Somerville High School - Radiator Yearbook (Somerville, MA)

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JO SOM KKVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR A Summer See Agnes Mongan, 1922 T was at the end of New York’s winter season. No more social affairs were being held in the city, instead the society columns of the papers which usually gave descrip- tions of “brilliant social affairs” were naming prominent women as having closed their town houses and left to spend the summer season at liar Harbor or elsewhere. Marjorie Loew for the first time was inter- ested in the Bar Harbor notices. She was a typi- cal American girl of nineteen, medium height, with dark brown hair which had a tendency to curl, laughing brown eyes, and the rosy cheeks of a gir! who enjoyed outdoor exercise. She was a thoroughly modern young person, much to the dismay of her maiden aunt. Miss Loew. The Loews lived in one of the conservative homes on West 59th Street. New York. Marjorie’s father, a broker, was a comfortably wealthy man who was very little known except in his own business connections and then as a quiet man but one with an excellent business head. His wife had died when Marjorie was eight and his prim sister had come to live with him. Much as she had tried to change Marjorie’s ways, she had failed, and now that young lady had finished her second year at a college where she was learn- ing how to run a house, to her aunt’s horror for anv young girl to have such foolish ideas. It was a rainy Saturday morning of the last- week in June, as Marjorie was reading the paper and saw the Bar Harbor notices. Raising her eyes from the paper she asked: “Aunt Luella, have you ever been to Bar Harbor?” And that lady had replied: “Why, no. Marjorie, of course not.” “Well, you are going there soon.” And in less than a week Marjorie and her aunt were established in a Bar Harbor hotel for the summer. Marjorie had taken her own low hung car, and as it terrified her Aunt Luella to drive with her, she was usually seen alone. The town of Bar Harbor is unique. If you arc there for a stay, you are either a wealthy “rusticator” or a native. The road which circles the island of Mt. Desert is bordered by beautiful summer estates looking out to sea. Several large lintels accommodate the summer visitors. On the main street arc branch stores and the inevitable “movie” theatre. In the morning there is plenty to do, but the whole town seems deserted in the early afternoon. Marjorie was an active young girl and she did not wish to stay about the town at this time, so she fell into the habit of riding out every afternoon along the beautiful shore drive, hiding her car in the bushes off the road and sitting for hours on the great rocks listening to the surf and watching the sea. Sometimes she brought a book, but compared to the graceful flying of the gulls, who swooped down, occasionally, to catch a fish, or the thun- dering of the surf against the red cliffs, the book was uninteresting. Day after day found her comfortably established on the rocks, and grad- ually she began to recognize the boats that passed; the smaller pleasure craft, the fishing smacks and the schooners coming to and from the Grand Banks. One boat puzzled her. As it rounded the point into Frenchman’s Bay it seemed to be a pleasure yacht, but as it grew nearer its appearance was that of a fishing smack. One day she brought with her a power- ful pair of binoculars and gazed steadfastly at the entrance to Frenchman’s Bay. So intent was she that a shift of wind went by unnoticed, as did a gray line that gathered on the horizon, and as it grew larger, turned into a heavy fog. A boat finally appeared, and Marjorie had only time to notice it was a private yacht, when it was swallowed up by the fog. For a while she sat gazing dreamily, only to find, with a start, that she. too. was enveloped in the fog. which had calmed the waves and increased the power of sound. The sound she heard, however, was not the rolling of surf, as it had been an hour ago. bli- the steady chug chug of a gasoline motor. She stood poised on a rock, when a rift in the fog showed her a familiar gray fishing smack head- ing unconsciously for the rocks. Marjorie uttered a piercing scream. She saw two startled figures look up and the water churned into white foam as its forward motion was hastily checked. She fled to the road, started her car. and. as a vent to her nervous feelings, drove to the hotel in a reckless fashion, miraculously escaping a collision. Miss Loew was quite as excited as Marjorie, and very anxious to know what had happened.

