Yeatman High School - Yeatman Life Yearbook (St Louis, MO)

Page 52 text:

f f ,f f 4. l 1 zfwwyfffiwmf Vw 41:7 Www 1' . rv J ,X fy., mmf Af.. ,, , 5 f, : 4:if,ffLff'fffg,g,W ' A 5 f ., , f, M , W A 1, ,i 4 f I , .4 A .5 mf . , ,, ,J HEARTS AND CLUBS ERNEST Fox Peter Outt was a forlorn man. Why? His wife refused to look after his food or his house. She refused, in fact, to admire him. In other words, she was too busy attending the Ladies Home Auxiliary of the D. A. F. T.--Martin Greggschnapperls Enlightening Views on Sociology, Madame Justine's Better Homes Class, etc. etc. It was one club after another. And, to hear Peter tell it, he was the joker. But joker no more! and he slapped his knee so hard that he winced from the pain. Frank Goodwyll and Louis-Louie-Jen main sat in the soft upholstered chairs at the club and listened, at first sympathet- ically, then, as his story unfolded, almost eagerly. Peter was older than the two Hboys , as he was wont to call them, but he just had to tell someone about his troubles. And, as he thought for awhile afterwards, to whom could he have told them better, for Frank immediately found a plan to put an end to all this gosh darned nonsense! What was that plan? Bust up the clubs? Lock wifie in the house? Divorce? Oh, none of these rash acts! In fact, it was something very good, er--novel. And,', rather triumphantly, I'll bet it works! from Frank. Louie was somewhat dubious. Peter was very dubious. Frank, however, like the king in The Lady or the Tiger, grew more enthusiastic in the face of oppo- sition, and he waxed eloquent in praises of his plan. In the end he convinced the two doubters. It's rather a case of extremes, don't you think?', asked Peter. Well! Don't she need extremes? asked Frank. ' tOh, I--I--well--I suppose you are right-- only it would really scare me to death. Tish! Scare to death! Why, man, it'll only wake her. Now, honestly, wonyt it?' ' Well--er--I guess so--Yes, it wouldfl So the plan was completed, a date was set for its execution and the conference was over. A few days later, after he had locked his desk, Peter washed up a bit and left the of- fice. If it had been any other night, he would have hurried to the station in order to catch the five-eighteen. Now, how- ever, he sauntered through the hurrying crowds, for on this night he would take the six-four. It wasn it his exact choice but--. Having reached the station, he looked about him. 'tH'm, fully an hourfs wait. Well,-- just then spying a chair, I might as well sit down. Long time to wait. Funny they run two trains to Halsbury every night--and just for commuters--like my- self! Well, I'm not the only man from the suburbs. Let 's see the paper. H'm, cloudy tonight--State income for the year-- what! Why--'Two practical jokers se-, verely fined,'--gosh! Can't read! Might take a walkf' He rose and sauntered out onto the re- sounding pavement. A cabman noting his approach opened the cab door inviting- ly, a newsboy nearby volubly shrieked bits of headlines, people brushed passed him, but he walked on seemingly oblivious to these things. UCrowds! Crowds everywhere. Men, women, girls, all--all going home to hot suppers and--I wonder--are they? That fat man in the Bessecks Eight--is he--Y Ridiculous--this ravingfl He walked to the next corner, turned, and went on. At five minutes to six, he again came to the station, boarded the car for Halsbury and again invited thought. I 'rzgr lfrflrv-O21 u

Page 51 text:

