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

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1928 THE TECH REVIEW 107

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106 THE TECH REVIEW 1928 While thus reviewing the adventure of the past day, Norman heard the approach of someone. His father entered. “Well, son, feel any better? Doctor says you’ve got to stay there for a week or so. Lucky you didn’t get killed or maimed for life.” And as he said this, he smiled down at Norman. “It certainly was a close one. How did you find out?” “One of the prisoners told me how you happened to be there, but how you got over in that section still puzzles me. The biggest surprise I ever got was when I found you there. What were you doing so far from home?” Norman looked sheepish. “You see, I acted rather foolish yes- terday in school—disobeyed a teacher— so I was expelled for a week, and 1 got the idea of running away.” In this fashion Norman hid the real purpose. “So that’s it. Mother and I didn’t worry because we thought you had gone away to see the team play as you had planned. Its all over now. By the way. did you know that you are a hero? Look at this.” Mr. Watson tossed a newspa- per to his son. On the front i agc was the whole story. “YOUTH CAPTURES BOOTLEGGERS UNAIDED Norman Watson, Son of Noted Revenue Officer Holds Four Thugs at the Point of a pistol until father arrives—then Falls Unconscious.” The paper contained a detailed account of the feat accompanied by a picture of Norman. Norman read the article and smiled. Two weeks later, Norman was again well. Except for his broken arm which he must keep in the cast for several weeks, no effects of the blow lingered. Norman dreaded returning to school. Not only had his week of punishment ex- pired, but through his own fault another had been piled upon it. The additional work he would have to do to catch up to the class was not the cause of his dread. Norman dreaded the unavoidable meeting with Claire. Hadn’t he resolved to make her sorry? And yet the resolution had come to naught. Monday morning dawned. Norman left for school or as he expressed it, “to get it over with.” His way led past Claire's residence. Norman would gladly have taken a different route but sneaking around was not his way of doing things. Usually, Claire waited for him. Of course, Roy would have already replaced him. Just as he passed her home. Claire came out and greeted him. “Hello, Norman, I see you’re well again. I’m so glad to see you.” “Hello,” replied Norman sharply. Then he added sarcastically, “Waiting for Roy?” Claire glanced at him. “No. Roy has gone already. I was waiting for some- one else,” she said blushing. “Who?” “I’ll let you guess.” “It couldn’t be I.” “Yes, it is you.” Claire looked away. “What made you think it was Roy?” “Because—Because, oh hang it all, be- cause I made such a fool of myself two weeks ago. I didn’t think you would want to speak to me again.” “Norman, the fault is really all mine. Won’t you please forgive me. 1 accept- ed Roy’s invitation to see if I could make you jealous. I wanted to see if you real- ly cared.” “And have you found out if I care.” “Yes,” she replied softly, as she looked straight at him, “1 have.”

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108 THE TECH REVIEW 1928 The Pied Piper of the Dogfishes By John Edward Cook. '28 “What’s ’at? None of you fellows never hearn a dogfish bark? I reckon none of you ever had much to do with a regular longshoreman, did ye? Um-m-m. I thought not. 'Hie most you fellas know baout salt water is. that you dump your pork in it after you butcher your hogs in the fall. You know I used t’ work along the shore, quaugin’, an’ darnin’, an’, doin’ a little fishin’, in season. ’At was before I got the fool notion of bein’, nurse to cows an’, hogs an’ raisin’ my own perta- ters. By mighty. I wished I’d stayed there, too. Wa-a-1 as I was savin’ to you a coupla minits ago, there was a time when you could hear dogfishes barkin’ an’ yap- pin’ mighty nigh all the time.” The old man who had made these state- ments, reached into his pocket and pulling forth a plug of tobacco began struggling with frightful grimaces to bite off a chew, by thrusting the plug of Navy up under his left ear where he had a few fangs left. He passed the plug to one of his compan- ions, on request, who proceeded to worry a piece off. and then deposited the re- turned plug in his own pocket. 'Phe room in which these reminiscences were being narrated was the same as that in any small village store. Shelves with various brands and variaties of gaudily labelled cans of fruits and vegetables; barrels of pork, molasses, vinegar, and sour pickles ranged along the walls; sev- eral strips of flypaper hanging from nails driven in the ceiling and covered with deceased victims. There was a large stove in the center of the floor with a footrest worn smooth by the pressure of countless number of rubber boots and cowhide stogies. An iron rail, bolted to the floor, marked an enclosure of narrow boards filled with tobacco stained sawdust. The stove was surrounded by half a doz- en overall-clad gentry of the plow. They refreshed themselves from time to time with a fresh chew of tobacco or additional pipefuls of Old Pippin, “The Smoker’s Delight.” The old man continued his story with frequent pauses for the pur- pose of expectorating prodiguous amounts of tobacco juice at the stove. “About ten or twelve years ago, I was livin’ in a little place called Allen’s Har- bor. 'Phe place was a little bigger than this, an’ had somewhere around three hundred people livin’ there. 'Phe dogfishes had got to l c regular pests around there. By crimnieny! you couldn’t sleep for the racket they made. They would get in a gang out in the harbors; along about sun- down they would start in yappin’ an’ yap- pin’ until everybody was nigh stone deef. After it got good an’ dark, they would come out on the beach an’ eat anything that had been left around. We couldn’t keep any cats. The dogfish just simply drove ’em off. An’ seein’ there warn’t no cats, the rats an’ mice began to overrun the place. It got so, the summer boarders wouldn’t come there any more. Said that there was more noise there then in all creation.” “There was one of ’em, a movie ac- tress; an she shure was purty, too. Wa- a-1, as I was savin’, she had a pet tiger or leopard that she led aroun’ on a chain. That little pet sure could fight. It had all the dogs in the place licked to a frazzle. One night, that leopard started yowlin’ down on the beach. Then the dogfish started yappin’ an’ barkin’. About two