Richmond Hill High School - Archway / Dome Yearbook (Richmond Hill, NY)

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Page 12 THE DOME 7 THE SPANISH CLUB With a sudden gasp of terror, as his foot skidded from the narrow rung of the mast, Bill fell headlong and crashed to the deck with all the force of his 175 pounds. He groaned, and Wearily lay still in a crumpled tangle of legs and arms. Clancy and Hen, forced brutally out of their sleep, dashed up the ladder and lifted the unconscious hoy into the cabin. Meanwhile the storm had increased, and the hoat rolled drunkenly. Hen set off all the S.O.S. flares they had, hut in that drenching rain and driving gale it seemed ridiculous to expect any- one to see them. Bill hadn't regained consciousness, and the hoys were panic-stricken for fear he'd die he- fore they could get help. A piercing crack just then shook the boat and turned it over at a perilous angle. When Clancy came in, the two men lifted Bill into the life- boat and shoved off as the schooner shipped water and sank. This was much worse, but it was beginning to get light, and through the noise they could hear the motor of some boat coming towards them. A man yelled from the approaching yacht, and two sailors came down the ladder and carried Bill Eaton into the boat. 'L Will he live? Don't let him die! Oh, make him --i' The sentence died on the girl's lips as the look in the doctor's eyes forbade conver- sation. She turned and slipped quietly from the room.

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THE DOME Page ll it S. O. S. U rp 1 1 WS IG Bill Eaton, sprawling on the hard K5 trunk, scratched his head and grinned. ,Q.,.w,, at Gosh, Clancy,-'yi know my girlis one darn good sport! Why, she'd do an awful lot for me. Sheis believed in me when even my father refused to recognize me. Why, she- H Oh, Lord! he's at it again! '7 The other two in the tiny forward cabin exchanged re- signed looks. H Well, now, you fellows donit understand. She always- But Clancy and Hen had disappeared. Bill lighted his pipe, while in thought he traveled back to where he Hattered himself Gail Petersen was waiting for him. Hen Nelson and Clancy Duff, outside, leaned against the rail of the little coast schooner and tried to explain satisfactorily to themselves just where Big Bill had come from and why he had chosen to make himself one of them. For young Eaton was different, there was no getting around that. Though he was a darn good kid, and had a gay collegiate manner that made them laugh at any time, and though he tried to come down to their level in words and habits, still he was above them, and they tried vainly to understand the subtle difference. The boat was of necessity anchored because between them they hadn't enough money to buy more gasoline. Tomorrow theyid have to go ashore and get jobs. Bill's large frame appeared in the doorway, silhouetted against the light. 4' What ho! Ship ahoy! and all that sort of rot,,' he said. 'C Heap big storm comin' up! 7' Then, as he offered them his cigarettes, he added, You dumb guys can keep your old night- air. lim goin' to bed, where itis warmf, The others followed him down and crawled into their hunks. Soon nothing was to be heard except the rumble of thunder in the distance. Then a vague flicker of lightning showed on the horizon. While the boys snored peacefully, the thunder gradually grew louder and lightning flared in cruel jagged streaks across the sky. The wind blew waves over the deck of their boat, Companionate Marriage, while rain beat against the slender masts. Bill, aroused, went up on deck. U Hey, you big slobs, come on up and help put up the sail. We might as well make use of the windf, Clancy grunted, poked Hen, and they both went to sleep again. The young giant above waited a second, and then began to hoist the mainsail. He pulled and strained, but some- thing was twisted. There seemed to be but one way to solve the difficulty. He pulled on a big oilskin coat, and started to climb the treacher- ous ladder. Halfway up he paused to light a cigarette, which promptly went out, but it served his purpose, for he only needed some- thing to set his teeth in. Through tight lips he muttered to himself. Lord, he'd always hated thunderstorms, and this one sure was a corker. He wondered where his father was now. Why couldnjt he have been more tolerant, like old man Grosvenor? Jack Grosvenor had always been a lot wilder than Bill had been just once,-that fool, reckless night which had cost him his standing at Anna- polis and his place in his fatheris heart. It had not been entirelynhis fault, either. That girl - Well, he hadibeen pretty much of a cad. Gee, his father was all alone now, his mother dead, and now his only son- Oh, damn sentimen- tality, anyhow. Bill tugged at each rope till he panted for breath. He wondered what would happen if he should be struck by lightning. ,Would anybody feel badly? Maybe Gail would,w-maylJe-

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THE DOME Page 13 DRAMATIC GROUP - SPANISH CLUB In the hall outside she argued with herself. H I7m not selfish. I Want him to get well for his own sake, not mine. But, dear God, good- looking men come here so seldom! If someone has to die, make it a fat man with a bald spot, and let this boy get well. God, please-'i The little girl, who looked Fifteen and was actually twenty, stood tearfully in silence until a whispered command from the sick-room called her inside. ulVIiss Clay,', said the doctor, HI want you to do something for me. You see the boy's de- lirious, and he keeps calling for a woman named Gail. I-Ieis in a frenzy, and unless we can quiet him he hasnit a chance. I canit use a sedative for the purpose, because his heart has had too much of a shock to stand it. I want you to pretend you are this Gail. I know the Woman he means,- her last name is Petersen. You may have seen her name in the papers. She isn't worth the paper it was printed on,-- mixed up in all kinds of scandals, divorce suits, and breaches of promise. At present sheis traveling abroad with a man she didnit bother to marry. Her pet hobby is breaking conventions and tear- ing down ideals. Young Eaton knew her when he was in Annapolis. She was a cute little flap- per then, but she.has changed drastically. If he thinks you are Gail as he remembers her, he may quiet down. You've got to try it, anyway. Ann Clay, with many misgivings, knelt by the side of the bed and said softly, G Bill, I've