Providence Technical High School - Review Yearbook (Providence, RI)

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1928 speed, was driven by a swarthy, furtive appearing man. A leather jacket and a slouch hat protected him from the wind, while the side curtains prevented the rain from entering. Nightfall and the cloak of fog permitted him to see only a few feet of the road ahead and made it a dif- ficult task for him to keep the road. To Norman the approach of the car was not known until the sound of the horn caused him to turn quickly. The pattering of the rain and the howling of the wind had swept out the sounds of the approaching vehicle, so that the warning came too late. Before Norman had time to spring aside, he was struck by the car. Bright flares of intense light flashed before his eyes and the last audible sound to reach his ears were those of a cursing man. II An observer sailing along the New England Coast could not fail to note the abundant supply of small rudely built shacks which had originally been built by the “Old Salts.” who used them to store their nets and other fishing acces- osries. Some were occupied by lone fish- erman. As the years passed, the original owners of them had disappeared and the buildings had been left to decay. But twenty years after the opening of the twentieth century, a few of the more re- mote and well hidden ones were devoted to a new use. Organized gangsters found these to be excellent posts from which to ply their nefarious trade. Contraband liquors received from schooners were cached in various of these and removed under cover of night, to their final des- tinations. It was in one of these cabins just de- scribed that Norman regained his senses. Minutes passed before lie could get his bearings. His mind was in a maze and his brains refused to work. Everything was topsy-turvy and the rude bed on which he lay seemed to be swaying in un- 103 earthly motions. As full consciousness was restored and his mind became clear- er. a realization of what had happened came to him. Where was he? Who had brought him there? Slowly he attempted to raise himself, but the pains which shot through his entire system changed his de- sire to do so and with a groan he settled back. His next step, that of voicing his return to earth, was an equal failure for the sound of a man’s gruff voice distinct- ly familiar silenced him. “I tell you, Bill, we’ll wait till the boss gets back, and then find out what to do with this guy. One of us ought to get him to a doctor.” “Aw rats, don’t get so chicken heart- ed. You remember the boss said we ain’t to budge from here till he shows up. Be- sides, the boss usta be a janitor in a hos- pital once. Maybe he can do something for him. Only next time you bump some- one. don’t bring him along.” “Shut up. That’s nothing to fool about. Bill, you ain't got no heart.” “I know it, you can’t have a heart in this game. I wish that doggone rain would stop. I hate to go out on such a bad night as this. Besides I’ll betcha a good drink the schooner don't show up to- night. The weather’s too rough.—Well, lets get out and see if we sec any signals yet. The boss says this is goin’ to be a big haul.” A door slammed as the two men left the cabin. Norman was left to himself in the dark room. So that was where he had land- ed ! A bootlegger’s hangout! What a fine predicament to be in. To do some- tiling and that immediately was the is- sue before him. Attempts to rise resulted in severe pains. Oh, if he had not let his temper overcome him. But remorse does not help when the deed is done. Nor- man’s only choice was to wait. The room in which he lay was almost THE TECH REVIEW

