 19-M. H. S. 27. 15-Seniors order rings and pins. I6-Who played the VVorld's Series? Civics class Wants to know. 17-Duke. 30-M. H. S. 24. T U F F E R. 20-Civics put on Literary. Three makes a Quartette. 21-Mon. City 32-M. H. S. 34. 22-junior picture taken. Camera's busted. 24-Ctharleroi 25-M. H. S. 23. T U F F F S T. 27-Perry doesn't borrow a pencil all day. 28-Senior pictures begin coming. You took a trottenj Qswelll pic- ture . March- l 2 3- 4 6 7 9 Comes in like a lion. Ye Gods! Chemistry Exams. Tearing of hair etc., among Chem. Sharks. M1cKeesport 47--M. H. S. 24. Another bitter taste. Connellsville 24--M. H. S. 37. A little variety. Gran' in English: NVho Wrote More's Utopia? Clair has a Wrestling match with the scenes between first and second acts. u Doctor says Clair will live. IO-North Braddock 14--M. H. 4.2. Yum Yum. I3-Junior High orchestra in Chapel. VVho kept their feet still? I5--All Pep drawings sent to the engravers to-day. I7-Senior rings arrive. Eighteen Freshmen blinded by the glitter. 18-Connellsville 31-M. H. S. 29. 20- Fat lectures us in Chapel. Dodge, fellows. 22- Fat burns a hole in his pants with nitric acid. Senior play matinee. 23-First performance Nothing but the Truth . Boys usher. Pod 'ittle audience. April- ll-Senior Movie and Entertainment. 20-Schumann-Heink in Auditorium. May- l-- Pep on sale. 5-Glee Club Concert. 12-Literary Contest. I8-Junior-Senior Banquet. I9-Oratorical contest for medal given by NVoman's Club of Monessen. 28-Baccalaureate services. june- I Commencement. 2-School closes. GOOD-BYE 12

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ture. Turning to him suddenly I asked him in French whether he was a graduate of the Michigan school. In the same 'tongue and With- out hesitation he replied that he was not and then mentioned a school in Paris. I now sent for Virginia and introduced the stranger. She looked at him long and earnestly but said that she had never heard her cousin mention his name. I showed the girl the note and she said it was in her mother's handwriting. As everything seemed regular I excused the girl and she got her coat and books and departed with the stranger. I thought no more of the incident unltil shortly after dark when I was startled by being called up by Mrs. Markham inquiring Why Virginia had not come home. I replied that the girl had started home long before the train and as Well as I could over the wire, I told the anxious mother all I knew. She informed me 'that she had sent no one for Virginia and that no stranger had been at her pla-ce. I could hear her crying and I began to feel very uncomfortable. As I could think of nothing better to say I told her I would call on her at once. I now began to think seriously on the strange episode of which unwittingly and unwillingly I found myself a part. I asked myself over and over again if it was not likely that I should be called in question concerning the girl's mysterious disappearance. I had not taken the number of the stranger's car. I had not even seen i't. The mother's note was a forgery. If asked why I had turned over this young and beautiful girl, entrusted to my care, into the hands of a perfect stranger and bereaved a widowed mother of her only child what could I say? Then other dreadful questions began to agitate my brain. X'l'as Virginia eloping with this strange mgan? NVas she being abducted for a ransom? As I thought of this possibility and of her youth and extreme beauty, a cold cfhill crept in around my heart. I felt it incumbent on me to do something but what could I do? In my panic I ran over to the police station and told the Chief my story. He laughed heartily. Don't get so excited, my young friend. You can hardly talk. NVQ shall be allright. I saw the dark-skinned fellow leave town with your girl. I'd know his car among a thousand. Let me tell you some- thing. This girl is rich. She is heiress to something like a hundred thousand dollars. This gentleman and his companions, whoever they are, hope to get a lot of this money. They are going to hide her somewhere until one day they read in the Pittsburgh papers: 'Forty thousand dollars reward and no questionis asked, -then all will be well that ends well. Here's the girl and here's your money. But we're not going to do business that way. Listen to me! While I use the 'phone you get your overcoat and some sandwiches and put them 14