Salem High School - Clarion Annual Yearbook (Salem, OR)

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18 THE CLARION came, and with her head high, swept majestically past him, looking nelther to the right or left. Jerry was stunned. He scarce could realize what had happened. He moved not until the light footsteps died away and again all was quiet. , iiSo she thinks Iim guilty, too, he soliloquized sadly. iiWell, perhaps 1t does look worse than it seems to me. I, a thief! a thief! 1, Jerry Long- bones, the soul of honesty and honor, a thief! No! My name shall be cleared of such a stigma! Butf, and his voice fell to a softer note, it Ithought Evelyn knew me, I thought I had a friend in her. Nevertheless, I stay here till the puzzle is solved. Oh, what will mother say, all her affections entwined about me, and father, hard and unsympathetic. ,Twill break her heart, ,twill break her heart? Had J erry known that when Evelyn May first saw him coming toward her in the moonlight she gave a start and flushed With pleasure his feel- ings perhaps would not have been so bitter. But she had seen Jerry walking home with another girl the day beforeeanother girl who had deep blue eyes and looked like a China dolleso she determined to make him pay dearly for his pleas- ure. She quite forgot Jerry was under a ban and only knew that within her burned a desire to speak to him, but she smothered it and swept past him as before related. ' She had hardly gone ten steps when she began to regret her action. She wanted to go back and tell him, but her pride would not let her, she want- ed to run but dared not. When she reached the shadows of the maples she turned quickly. Jerry was slow- ly moving on, seeing nothing. iiJerryfl she whispered, iiJerry, I did not mean that. Jerry! Jerry, I-- She stopped with a sob as she thought of the charge against him and the light in which her action would probably be taken. A How? Jerry got to his rooms he never knew. He found the door a-jar and wondered slightly. It was dark within and though Jerry was thor- oughly familiar with the place he stumbled around as if dazed. He spoke aloud as he hunted for the matches. ti lTwas a scurvy trick and? his tone unconsciously grew stern, iiif I ever find out who did it thereill be somebody hurt. Wonder if Iive got any friends left, he sighed as he struck a match. iiYou just certainly have? said a cheery voice from the other side of the room, iiYouive got one right here thatis going to stand by you, by the shades of Shakespeare and Baconfi Jerry started and when he saw who it was he said, iiHello, Marks, 17m mighty glad to see you. I thought they all had gone. Yes, mighty glad I,Ve got one friend? iiWell, Iim glad to return the com- pliment. But say, the old man did not forbid you the team when he suspended you from your classes did heim iiNof Jerry replied, iibut I expect the team will object now. Jerry was one of the best men on the team and Marks, the track man- ager, was not going to allow him to quit after he had had a good two months training. The track event of the year was yet to take place, when W would endeavor to retake the laurels lost last year to C . Jerry was the one on whom the manager mostly relied, though he did not make it fully known to him. In another week the event would be pulled of and the manager was afraid that tne difliculty into which Jerry had been plunged might incapacitate him to engage. But as no objections had been raised he would continue his training as if nothing had happened. iiAs for the other fellows, said the manager, as he left Jerry, iileave them to me and donlt worry. Every- thing will turn out for the best anal you will win the cup. The dOOr slammed and he was gone. The week passed slowly and was uneventful. No change had come in Jerry,s affairs. As he had been for- bidden to enter the ,Varsity building. he had devoted his time to training for the meet. But every day the members of the track team greeted him in silence and with cold, disap- proving looks, and if it had not been for the friendship of the manager, J erry, in discouragement, would have given up in despair. . It was here on the track that J erry

