Stratford Central Secondary School - Collegian Yearbook (Stratford, Ontario Canada)

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COLLEGIAN, 1937. quietly, I wish you were me. You don't know how hard it is. Well, son, said the druggist, I know a man, who found life that way. It all began, when he was just twenty-four, not much young- er than yourself. He was struggling to be- come an artist but the money was hard to find. He met with all kinds of misfortune. He fell madly in love with a wealthy girl. She found out that he was just a struggling artist and she jilted him for a 'mother's boy' with too much money. This hurt him so, that he de- cided to end it all. He Went to just such a drug store as mine and bought that fatal acid. He took it home and drank it. It was not enough to kill him out right, but it injured him for life. It trickled slowly down his throat, burning and eating the flesh, as it went. Down, down, it went. He lay writhing with pain, as it ate away the lining of his stomach. He was discovered by the landlady lying in his room, moaning and shrieking in agony. From that day to this, he has never had a square meal. For the rest of his life, he has to live on warm milk and coddled egg. Never again, will he enjoy his wholesome, three meals a day. What wouldn't he give for just one slice of roast beef and one scoop of mashed potatoes and one spoonful of rich, brown gravy. How, he wishes that he had never tried to end his life. By this time, they had reached Tony's place on the corner. The young man clutched the bottle closer to him and swallowed the big lump, which had risen in his throat. They walked into the restaurant and sat down at the soda counter. Goode daya, Meester Chandler, said Tony, She esse purty windy outa, eh! It certainly is, Tony, it certainly is, answered the druggist. And how is your little Johnny's broken arm, eh '? Oha he eesa comin' alonge, replied Tony. What will you have? asked Mr. Chandler turning to the young man. The young man said very hesitatingly, Well-Well- How about fixing him up some good ham and eggs, coffee and all the rest, Tony? I'll have the same as usual. This is on me, lad, so eat plenty, while it lasts. Tony disappeared through a curtained door- way and in a few minutes returned with the STRATFORD, ONT. steaming food. He set the young man's food in front of him and in front of Mr. Chandler, he placed a mug of milk, covered with a thin scum and on a plate a mass of coddled egg. The young man, startled, looked up at the druggist, when he saw his food, and said, Gee! I'm very sorry, Sir. I didn't realize at the time, what you were telling me. That's- that's awful. I'm so glad that you told me. I've been a perfect fool-a fool. I couldn't stand anything like that to happen to me. Well, lad, I figured you would be sorry and I didn't know how to warn you. You're just a young fellow, healthy and strong. You have a place to fill in this world. Stick to it, son. I can see that you have the independence and 'stick-to-it' quality, which a man of this gen- eration requires. All you need is a little en- couragement. Take another try at it, I'm sure you will succeed. The druggist watched the young man gobble down the good wholesome food, while he slow- ly swallowed his soft food. There was a new light in the boy's eyes. He noticed Mr. Chand- ler watching him and smiled for the first time and said: I know what you're thinking- 'And he said that he wasn't hungry-.' He finished eating and putting his hand deep in his pocket, he said, I've only got a dime, but if you pay the rest, I'll come around to your store soon and return the money. Remember, said Mr. Chandler, I said this was on me and I meant it. The boy took the druggist's hand and shook it vigorously. Gee! thanks for everything. You've got me thinking. I'm sure that I can make a go of it. I never want to be in your predicament and have to eat that soft mush. Giving his hand another good shake, the young man got up and went out of the door of the restaurant. There, sitting on the counter, was the pack- age, which the young man had been carrying. Mr. Chandler sat looking at it, until he heard the door shut. Then, he and Tony burst out laughing. Take this goolosh away, Tony, laughed Mr. Chandler, and bring me a nice, juicy steak, with lots of onions and a couple of pieces of your date pie. Wella, I declara, Meester Chandler, laughed Tony, if there isn't anudder one, thata you havea saved froma keeling heeself. You oughta beea given a meedal! Page Thirty-three

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COLLEGIAN, 1937. THE LEGACY By Mary Ballantyne, 4A. Doris had obtained a position in Brown's large department store in Vancouver. She was to be a detective and to watch the shop- pers so that there would not be any unsolved shop-lifting mysteries. It was Saturday morning, a week before Christmas. Already the store was crowded and three women had fainted. Doris was wandering through the crowd when her attention was attracted to a smartly groomed customer, dressed in a black broad- cloth coat trimmed with marten. She was evidently buying herself a Christmas present. A pendant, she said, nothing fancy, but with one fine diamond in it. If you would give me some idea of what you would care to pay, said the elderly clerk. Well, I have just been left a legacy by an aunt and I thought I would rather invest the money in a diamondg then I can always have it with me. Safer than stocks, don't you think? Well, I want the finest diamond that I can get for five thousand dollars, if you have any that expensive, she said. Certainly, said the clerk, now anxious to make a sale, we carry diamonds valued from twenty-five dollars, say to a small fortune. I'm sorry our show-cases are all filled. The clerk then went away and got a dozen beautiful unmounted diamonds. These were always kept in a safe. Doris walked away, but then returned as she was interested in the legacy gift. How could the customer choose from so many beau- tiful gems? Doris thought. Hold that one up again, will you ? the lady requested. Now, let me see the diamond with the bluish tinge. The clerk, always mindful of the holiday crowds, kept the jewels at the edge of the counter. That is lovely, continued the customer. Pardon me, if I point. Try the next one, please! No, not that one. -she pointed the ungloved hand at a beautiful gem. Only for a moment her curved fingers moved over the jewels, but that was enough. As the clerk displayed a diamond in his tweezers, the neatest bit of palming known to crime took place. In place of the five thous- and dollar gem, a stone of the same size and Page Thirty-four STRATFORD, ONT. cut took its place. It all happened in the flash of an eye. Watching, Doris could scarcely believe her eyes. She thought she saw it, yet was she sure? Now, the customer's hand was cupped over her mouth, and Doris thought that she was rolling something in her mouth. Then the customer put her hand below the counter. All her movements seemed natural enough. During this time, the clerk was showing her a jewel. Finally, a bargain was made. The pendant will be ready for you a day or so before Christmas, said the clerk. Smiling and satisfied the customer went away. The clerk was busy rewrapping the diamonds, when he noticed that one did not seem to be the same texture as the rest. There has been a serious mistake here, he thought to himself. Doris rushed up to the counter. Mr. Black, the head detective, was also making his way to the counter. When he came to the counter, Doris noticed that he put his hand along the edge of the counter-then his hand was wiping his mouth. By this time, the clerk was frantically motioning to Mr. Black and to Doris to stop the lady in the black coat. She had already wormed her way through the crowds, almost to the doors leading into the street. Doris reached the lady first. Touching her sleeve, Doris said to her- Just one moment, Madame. Mr. Black arrived, and with as little com- motion as possible, the customer was taken to the manager's office and thoroughly searched. No trace of the diamond could be found. I don't know what my husband will say to this, flared the indignant customer. I cancel my order right now. There was nothing to do but to apologize to her and let her go. Doris was frantic. She felt that the customer was guilty. Hadn't she seen her with her own eyes? Yet, why didn't Mr. Black question her? Doris had made one mistake that morning and had been forgiven. She must go carefully now. Yet why had both the detective and the customer felt along the counter? The manager was now apologizing to her. 'Tm afraid the clerk has made a serious mistake. Those stones were probably switched before. Under the circumstances, you will understand that--a--er-it was a natural mis- take, if you'll accept our apologies- She flared up.