Quincy High School - Goldenrod Yearbook (Quincy, MA)

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20 THE GOLDEN- ROD How The Flashlight Helped “Father, will you please give me a half a dollar. I want to get a battery and a bulb for my flashlight, so that Everett Harding and I can signal to each other,” said Donald Reed a bright boy of twelve, to his father. “That’s all you want money for, batteries and bulbs for that old flashlight. It has cost me ten times what it is worth, but here, you may as well have this,” and he tossed a half dollar to his son. Donald went to the hardware store and got a bulb and battery for his light. That night he was signaling to his chum, Everett Harding, who lived across the street, by the dot dash method. That night Donald’s father brought home a large sum of money, which he was going to deposit in the bank, coming from the office, but when he arrived at the bank, he found it was closed, and as the office would be shut, he took the money home for that night, and put it into his own private safe. Little did he know two crooks followed him to the bank, to see whether the money was deposited. They knew that Mr. Reed’s company deposited money every two weeks. They would have robbed him when he was carrying the money to the bank only he went through the business section of the city. The two thieves planned to rob the house that night. They kenw that Mr. Reed had a safe but that did not bother them, for they were both experts in opening safes. That night with a companion, they entered the house by a window in the rear and crept into the dining room where the safe was. They started to try and open the safe, using different combinations but that failed. They had ex- plosives but did not want to use them except as a last resort. Donald’s father was a light sleeper and a slight noise would wake him. While one of the crooks was trying to open the safe, the others were guarding the stairs. Mr. Reed was awakened by the noise made by twirling the combination of the safe. Scenting trouble, he took his automatic and went downstairs to investigate. When he got to the foot of the stairs, the crooks leaped upon him, then bound and gagged him. But he had time to cry out for help two or three times. Donald was awakened by the confusion below him. The boy did not know what to do then he thought about his flashlight. He took the flashlight and flashed it into a large mirror, he placed the mirror in such a position that it shone across the street into Everett’s room. By constantly flashing the light, he woke up Ever- ett, whom he saw come to the window. Then by dots and dashes he flashe’d his message to Everett, telling him to telephone for the police, as his house was being robbed and he could not reach his telephone. Everett woke up his father who quickly telephoned for the police. The crooks were unable to open the safe by trying different combinations, and they de- cided to blow open the safe. Just as the door of the safe fell off, the police had surrounded the house. Then two policemen went in the same way as the thieves had entered. Finding themselves surrounded, the crooks gave up to the police. After the excitement had died out, the boys became interested in wireless, and to show his appreciation to the boys, Mr. Reed bought them a complete wireless set.

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THE GOLDEN-ROD 19 Bellew. “Hello Shrimp, who won the debat- ing match?” Then suddenly catching sight of a pin on Shrimp’s lapel similar to his own, he exclaimed, “Where did you get that pin?” “Oh, this one you mean,” answered Shrimp, imitating Bulldog’s manner exactly, “I was captain of the first debating team that ever defeated Greenfield.” Then “the little runt” walked off. As Bulldog slowly followed him, his face broke into a broad grin, and he said to his chum, “Can you beat it?” “No I can’t,” answered his chum, “but such is life.” Roland Forsyth, T9. Snow-Bound Great excitement reigned among the mem- bers of Troop 2, Boy Scouts, as there was a photograph contest on, and about fifteen Scouts were entrants. That either Ted Wil- liams or Jack Knight, who were exceptionally fine photographers and Patrol Leaders of rival Patrols, would be the winner was the general opinion. Scout Master Wilson had offered a gold-plated cup as a prize for the winner, to be selected on Saturday, February 10, after six-thirty P. M.. All photographs were to come under the title, “Snow-bound.” Jack sent his specimen in on Friday and it certainly was a fine one, containing a story in itself. There was an old, dilapidated farm- house entirely coated with snow and ice, with a sagging roof and a crooked chimney from which rose a thin column of smoke. No paths had been shoveled and the surface of the two feet of snow lay undisturbed. From one of the large, front windows peered two small faces. Ted, evidently had not been as fortunate as Jack, for nothing had been heard of him at the club and several wondered what had hap- pened, but they knew that he would surely get his photo in before closing time. He went into the woods Saturday morning, however, and got his picture, but he was rather worried for fear it had been over-exposed, as he was cing thc sun when he snapped it. Hurrying half on Buff Enlarging paper. It was a beau- tiful scene of a small cave under a boulder, and near the opening lay a nest made of hay, leaves, twigs, and pebbles, held together with mud and clay. Curled up in it were three baby chipmunks which came out in their nat- ural brownish color on the Buff paper. On the outside, the snow had drifted up so that it resembled a small hut with the cave as an opening. Ted started out for the club-room with the photograph rolled up in the pocket of his over- coat. He was hurrying along whistling and was near the door when he heard a loud cheer and looking up saw his fellow Scouts in the window awaiting him. When he got inside he looked at the clock and saw to his surprise that it was six-twenty-five. After giving his picture to Mr. Wilson he walked over to the couch and lay down with as much indifference as he could fake. The fellows watched with interest the Scout Master as he eliminated photograph after photograph. By nine o’clock there were but two prints to choose from, Ted’s chipmunks and Jack’s farm-house. He studied them for fully forty minutes but he could not make his choice, so he decided to send them to a friend who was an expert photographer. The expert’s answer came with Thursday’s mail and he stated that were he the judge, he

