Newport High School - Blunita Yearbook (Newport, PA)

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Xlbe Blue anD Mbite. 7 Ho could not go back that way. “Well, he’d just have to die with Jack. What was that thing in the closet? A rope! It wouldn’t do him any good. Yes, it would, too!” Only half knowing what he was doing, Dean fastened the rope to the bed, threw it out the window and slid with Jack to safety. When Jack regained consciousness he acknowledged that he had stolen the signals from Dean’s coat the day before the game to avenge himself. Learning this, Dean was “pow’ful” glad he had saved “Oakley of Riverton.” William H. Morrow, '23. NEVER AGAIN 441JRUCE, AS TO-MORROW will be New Year’s Day I IJ hope you intend to make at least one good resolution and keep it throughout the ensuing year. I suggest that you resolve not to play any more jokes such as those which you seem to enjoy. You know I do not object to a certain amount of harmless fun, but your pranks are likely to involve you in something unpleasant and then you will bitterly regret going to the extreme. Never do anything that might possibly hurt someone in body or feelings.” “Well, mother, I suppose I have been inconsiderate. But it’s going to be hard for me to keep that resolution.” The two persons who held this conversation were Mrs. Ennis and her son, Bruce. Bruce was said to be the most mischievous boy in the community but he had many virtues. Bruce went from the room where he and his mother had been talking. He stopped in the hall to ruminate. His thoughts ran something like this: “I must become more serious-minded. I’ll take mother’s advice but if I do what will become of my plan? It would be a shame to waste it. Wouldn’t it be capital fun to scare that brave brother of mine? Oh! I know! I can do it to-night for I won’t make the resolution until to-morrow and so I won’t be breaking it. I don’t see any rea on why I shouldn’t have a little fun and this will be the last time. I won’t do anything mean and Morris won’t be harmed in any way. I certainly would like to see him run for once in his life. It’s cold and he’ll need the exercise to keep him warm.” Having decided to carry out this plan, he proceeded to do so. This would be an easy matter as tylorris held a night position in the town, two miles distant. He usually walked to his work, traveling nearly the whole distance through a

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6 Sbc Blue anb lift bite. While Dean was sitting in his “den” thinking about the accusation that had been made against him, his chum, “Doc” Hall, came bounding into his room and yelled, “Hey, Dean, the Harding’s a mass of flames and some of Riverton’s eleven are missing.” Hatless and coatless, Dean ran out onto the campus. There was a fearful glare in the sky and the street was full of people going to the fire. Arriving, breathless, at the scene, Dean saw “Bob” McKee and asked, “How is Riverton’s eleven? All safe and sound?” “Guess so, the coach was going the rounds to see if they were all out. Some fire, isn’t it?” “You bet,” answered Dean. At that moment there was an awful ; hout. A figure was seen to come to a window on the third floor, throw up its hands and disappear. “It’s Jack Oakley,” cried Mr. O’Neil, coach of the Riverton team. The flames were shooting up, many feet into the air and the heat and smoke were intense. A crash was heard. A wall fell somewhere in the building. An effort was made to save Jack but the ladder broke and the firemen gave up the attempt. “Keep back! The walls may fall any minute!” ordered the fire chief. The crowds swayed back and forth and the few policemen had their hands full. Oakley, halfback on the Riverton team, had once been a student of Barton, but had been expelled for cheating during a “Math” exam. Dean was President of the Student Council, so Oakley blamed Dean for causing his expulsion and from that time on had hated him. Dean didn’t care who was in the building, but made up his mind to get him out. Inquiring the number of Jack’s room he slipped through the ring of police and firemen and ran to the main stairway in the hotel. It was in flames. Dean saw that it was impossible to get to the third floor that way. Through the thick smoke and terrific heat he made his way to the stairway leading up from the dining room. Here, at least, one could breathe with some ease. He took a deep breath and dashed up the stairs to the second floor. Pausing to take another breath he made his way to the third floor. The heat was awful, the smoke dense. By this time Dean began to give up hope. “Why did he have to save Jack? Jack hated him and then he would feel so much better if he were out of the hotel. Well, he’d try to get to Jack.” Half senseless Dean managed to get to No. 11. Jack was lying in the middle of the room, evidently overcome by the heat. Dean picked him up and dashed out into the corridor.

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8 £bc J6lue anb Mbitc. wood. Bruce thought that it would be great fun to make his appearance as a ghost in his brother’s path as he was going through the wood on his way to work. There was just one thing Bruce would need in the execution of his plan. This was a ghostly garb. The sheet on his bed would serve his purpose, so before the evening meal he secreted it at the edge of the wood. Now, all was ready. At seven o’clock Bruce left his home. Morris usually started for work at half-past seven. Hurrying to the wood, Bruce took the sheet from the hollow tree where he had hidden it. After he had wrapped the sheet around him he was very spectre-like and weird in appearance. The atmosphere around Bruce seemed unearthly. The tall gaunt tree creaked and groaned as the moaning wind swayed it to and fro. A pale moon which seemed to glide through ominous clouds cast a faint light over everything. Bruce was startled by the dismal hoot of an owl. He found his courage sinking. He stepped behind a large tree to await his brother’s coming. He watched and listened. He imagined he was approached on every side by all manner of things. Why did not Morris come? He would be late for work if he did not soon make his appearance. Then in the distance he saw a movement. Straining his eyes he could now distinguish two tall white forms coming toward him. He held his breath and his heart beat quickly. He was thoroughly frightened and astonished. He drew closer to the tree and his teeth chattered from cold and fright. The spectres tame on and Bruce’s fear increased. Soon they would be upon him. He thought that he would make a dash for home, but he could not pass those two awful creatures. He must go by another, longer way. Setting out on a run, he went as swiftly as he could. Frequently he looked over his shoulder expecting to see a ghostly pursuer. He did not feel the cold now. When he came in sight of home he was perspiring and breathless. He tripped and fell and the sheet was tom off in the fall. He left it on the ground and went on. The trees cast shadows before him and this added to his fright. At last, he reached home and startled his mother and father by his wild appearance. His mother exclaimed, “Why, Bruce, what is the matter?” Bruce had not recovered his breath so could not reply. “I thought that you had gone to see the New Year’s parade down town. Morris just went out about fifteen minutes ago. He and Boyd are going to a masquerade ball. Morris does not work to-night as this is New Year’s Eve. He had not intended to go to the dance, but suddenly changed his mind. They are dressed as ghosts. Now tell us what has happened.” Bruce had to confess and there was much laughter at his