Galt High School - Highlights Yearbook (Galt, CA)

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reveal everything he had discovered. Then the public could take their choice, the honest side or the dishonest side, good government or a government filled with graft. The next morning Mr. Devere was there along with hundreds of the others. The throng waited impatiently. No one knew this very clever man who had done so much for their government but all were ready to hear him, up to either scorn him or set him up as a public favorite. Finally, on the stroke of ten, the speaker mounted the platform in company with the mayor who was to introduce him. The throng surged forward to fill up every available space and the introduction was lost to Mr. Devere. He stood well back in the crowd and could hardly see this speaker. 'But he could hear his words, he could hear a clear, manly voice, speaking slowly in a way that went directly to the hearts of the people. This speaker spoke on for some forty minutes. He told every important thing he had found out about the ring. He told how the boss of graft was at present reposing in prison. Then when his speech was finished, the people crowded forward to look at and speak to this wonderful man and have the honor of shaking his hand. The crowd carried Mr. Devere onward and almost before he realized it, he stood in front of the speaker. I-le extended his hand and looked up into the face of his son, his lost son, Leonard Devere. Leonard's face grew pale from emotion and their eyes told more than words. As they looked at each other, a great understanding came between the father and son. just as the crowd was pushing Mr. Devere past he cried, Oh, boy, come home l Then he was pushed on. 'X7Vhen he reached home one of his advisers was there to inform him that now since the Political Ring was destroyed, his election was assured. But his real happiness came when, just before dinner, Leonard walked into the living room. It certainly was a happy little party of six that gathered around the dinner table that evening. The party was Mr. and Mrs. Devere, their younger son, their daughter, Leonard and-Loreen LeMoine. After dinner Len. managed to see Loreen alone for a few minutes, just to tell her that he was at last certain of the girl whom he1 really loved and that girl was herself-Loreen. She was the one whose memory had fired his ambition, whose clear, blue eyes had never left his thoughts, but had always looked straight into his own. At length Loreen laughingly admitted that she had always wanted to be a governor's daughter-in-law. She did not add her real thoughts, that Paradise for her would be that of being her Lenny's loving wife. But Len. knew that they would have loved each other had he been a country blacksmith, but wise men keep their thoughts to themselves, and Leonard was wise-and so was Loreen. THE END -Doris Dunne, '23. Page Twenty-six

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heart was filled with sorrow and her nights with tears, over her best beloved's actions. PART Il Six long, lonely years had passed since Leonard Devere had thrown aristocracy to the winds and had gone over the hills and far away, none knew where. The Devere family knew not whether he was dead or living, living in luxury or starvation, married or single. Wfith Mr. Devere the name of Leonard was a forbidden subject, but his gentle wife could not forget and Every night upon her knees she prayed the Lord above, To please bring hack again to her the only boy she loved. Financial matters had not gone well with the Devere family, either. Four years before, Mr. Devere had planned on being elected governor of his state, but through graft and crooked politics he had been cheated out of his office. There was another hidden reason for Mr. Devere's defeat. Before the election, a reporter had asked his views on the Secret Election Rings. Mr. Devere had told the reporter, among other strong phrases, that he considered the Ring a cowardly, criminal organization, composed of vagabondsg a menace to the United States Government, religion, morals, and civilization in general. All this and more, the reporter had duly written up and it was given a prominent place on the first page of all big daily newspapers. M r. Devere realized that public opinion is greatly influenced by the read- ing of newspapers, but he little dreamed that that article could have such an edect upon his election. I-le had heard rumors of a ring organization in his city, but he little guessed that it was to work against him and his honest principles. Now the election was near at hand again, and at first Mr. Devere's hopes had been high, but of late they had dropped down, down to the ground. This year there was to be more corruption among the officials than ever, one of these election rings had been 'formed around Mr. Deverels strongest, weak- inoraled opponent. Lying lectures, propaganda, bribery-practically no stone of graft was left unturned by the ring in their attempt to secure the election of their man. They had their reasons for doing it. High position in big pay was in store for their promised reward. XfVhat chance had the pride of honest hlohn Devere against a stone wall like that? M r. Devere never thought how his honesty and pride were to have their rewards: he little guessed that there was to be an open election ring formed for the protection and support of the honest and high-minded. One evening especially, his spirits were very low as he was carried home in his car. I-lis campaigners had brought unusually disheartening reports this afternoon. There was not a chance left for him in the world. VVhen, after removing the traces of the office and donning a fresh suit, he went down to the living room where he was met by several bright eyed young girls. They were his daughters and some of her closest friends, among whom was l.,oreen Lehloine. VVell, well! VVhat has caused all these pretty eyes to shine so brightly P he inquired as he went into the room. Oh, Mr. Devere, you should read what we have been readingli' exclaimed Loreen. She, like all of Mr. Devere's daughter's friends, was very interested in politics at present, and watched the papers carefully. Mr. Ilevere took the paper from her hands and read the headlines, Big Plot For Croocked Election Disclosed, Secret Service Undermines Political Ring. Then he went on to read that a big secret service agent, who had received a mysterious clue about this ring, had silently taken up his work and so ferreted out the plots and the leader of the gang. Then Mr. Devere saw another big notice stating that as this agent was unknown to the people he feared they might not believe merely his written statement so the next morn- ing at ten o'clock he would give a speech in the public square and would Page Twenty-five

