Galt High School - Highlights Yearbook (Galt, CA)

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Stanton's got his, the boss lied, sinfully. I think we'd better make a break for it. Welre cornered like rats here. VVhat ya' say ? Anything suits me, it's up to you, Shorty replied, willingly. 1 rigi . n aiou an iot r. o Jace 'o vour pos ann ceei a siari All glt I l t l 1 G lalt , n t ll 1 l 1 lookout. Howis your ammunition holding out P Cairn asked. H Almost gone, and the man disappeared, swallowed up in the inky dark- ness. HI-low to save the unconscious boy! was Cairn's thought. At last he hit upon what seemed a feasible plan. ln the darkness he scribbled a note which he pinned on the door and then lifting the unconscious lad he climbed slowly up into the small attic. He descended to the lower room and returned, bringing food, Water and blankets. Again he wrote laboriously and this time he slipped the note into the boy's pocket. Descending he called Shorty and together they slipped noiselessly into the outer darkness. Ten minutes ticked by, broken only by the high wailing cry of a coyote and then sharp reports filled the air. Time slipped by and at daylight two men entered the cabin. Sheriff, what do you suppose became of Sam and the kid, Stanton ? one of the men asked. Here's Sam, dead as a doornailg don't see anything of the boy, the sheriff answered. VVhat's this, the other asked, and the sheriff, examining the note, read: Sheriff: Herb Stanton slipped early last night and by this time he's in Mexico. The boy wasn't in on any of our robberies and he's innocent of the one he is accused of in North Dakota. His pal, Don joiman, pulled it off and stacked the cards against the kid. Jim Cairn. VV'ell, that ends that, the kid's beat it. Lord, Cairn sure was game! It's a shame we had to kill him. Hanged if l don't wish Shorty, the low-down skunk, hadn't preached on him. He's saved his hide by his treachery, darn him, but it'll be jail for him, the sheriff said. Listening intently a white faced boy pressed his ear to a small crack over- head. Hearing the door slam he knew the men were gone and his own liberty practically assured. He dropped his head on his arms and for the first time in years he cried softly. Cairn had been killed, of that there was no doubt and all to save him. He clutched lightly the message Cairn had written him which read: Herb, if you ever get out of this scrape follow the straight path. In our old hiding place you will find live thousand dollars. Take it and use it, for it is mine. Make a man of yourself and be good. jim Cairn. Although Stanton was weak from loss of blood, he had regained conscious- ness shortly before the men had come. No longer did he have any thought for his own safety for he knew he would have no trouble slipping over the border into Mexico. But his thoughts lingered around the man who had gone so gamely to his death a few hours before. -Anna Belle Crump, '24. Page Twenty-four

