Paris District High School - Yearbook (Paris, Ontario Canada)

Page 23 text:

'PARIS 'HIGH 'SCHOOL YEAR BOOK, 1943 13 said his visitor in a more determined voice. Yo-u see I came to . . Of course, interrupted John with an ingratiating smile, 'I'1l see about that to-morrow. The rent will be at your office before you arrive there to-morrow. Oh, the telephone! Ex- cuse me for a minute, please. After a moment, during which the visitor seemed to be trying to gather all his courage for the act of tremen- dous importance, John returned to the room. That plumber! he mut- tered. Who does he think that he is? Calling me and telling me that he can't come over until to-morrow! I cut .right in on his excuses and told him what he could do he wasn't over heme in ten nuinutesf' Well, if Ayou're expecting com- pany,,' replied the visitor .in a deter- mined voice, I'll get that pipe Hxed and be away before he arrives. Pipe fixed! Don t tell me that you are the . . . Oh! oh! oh! what will my landlord think of me for shouting at him like that? . Zhe Uhelt J was sure that Tom was the thief. I knew the moment I saw him glance shiftily around the room that lovely spring day as the principal vainly announced, A generous re- ward will be given to anyone who finds the thief of the stolen property by the person who lost this treasure. Thirty pairs of pitying eyes turn- ed to gaze at me: I lowered my head, the tears nearly brimming over again. Yes, I was the one, the vic- tim of such a ruthless crime. Why, I think I would rather have been murdered. As our last class drew to a close, my eyes again caught out suspicious- looking Tom. I decided I would fol- low him. As he left the room, I cautiously trailed out behind him. Before he went down the stairs, he again cast a hurried, half-frightened glance around the fast-emptying hall. But luckily I had foreseen this contingen- cy and was studiously looking at the Bulletin Board when he turned around. With a sudden spurt, he left the building-I close on his heels. Crou- ching near the ground behind the bushes, I followed the scoundrel to the bicycle shed. 'Here only two 'bi- cycles remained. My heart leapt as I realized I was now near my price- less possession. From the window I saw Tom again make a careful survey of the shed and the ground about it, a desperate look on his face. Suddenly I realiz- ed that, while in possession of such a valuable article, he would stop at nothing to keep it. I wondered if I should have brought some of my pals with me. But I did not have time to worry now. The thief stealthily ap- proached the other side of the shed and, stooping, raised a board near the wall and feverishly began digging in the loose earth with his bare fingers. I hastily yet silently crept into the shed, grabbing a heavy wrench from a shelf near the door. At last, with a cry of exultation. the criminal seized something from the deep hole he had dug. I rushed towards him and brought the wrench down on the back of his head. With a deep groan,- he crumpled to the floor. Then I grabbed my real rubber eraser from his now still fingers and rushed jcyfully out of the shed.

Page 22 text:

