New Utrecht High School - Comet Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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2, s UARE PEG 3 By DANIEL SEITZMAN f R HENRY NDVINS paced furiously like a caged beast up and down the whole length of the office of the VVestfield Sentinel The short, angry from his cigar were a trustworthy index to his troubled mind. The Wreaths of smoke which had filled the room hung lazily, motionless, in the air, but at the first indication of his approach, they began to boil violently about his head, leaping nimbly, away as though they feared that his troubled mind was contagious. The editor of the Sentinel', stopped abruptly in the midst of his feverish pacings, hesitated, tore on again, and finally decided to sit down. Mr. Nevins had every reason for being distressed. He had come to the small town of Westfield and established a daily newspaper a few years before. Fortunately, he had been able to secure financial support in the person of Mr. Barron, whose extensive business interests in that region had made him as powerful as a feudal lord-or rather baron, to continue the simile of his name. The paper had prospered, but not sufficiently to enable him to become a part owner. The interview he had just completed with Mr. Barron had com- pletely marred his happiness. He frowned as his mind reviewed the circum- stances attending that interview. Mr. Barron had brought his son with him, a tall, awkward youth, who, like the sons of many notables, did not attain the mental standard of his father. In the course of the conversation, it developed that Mr. Barron had ambitions for his son, William. The latter and had some experience as editor of his high- school paper and so was competent to be an associate editor of the Sentinel which didn't have a very large circulation. Nevins laughed bitterly. He knew what that meant-ultimate removal when young Barron had acquired enough experience to run it himself. Oh, the irony of it, he though, to lose a newspaper, built up by my own initiative and my own sweat, to a brainless scion of a shrewd family tree. Suddenly a though flashed upon his seaehing brain. His receptive faculties expanded to grasp every thread of hope. His face beamed with sunny radiance. The blue, hazy smoke caressed his cheeks affectionately as it slowly mounted up in delicate, shimmering threads. He would teach that sneeringly complaisant young Barron! His very ambition would be his ruin! He leaped at the telephone exultingly. Yes ............ yes, Mr. Barron. Urgent business dQU13ndS my presence in Nashville to-morrow. Your son will report for duty early to-morrow morning and take over my duties. Mr. Barron rubbed his hands joyfully-so did Nevins, The evening of the next day saw Henry Nevins hastening into the office of the HSentinel. He had spent a restless day in a nearby town. XVith nothing Ten

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Gb 2 QZUIIIBI to do but mark the flight of time, his imagination had tormented his time into a series of crucifixions. The next ten minutes would decide his future. If ever dcjection and defeat had stamped themselves upon the f21C8 Of 3 man, it was palpably so in the ease of Mr. Blair, his General M?l112lQQ913 Who was sitting there as he entered. His slumped-up-position, head in hangs' be- spoke object misery and gloom. Upon Nevins' entrance, he looked up frighten ed like a timid sheep. He made a poo-r attempt at moistening his dried l1pS, swallowed, and began timorously. HMr. Nevins, 'i he stuttered, 'Tm afraid I have some bad news for YOU-N He looked up to see how the remark had gone home and continued Wllilfi he critically studied the ground. 'tThe paper has failed to get out. This simple confession made hope thunder in Nevins' ears. Blair couldn't believe the testimony of his eyes when he looked up and saw his chief smiling. Somewhat buoyed up at his good humor. Blair continued and found assurance and relief in garrulity. It all started with a ghastly error by Will Barron. You know, Judge Thompson's wife is dead and in Barron's eulogy of her he wrote, of the town. Of course Hchastityw was a misprint for charity , but we didnit find that out until we had a flock of woman storming the office and threatening to wreck the place if we wouldnlt rectify the error. Emotional stress and repression for the last twenty-four hours showed their violence. Nevens broke into a hoarse, diabolical shout of glee. Blair, how- ever, incredulously passed his hands over his eyes. He continued frantically: t'VVe had to collect every copy we could, but Barron refused to admit de- feat. He printed a question mark in parentheses after the work chastity and sent the papers out again. A half hour later Judge Thompson burst into the office. His manner was in contradiction to his clothes. Dressed in somber mournin, he brandished his cane about his head and broke into a torrential flood of abuse. Every sentence was emphasized with the staccato swinging of his cane. He shouted that unless every copy of the paper was collected and destroyed, the Sentinel would have a libel suit on its hands. But it was too late. About half of the papers had been sold already. The veins stood out dangerously on Blair's red face. Beads of perspcra- tion hung undecidely on his forehead and then coursed down to meet their brethren. Nevins had become quite calm, insanely so to Blair. The quiet that ensued made each aware of the familiar noises of the street outside. Blair was serenely and slowly inhaling each puff. And where is Barron? 'tBy this time he should be in Kalamazoolv The editor nodded knowingly. By the way, Blair, from now on you will assume the position of As- sociate Editor. Eleven