Strong High School - Mussul Unsquit Yearbook (Strong, ME)

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THE MUSSUL UNSQUIT 27 Mr. Merrit presented a silver loving cup to be given to the winner or loser who up- held fairness. Coach Whiting gave this cup to Rae. Rae was so overcome with joy that he did not know what to say. He was rescued by Mr. Merrit coming in and saying, Rae, I promised you a certain position if you won today, did I not? Yes, sir! gulped Sun U. But, went on the contractor, K' I 've got a better job for you, where something be- sides 'rough work ' will count. Come in to see about it on, say, June the fifteenth. I'1l be there, sir, smiled the loser of the quarter-mile happily. Joseph Foster, '26. UP FROM THE GUTTER HINE, sir, asked a polite little boot- black as a man passed him, presum- ably on his way to his downtown office. The speaker, a handsome, dark-eyed boy of twelve, whom fate had dropped in the poor section of the city, looked after the retreat- ing figure. Say! he said aloud, A' that fellow is in a mighty big hurry for some reason. Wish to goodness, he continued, t' that somebody had got up late so not to have had time to black their shoes. If things go this way I see where I get a back door hand out for supper. Might as well move, he added as he gathered up his polish and brushes. He passed down the street quite uncon- scious of his surroundings. Suddenly he saw the man whom he had accosted a few minutes before stop and look up at a sign over the door he was passing. The boy also looked up and read the familiar sign, Barnam and Son, Dealers in Real Estate. The younger Mr. Barnam had taken a fancy to jimmy Andrews and often stopped to speak to him or give him a ride in his car, so of course jimmy liked him very much. just then somebody wanted a quick shine and Jimmy was obliged to stop dream- ing and get down to business. It was in the latter part of the afternoon before jimmy had time to think of his friend again. Guess I'll go down to the office now and see if Mr. Bob hasn't some errands I can do, said Jimmy to himself, and away he went. There were no errands to be done but as Mr. Bob was going out to the golf grounds he invited Jimmy to go with him. 'K Well, kid, how is business today? he asked as soon as they were on their way. Not very lively. None at all till half past nine. Think I'll try selling papers. Tliere's more money in that. How would you like to be an office boy? asked Barnam. Great l was the enthusiastic reply. But thenf, he added sadly, what's the use of wishing? Nothing like that will ever happen to me. I'll be a bootblack, newsboy, or something similar till I 'm big enough to do a man's work, then I'll End a job in a mill or something. VVhy not? questioned Barnam. I am needing an oliice boy right now and if you think you 'd like the job I'll hire you. jimmy was too astonished to speak. The ground seemed to have fallen away from his feet and left him sailing around among the clouds. Well, asked Mr. Bob after a long silence, are you going to take the job? Take it! You bet I'll take it! And thank you, Mr. Bob, he added as an after thought. It 's mighty good of you. No, not at all. I had to have an oliice boy and you are the first boy I've seen that I thought would fill the bill. jimmy swelled with pride. He was smart enough to catch a compliment. The next Monday morning he was intro- duced to his new duties. It seemed rather quiet after being out on the streets and perhaps having a fight or two a day. Jimmy had no intention of going back, however. He was now earning a dollar a day and when he was blacking boots for a livelihood he seldom made over sixty cents.