N' ' 1 ' ZllllZf'Z 7 W , , 'L W L, I Ei! f'W2 if f f A- A . , iQff5ff1iI.1f:f::f,.. .',, f'f,Qi21111111Qif3.f.fgfl':f.ilpjifjflflfjiffiijfi,.jfff houses. Her journey across Ohio, past the vineyards of Pennsylvania, across the Appalachians, and clear to New York was comparatively uneventful. She arrived in New York the second week in October. She stayed about two weeks and then started for home the first of November with her money. The days were beginning to be short and dreary. Grandmother' hurried Dobbin as much as she could. The first three weeks passed without hap- penings. One day about three o'clock in the af- ternoon it began to snow. Grandmother was just passing through some thick woods, and the wind howled fiercely through the trees. She hurried Dobbin forward. Soon the bits of sleet and snow were sting- ing her face as she drew her cloak closer a- round her baby. She heard the wolves howling through the storm as she urged the horse on. Finally the snow became so thick that she could see nothing. She slackened the reins and let Dobbin take his own way. After what seemed hours to the tired, cold woman, Dobbin turned into a gateway and stopped in front of a huge barn. In answer to the Hulloo which grandmother managed to call, a tall, kind-faced farmer came from the house with a lantern in his hand. He helped her, half-frozen, from her horse, and led her in- to the warm kitchen, where his smiling, bright-eyed Wife helped her remove her wraps and warm herself and the baby. The storm raged all night and grandmother stayed at the farmhouse for almost a week before the roads were fit to travel again. Three weeks later, on a bright December afternoon, Grandmother Ruth turned into the lane that led to her home. She was not alone, because some of the kindly neighbors whose houses she had passed had come with her to help her and to wel- come her. When they came within sight of the house, they saw grandfather rush out to meet them. He lifted grandmother Ruth and baby Sarah from the horse and welcomed them joyously. As they turned to go into the house, the slanting rays of the setting sun fell across the little house that they called home Turning her face toward the rosy west, grandmother Ruth said, John, I don't think a sunset ever Was, or ever will be, as gorgeous as this one is.' ' There, child, I hope I haven't tired you with my tale, but when I get started on that story which shows so well, the wonderful courage, and indomitable spirit of the pioneer women of America, I just can't seem to stop. Come now, the light in the west has faded, and we must go do up the chores. Brought back to the present from the wonderful past in this manner, I sighed and rose to follow him. eq ssafl' Q rg, 591 ' ,J 5, 1 ra Q-,fa C an if. f x ..e .. ' Page Ffly

Page 53 text:

,,,.: ' ' ,f 4. A 2l' ':- f 3 AAAVA This time, though, it must be thoughts about the plan--the details. ' 'Let's see, 'get off and walk homeasyou always have done. Above everything else, holler--loud'--that's what he said, I'm sure. 'And don't appear self -consciousl' Gosh, it is an extreme thing to do but have to go on with it now! Will we never get there? Six-thirty! Ought to be almost there--yes,--- as he looked out into the darkness--- that was Herman's Junction-- not much fartherf ' But it was seven twenty-eight when Pe- ter finally stepped into the night at Hals- bury. Accomodations trains don't hurry for anybody. As he walked through the darkness, many things came into his thoughts. Al- ways there was a feeling of dread, of anx- iety, fear! But--- I may as well see it through now! Goodness, I hope they'll be there--What if they aren't? --Unconsciously he wiped his brow with the back of his hand. Why, it's wet, clammy! It was cold, and he pulled his coat closer about him and walked on. Two more blocks-- He reached the front gate, opened it, and walked in. Such a feeling of utter helplessness never before came to him. The shadows all about him, caught him in their pointed talons and like a lamb, he felt his utter helplessness. He made the turn past the parlor, noted how badly the trellis needed fixing---walked on. There in front of him loomed the rose bushes. He passed under the dining room win- dows. Softly, silently, accurately, two shadowy forms--shadow talons--pounced on him and bore him down to the walk. He screamed in unfeigned terror. Annie! Annie! For God's sake, helpl' ' A light suddenly shone through the win- dow into the black night. Another scream rent the air, then silence smoothed the jagged tears. At this point another shadow talon out on the sidewalk stopped, stepped into the darkness and protection of the bushes. Then the two black forms emerged from the yard with a third. Ratherlimp it seemed. Pug: Fwy- Two Pete! Pete! Come on! What's the matter? You 're not hurt! Oh! Boys? I--well--I don't think that was such a bad yell. Golly, you certainly frightened me. Then anxiously, but was it very nice?' ' They went on. The shadow in the bushes, just another six-four supporter, laughed softly and went on. A joke eh! Pretty good, tho'! A ripping good one, ha, ha, haw, haw--Must try it some time, haw, haw! Pk ak Pk PK lk The next morning as the sun rose, a weary man lay in a certain boarding house in the city. That man was Peter. We know why he was weary. According to the plan, he was to remain at this place which Frank had previously seen the own- er about, for several days. At the end of a few days, his wife would surely be ready to give up all the clubs and meetings in the world for him! But Peter's conscience hurt--badly. The boys, Frank especially, considered the whole thing so far---good fun. ' 'Why Pete! it 's for four or five days only. Nothing to worry aboutl' ' persisted Frank. Those four or five days went by. In the meantime, as soon as Peter's wife was able, she had to explain as best she could, to a group of courts and city officials, just what she had seen. After her story was told, every officer, detective and sleuth in the city had Peter's picture, his- tory and name at his tongue 's end. News- papers came out with headlines concerning the Halsbury mystery. Everybody was appalled. Somewhat swelled up over the com- motion they had stirred up, the last day of Peter's intern, Frank and Louie were bound for his temporary abiding place. As men do, they talked about their case. They laughed even. After overhearing their talk, a burly plain clothes man quiet- ly walked them to jail. Even While they were cooling their heels in the hoosgow, a very mutinous man was chafing at no great distance from them.