Nelsonville High School - Saga Yearbook (Nelsonville, OH)

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4 6 The Scarlet and Gray ’Tis 7 n ill Wind That Blows Nobody Good Have you ever been awakened at 4 a. m. on a cold, gray October morning by the ting-a-ling-a-ling of an alarm clock, and while still half asleep, shm off the alarm only to hear the patter of rain on the roof just outside of your window? “Just because I had planned a day’s outing,” you will grumble. If this has ever happened to you, you can imagine the way Kathryn Joyce felt as she gave Grace Lee a hard punch, accompanied by loud wail, no more like Kate’s voice than a cat’s meow is like a dog's bow-wow. Anyway it brought Grace to a sitting posture im- mediately. “Wh-a-t did you say? Grace was not trying to stifle the yawn, but to pry her eyes out with her fists. “You old sleep-head, can’t you see its raining and has spoiled all our plans for the day’s outing?” Oh, Katey, you don’t mean it?” Grace was now wide-awake gazing with mournful eyes at the offending rain. “Of all the luck! I’m never going to plan anything again—NEVER!’ “Ditto! I can’t go back to sleep and how will we put in the time?” “Land only knows, I don’t. Come on, let’s get up.’; Silence reigned for the next half hour, the girls being too gloomy and disappointed to say a word. “Oh, the sun! Look, Kate the sun is out.” Grace was clapping her hand® h'ke a child. “Maybe our day won’t be spoiled after all. If it rains before spven it quits before eleven. “Pinch me, Grace. Is it possible? Come on, let’s go for a walk. It won’t be so damp. We can at least walk around town.” “No sir-ee! I hereby resign. I’d rather not walk at all than walk around town, especially on such a swell morning.’ “We can cut through here and get to the woods in jiffy. How’s that Miss Kathryn?” “Great! I’ll race you to that big ree.” “All right. One—here you’re ahead.” “No, I’m not. See!” “Yes, I see. Two—thr-e-e Go!” Off they ran like young deer, Kate coming in only a few feet ahead. They were now in the woods, skip- ping along like two children, although they were dignified young ladies. That they were free from all care one could easily see. They chatted, laughed and now and then sang snatches of popular songs. Suddenly both girls stopped with an exclamation of surprise. So happy had they been that the gathing dark- ness had not been noticeable till now, when the sun was completely hidden by a dark cloud. 1 bet it's going to rain again, and mother will be so worried.” “It can’t be helped. We’ll just have to make the best of the situation. If 1 remember right there’s an old de- serted log hut, that can’t be very far from here. Perhaps we can reach there before it rains.” But as fast as they ran they were only in sight of the hut when it start- ed to pour. They had been so excited and in such a hurry that neither girl had noticed the thin line of blue smoke curling above the old chimney. On entering Grace, who was first, gave a cry of surprise. “Why, Kate! Someone’s staying here, 1 wonder if they will care?” “Care—or not. I don’t care if they do. I’m going to stay till it quits laining or they put me out. I don’t know about you but I’m wringing wet. Perhaps whoever it is won’t return till after we’ve gone. Anyway that fire looks mighty good to me.” “Ditto, but so does the bacon. I’m starved. Let’s eat some. We could leave money enough to pay for it. I don’t believe any one would mind that.”