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THE GOLDEN-ROD 21 BOOK NOTES MODESTINE (Travels with a Donkey and an Inland Voyage R. L. Stevenson.) In his “Travels with a Donkey” Stevenson has clearly described to us the disposition of the average donkey. Now, Modestine was no exception to the rule. She was usually a meek, little creature, but, like all her sex, subject to occasional bursts of pettishness. She would be jogging amicably along at a snail’s pace, when, suddenly, she would come to a dead stop, refusing to move another inch. Light lashes from a whip would not make her budge, nor would sugar lumps, brought along for that express purpose. She might be coaxed and coaxed the whole day long, but that would not move her. The only thing to do would be to lash her legs vigorously with the donkey- whip. Then she would start, and when the spirit moved, go along at a good pace. Modestine was very sure-footed and min- ueting along would lift first one slender foot and then the other in such a graceful manner. Carefully would she go along down the hilly roads, her small feet culping the cobble-stones. Perhaps she would hear some distant noise and cock up her velvety ears and stop dead still. Then again, if you were not discouraged you would use all your persuasions to make her resume her jogging. Barbara G. Chambers, T7. WHEN A MAX’S A MAX The author, Harold Bell Wright, has chosen the cattle fields of Arizona, as the setting for a most interesting novel. The story deals with the trials of Lawrence Knight, a rather worth- less, young, Chicago millionaire, in his at- tempts to “make good.” As a cowboy on a western ranch, under the assumed name of Honorable Patches, he works hard to accom- plish the work dealt out to him, in order to win the love and respect of a girl with whom he is deeply in love. With his constant good- nature and stick-to-it-ivness, he finally wins out. He captures the rustlers, with whom he is suspected of being in league, and proves himself worthy of the trust and confidence of his friends. He then finds that his efforts have been in vain, as the girl, for whom he has been trying to make good, has married an- other man. The story is well told and the author evidently knows his subject well, but he is very cynical in his prejudices against city life. Albert Baker, 1917. THE COMING OF THE TIDE—AN IMPRESSION (Margaret Sherwood) A most interesting book full of beautiful color descriptions of the ocean at sunrise, noon» and sunset. Not much of a plot, but so at- tractive in other ways that the plot is scarcely missed. Author’s love of beauty brought out wonderfully. Charming characters who hold one’s interest all through the book. A South- ern girl, passionately fond of the water, whom everyone comes to love for her frankness and winning ways. An old man, well-posted on the characters of his ancestors, who later learns that he is adopted and must give up all reference to traits inherited from his sup- posed ancestors. A young man, made over from a woman-hater to a lover, through the influence of the pretty Southern girl. On the whole, a book well worth the time spent in reading. Mabel G. Merigax, 1917. LORNA DOOXE “Lorna Doone,” by R. D. Blackmore, is a story of country life in the west of England. The leading character is one John Ridd