Newport High School - Live Wire Yearbook (Newport, ME)

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THE LIVE WIRE this calamity is over. You know how I feel about it. I'd rather be there as we planned when last together. Lee reminisced. She and Dick were clinging to each other in Pennsylva- nia Station in New York. Little had they known that this would be the last time they would be together until the World again was at peace. They had planned to meet in sixty days in Massachusetts, Dick's base. Tragedy had struck Lee's family. She had moved to Ohio, still continu- ing to write to Dick. Because of this unfortunate experience they decided to meet in thirty days. Lee had most of her wedding ap- parel bought-nothing elaborate or fancy, for this was War-time. As she carefully packed each article, she thought how wonderful it would be to live in Massachusetts and be near enough to Dick so that they could be together as much as possible. At last all arrangements were com- pleted, and she was on her way to be- come a Navy wife! Lee had been in Massachusetts for three weeks now but hadn't heard from Dick. Then one day the postman blew his whistle. Lee dashed down stairs for her mail. A letter! A letter from Dick. Yes, Lee thought this was the irony of war. Dick had been transferred ahead of schedule. He was now some- where in the North Pacific. And so, my darling, until our plans can really come true, keep pray- ing that this mess will soon be over, and that we will be together again. Goodnight, my love, may God bless you, Dick. Shirley Darling. I A STRANGER IN TOWN As I got off the bus at Oakfield, my watch said it was 12:30. The night was pitch black, and the air was cold and damp. I was the only passenger who had alighted, and the bus was already pulling out. I suddenly felt lost and wished myself on the speed- ing bus, now quite a ways from sight. A stranger in town, I began looking around for someone to tell me where to go. Not a person was in sight. What a dump! I declared, as I started walking down the dark street to find a hotel for the night. As I stepped from the side street, a dark form strode from behind a group of store houses. Before I had a chance to ask him to show me, he had slipped across the street and behind another group of store houses. I knew he saw me. He looked startled when he saw me, as if he hadn't expected to see anyone step from that street. I walked rapidly down the street where I thought the stores Would be, but the face of the man was still fresh in my memory. I thought I heard someone cough behind me, and, as I turned, my arms were gripped by two firm, steel-hard hands. I looked into the eyes of the face I had seen but a minute before. Behind him was an- other short, stout man, With a cap slouched over one eye. I was so frightened that I couldn't speak. The short man laughed, We've got her, Pete, he said. We've got her. By this time I had gained my voice. What does this mean? I stammered. Surely you don't want me. Oh, yes, we do, said the one with l

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NEWPORT HIGH SCHOOL Woodworth! But when Mr. Wood- worth saw me coming, he jumped out of the way. C I was glad, because even though I'm large and heavy, I've never killed anyone!J Then Mr. Farley pulled a gun out of his pocket -and aimed right at Mr. Woodworth's head! I guess he was all ready to pull the trigger, when suddenly the door opened, and two federal men walked in! I was stunned when they said Mr. Farley was an old time crook! Then they took him away! Now it's very peaceful without Mr. Farley in the house. I have plenty of time to think. But I keep thinking of something Mr. Woodworth said. When the men had taken Mr. Far- ley away, Mr. Woodworth picked me up and put me on the desk, and then he said: Thank God, that no chil- dren ever had Farley for a father! b Jeanne Littlefield. FROM STAW T0 JAMES Staw came floating off a big pine tree early one blustery morning. He had been forced from his parents by the pressure areas over the nearby lakes. Staw was one of many seed- lings from the great conifers. Many of his brothers, and sisters had varied experiences, but Staw's life was most interesting. He landed in the middle of a much used path about one hundred feet from his parent pine. The shoe of a tramp carried him away many miles to a wooded lot. Here he rooted and grew to an enormous height with re- markable straightness. A lumber- jack shortened his life with even I blows of a doublebitted axe. He was dragged to a mill. Shingles, stove wood, lumber, fur- niture, plywood-hundreds of other uses were made of the remarkably well-grained wood. Much of the sof- tened pith went to a cellulose mill. Part of it went into plastics. A trum- pet, formerly purchased by its very famous owner, was fitted with a mouthpiece made from this very plas- tic. Soon Staw was appearing night- ly before hundreds of cheering fans and more hundreds of jitter-bugs. Moreover, he was the cause of the ul- timate happiness of Harry James with his trumpet. How consoling to be able to feel that well-controlled rush of air pass warmly through, to come out the me- lodious and harmoniouseffects of pop- ular music! How thrilling to feel the tickle of Harry James' eye-catching mustache! How enticing to be thought of as part of the idol of hu- man beings! Staw had become fa- mous. Undoubtedly, any blockhead can become famous if he lands in the path and can follow the trail. In order to be a leader, you must follow the fol- lower. Actual existence is the result of factual substance. John Webb, Jr. A LETTER In her hand Lee held a V-mail let- ter, tears were streaming from her eyes. The letter read: My dearest one, I know this is hard to take, but this is war. We must put aside our per- sonal happiness and troubles until l

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NEWPORT HIGH SCHOOL his arms around me. You're just the girl we want. You just come along with us without making any fuss, or we'll have to use forceful means. They led me behind some buildings and across a vacant lot. A dim light showed from an old house. I knew they were taking me there. Sure enough, they led me, or rather pulled me, into the spooky place. By now I was so frightened that I could hardly walk. Three other equally evil-looking men greeted me. In the center of the otherwise empty room were a long table and several boxes. They looked up at me saying, Oh, boy, it isn't going to be as dead to- night as I thoughtf' Oh, shut up, said the guy hold- ing me, and help me get her ready for the noose. For the noose ! I shouted. Yes, for the noose, said the other. We'd better explain boys, so as to ease her mind. Well, we are black marketers, he said. Every stranger that comes into town we hang so not to interfere with our business. We don't like to take chances. I had an awful struggle, but five men being stronger than one girl, they succeeded in getting me tied to the scaffold. How that rope choked me! Just as they were letting me drop to break my neck, I woke, with my neck aching from leaning over the back of my seat as the conductor was saying, N ext Stop, Boston. That is what trains and ration books will do to you on a busy day. Ethel Henderson. I INVASION The Americans were just invading an enemy held island. As they step- ped foot on land, the fight really be- gan. Shells were bursting every- where, bullets were going over their heads and hitting the-ground in front of them, and planes, tanks, and trucks could be heard all around them. There was only a small group of soldiers, but what there were knew what they were there for, and knew that it would be either they or the enemy that would be lying dead on the ground after the battle. The night was dark and murky, and the ground was muddy and rough, yet these soldiers cared for nothing. Their job was to take the island and to blast the J aps out of the world forever. These soldiers took no chances, for, if they did, it would mean certain death. As they advanced, the battle got worse, and instead of its looking like night, it looked more like day with bursting of shells and the firing of tracer bullets. Every once in awhile a bullet would find its mark, and an American soldier would die for his country. Some were wounded, yet they fought on until the last drop of blood dropped from their bodies. A soldier, while advancing, got both legs blown off by a bomb. Immediately he shot a Jap Zero. Then, as the Zero came down in fiames, he died from lack of blood and weakness. Many died this same way, yet when the battle ended, the Americans had captured the island with a loss of men and supplies far less than that of the enemy. ' While these soldiers were fighting l