Wells High School - Crimson and Gray Yearbook (Southbridge, MA)

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12 THE CRIMSON AND GRAY breath and then started exploding again on some other subjects. These who talked together for half an hour. Just as Tommy left, Miss Keech rode up on her horse. When she told Dick about the stranger, George Coffman, he sensed a bit of suspicion in the air. He didn ' t quite like the idea of Coffman ' s having a room opposite Gladys ' at the hotel. When she said that she was going horse-back riding the next day with Coffman, Dick almost went up in a rage, but decided to keep cool. Probably nothing would come of their friendship as he thought Coffman would not stay in such a dull village very long. Dick ' s idea was wrong, and he grew wor- ried as Gladys spent more and more time with Coffman. Coffman came from the city and owned a car; Gladys Keech was more enticed than by Dick ' s buggy and simple entertain- ment, even though she was engaged to him. But she did not forget her engagement. She still loved Dick, but explained that a stranger in town had to be introduced and made ac- quainted with the place. She and Coffman met often, so often that the village gossipers began to buzz. This made Dick unhappy, but what could be done about it? Of course, he could insist on her keeping away from him, but then she would say that he just didn ' t want to see her happy and he was mean to Coffman. While this confusion was still astir, Tommy kept his bright eyes wide open. He hap- pened to be sitting under an apple tree one day, reading, when he heard a car come along the road. This didn ' t bother him until it stopped, then he sat up and took notice. He didn ' t recognize the man in the car, for the man had light hair, but somehow the car looked familiar. When the car came to a stop, the man took up something from the seat and started adjusting it on his head. Tommy realized now that it was a wig. When this was done the car went on toward the vil- lage. Tommy was all agog because he knew that this man was George Coffman. He ran all the way to the general store, and there told everything to Dick. When Dick heard Tommy ' s story, he and Tommy ran over to the Sheriff ' s office. A half hour later, when Coffman and Gladys Keech were slowly riding away from the village, and at the same time enjoying the scenery, they were overtaken by an old rickety car. At the sight of Coffman, the Sheriff ordered him to put up his hands and sur- render. Although this had all taken place suddenly and Miss Keech was thunder- struck, Coffman was cool and collected. With the Sheriff were Tommy and Dick, and when Gladys asked what it was all about, Tommy hastily replied, Well, Miss Keech, this here city-man is a jail-bird, I-er-a mean a convict. Ya ' see, I saw him put on that wig and, at first, I tho ' t I re ognized him an ' all at once it came to me that it is the picture that is on all the posts that says $1,000 reward for his capture, so I ran an ' tol ' Dick here, an ' we went an ' got the Sheriff an ' — here we are. The Sheriff drove Coffman back in his car, and Dick drove Tommy and Miss Keech back in the tumble-down car. All Miss Keech could mumble was, So George Coffman, the rich city man, here for his health, turned out to be Mike (Goldilocks) Brown, the convict. But Dick ' s face was glowing radiantly, for he realized now that their previous plans could be completed and once again he had the entire attention of his future bride. Alice Rawson ' 34. SHANGHAIED T RUCE TENNYSON was a rather tall young man, with a pale face, and white, dainty hands. He was the only son of a rich banker. His father had always wanted him to go away from civilization for a long rest, but Bruce couldn ' t leave Broadway. He stayed up most of the night, and slept most of the day, consequently he was not in the best of health. As the story opens, Bruce is in his dressing room, putting on his hat and coat, preparing to leave for a night club. It is a bright, clear

