Galt High School - Highlights Yearbook (Galt, CA)

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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

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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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he said in an embarrassed way, a dull Hush spreading over his face. How could he tell this girl he was here to represent the law in punishing a criminal of renown, evidently her father? Mr. O'C'onnell, I know not what you mean but l will do my best. My father is very sick and I know nothing of the use of medicine, perhaps you can help me doctor him. I--le was taken sick two days ago and he has grown steadily worse. Oh, please help me save my father, who is all I have in the world! the distracted girl cried. O'Connell turned to the man and by examining him and questioning the girl he knew her father must have the Hu. For Hall had gone over to l3ray's shortly before and as they were all sick, he had undoubtly gotten it there. I-Ie did all he could for the unconscious man and then turned again to the girl. Miss-, Hall is my name, the girl said simply. O'Connell, surprised that she should admit her name to him said, Then your father's name is John Hall? Yes, sir, that is his name, but how did you know ? Oh! for the hrst time she noticed the star and realized the lurking danger, You sir, have come for my father on the business Qpointing to the starj, NVhat has my father done that you should hound him to earth? He is as good a man as ever trod this earthf, Here she broke down and O'Connell, realizing it would be best, told her of the crimes her father was accused of. 'lMiss Hall, if your father is innocent as I really think he is now that I have seen you, l will see he gets as square a deal as ever a man got, he said softly. liarbar felt her wrath melting for how could she keep angry at this ir- resitible young man? For she with a ivoman's instinct knew he would do all he could for her father's cause. He told her the whole story and then remembering his horse asked if he might put it in the barn out of the cold. Barbara readily assented and promised to see what she could do in the way of preparing some dinner for him. lVhen fJ'Connell returned, her father was conscious and as he saw the star, cried, 'The Law. The Hand of the Law! But you have come too late, man-chaser, for I am dying, sir, and I am glad of it for il swear before God I am innocent I But the afternoon wore slowly on and the man's condition instead of growing worse seemed to improve. All night Barbara and Knight watched by the bedside, fearful for the outcome, but by morning Hall was decidedly better. Barbara, wild with delight, went about her work singing, her face radiant with joy. OlConnell, faithful always to his duty, realized he must stay here until this man was better and then deliver him over for trail. Barbara un- derstood, although at times her heart would harden against this carefree fellow of the wilds. Handsome he was, with the grace of the man of the open lithe and strong. He was six feet tall. As the days dragged slowly by, Hall recovered. At Hrst he was bitterly ijemorseful at the thoughts of the future but he knew the kid was only doing his duty as every man must. They never spoke of the future except once, when I-Iall told them how he had been accused on circumstantial evidence of stealing ten thousand dollars from a bank. Also the cashier had been 'found shot by the bandit, and this was the crime laid at his feet by Fate. O'Connell, after a month, realizing his duty was becoming harder to per- form each day, for as he fell more and more in love with Barbara, his job of handing her father over for a death sentence or jail, became worse. lflarbara knew she loved him but her whole strong little mind rebelled against it, loving a man who was here to destroy perhaps her father's life. Page 'I' we-nty-eight