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SOMFRYTLLF HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR 9 his father’s ranch, and. as he was a mere lad at tiie time, lie witnessed their secret practice and became their mascot. With a general knowledge of the game. Castleton. modest and cool, thought he stood a chance of making the team and became a candidate. Ilis first brief interview with the coach, and the astonishing size of tiie other candidates, only strengthened his resolution to make the team. In the days that followed the diminutive Texan labored faithfully to win recognition in football practice, and he received all the hard knocks and bruises that the instructor had predicted. After a few days’ practice under the observant eye of the coach, the big squad was cut down to forty men. and in a week’s time but tlire-- eleven remained. Castleton was quarter on the third eleven, which was composed mostly of inexper- ienced men. and was forced to accept some hard heatings from the first and second elevens. Finally, he received injuries that kept him out of the game for some time, but he recuperated quickly when lie learned that the third eleven had been dropped, and only he and one other fellow had survived it, winning places on the second eleven. Marvin, the quarterback on the second team, had been a substitute on the Fssex eleven of the previous year and as he was a capable, cool- headed fellow and exceedingly popular, he held the position safe from the aggressive little Southerner. Before the opening game, however. Marvin was forced to give up his place in the list of substitutes because of failures in certain examinations, and the plucky Lee. well up in his school studies, was his happy successor. 'I he regular quarterback. Ned Saunders, a former marine, was easily the star of the eleven and was heralded as the ablest field general that ever trod a scholastic gridiron in the Blue Men State. With these facts in mind. Castleton was content to sit on the sideline and watch the colossal F.ssex machine sweep up its opponents in amazing fashion. Then he awoke to the realization that he could not win his letter, a most coveted honor, unless he participated in at least one contest. If he did not win his letter he would have nothing to show for his work. As the season advanced, and his services were not required. Castleton became disturbed and restless and finally broached the subject to Coach Fdwards. The latter only smiled and told him to cease worrying. “You have worked faithfully in practice and will have a chance to earn your letter in one of the later games.” encouraged the instructor. Greatly relieved with these words. Castleton was patient, and waited. The .season waned and the schedule dwindled down to two contests. The last game was with Union, the F.ssex school’s greatest rival. It was considered the crowning event of the gridin n season by the two teams to win the annual con- test. I his year the championship of the state hinged the outcome of the struggle, and tense rivalry existed. Fdwards had whipped together an eleven of strong calibre the previous year at Fssex. but untimely injuries to hC best players towards the close of the season had cost him the annual con- flict with Union. Tins year the wise mentor took special pains to keep his stars off the •njured list and had succeeded fairly well with the possible exception of one man. Captain Ned Saunders, the life of the team, had sustained minor injuries in a red-hot struggle with the formidable -Maryland Institute eleven. This happened at the third from the last game on the schedule. The next contest was with Ocean View, a light but scrappy team. The famous Fssex quarter recovered in time to play in the game, but was rejected In- cautious “Lefty” Fdwards. “I’m taking no chances. Saunders,” he explained, “we’ve got this game clinched and I want to save you for the grand finale with Union, so Castle- ton is u play in your place against Ocean View.’’ Thus the little Southerner’s patience was rewarded. Me played the full game with Ocean iew. and had an easy job of it. as the Fssex backs ran roughshod over their lighter opponents and piled up a 30—0 score. The joy and pride Lee experienced over winning his letter was spoiled when lie accidentally overheard a con- versation between two members of the team after the Ocean View game. “That Castleton kid is a lucky bird.” grumbled Fd Steele, one of tin half-backs. “Mere rve have been plugging all through the season to win our letters, and lie gets his by just playing in one game, the easiest on the schedule, at that.” Yes. but he won’t get the credit that we shall,” Sam Hardy, the stocky left guard, replied to his surly companion. “Credit? What good is the credit? File letter is the thing that counts.’ argued Steele. These words, a dishonor to a true sportsman, and evidently spoken by tin two Fssex players mi a moment of forgetfulness, cut deeply into Castleten’s heart, and hurt his pride, lie was an honest, conscientious boy and would not accept anything that he thought he did not deserve. It was a gloomy existence for the little fellow now. (Continued on Page 18.)