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 The Scarlet and Gray 5 The Final Drive It was in 1918, in the fifth year of the great World War that a meeting of all the important military authori- ties of the Allies and Americans, was held in Paris. Although very few know it, gigantic plans for a decisive drive against the Germans were being made. After several days debating and planning an order was given to make preparations. Giant airplanes one hundred feet in width were made by the hundreds as were tanks and huge guns. After about two months prepara- tion the day was set on which the great drive was to begin. When the older was given for the barrage fire to lift French, British, American, Bel- gians and Canadians went over the top” and charged toward the un- suspecting Teutons. Trench after trench was wiped out hundreds of guns and thousands of prisoners taken. Here and there large tanks moved slowly but steadily, spreading death and destruction wherever they went Over all this flew hundreds of air- planes, bombing trenches and tele- phoning gun positions to the heavy batteries in the rear. Among numerous other aviators Hew a young man named Hart and his favorite companion West. Having received orders to destroy all German craft they started in pursuit of two Boche planes that were flying high above the clouds. The Americans soon overtook the Germans but West was wounded and his pilot Hart took him to the hospital. Hart succeeded in sending one of the enemy to earth, but was himself wounded. When he reached for a new belt of shells, he was so weak from loss of blood that he dropped it in the cock pit. He was so weak he could not reach it for a long while. The German aviator thinking that he had killed his enemy, flew above the American plane, in order to get a better shot at the pilot. When Hart succeeded in reaching the shells he saw his chance and sent the Boche crashing to earth. This is but one of the many daring deeds committed by both Allies and Germans. An airplane would be flying high above a trench when suddenly it would sweep down and flying the whole length of the trench would near- ly annihilate the occupants. All this time the Red Cross had been caring for both German and Al- lied wounded. At last darkness settled on this terrible scene and the retreating Ger- mans were hopeful that the drive would stop- But giant search lights were brought out that not only made the field as light as day but also blind- ed the Boches. The drive continued for a week and on the seventh day a fleet of German war ships, in fact the whole German Navy sailed into the North Sea to protect the submarine bases that were threatened by the oncoming Allies. This offered the Allied and American fleeds a chance to bottle up the Ger- mans. The German commander saw that resistance was useless and sur- rendered without a shot The next day a fleet of five hun- dred airplanes, attacked, the Krupp Gun Factory. Guns made for the Teu- ton army were turned on the attacking planes and scores of them fell, but just then a fleet of one hundred dread- noughts of the American navy sailed up the river to Essex and laid the fac- tory in ruins. “With the main factory destroyed all lost territory regained, and the military power broken”, remarked General Pershing,” it will not be long before Peace and Democracy will rule the World.” Wilbert Hall, ’20.

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 The Scarlet and Cray 7 They were just enjoying their bacon sandwich when they heard the sound of approraching footsteps and men’s voice0. “Sh-h-h, they’re coming!” Kate held up a finger for silence, and they heard the following mysterious conversation: “That’s the closest escape yet. The General is watching us right now.” “Did you get ’em?” “Of course. Slick as a whistle.” “Tomorrow------escape-----move----- quarters.” Of this last sentence the girls could ht ar only a very little. “Let’s hide, Grace! They’re up to some mischief.” “P.ut where?” Grace could see no possible hiding place. “Here can you get in the lower part of this cupboard? Sure you can. I’ll get under this kettle.” Just as Kate concealed herself un- der f lic kettle the door was opened and the men entered. Such a clatter of voices! The girls could only hear a l’ew words now and then until one of the men called for silence. From the conversation they learned that this was a band of German spies who had valuable information hidden in a secret apartment. They did not learn what the information was but they did learn that it was to go to Kaiser Bill the following day. The men had start- ed to leave when one said: “I’m almost starved. Let’s eat.” “We hain’t got no time now. One more big sweep and we leave.” “Did you put those things in the cupboard I was telling you about?” One of the men started for the cup- board. Grace had a hard time stifling a scream and Kate shook like an earthquake as she later confessed. His band was on the door ready to open it when the other man who had seated himself on the kettle, much to Kate’s discomfort, called to him. “No, no that’s all over. Jim took care of that this morning.” How Grace blessed Jim, even if he wa° a German spy. After what seemed an age the men left, and coming from their hiding places the girls searched for the hid- deu information. They were about to give up. when Grace who was lean- ing against the rickety mantle, gave a surprised exclamation. She had by accident moved an old saucer that was used as a match-holder and found it concealed a button. The papers were easily obtained after this, but for a while the girls were very much dis- appointed. Some pages were blank and those that weren’t were unin- telligible. “Nothing like trying. Come on, let’s go and see him.” Yes, he knew what they were and turned white as death when he read them. He informed the girls that they were maps of every one of the im- poriani fortifications in America. A squad of soldiers was immediate- ly soni to the hut and the much-sought German spies were captured. That afternoon Grace and Kate re- turned home to a very worried mother surrounded by a group of very worried chums. Grate and Kate were sights in their wet, muddy clothes, but pinned on the dress of each was a bright gold medal, for their services to the U. S. A. LUCILE STALTER, ’20. Off For France Continued from page 4 In the night the rain turned to snow and by morning the boys were nearly frozen. At breakfast Clifford seemed rather nervous the reason was soon known. “Say, ’er, what do you say, fellows, if—Oh, blame it! Let’s go home!” “I'm with you”, “Sure” “Come on” were cries. A few hours later six odd looking boys boarded a train at Co- lumbus with tickets for Nelsonville. The laughs, jokes, scoldings and pettings from mother were rather hard to bear. “But anything is better than France” they all agreed. Lena Bowers, ’20-