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26 THE MUSSUL UNSQUIT given him. With his head bowed down and his eyes cast upon the ground, he moved along, like the very picture of gloom. Townsend glanced quizzically at him. Why so glum, ' Sun'? he asked, at last. Don't you know that this is the day of the big field meet here at Blair, and that you 're supposed to win the quarter-mile race before the admiring gaze of the assembled ' mulchitood ' ? Rae smiled, half-heartedly, but said nothing. Townsend stood it as long as he could, and then ventured to put his hand upon his room-mate's shoulder. There 's something wrong, Rae, and you might as well tell me about it, if I can do any- thing -! No, there 's nothing you can do, and perhaps there is really nothing wrong, either: maybe I'm just borrowing trouble. It 's the race that 's worrying me! HIS that all! exclaimed Jack, with a sigh of relief. Why, that 's as good as won: no one else has a show in the quarter unless it is Boxford -, of all the fellows who have big handicaps, there isn't a run- ner in the lot! That is just the trouble 5 to make a good showing on the trackg Coach Whiting has entered every fellow in school who makes a pretense of running, and has given them all big handicaps. As soon as the pistol cracks, they will string out all over the track, and if either Boxford or I want to win, we will have to force a way through, and someone will be hurt. I won't take a chance on injuring some of those younger chaps. Townsend whistled. No, you won't- but Boxford will and then good-bye race! Well, it 's only a school match--what do you care whether you win or lose? Sun smiled. It just happens that john Merrit, the biggest contractor in town, has offered me a position this summer if I win today. He used to be a great runner in his time, and he has the idea that men wlio are successful in athletics at school have the grit and brains that he needs in his business. If I want the job, I 've got to win ! Whew! you are in a boat! responded Jack sympathetically. But cheer up, per- haps some of the youngsters will withdraw and you 'll have a fair race with Boxford after all. I hope so! replied Sun fervently. There 's no use of worrying, anyway, I 'll just have to go in and do the best I can. I 'll do nothing to be ashamed of - whether Merrit hires me or not. If Sun Rae had any hope that some of the younger boys entered in the quarter- mile race against him would withdraw, he was doomed to disappointment, for when he and Boxford lined up at the start - both being on scratch -it was to see fully twenty other contestants ahead of them, each upon the mark that his handicap had given him. Instantly Rae made his resolve, instead of swinging at once into the inside track, he would cut to the outside of the track, for by so doing, he would be able to advance around the struggling runners in- stead of having to force his way through them. Such a course would add many yards to the distance which he had to go, and as it was plain from Boxford's attitude that he intended to stick to the pole, what- ever happened, Sun was giving him just that much advantage. Get ready! Get the starter, and Rae and Boxford flashed off upon the race which was to result in either winning or losing Sun's coveted position. The first of the handicapped men was soon caught and passed, Boxford shoving him roughly out of the way with his elbow, while Rae went by on the outer side. So with the second and third, yet in spite of the extra distance that Sun was traveling, he held even with his opponent. During the race Boxford pushed a small- er boy against Rae with such force that it knocked him overg the result was that Boxford got in first. Rae got the prize for victory because Boxford fouled in knocking the boy over. set! Go! snapped

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28 THE MUSSUL UNSQUIT About two weeks after he became office boy for Barnam and Son, a man came into the office and asked to see the boss . Jimmy knew he had seen that face some- where before. He isn't in yet, said the boy politely. Shut up, you young fool, growled the stranger. What are you doing in this office anyway, a kid like you, he sneered. Meaning I 'm a goat, I suppose, smiled back jimmy. After that the man refused to talk. Mr. Barnam, Senior, came in a few minutes and took the stranger into his private ofiice. jimmy, like other boys of his age, was curious. And besides, he didn't like this man's looks. He crept to the door of Barnam's private ofiice and listened. The men were already deep in conversation. I suppose you have great iniiuence over your fellow associates, said the oily voice of the stranger. I Hatter myself that I have some infiu- ence at least, answered Mr. Barnam. And you will invest in our mine out in Colorado, of course. You will also speak to some of your friends, went on the visitor. 4' Look here, Mr. Black, said Barnam, 'AI must look this mining claim over some before I invest. So his name is Black, said Jimmy under his breath. He certainly looks as though he could live up to his name. I 'm glad, Mr. Black, that Mr. Barnam has sense enough to look at the trap before he steps in it. I think that is all then, said Mr. Black, and Jimmy went back to his post without waiting to hear more. As the man passed out it flashed on Jimmy's mind that this was the man he had seen read the sign about three weeks ago. A week later Mr. Bob started west. He sent Jimmy several pictures and post cards describing his journey. It was apparent that he was mixing pleasure with business. He was away a month. Meanwhile jimmy had not been idle. He was finding out things for himself. When Mr. Black came to find out whether Barnam was going to help finance his scheme or not, he brought a friend with him. To his great surprise and dismay he found himself seized upon by officers of the law and placed under arrest. What does this mean? demanded Mr. Black, putting up a bold front. It means, said the chief of police, that you are arrested for wilful swindfe. We have had our eyes on you for some time, and thanks to this boy, he turned to Jimmy, we have caught you red-handed, also your partner. With that the captives were taken away and punished to the extent of the law. The Real Estate Company could not do enough for Jimmy. They sent him to school and when he reached the age of twenty-one, gave him a partnership in the firm. james Andrews, jr., partner of the Barnam and Son Real Estate firm, hardly recognizes himself as the ragged little boot- black of nine years ago. He that sows shall reap. Lulu Ill. Huff, '25, COLORADO PLUCK HE sun had just set behind the hills leaving the little valley in darkness, as a man, Tom Ranger by name, rode up the well-worn trail to the lonely cabin, which he called home. He was roughly dressed in an old buckskin suit that had evidently seen much hard service. After putting up his horse he went in. Standing his gun in a corner he set about getting supper. Tom Ranger had lived in those hills for a good many years. His wife was dead, but he had a daughter, Ellen, about fifteen years of age. She had been staying with a neighbor for a week but he expected her back either that night or the next day.