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102 THE TECH REVIEW 1928 on the scene. Norman’s deep scowl was quite a contrast to Roy’s happy smile which was only fuel for new anger. Leering at Roy he asked, “Who gave you permission to take Miss Winston to the social ?” “I beg your pardon, but 1 didn’t know you had a monopoly of .Miss Winston’s attentions.” Norman’s face turned red while his body trembled with rage. His speech failed him and his mouth opened to emit choking sounds. “You------you” “Norman Watson! Where’s your man- ners? Just for that you shan’t have even one dance tonight.” Then the bell rang and they parted to go to their classes. For the remainder of school session, anger and jealousey surged through Nor- man. Called upon to recite, he refused and when asked to make an attempt he replied rudely. The instructor resented this rudeness and Norman found himself in the principal’s office. The result was that Norman was sus| ended for a week. Various feelings surged through Nor- man’s bodv as he left the school. The desire for revenge was great. He knew that he had erred, but his pride would not permit him to apologize. All the trouble he attributed to Roy Marsden. The thought of seeing Claire, smiling and hap- py, in Roy’s company at the dance was enough to further provoke him. By the time he arrived home he had come to a dicision. 1 le would make Claire sorry for having slighted him. He would run away, go to New York and make his fortune, join the navv, or do something desjxirate. Someday, he would return a notable person and make her wish she had paid more attention to him. So ran the many thoughts through his mind. At home, he found no one. Working on the suggestion of his anger, he began to col- lect a few personal belongings and to cram them into his pockets. Then with a defiant look around him he rushed from the house. Norman had enough presence of mind left in him not to venture mount- ing a train at the local station. In such a small locality where practically every- one knew everybody else it would have been unwise to buy a ticket, especially if you knew the railroad agent. Norman decided that to walk the ten miles or so to the city was the most expedient method. There in the midst of the crowd there would be no difficulty whatever, and the chance of being traced was slight. So Norman had taken the highway with which he was little acquainted. At the cross roads, he had taken the wrong fork. Unmindful of the approaching dark- ness Norman continued his way along the uneven road. His feet were soaked; his shoes coated with mud from the soft road. From time to time Norman gave vent to his feelings by releasing mutter- ings from between his clenched teeth. Per- haps. these were not only to give way to his feelings but to keep up his courage as well. Without any explainable cause, Norman felt uncanny. In truth, the roar- ing of the surf, the weird moanings of the tree tops, and the suggestive forms of the moving objects made by the wind tossed landscape was enough to unnerve any- one. The isolated road on which Nor- man had shunted was one destitute of houses and rarely used. Norman began to feel a slight feeling of remorse for his foolhardy adventure. The thought of home and the warm meal with mother and “dad” anxiously waiting for him was the chief factor in quenching somewhat his anger. But Roy and Claire were there before him as well. No, he must go on for was he not to avenge an in- sult. As Norman continued, a car was ap- proaching from the rear. The automo- bile, running without lights and at a low

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104 THE TECH REVIEW 1928 in inky darkness, except for the small amount of light which entered through the several narrow cracks of the frail pe- tition. A window at the foot of his bed indicated that the night was well ad- vanced. The rain was pattering against the roof in a constant stream, and the wind was howling around the building, slipping in through the cracks and mak- ing a chilling current. In one corner of the room indistinctly outlined, was a pile of cases stacked to the roof. “Illegal liquor,” thought Norman. “If dad only knew about this.” Norman had hardly finished these ob- servations, when above the wind he heard excited voices of men approaching. Ev- idently the “boss” had arrived. The door burst open and from the sound of the scuffing feet and of the voices, Norman concluded that they were four in all. “Never mind about the guy in there,” said a voice which Norman took for that of the leader of the gang, “we ain’t got time to bother with him. We got to get ready for business. 1 just got word that the sleuth is out on a raid tonight. Joe saw him leave with five other men in his car and he left town in this direction. Course lie may not he after us, hut we ain’t going ta he found unprepared. Rill, you put on your slicker and get out there a couple cf hundred yards up the road. If you see any lights, breeze hack in a hurry. Get me?” “Right.” Now you men get that gun ready and bar them windows.” A bustle indicated all were hard at work. “Sleuth!” Why that was the name they called dad. Hope surged through Nor- man. The thought that perhaps his father was approaching consoled him somewhat. What would “dad” say when he found him there. Still, there was a possibility that the raid was somewhere else. Racked with pains from his bruised body and aching bones Norman realized the helplessness of his condition. 11 is mind was distracted from these dark- thoughts by the sudden return of “Bill.” “Boys, we’re in for it. A car’s coming up the road.” Norman’s heart lcajicd into his mouth. Dad was coming to his rescue though ig- norant of the fact. “Anybody that’s goin' to crash the gates in on us has got to face this toy.” a voice exclaimed, “a hundred shot per is not so good to dodge.” “Shut up.” This came from the leader. “Get down to work and let them open up first.” “O. K. boss.” The noise of an approaching car came out of the night. Then the sound ceased as the machine came to a stop under the protection of the trees a hundred or so feet away. An intense moment of silence followed. Then from outside a sharp voice broke the silence. “Hello there in the cabin.” Sure enough it was dad’s voice. The hail went by unanswered. For a few mo- ments, Norman heard the whispering of the men. “Hello!—Hello! In the name of the law we command you to surrender. We’ve got you surrounded so there’s no chance to escape.” Then the gruff voice of the leader an- swered, “Come and get us if you want ns.” The reports of revolvers followed and then the gangsters’ machine gun began shooting its deadly missiles. The combat was on. Norman was on edge. The gangsters were firing upon the officers. His father was among them and in danger. He must find some way of helping him. Gritting his teeth, as he swung his feet off the bed, he slowly rose to a sitting position.