Orangeville High School - Red and Blue Yearbook (Orangeville, Ontario Canada)

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74 The brush crackled, A man and his horse approached the fire to say farewell. The men started and were speechless, confounded with surprise and bewilderment, The man was Steiner! He mounted, and with a salute, moved slowly, almost casually, out into the darkness. From that pit, as from an outer world, his voice came back to them. NI forgot to tell you that deuces were wild.n H H W - Fifth Egrnnjgyours UThe Forksn - by Margaret Rennick XIII If you keep your nose to the grindstone rough, If you keep it there just long enough, You'll soon find out, therels no such thing As brooks that babble and birds that sing. To help recall the days when we had time to go to shows and dances, fifth form decided to have a party at the Forks of the Credit. As it was a cool Friday evening, during the last week in September, the glowing warmth of the lodge's fireplace was greatly appreciated. About five-thirty, namemtags were given out, which sent every one in merry search of his supper partner. It was a man's size supper, prepared by the Umenw. The meat was a Dodds and Dods special, Mr. Sproule brought the choicest sprouts in southern Ontari Jackie captured one of the largest pumpkins in the Hockley Valley, and Messieurs Durkin and Phillips persuaded their cows to produce whipped cream for the occasion. It was a meal fit for only royality but after all we are the top students in the school. With appetites appeased, and feeling happy with the world, we relaxed before the open fire to sing the old favourites. CSome of these have decidedly newer, revised versions that seem to hold an equal popularityl. Mr. Smith is a terrific leader for a sing song and helped make ours a me orable one. Thanks a million, sir! Some one produced a volleyball, which started team.competi- tions until the tinkle of falling glass settled us down to a quiet game of'pass the life-saver. a treasure hunt, everyone to the delightful strains of come to an end, the members of 'hurried back to the grindstone , Our party was tops . After an automobile quiz and felt like tripping the light fantastic the piano. Since all good things must the party forgot their social life and for another tenn. However, we declare 22.85 0

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uf in ni, 'S 73 G' .A Tense. Moment ALQQHLAQ Oprnjire Q by Lois Meek XIII Twenty men squatted around the open fire. Their uniforms were tattered, their beards matted with the results of days and nights of hard riding. They waited, and only their stillness showed the tension of the moment. Wwho will ride ahead?W The question echoed out into the darkness beyond. Brave comrades had ridden off into that hostile blackness, and not one had returned. Unwary sentries had been snatched from their saddles, and had been found later bearing a silent message from the unseen enemies. . Wwho will ride ahead?W the young lieutenant repeat. Wwe must have a guide, but I cannot condemn a man to face death. I shall leave you to choose among yourselves.u For a long time the men sat silent, each taking mental stock of his neighbour - Pedes Armand, an adventurous funmloving Mexican who really had no part in this senseless warg Sogert, who had been raised in surroundings of Southern gentilityg and Zemurray, the roughest of bareroom gunmen. Each soldier compared himself to his neighbour in the shadowy light of the fire, and tried to determine how much more he had to live for than the next man. Finally someone suggested, NWe'll cut cards e high man rides. One by one each man turned from the light of the open fire to look at this man. It was Steiner, professional gambler and part-time soldier. Steiner Q the man who had been known never to lose a draw. A murmur went around the fire-lit circle Q it was agreed. Steiner produced a grimy, dogseared pack of playing cards, shuffled them, and spread them face down on the ground. The men began to pick in order of rank. Each man, from top sergeant to buckeprivate, made a silent prayer, then chose swiftly. For some it was a happy answer to the prayerg for others the open fire lost some of its warmth and comfort. These men had picked high cards e jack here, king theres each higher card adding a feeling of despair to someone but a respite to another. At last, amid the mutterings of the group, Steiner picked his card. It was the two of spades. This was the one draw the men had been sure of 2 Steiner was no man to lose when the stakes were so high. The cards were compared, and the loser, Armand, steeling himself to fight his panic, set out to make final preparations for his lone ride. With his departure, the blazing fire seemed to lose its cheerfulness. The men sat and stared into the flames, each thankful that he had been spared the fatal task. W

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