Red Bank High School - Log Yearbook (Red Bank, NJ)

Page 14 text:

IO THE ROUND TABLE escaped and being now somewhere in the vicinity. “Here is a chance to square myself with Mabel,” muttered David as he ran to the station. Having been chided by his best girl that he never posed as a hero or ever did anything heroic, he vowed that he would do something now; consequently he had gotten a job as cub reporter on the paper and had been given this opportunity !to see what he was worth. Arriving at the station he was just in time to hop into the auto as with a roar it shot past and was soon lost to view in a cloud of dust. The car had been hired by the Sheriff, a grim and determined man, who was now issuing orders to his posse, five in number. Much to his chagrin David was not given any orders since he, so the sheriff thought, would only muddle mat- ters. However, he resolved he would show that posse a thing or two. Shooting over a tunnel and gliding down a couple of blocks the car with a grinding of brakes, stopped near a «tone quarry, the place where the fugitives were supposed to be hidden. Each man took his position and David being left alone, walked along the railroad tracks. As the posse were searching around the place, a freight train began to roll slowly out of the yards. David sud- denly realized the sheriff’s mistake. In the excitement no one had thought of guarding the tracks and now with the freight slowly going out, what better chance than that for the fugitives to escape ? David at once began to yell and wave 'his arms to attract the attention of the posse, but they either didn’t hear or else they didn’t care, for no one answered him? Hi? fears were con- firmed when he saw two men in crim- inal garb suddenly leave their hiding place and with heads low, run for the train. Hastily looking about and seeing no one they caught hold of one of the cars and hauled themselves up. David, waiting till the last car was abreast of him ran out and catching hold swung himself up, also. The moment of battle had arrived, but he had formed no plan. He didn’t know just what step to take. He lay low in order to watch for any other move the criminals might make. The train steadily moved on its way bearing two desperate men, who would stop at nothing to gain their liberty, and a poor cub reporter. He climbed the box car and seated himself on top where, im- mediately, he was spotted by the fugi- tives. He could see them gesticulating fiercely but could no more understand what they said than the proverbial man in the moon. Their meaning was quite clear however, when he saw their men- acing attitude. He resolved to “stick it out” and hold his ground if possible. Knowing, as he did that they were desperate characters, he should have thought twice before venturing such a move, but this was no time for mis- givings; he must act, and act quickly. As he kept his eye on the criminals and they on him he saw the tunnel, over which he had passed a short time before, loom up dark and forbidding. Aware of the plight the fugitives were in he wished to warn them of their danger. The engine of the train was already swallowed by the tunnel, and suiting his thoughts to action, he began to yell and point with his finger towards the tunnel. Hastily turning around the criminals were just in time to gaze at the tunnel which seemed to be meet-

Page 13 text:

