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

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10 TILE ROUND TABUS ton’s deserted house on Hollow Road. Enter, but be cautious. Search rigor- ously and you will find something to your advantage.” No name was signed. Only a tiny counterfeit of a green star glowed blandly. A strange thrill pulsed through Ruth as she re- read the words. And the same impulse, the desire to tell her friends, Tom par- ticularly, prompted her to obey the queer message. Pulling her coat still closer to her so as to evade still more the biting cold and the rasping wind she made her way not at all nonchantantly to the appoint- ed place. A chill clutched her as she saw the house. “How dark, how for- bidding it appears! Shutters flopping! Could any place look more decadent?” Tingling with excitement' and still drawn by the irresistible influence, she tremulously approached the house. The door yielded and she entered. But it swung shut so suddenly, impelled by the wind that she could scarcely restrain a cry of terror at the appalling noise it made. She felt a strange chill come over her and imagined she could discern wierd figures slinking through the hall ways. What a thing to tell Tom indeed but how much pleasanter to have Tom with her all this time? Of a sudden she stiffened. Out of the blanket of darkness which envel- oped her, came a scream which curdled her blood even as she recognized the voice to be Tom’s. “Help, for God’s sake! Ruth, Ruth Sounds of a struggle and a long drawn final wail of pain. Ruth was transfixed with fright but after what seemed an eternity she came to herself and leaped in the direction from which the sound had proceeded. She again flashed the light—now somewhat dimmed—and saw in its wan glare her old friend Tom, in the devastating grip of a huge fiend who was relentlessly choking what little life he had left to him. As in a dream she realized it all. The mad man had lured Tom out there to murder him and not content with that savagery lured good old Tom’s pal too. Enraged, Ruth picked up a knife which lay on a table and cried—“Leave him alone, you fiend!” and raising the knife, she took a step forward. Fatal step! Tom’s oppon- ent paused, and in a fraction of a second touched a button concealed under the table. ‘‘Fool, fool,” he shrieked. Ruth sensed what would happen and tried to side step but too late. The floor seemed to slip away from her and with the awful laugh of the mad man ringing in her ears and the last harrow- ing spectacle of Tom, burning her eyes, she fell down—down—down hitting bottom with a tremendous bang. Rue- fully she rubbed her head and -opened her eyes—to look into the face of her mother! “Ruth, dear! you’ve frightened us to death with your groans and screams. At first we thought that you were ill but seeing the mystery story guessed what had happened.” Shaking her drowsy, bewildered head, Ruth arose and made her way towards the stairs. “Mother,” she called, “if you see any green stars, save them for me until morning. Good night! ”

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THE ROUND TABLE 9 be. I wish there was something else to do.” She turned the leaves of the book slowly, idly glancing at the pict- ures and laughingly said—‘‘It makes charming reading, but' such thirtgs don’t happen in real life. I, for one, have never had a real adventure.” Laying the book down, she rested her chin in her hand and gazing into the flames plunged into a profound revery. The winds meanwhile kept up its dis- mal howling. Ruth shivered at the sound of it. More and more piercing- ly it howled, then suddenly at the peak of the crescendo, seemed to pause for breath and Ruth heard a tap-tap sound from somewhere, seemingly close by. Winds whistled ominously in the chim- ney. The lights flickered. A log in the fireplace fell in myriad fragments, showering tiny sparks as it crashed. Ruth was terrified. Tap-tap-tap—came the sound again. She turned, fear crystallizing into action. Cautiously, she made her way to a window irresistibly drawn by some preternatural force. Peering out she discerned just below the sill a muffled figure, she could not see the face, but she felt burning eyes fixed relentlessly upon her. She gazed at it awed to the point of immovability. From its cloak a hand crept out' and held before her fright-glazed eyes a star cut from some strange fabric and of a phosphorescent green. Then a muffled hollow voice intoned the single word “Come!” And the figure disappeared. Ruth stood irresolute. Half afraid, half tensed with excitement. ‘‘What a chance for adventure!” she cried final- ly. ‘‘Shall I go or— but why should I be afraid? Nothing can harm me. Besides—what fun it will be to tell people, Tom especially at the dance tomorrow night!” This last idea cap- tivated her. Hurriedly, she donned her coat and hat and slipping on heavy gloves, left the house. Once outside, however, she lost the confidence which had so helpfully buoyed her up. For where was she to go? Surely the figure had said “Come!”—but where? Sev- eral minutes she stood there expectant of some clue, but finally somewhat vexed, she turned to re-enter the house. Co-incident with her movement, a green star appeared on a nearby tree. Of course, she gave up immediately all thought of going again into the house and walked towards the star as if hyp- notized. Her course was now plain for it was evident that her mysterious guide meant to drop these stars all along the way. On and on she went, led by those strange clues, now on trees, on fences on houses, or on sidewalks. So intent' was she on her way that she lost all cognizance of her path and did not notice where it was leading her until at last, looking up, she found herself at the edge of a shadowy glum forest. Here the trail ended. Although she looked about and flashed the light she had brought along, almost with unwit- ting cleverness, she was unable to find any more clues. Disappointment and gloom overcame her and so highly keyed had she been to her task-—if it may be called that, that she very neatly collapsed. Steering herself she turned and commended the weary walk home. Gloomily back over the trail she had just traversed so ardently—went Ruth, when abruptly she stopped and bent over a small packet upon which winked leeringly a green star. Timorously she picked it up, then with growing exhil- eration tore it ope nto find a small paper bearing this: ‘‘Go to old Wab

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TILE RO U XI) T A BEE 11 ttoTeS SENIOR CLASS NOTES Since the custom of going to Wash- ington for a graduation trip has been inaugurated every class has devoted a great amount of energy and time in raising money to take the trip. Dances, cake and candy sales., etc., are all held for one purpose, namely, to make money. The officers of the Class can p.an dances, and cake sales, etc., but if they are not backed by the entire Senior Class, what will it avail them? Everything that has borne SUCCESS in the school or class has been so borne by the support of all,—not' a few! Therefore, realizing this fact, we, the members of the Senior Class, should give as much support as possible to our Class. If you can answer all of the following questions in an affirmative statement you are backing your class; if you cannot answer them in an affir- mative statement you are not backing your class. 1. Are your dues paid up? 2. Did you give or buy a cake at the last cake sale? 3. Did you buy tickets for the Christmas Dance? 4. Are you a supporter of the candy department? The class constitution was adopted at a recent meeting. A committee was appointed to select a class motto and flower. At a later meeting this com- mittee reported and the Class chose “Rambler Rose” as the flower, and “Success Reflects Effort” as the motto. There will be more dances in the future and the proceeds will go to- wards financing that Washington trip! So while we are enjoying ourselves, we are at the same time providing money for future enjoyment. The candy sales committee reports that the profits are rolling in fast. Cul- tivate a sweet tooth and help the class at the same time! “Take advantages of the opportun- ities that life offers.” This has been the advice given to many a student, and is undoubtedly good. The old fellow with the crop of hay on his chin and barren land on her head, will tell you all his troubles. He will tell you of the hard times he had when he was a boy and how he never had a chance to succeed, and that if