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NOVEMBER 1933 11 tie did they know what was to happen by evening. Nine o ' clock and a telephone call at Fire Station 1 came with it. The call said that there was a fire in an empty tenement house on Benton Street. Fire Stations 1 and 2 were called there. No one was at Station 1 where two trucks had been left. The building was in flames; the blaze could be seen from the distance. The houses near- by were endangered by the flames. Firemen were running to and fro. After a three-hour battle, the fire was quelled. When the fire- men of Station 1 returned another surprise awaited them. The hoods of both trucks were open, both motors wrecked, and all the tires punctured. Every piece of hose was cut. A note on one of the trucks read, The worst is yet to come, and again it was signed F. I. D. (Continued in the next issue.) Frank Locki ' 36. OLD MOSE While home from a trip he may be seen on or near a wharf shelling clams. To see Mose at this point is as much entertainment to me as an interesting movie. Mose is dressed in a sou ' wester, a fisherman ' s hat, and high rub- ber boots. He sits on a box crossed legged, a basket of clams and a pile of shells on either side. Mose is a happy man, happier when there is a youngster near to whom he can spill some yarn, greatly exaggerated, filled with ex- citing stories about rescues at sea, daring ad- ventures of his captain, but, to my surprise, never about superstition. On asking Mose about a sailor ' s supersti- tion, he dropped his work, crossed his hands, muttered something, and for the first time looked up without smiling. To talk about a sailor ' s superstition, he told me, is a very wrong deed. Among the curses which come aboard ship, the woman is feared the most. A woman or a black cat aboard ship, t ells Mose, surely means the ship will sink before it reaches home. Mose, who was over fifty, told me that he had never been swimming and that most of the fishermen could not swim. I was greatly surprised to think that a man living near the water should not go swimming. Mose, after his basket of clams had been shelled, enjoyed himself playing checkers. Old Mose is a wizard at checkers and admires any youngster who can beat him, but scorns any older person who defeats him. Mose lives very simply and alone, and very seldom eats fish although he gets his living catching them. Winston Dorrell ' 35 YE OLDE FASHIONED LOVE TALE TT WAS rather late in the afternoon when ■ - Tommy Burke came striding along, swing- ing his books around his head. He was headed home, but by no means was he taking a short cut. In a few minutes, he was talk- ing to Dick Bolton, manager of the village general store. Bolton had started the store on his own finances and, through consider- able adjustments and improvements, the store was the most popular one of the village. Dick was a young man of twenty-two years, he was tall and broad-shouldered. He had light wavy hair, and was the idol of many feminine admirers, although he belonged only to the school-mistress, Gladys Keech. He and Gladys were engaged and were planning to be married as soon as school finished for the year. But right now Bolton was interested in what this bright-eyed little boy was telling him. Tommy said that there had been a visitor at the school that afternoon. T ' was a man, who said he earned from New York City an ' was lookin ' for the hotel an ' when Miss Keech tol ' him where it was he said he ' d wait an ' let her show him, so he sat down an ' then Miss Keech made us recite for ' im an ' she ask ' d me to spell a word an ' I had to stay after school an ' that ' s why I ' m late. After this speech, Tommy took a deep, long

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NOVEMBER 1933 »3 night, so Bruce decides to walk as the night club is only a short way down the street. As he saunters along, admiring the starry heavens, a closed car, with the curtains down, pulls up alongside of him. Two men jump out, grab him, and throw him into the car. It all happens so suddenly that Bruce has no time to cry out. His arms are tied to his sides, and a gag tied about his mouth. As the car speeds along Bruce tries to see who his captors are, but the darkness prevents him from discerning their faces. Presently the car stops, and the two men lead Bruce out of the car. He finds that he is on a long wharf with scores of ships of all sizes around him. His captors give him no time to stand and gaze around, they hustle him over the side of a huge merchant ship. He is led over the deck, down a Might of stairs, and thrown into a corner. The men leave without a word, and Bruce can heai the door being bolted on the outside. A few moments later, the ship begins to move, slowly rocking from side to side, while Bruce sits up and takes stock of his surround- ings. He is in a small room with rows of bunks on each side. As there is nothing else to do, Bruce falls into a doze, waking up every now and then to hear the men on deck calling back and forth. During one of these waking spells, the door is unbolted and flung open, and a tall, broad man , with a weather-beaten face, strides down the steps. With one brawny arm he picks Bruce up, while he cuts the bonds with a knife held in his other hand. ' Toiler me! says the man, and Bruce after removing the gag, and stretching his cramped arms and legs, hastens to obey him. The stiffness vanishes as he steps out upon the deck. He is held spellbound by the beautiful panorama unfolding before him. It is daybreak on the ocean. As far as Bruce an see is the rolling, swelling ocean, and a pleasant thrill runs through him as he gazes around him. He is on an old fashioned merchant ship, whose huge sails are flapping in die wind. He is rudely interrupted from his trance by having a scrubbing brush thrust into his hand, and a voice saying, Take this brush and scrub the deck ' till it shines. Thus Bruce was introduced to life aboard a ship. This was the start of many pleasant and unpleasant experiences aboard the old merchant-man. The scene now shifts to a bright, clear morning, much like the morning Bruce sail- ed away. A merchant ship sails into the har- bor, and docks. A tall, stalwart, young man leaps lightly over the side and onto the dock. He is broad-shouldered and his handsome face is darkly tanned. Suddenly a figure rushes out to meet him. The second figure is Mr. Tennyson, and he is saying, Well son, you certainly have changed. The two men look like brothers except that one has gray hair, but they are both rugged men. Mr. Tennyson leads his son to a car and directs his chauffeur to drive home. As they ride along, Mr. Tennyson tells this story. As you know, son, I spent much of my earlier life aboard a ship. When I got mar- ried, I settled down, and had a job in a bank. Luck was with me, and I gradually worked my way up to where I am now. When I saw that you were ruining your life at night clubs, I decided to have you sail under an old friend of mine. I had some men kidnap you and take you on board the ship. I knew it would make a new man of you, and I hope you will forgive me. Forgive you! , exclaims Bruce, why I ' m going to sail again when I get a chance. Donald Karle ' 35. HIGH SCHOOL Thave always considered High School fascin- ■ ating, and was very much excited about entering in the Fall. Even when my friends in High School told me that they always had a lot of homework, and that some teachers were crabby, I liked it as much as ever. (Continued op, Page 23)