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THE' CLARION 17 affairs with the air of a professional. I went to the hospital and there met the nurse again. This time I rec- ognized hereMiss Helen Phillips, who had given her life to the aid of the'poor, sick and injured. I triel to get an interview but she was whisked off on another errand of mercy and I had no farther chance. 9-0-0- The week was a most wonderful one to me. I felt like the old times of ,06 were again being lived and the happy and pleasant times when the Seniors put Tennysonis tiP.rincess,i on the stage being re-enacted. May the memory of those scenes never fade from the film of memory. vjerryis Ziampd. I By ' PERRY REIGELMAN, 06 Jerry was troubled. Across his fine, manly face came and went eX- pressions of deep anger, wistful long- ing, and occasionally a revengeful scowl. In his usually mild blue eyes there rested an ominous glitter. His head was bowed and he stared at the path, though he scarcely saw it. Through him surged emotions of whose existence he had scarcelV dreamed. He was fighting a battle and the contest was doubtful. As the twilight deepened Jerry became calm. He lifted a pale, drawn face and gazed at the now peeping stars. Their soft, tender light, looking so calmly down through the increasing night. reassured him. Presently a round, full moon arose, glorious in her mellow light, and Jerrv solemnly thanked the wood Lord for putting in him an ardent and devout love for Nature. He looked around, thinking that perhans some one had observed him. All around was quiet, save for the gentle rustle of the Wind through the maples. Jerry was standing erect now. the storm having passed, leaving no trace except a firm set jaw and a determined light in his eye. iiI will face it, no matter what comes or what it may mean! 1,11 face the charge! Iill show them that its falselil Slowly Jerry said this. He meant it. He would carry it to the very end when once his mind was fixed, and nothing, save a thunder- bolt, could stop him. Jerry started for his rooms. AS. his footsteps died away, from be- neath a low bush, not far from where he was standing, a dark figure crawl- ed swiftly and took an opposite di- rection. In his hand he carried a small gardenerts trowel, which he fingered nervously. Presently the dark figure neared a swift flowing stream and in it dropped the trowel saying, tilt was a pretty close 'call, but I have him now. J erry walked on slowly. When in the distance he heard light footsteos approaching he straightened himself and took a quicker stride. Then. out into the moonlight there steonei a prettv girlish form, that Jerry knew. He recognized her almost in- stantly and his heart involuntarilv gave a great jump that set his blood tingling. It was Evelyn May. the girl that Jerry met on the train when he came to the lvarsity tour vears before. He and she had been intimate friends ever since she res- cued him from the hazing Sopho- mores. Besides. it was whispered openly that there was more than mere friendshio 'in the matter. but nothing definite was known. Jerrv wondered- not without anxiety, what she would do. Would she scorn him as had others that very dav! Would she brand him as a thief, too. or would she believe in him and face the conseouenoes? These Questions rushed through Jerry,s brain lilre wildfire as he anoroqched her. When she was within a few feet of him he stopped and waited, his heart thumping painfully. On She

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AVW r3 331w. 'e ' THE CLARION - 19 most frequently met Conway Mc- Kahn, a dark, tall and supercilious looking fellow, who had given him a race for the company and regard of pretty Evelyn May. As to who had the best of it so far none could tell, but as to general opinion Jerry had the lead. This accounts for the rival- ry between the two in scholarship and athletics. They were a pretty even match and the contest ran close for both were bright, quick and de- termined. Then when Jerryls fall came Conway McKahn led the hostile forces against him. He was almost too energetic in voicing his opinion of Jerryts guiltiness. More than once he let such words fall that both J erry and the manager looked sharply at -McKahn who quickly recovered him- self though he did leave a suspicion in the minds of both that he knew more than was good for him. But day after day passed and still noth- ing definite was known. The mystery was as insolvable as ever. Then came the Junior reception just two days before graduation. All the Seniors except one were there. Everything was bright an l. gay, every one was happy. The pretty girls, all in white, made a picture that would live in the memory forever. The fragrant perfume from a myriad of flowers seemed to enfold the whole company in a sea of odors. And in the midst of this fliry-like scene Evelyn May passed, the gayest of the gay, the wittiest of the witty. Wheiu ever she was she was the center of an admiring group. But try as she would she could not escape the pres- ence of Conway McKahn. She wished for Jerry and, though she'knew he would not be there, she anxiously scanned the company, hoping to de- ceive herself and find him. While the strains of a waltz float- ed through the old historic building Evelyn escaped the throng and found herself in her favorite haunt beneath the maples. Scarce had the last note died away when a step sounded be- side her. She turned and saw Con- way McKahn looking intently at her. She trembled. Then their eyes met but hers returned not the warmth that burned in his. She waited in silence for him to speak. Cooly he began, in an even, patronizing tone that made Evelynls independent soul recoil. ttI have come for my answer, luiss Evelyn. What shall it be? and his lips parted in a cool, sardonic smile. ttIt is as I said it would beeNo! said Evelyn with all the hauteur she could command. . Knowing then that he was beaten 1n that race, McKahn, without a word, strode away into the darkness. But when he was out of Evelyn,s sight, in spite of the severe blow given to his pride, he chuckled when he thought of the predicament in which Jerry was. Then he greW' stern and he resolved that he would not allow himself to be beaten by J erry in the race for the mile cup. The next day. was the great meet. It dawned clear and bright, an ideal day. All the contests were pulled off and the two schools were a tie. Everything now depended on the mile race. The grandstand was filled to over- flowing; the side lines were crowded. Purple and Gold in the east and Car- dinal and Crimson in the west float- ed in the breeze. All was excitement, deep and intense. Now the contestants enter and trot across the field to the starting point. As each one takes his place a deafen- ing roar greets him, all except J erry, whotakes his place in an ominous silence. With a sinking heart J erry kept his face to the ground, then as if by an irresistable power he turned and looked over the crowd, a proud smile on his lips, until he met the dark brown eyes of Evelyn May. At once he dropped his eyes, but not until two swift messages had been exchanged. Now the men are ready to start; now a shot rings out, and they are off. The great race is being run. As Jerry started he felt the warm blood tingle through him and it seemed as if his feet had wings, so swift he flew. Round the first lap they came, all four abreast; round the second, one man from C in the lead and Jerry and Conway side by side; the third remained the same; on the fourth J erry and Conway take the lead. They were nearing the goal and everybody was wild. When within one hundred yards of the line