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THE HAND OF THE LAW The new fallen snow had transformed the rugged Sierras into a dazzling white fairyland. '.l.'he pines bowed and groaned under their heavy loads of glistening snow while their smaller brothers and sisters were completely cov- ered by the Hakes. Here in the heart of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, john Hall had built a little cabin. The little valley was covered by tall, stately pines and heavy underbrush, which hid the rough-hewn cabin completely from view. In the solitude and loneliness of the mountains Hall found safety from the far reaching hand of the law, l-le had escaped from the grim walls of the .Folsom prison, and while in hiding had found this little paradise. After living here a year he ventured forth to find his family and to get provisions. He had been able, by the help of james Bray, a friendly mountaineer, to find traces of his wife and little daughter, Barbara. Cleverly disguised, he spent many mont tracing them and when he found them his wife was dead and his only sister was caring for the child. After much pleading his sister gave up the child, for in reality she cared not for children. Barbara's future did not worry her and if John wished his daughter, he could have her. Sorrowed by the death of his wife, but happy in the possession of his eight year old charge, Hrall came back to the mountains. Wfith the help of Bray he brought a large pack train, loaded with the necessi- ties of life and books, over the high mountains. All this had happened ten years ago, and now Barbara was eighteen, and her father a broken man of fifty, weighed down by the fear of being caught. Not that he feared for himself, for he was innocent of the theft and the murder he was accused of, but what of his lovely, innocent child if the heavy gates of the prison shut him in away from the world once more. No such thoughts troubled pretty Barbara who knew nothing of the out- side world, but what her father had told her, and what she had read. For Hall had spent many a long winter evening teaching Barbara, who now possessed as good and education as he. She had never been even to the nearest town, which was nearly fifty miles south. For Mr. Bray had always bought all their provisions and clothes for them and therefore very few had even heard of john Hall and his lovely daughter. Barbara was becoming very beautiful in a gypsy-like fashion, for she pos- sessed large dark eyes, curly hair and an olive complexion. Roses of health mantled her cheeks, for she was a child of nature. Hardy and tanned as any boy she rode and tramped over the hills with her father. But as this day appeared so bright to all the world, to Barbar it was the blackest of despair. Her 'father lay on the rude bed unconscious and groaning in pain, and she, ignorant of the use of medicine, could only sit beside him and bathe his feverish brow. Although her father had told her of death, she had never experienced it but once, when her horse, Brownie, had stepped in a gopher hole and broken his leg. Her father had been forced to shoot him. She had mourned bitterly but Brownie had never returned to her. VVould it be the same with her daddy now? As she sat there brooding, the door was flung open and a man burst into the small room carrying a leveled gun in each hand. Hands up! he cried, but poor Barbara, dismayed, could only gasp.i The man was young and a star shone on the lapel of his rough mackinaw, and a cap was pulled down low over his dashing blue eyes. A look of dismay and surprise spread over his honest face. But it lighted again as he saw the man lying on the rude bunk. He slowly advanced to- wards the bed but as 1-lall tossed and moaned he seemed reassured and turned to the girl wonderingly. It was Hall, for he knew him instantly by a deep scar on the right cheek, but what of this girl? Miss, excuse me, but I was sent here to see this man on business. As he is ill perhaps you will explain a few things, My name's Knight O'Connell, Page Twenty-seven