Norway High School - Caduceus Yearbook (Norway, ME)

Page 28 text:

22 TI-l lil CADU CE US 4-amp to get t o horses for the captives to ride on. After the girls reached the captives and had placed the men on the horses, Mr. Downes arrived with the police force. The men took charge and dismissed the girls and Billie, after praising them for their efficient work. When all was set right, Betty received tl4l0,000e-the reward for the capture of the two men who were escaped convicts from the state's prison. Betty, believing that the horses had played an important part in the affair, turned the money over to Mr. Downes to improve the riding department of the camp. But Mr. Doa nes would accept but half. for, after all, Betty had rescued his only son from icing kidnapped! -Corbett, '31. Notes from Ira Smith, Cub Reporter of the Chicago Times I visited the court of King Arthur and found him at the field of tournament having a, mock battle with Sir Lancelot, his favor- ite knight. After the combat was over, I walked up to the King and said, Your Majesty, would you give me an interview of yourself and your court? The King said, Young man, if you real- ly want an interview, come with me to my court and I will introduce you to my knights and tell you of the designs on the shields. K The first knight to whom I was intro- duced was Sir Lancelot, he had a roaring limi pictured on his shield to show that he was a fighting demon. CBoy, that guy could certainly fightlj Then I met Ger- aint, a handsome young knight, but more courageous than the flying Aces in the Great War. I was introduced to many a young knight and was invited to eat. CBoy, but we had a swell dinnerlj After diner, I left the castle but before I left, the King said, Milly boy, if you come Monday, I will give you a story of the week-end tournament that will blind your city editor. CEditor's note: slang permissible to re- porters of Chicago Times .D -Ira Smith, '32. The Cock Lane Ghost The other night, as I was walking down Cock Lane, I noticed what a fine place the old church would be for a ghost scare. These scares occur here in London about once in every two years, and are always followed by sensational write-ups in the papers, in- cluding the pictures of the participants. As you all must know, I am an actor. Only that very morning I had been to see of the Drury Lane Theatre But he logically replied that the manager about a job. I wasnlt well enough known and therefore wouldn't be a good drawing card. He told me that if, by any means, I could get my name and picture in the papers, he would make me. Imagine being made by Cum- mings! I'd be a star all my life! So I said to myself that I 'd have to manu- facture some means of getting my name and picture in the papers. For once I had a brilliant thought. Why not impersonate a ghost? If I can't, no one can. In town there's an old codger who has the gout and other minor ailments, but he surely rules the high-brows. Also he 's as homely as a hedge fence. If I could get him interested in me, I might get my picture in the papers next his! Imagine being pic- tured next the great Dr. Samuel J ohnsonl Also the contrast would be so great between his face and mine, that I would surely get into Drury Lane. Now you know the old ramshackle build- ing f 'twas formerly a churchj is occupied no longer. Accordingly I planned to use it for a ghost scare. Behind the edifice is a run-down graveyard. One night my friend. Billy Bones, and I, with a few

Page 27 text:

TH E CADUCEUS 21 was great exciteme11t throughout the camp. A signal was give11 for all the girls to return from their activities and go to the main building. Betty and eleven other girls were horse- back riding. The very moment the signal reached their ears, they turned their horses a11d rushed back to camp. As soon as the girls rode up, Mrs. Downes told them to divide into groups of three and comb the country in a search for Billie. Betty was in the group with Patty Van- dike and Gloria Glaskin. They rode very quietly yet quickly. Suddenly Gloria cried, I've found Billiels cap. I'm going back to report. Betty and Patty thought surely they must be on the right trail, so they urged their horses all the faster. As they passed a clump of pines, and went into the clear,' again, they noticed an old house. Patty called, Let's look this place over before going any farther, Betty. Betty was rather timid, but she followed Patty reluctantly. They went into the house, noticing that all was very dusty, and without signs of recent occupation. Sud- denly Patty, opening a door which they had not seen before, disclosed a flight of stairs leading downward. 'Betty cried out, Oh, Patty, don't go down there! HBut I must, replied Patty, 'tYou can go out to the horses, and if you hear me call, go back for help. Betty unwillingly agreed, but she looked back at Patty very longingly as she left the house. Patty went down the stairs, and opened up the door at the end. Then she stepped into a large, low room. Looking around, she noticed a glove that belonged to Billie. She then summoned Betty to go for help. Patty herself was to stay and guard the house. Betty started toward what she thought v as the camp, but, in fact, it was just the opposite direction. She rode far before she realized her error. Then turning her horse, she noticed a small lake before her. On the lake and moving shorewards was a small boat, containing three people. Betty hid herself and watched. As the boat came nearer she could distinguish a small lad. It was Billie! Betty, perplexed, decided that her next move must be to hide and watch what the men did. The boat was headed toward a cove, where the men landed, with Colt revolvers in their hands. They then began walking toward a tunnel, Betty following at a distance. She got Billie 's eye, and his expression changed very quickly when he noticed her. Billie diverted the men 's attention to something in the distance while Betty crept closer and closer. Now, even though Billie was only seven years old, he was very wise. He began drawing closer to one of the men. Sudden- ly his hand went out like a shot and he snatched a gun from the smaller of the men. He quickly stepped back and cried, Put 'em up! Both men in surprise, instead of putting up their hands, rushed forward toward the boy, but Betty stepped in and, calmly said, The boy is right, put them up. Before the men could turn, she took the revolver from Billie, who quickly secured the other man 's gun. Billie obtained for Betty some rope which she had on her sad- dle. Then he held the gun while she tied the men. Betty decided to leave Billie as guard while she went back to Patty. Patty had become anxious while waiting, so she had left the house and gone back to camp. When she found that Betty had not yet returned, she gathered a crowd of people and started to find her. They had not gone far when Betty appeared and told her story. Then the girls went back to