THE ROUND TABLE 9 audience who had known him in pre- war days were satisfied that he had lost none of his old time magic as he walked back and forth on the stage and conversed with voices in the air. But our istory does not deal with Jean Nole’. It deals with John Nelson, ex- army sapper and outpost man who, after all, is really no one other than Jean Nole’ himself. It was just such a night four years ago when, after an unusually brilliant exhibition of his genius, Nole’ had walked out of the theater, gone to a recruiting station, signed up as John Nelson and the next day had lost himself in a training camp. Several months later. Nelson is again heard of, but this time he is in a shell hole outpost somewhere in Flanders just beyond the American’s barbed wire entanglements. It is night but by the light of an occasional flare we see that Nelson is not the immaculate Jean Nole of yesterwnonth, for his uniform is faded with many washings and for the most part covered with “Flanders Mud.” The night is dark with not one single star in the heavens. As the hours pass the flares light up the sky less often until finally darkness reigns for fifteen minutes or more at a time. Suddenly we see Nelson straighten up! He strains his eyes and ears! Does he hear something or is his imagination playing tricks on him again Finally, off to the right, he sees figures moving and now and then he hears a subdued voice. He discovers that the figures are enemy scouts sent ahead to cut the barbed wire so that their men can easily penetrate to the first line without a heavy preliminary barrage. John watches silently for several minutes when suddenly he has an inspiration! In a very guarded voice he calls out. ‘‘Machine gun nest, number one!”; and off a few yards to the right, seem- ingly an answering voice returns, ‘‘Ma- chine gun nest number one on guard, sir, and anxious as H— to fire at those d— Bosches out there.” This last, lower than the first, but still loud enough to be heard by the Germans. As soon as nest number one has re- ported, other nests report, some giving a simple report, others like the first chafing at the authority which makes them withhold their fire. The Germans are so very much alarmed at finding themselves at such close range to enemy machine guns that' they quickly retire. More surprised than they, however, are the guards on duty in the trenches, for the guards know that no nests are out there. When John comes off duty, he is immediately surrounded by his com- rades who demand to know who was reporting from places where no men were stationed. Then Nelson explains to them that he had only resorted to his old profession for the moment to give the Germans a little scare. Apparently the ruse was even more effective than intended for the Germans were exceedingly careful to leave that particular stretch of trench very much alone for some time. J. M. K.. Jr., 23. -------o------ AN UNREGRETTABLE ADVENTURE —‘‘Now get a good story!” With this parting admonition from his chief, David Smith, Cub reporter for the Exeter Gazette, rushed out of the office. The object of his breathless haste was the news, that had quickly passed through the town, of two inmates, “lif- ers,” of the nearby State prison having

Page 15 text:

THE ROUND TABLE ii ing them. Too late! As they were about to leap off, the arch of the tunnel struck them both insensible, throwing them to the ground. David hastily getting off ran to them, where he found one stretched out with his back across the rail of a siding and the other lying on the ground. Seeing them thus he ran for aid. He met the chief and his men who by this time had guessed the prisoners’ escape, and had followed in the car. Quickly in- forming them of the circumstances he left the posse there while he and the chauffeur rushed for a doctor. The doctor was quickly brought. He ex- amined the criminals, and found that both had little chance, if any, of living, for one had broken his back and the other had fractured his skull. The criminals were taken to a hos- pital but a higher justice than man’s had called them to a final reckoning. Needless to say David was the hero of the occasion and he answered modestly to the hundred and one questions that were poured at him. He earned the personal commendation of the editor and also a reward of $10,000 which had just' been issued for the joint cap- ture of the criminals. But he was hap- piest of all when Mabel, blushingly praised him for his good work. A look at Mabel’s left hand will show why David is the happiest fellow alive. —D. P., ’23. -------o------- No matter how fast a clock may run it always winds up in the same place. HI-Y NOTES Last year, a club known as the Hi-Y was organized among some of the boys of the Senior High School. This organ- ization is a branch of the Y. M. C. A., and has for it's slogan, “Clean Living, Clean Speech, Clean Sport, and Clean Scholarship.’ Its purpose is to raise, in a quiet way, the moral standard of the student body. Several meetings and several sporting contests, such as swimming races in the pool at Asbury Park, were held. This year the first meeting was held in the Globe hotel where a fine ban- quet was enjoyed. Among those pres- ent were Mr. and Mrs. Seiber, Mr. and Mrs. Lovett, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Smith, and Dr. and Mrs. Hausman. Following the dinner, which was well seasoned by songs and cheers, Mr. Seiber expressed his thanks for having in the High School a club which stood for a higher morale of the students. Dr. Hausman’s address on “The Fundamentals of Suc- cess,’’ was of great interest and value to all. A review of the work of the past year and the prospects for the future, given by Mr. Joseph C. Smith, leader of the group, was followed by adjourn- ment. The club stands for Christian Char- acter. Surely every boy who wants to stand for the best things should join the club and thus lend his support to the elimination of the worst, and the cultivation of the best, in school and community life.