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

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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)

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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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LOCAL 5 ANNOUNCEMENT The Crimson and Gray takes great pleas- ure in announcing that it is sponsoring Mrs. Moonlight which will be presented by the Louise Galloway Players in the auditorium of the Mary E. Wells High School, November i8, at 8:30 P. M. Tickets will be seventy-five cents for reserved seats and fifty cents for the rest of the hall. The price of admission is very reasonable, but we believe it will en- courage a large attendance. This will be the initial appearance of the Louise Galloway Players in Southbridge and it is sincerely hoped that it will merely be the first of successful appearances. All come, for we feel sure that the play will be enjoyed by all. ' Miss Marjorie Hong ' 37 has been selected Freshman Reporter by a committee of which Florence Lockhart is chairman. This compe- tition, open annually to Freshmen, consist- ed of two reports: on the Freshman elections, and the Freshman Party, and an article entit- led A Freshman ' s Point of View. LOCALS The first day of school we were much be- wildered and confused, or at least surprised, to find new numbers on all the rooms. We don ' t get so much amusement from the Fresh- man as usual, because they spend most of their time downstairs. Seniors and Juniors lord over the first floor and Sophomores are on the second. We discovered three new faculty members, Miss Kidd, Miss Hefner, and Mr. Robinson, but otherwise everything is familiar. The classes started electing their officers by the second week of school. Senior Class Officers Pres. John Martin Sec. Claire Paquette Vice Pres. Mary Dani Treas. John LePage, Jr. Faculty Adviser Mr. Greene Junior Class Officers Pres. Raniero Francazzi Sec. Pauline Bachand Vice Pres. Jane Walker Treas. Chauncy Phipps Faculty Adviser Miss Finnegan Sophomore Class Officers Pres. Daniel Woodbury Sec. Janet Kozyra V. Pres. Doris Crandall Treas. Grey Buckley Faculty Adviser Miss Dube Freshman Class Officers Pres. George Downer Sec. Grace Cunniff Vice Pres. Dorothy Cole Treas. Richard Fox Faculty Adviser Mr. Beals FRESHMAN RECEPTION N October 7 the Juniors entertained the Freshmen with a Kids ' Party held in the auditorium from 7:30 to 11:00 P. M. Any pupil dressed in a kid ' s costume was admitted for 15 cents but those who maintained their dignity and grown-up clothes were charged 25 cents. The Stompers furnished music for dancing. Prizes were awarded to: Tallest Boy George Carpenter Tallest Girl Doris Goddu Shortest Boy Harold Ostrander Shortest Girl Antoinette Dussault