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Literary THE CODE OF THE WEST 'llhe horizon in the west was etched in gold as the great red sun sank be- hind the stately snow-capped mountains. Deep down in a little valley four men were waiting with bated breaths the ruthless attack of their pursuers. One a lad of scarcely eighteen stood at a small window trying to pierce the fast falling shadows for a sign of the sheri'tI's posse. A heavy hand fell on his shoulder and he turned to see the leader of the most notorious gang of outlaws in VVyoming standing by his side. The man was tall but slightly stooped and his weather-beaten countenance proclaimed him a man of VVest. Here, our race is about run! 'l'hey've got us where we can't get out. Not that l'm kicking at Fortune for I don't give a hang but you, lad, are too young to die by a hang1nan's loop or gun. 'llhe man spoke coolly and his face was expressionless. slim, do you really mean you don't care whether you live or die ? the boy asked, incredulously. 'l'he man shrugged his shoulders and answered, slowly, Herb, I took a great liking to you the first time I saw you, l, admired your gameness. Then, when you got in trouble, 'I' persuaded you to join us. God! Boy, we're trapped here through the treachery of one man whom l always trusted. Herb, I can't let you die the death of an ordinary rustler. I'm responsible for your being here, 'llhe man paused and then went ou. I had a boy once, a merry lad who would have been about your age if he had lived. He was killed by a horse when he could hardly toddle and then Rose, my wife, died and here's where I drifted. The wild daring life was the only thing I have ever cared for since. Some way I can see my son in you and therefore I had figured to get you out of this rotten hole. Look here, jim, l'll take my medicine with the rest of you. You know well as I do l didu't rob that store back home, but I could never have made a jury see it. I'd been in jail a long time ago if it hadn't been for you, the boy answered, calmly. No lad, listen. 'lloniffht about 1'lIlCl-lllffllt you Gotta' slim out and beat it . - ' Y as c. , 2: , , into Mexico. One man can manage where four can t. Dont let Shorty or Sam catch on for they'd double-cross you suref' the man sald as he turned back to his post. Herbert Stanton's glance followed the man admiringly. Outlaw or not he was a type of man that one could not help but admire and respect. In this man breathed the spirit of the VVest, wild and reckless but true to the last. Night closed in and the man urged the boy to flee for his life but the boy refused. Shots were interchanged between the robbers and posse. Shortly before midnight llerb recklessly strode to the window and glanced out. A dull report and the boy fell to the floor. jim Cairn ran to the boy's side and knelt over him feeling swiftly for the wound. The blood indicated it was in his shoulders. Swiftly he secured a rude strip of cloth, he bandaged it and laid the boy on a nearby bunk. Shorty, come here, Cairn called softly and in the gloam a short squat figure of a man appeared. Did they get Sam ? Shorty answered, Yep, shot him through the head. Page Twenty-three

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JAKAHAPS OFFERING Jakahai brought his battered Ford to a standstill and lifted the wee lad, John. to the ground. 'llogether they walked towards Benson's, the child eager, the father reluctantly, slowly guided his son along the street. In the store they were met by an idle crowd of loungers. Here comes the Jap! il--lere comes the Jap ! a small boy called. I-lo! l-lo! l---low's big pum'kin face and little pum'kin face today? an- other called. 'llhis was greeted by hearty but mocking laughter which con- tinued all the time Jakahai was in the store. , l-landkerchiefs for the lady, Jakahai was speaking, his mask-like face never changing. John chose a colorful assortment in a pretty box, tucked it under his arm while his father laid the coins on the counter. Look at the funny hobblc of the laps , a youth called, imitating as best he could QIakahai's hasty walk. By this time Iakahai was out of sight of Ben- son's. His face changed, hard angry lines appeared. He walked as if in a trance. John caught the mumbled words, Bah, white men, they are mean. Little John understood not the words but only that his father was angry, horribly angry. But he spoke. Father, father, teacher will be pleased. As he talked he glanced at the package he carried. -lZl.liZ1llZ1l,S face changed as spontaneously when teacher was mentioned. lt softened for a moment, then again the angry lines took their place. Four tiny children and their mother were waiting for them at their humble home. jak, my man, don't let the words of a few people bother you so. I know it's those lazy fellows at Benson's again. Yes, and they'll be sorry some day. VVithout further mention, he went to tend to his small garden. At the evening meal jakahai was even quieter than usual. Finally he said. XVe shall not go to the church tonight. Il-l I if r-t lt -ll f t- -r f '1 dl'ttl h , int. ix an o, anc eac icr wan s us o, xx ai e 1 e Jo n. 'l'hey went. jakahai was angry. lf anyone made fun of his wife that night, that person would be sorry. .lohn's beloved teacher saw the group coming in the door. She came to speak a few kind words to them. john shyly gave her the package. Oh you little, thoughtful boy, she said, leaving him presently with a hasty kiss. Then the program began. Awed by beauty of words they did not understand and by the sacred quietness, the Japanese family sat in wondering silence. VVhen the presents were distributed, a box of candy was given to each small child. Amid the after rush of examining gifts, merry laughter and cheery words, ,Iakahai skipped unnoticed to the altar. He laid a small offering there. Not money alone was left but greater than that, all -lakahai's hatred for the white men. 'llhe next day Jakahai went again to Benson's. This time he smiled and he was rewarded. 1-le was no longer considered an inferior but an equal to any white person in Orville. -Margaret Kelsey, '25. Page Twenty-five