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

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6 THE ROUND TABUS AJ1 of the school’s enthusiastic mem- bers trooped out on the court to con- gratulate the players and as Betty looked about for Ed, she saw him com- ing towards her, grinning from ear to ear. Betty was ready with a word of commendation when she saw his face change and he quickly turned about and walked from the gym with a fellow player. What could possibly have hap- pened? Why had he so suddenly changed his friendly attitude. And what was she to do about the dance that night? These were just a few of the questions which teemed in Betty’s perplexed mind as she walked abstract- edly along with the chatter of her col- legiate companion ringing unheeded in her ears. Meanwhile, Ed hurried from the field, murmuring Why did he have to be along again? Couldn’t he have stayed away today?” His friend’s conversation broke in upon his gloomy thoughts, He is one of the finest fellows I know.” Who?” asked Ed absently. Why, Betty Morris’s brother, just home from college,” supplied his friend. Don’t know him,” said Ed. Too bad, fine fellow and very de- voted to Betty, takes her everywhere. He was with her this afternoon.” What?” exclaimed Ed. The heavy slap on the shoulder that Ed’s friend received was always a deep and unexplained mystery to him but Ed’s own little mystery was cleared up and he lost no time in reaching a tele- phone and then using it to advantage. It might be said in passing that Betty had a forgiving nature and realized that slight misunderstandings are likely to occur even in the best of circles. WE GO ADVENTURING It was a day off at boarding school but strict orders had been given not to leave the grounds and we were left to amuse ourselves as best we were able. It seems that on this particular day, everyone was waiting for something to happen, but as nothing happened that was in the least exciting, and as noth- ing seemed likely to occur, we decided to seek some form of enjoyment by which to beguile away the time. Someone suggested a hike in the mountains immediately adjacent to the school limits. This had been forbidden us, but that only made the project that much more alluring and hastily we made ready and shortly after met at the foot of the mountain. We began the ascension. It was rough traveling, but we didn’t mind as we had heard many wierd stories about the place and were quite interested in it. We had been walking for several hours when we found an overgrown bypath which we followed and at length came to a surprisingly large level stretch of ground upon which stood an old house. An imposing structure it was in spite of its decrepit condition, looking rather like a medieval castle. Timidly, we approached it and trying the massive door found it locked. But a locked door only served to increase the charm of the mysterious place and we sought until we gained entrance. Once inside, however, the place did not appear so alluring. Cobwebs hung like mists, myriad bugs scurried here and there, floors creaked as we set appre- hensive feet upon them. The air was heavy and to us, fresh from the invigor- ating atmosphere of the outdoors, al- most sickening. The dirt of the place

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THE ROUND TABLE 5 DON'T BELIEVE IN SIGNS All the fellows at school liked and admired Ed Dickson. He was not especially good looking nor was he one to attract much attention, but then, he was a good, clean sport and a won- derful basketball player, a consistent star in the court battles. Ed had prom- ising virtues and he might have been an exceedingly popular person but he had one serious drawback and that was his utter indifference to the fairer sex. Seemingly, he did not like girls but he actually had been attracted to one from the first day he had arrived in the town, but on that same occasion she had been accompanied by a tall fellow of collegiate appearance and to Ed’s mind she was one of those marked “Taken.” Thus, his apparent uncon- cern. The girl, Betty Morris, was most congenial, quite popular and secretly very fond of Ed Dickson, although she was practically certain no girl could ever impress him. Sometimes all we need is a spark to set afire our sentiments and bring out our real selves. The excitement of the basketball game for the district cham- pionship served to supply the spark es- sential in this particular case. On entering the gymnasium for the game that Friday afternoon, Betty felt someone take her arm. She turned, and to her surprise, saw Ed Dickson standing by her side. She called forth her very best smile as he blurted out: “If we win, will you go to the Senior Dance with me tonight?” In her aston- ishment, Betty accepted as abruptly as he had asked, and with a very delicious tingling she quickly took her place among the other boisterous supporters of t'he school. Ed ran swiftly out on the court to join the others, thinking to himself, “I’m glad I asked her; after all, -that fellow isn’t with her today.” The game progressed and at the end of the first half, Betty was joined by the handsome fellow of Ed’s apprehen- sion. Dickson played a wonderful game, scoring the winning point by tossing a pretty basket just before the time whistle blew. The game was won; and Betty was going to the Sen- ior dance with him! What more could he ask!

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THE R O U X1) TA BI .E 7 jarred upon us after the immaculate- ness of the school and we explored dis- passionately, finding nothing of more than a passing interest. Ascending the wide staircase though proved a more stimulating task. I do not know whether we went up so slowly and timorously because we expected it to fall with us or that we thought to be knocked unceremoniously right down again by some unknown evil lying in wait for us or what it was, but our boredom gave way to a tingling and we regarded each other with rather scared expressions. The feeling per- sisted as we explored the upper story and we fairly shook as we finally found a door which was locked. Resolutely we battered it down and entered. A quick glance around revealed nothing. An impulsive pull however, at a closed door brought' immediate results. The door clattered from its hinges and amid a cloud of dust hit the floor like a cannon shot. Our first impulse was to run and to run fast! Fear held us glued to the spot and after collecting our scattered wits, we hauled out an innocent looking trunk which was at the otherwise empty closet. We literally dove into the box. And it was almost with disappointment that we saw only papers in it. The greater number of them written in a foreign language. Searching further, we found a small sealed packet. Like the locked door this seal seemed to conceal mys- tery and we lost no time in breaking it. One of our number translated the small paper which it contained. It was almost with horror that we learned it to be the confession of the murderer of Monsieur --------. The murderer’s father an exiled French nobleman, had formerly resided in this house and had so concealed the paper in order that his son, the real murdered might be saved from prison. After hearing that dismal account' of the murder, the house took on for us, a horrible aspect and we hurriedly made our exit glad to be once more on the trail and at length to find ourselves safe at school. Fearing punishment, we were at first resolved not to disclose to anyone the content of the paper but our happiness was unbounded when, after showing the packet to the Dean, we learned that our unwittingly happy discovery had been the means of pardoning an innocent man and the bringing to jus- tice the murdered of the unfortunate Monsieur ------------. But our escapade had not gone en- tirely without notice, nor was our sub- sequent good deed ample grounds for the pardoning of our disobedience. We were punished, I shall not say how, but you may be sure, we never went out again in search of excitement. -------o------- THE WISH BONE “Here, Tom, help me pull this wish- bone,” Uncle Jim reached across the table and Tom grasped the other end of the wish-bone. “Ready, Tom?” “Ready! ” The wishbone snapped and Tom joy- ously held up the larger end. “Hur- ray,” he shouted, “I’m sorry you lost it. Uncle Jim, but my joy is greater than my sorrow.” Tom’s father and mother smiled and Uncle Jim, the Thanksgiving guest, tried to look sorrowful but, failing ut- terly, burst into a hearty laugh. “That’s all right, Tom. I wished that you would get it so my wish came true anyway.”