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SOM ERVI 1.1.1” HIGH SCHOOL RADI ATOR 11 The fug disappeared in the evening and the following morning a northwest wind cleared away the last vestige of it. turning the sky and water an unusual deep sapphire color and giving the air an invigorating tingle. Marjorie, although she had thought to remain away from her favorite haunt, could not resist the desire to watch the sea on such a gorgeous day. As she was starting, she was startled to hear a pleasant masculine voice say. “Oh. where are you going, my pretty maid? I’m going a-driving, sir. she said.” “Why, yes.” she laughed, “and you?” “1 have been taking long walks over towards Seai Harbor, but today I have changed my tactics. 1 am going to walk along the shore drive in the direction of the wireless station.” “Then get in, perhaps I can take you in the direction you wish. “You see.” she continued, when the young man, one of the many summer visitors with whom she had played tennis, was comfortably seated, “I drive out every afternoon to a place on the rocks that is practically my own. and sit for hours just gazing out to sea. Wouldn’t you like to see my place? I should be delighted to show you.” A short time later Marjorie was pointing out the various craft to Jack Martin, who listened with polite attentiveness. He was staying in the same hotel as Marjorie, and he. too, came from New York from a well known family, as Miss Luella had assured Marjorie. “Here comes my mystery ship, as I call it.” She did not observe the young man at her side look at her suddenly. 'A questioning expression crept over his face, but quickly passed when lie saw she was only puzzled. Nevertheless, he lis- tened intently. “livery afternoon that boat rounds the point into the bay about 3:15. Don’t you think it looks like a pleasure yacht?” “Why, it is. It’s Mr. Babcock’s new yacht. He made money in the stock market two years ago. At least, he says so, but nobody seems to know much about him. He purchased a place on the point and last summer bought this scout patrol from the navy. The boat is even now sometimes taken for a U. S. Navy boat, because he did not paint it another color. It is----oh!” And he broke oil in the middle of his sentence. Two men had appeared on the deck and were removing the funnel. 'This done, a mast was raised in its place. The canvas pavilion and deck chairs on the after-deck were removed. A black tarpaulin covered the clean decks and some greasy looking barrels rolled into view. 'I he yachting flags were removed. The dainty cur- tains disappeared from the cabin and fish nets and lobster pots were placed around it in such a fashion as to completely change its appearance. “Oh!” exclaimed Marjorie; “1 wonder why they did that! I’ve wondered how they did it before, because usually it seemed to change ’way .ut where I couldn’t make out what was happen- ing ” Bui her companion was staring grimly at the vessel. Turning to Marjorie suddenly, he said: “They can’t have seen us. and I’d rather they wouldn’t. Let us go down behind that rock.” Marjorie said nothing, but quietly slipped down from the boulder and started toward the road. She did not think of the boat again—her thoughts had quickly turned to other things. The following day she did not go to the rocks, but attended a tennis tournament, and for two days she had not seen Jack Martin. One morning nearly a week later, with her mail she was handed an envelope marked “U. S. internal Revenue Office. Private business.” Miss Luella, sitting opposite, saw Marjorie scan the letter, then slowly read it through, a puzzled expression on her face, which gave way to a smile. Her eyes glistened as she passed the letter to her aunt, who read:— My dear Miss Loew: YVc are writing this to thank you for the ser- vice you have just rendered your government. Lieut. Martin reported to us your discovery of the “Wild Goose.” For us it was a wild goose chase for a while, as we had our detectives sta- tioned in the wrong place. Operated by a well known group of law- breakers, who have managed to evade the hand of the law they were breaking, these men have carried on a thriving business, smuggling into this country forbidden and also highly taxed goods. 'Phe boat left Canada as a pleasure acht. but as a yacht would not deposit a cargo; they found it to their convenience to change into a fishing smack. Their daily cargo met the Bar I larbor express to New York, and for a long time we have been unable to trace the source of Mippiy. Thanking you again for your aid. I remain. Yours truly. Major J. S. Colby. A lengthy explanation was necessary for Mar- jorie’s aunt, and after she was satisfied Marjorie asked at the desk for Mr. Jack Martin. “He left Friday evening in a hurry.” said the clerk, “but he left the message that if a certain young lady should ask for him he would be back Thursday evening.”