Page 29 text:

THE CADUCEUS 23 spades and various other implements, went out and excavated a few skeletons. Then l went home, CI live nearbyj, and got some strong wire, strung it from the top of the steeple, and anchored it to the base of a gravestone. We then dug up a few more skeletons for a stage setting, and I must say we were scared, because it was the first time we'd ever robbed graves! l stood one old bag of bones behind a door to keep it open. It was very pictur- esque. Next I sent Bones for two five cent cigars, to be put into the mouths of two of the skeletons. We also secured some can- dles, and an old fog horn fused on the arkj , an alarm clock and a violin, also some sheets and a bottle of red ink. We sent word for Billy's brother, Simeon, to come. VVe nominated him property man. As soon as Bones returned, I dressed him up in the sheets and poured some of the red ink over him. I melted wax on his head and stuck a lighted candle on it. Bill struggled some at this last, but if I do say it, I can handle William Erastus Bones any day. Well, we were soon prepared for a first nighter. It became dark, and weird, eerie noises were heard all over the tumbledown place. We all felt a little shivery, I think. Soon four people came in. In the even- ing the church was very often used as a lovers' retreat. Soon two more individuals came in. I thought this audience large enough for a beginning, so I motioned to Simeon to start the fog horn. Those of the female species started screaming. Simeon shut it of Then he began to make a few discords on the violin, not loud, you know, but like the soft, mournful wailing of a spirit. As I could see that our uninvited guests were growing uneasy, I dared not delay tl1e main attraction. I lighted a candle and hurled it across the room. The folks thought it was Tinker Bell come back to lil' e. Over the church organ, I had already sawed a hole through the roof, to which Bill and I now mounted. I tied a cord around his waist and let him down. He began to moan. VVith the alarm clock under one of the sheets, he gave a line imitation of a death watch. Bill flapped his arms and out ran the audience. I then climbed to the Steeple and let out a whoop. Of course everyone ,turned to look. I slipped one of the skeletons down the wire. It surely looked uncanny, with that five cent cigar burning. tliater Bill Hnished it.j How those lovers hur- ried to leave l Of course this created a great sensation and at last reached the ears of old Johnny himself. He notified the press that he and a few other fogies would pay us a visit. Well, the great night arrived and every- thing went as before, until I let Bill down through the hole- in the roof. One of the old dutfers with Johnson, a fellow by the name of Nelson, thought it was the spirit of his first wife. He ran out to embrace the ghost, and too late I tried to pull Bones back. Bones dropped and fell into Nelson 's arms. Of course we were now discovered and our pictures and history oeupied the front pages of all the morning papers. But I realized my ambition-Cummings hired me and at present I am playing the lead in The Arrival of Kitty. i -Carroll, '30. The Complaint of a Fountain Pen I'm not very old-only seven months, but Iim ready to go to the world beyond right now. Maybe I haven 't had a hectic time! If not, no one ever did! VVhen I first opened my eyes, I knew my life was to be one of hardships, for the first thing I felt was five tough fingers slam-