12 PARIS HIGH SCHOOL YEAR BOOK, 1943 tered. Not a soul was visible on the lonely Boulevard. Surely his suspicious were un- founded! Yet even then he felt that a pair of sinister eyes were closely watching the apartment house. Sud- denly, far up the street, he saw a vague form flitting in and out be- hind the long line -of trees bordering the roadway. Closer the figure came, until it was right in front of 'the building. It appeared to be that of an old man dressed in a shabby over- coat. Breathlessly Jim watched the man creep cautiously up to the door. Timidly at first the fellow knockedg then he tried the handle. Finding the door locked, he quickly Whipped out a small object and placed it on the step. Then, to Jim's amazement, he turned and skooted away as fast as his heels would carry him. A panic gripped Jim's heart as he watched the mysterious figure dis- appear into the distance. His heart 'jumped into his mouth when he re- called how countless characters of his favourite murder stories stories had been obliterated by an innocent looking time-bomb. Speed was essential now. He quick- ly retraced his steps and rushed back down the stairs, grabbing the fire extinguisher from off the wall as he dashed by. u There it Was, a small white object sticking under the door. Cautiously his fingers reached down to grasp it. He half expected to be blown into small pieces the moment his fingers touched it. But strange to say, no explosion occurred! Slowly and less fearfully he drew a white envelope from under the door. He gingerly peeked inside, now expecting a threatening letter. To his surprise a peculiar sort of tin- type photograph fell out together with a letter. As you passed our Studio down town this afternoon we took a candid photograph of you. If you are pleas- ed with our work you may acquire other copies at the studio by enclos- ing 25c in coin with this coupon. A marvellous offer! The Blurrem Studios. Hmm, mused Jim as he stared at the caricature of his more or less handsome face, no Wonder the fel- low ran away. Uh! Oh! By Robert Butcher ,ohn Jackson came briskly into the living room. Good morning, good morning, he cried eifusively as he grasped the hand of his visitor, a slight, meek-looking man. Yes, very nice. I am . . . Yes, yes. I was expecting you,' replied John heartily. It really is a nice house, isn't it? Couldn't de- mand anything better. Yes, beautiful, replied the man timidly as he looked around the well- furnished room. But I . . . H I know what you are thinking about-the walls in the nursery. Well, you know how children like to draw on walls. It is really n-ot very noticeable, replied John hurriedly in a slightly apolegetic voice. I wouldn't worry about that for you see . . . I know. You want to know about those paint streaks on the outside of the house. You understand these children, he interrupted hastily. Doesn't concern me in the least,

Page 24 text:

14 PARIS HIGH SCHOOL YEAR BOOK, 1943 Ute ueat By Eva. Scott I Jsclund trickled into the empty room. There was a scratching at the lock, and then the door open- ed and two people came in. The inky blackness was suddenly illuminated by the flare of a match. Its flickering light revealed a dus- ty, gloomy room with furniture shrouded in rumpled, gumy dust- sheets. It cast weird shadows on the dark, grim face of a tall, thick-set man and the pale, lined features of a small woman. The man's dark, heady eyes peered intently into the moving shadows. The woman trem- bled by his Side. It's sure cold and eerie in here, Tiny, she whispered. H-m, assented her grim compan- ion. Now, where did you say it is? She hesitated, but the hard face of her companion, almost ghostly in the semi-darkness, compelled her to speak. O-o-o-ver there by the door-the one leading into the hall, by that pic- ture. Oh, yeah, muttered the man. Eagerly he stepped towards the door. But suddenly the match burned out, and again left the room in a silent, heavy darkness. The man swore. And my last match. Nevertheless he crept unhesitantly forward, nearly forgetting the wo- man, now bent only on his quest. His steps never faltered. Stealthily he approached his go-al. Suddenly, shat- tering the dark silence, a smug, well- pleased sigh escaped his lips, then . . I've got it, he cried joyfully. The room was flooded with a quick, bright light. He turned smilingly to the woman, It's a wonder I found tne switch at all, darling-especially after a two months' vacation. al w.,..1.1.Jse werent .No one saw Lola come down the stairs. She had a way of going about unnoticed. As she placed her trembling hand on the brass door knob she hesitated for a moment, glanced behind her at the closed liv- ing-roc-m door, then resolutely walk- ed out of the house. Her mind was made up and she was not going to weaken now. The army needed girls like her. Lola had wanted to join the army for a long, long time but her mother had objected. There was plenty of time after she finished school, her mother had said. Anyway, Lola was far too young to go away from home. But after turning the questions over carefully in her mind, Lola decided that she was not too young. As she hurried along the frozen walks to the station, Lola thought of how proud her mother would be when she saw her in her army uni- form. At last she reached the station just as the train was pulling in. When the conductor came around to collect her ticket, she handed him her life's savings. How old are you little girl? ask- ed the conductor as he eyed the well- worn dime. Pm eight and I am not a little girl, replied Lola indignantly. Pm going away to join the army. ' At the next stop, the tearful Lola was left with the station agent to await the arrival of a train horne- ward bound.