Galt High School - Highlights Yearbook (Galt, CA)

Page 29 text:

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

Page 28 text:

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

Page 30 text:

g THE LORD TAKES CARE OF THE IRISH St. Patrick's Day was here and with it the rain. It was a God-send to the country. It came just in time to prevent the whole community from going to ruin, and, like all true Irish people, the 0'Bradys thanked good old St. Patrick who drove the snakes from Ireland for it. 'lfhey had been sent a small jug of wine from a neighbor's and were going to celebrate in the good ol' fashioned way. It was just after a hearty dinner and the whole family were after takin' a sup when a knock came at the door. Like all law-abiding citizens, they did not want anyone to see the little jug, so it was hastily put under the table with three half-filled glasses, and Mrs. O'Brady went to open the door. It was a neighbor with whom the O'Bradys had had trouble a few months before over a cow getting into an alfalfa held. This man, Mr. Ashby, was known over the surrounding country for his small, mean ways. l-le lived alone and was cordially hated by all who knew him. I-Ie came into the warm room and whatever he was going to say was lost as he stood, sniffing the air. Top of the morning to ye, said john O'l3rady, heartily. He knew that the Lord looks after the Irish and was too happy over the rain to bear anger toward his neighbor. Ashby growled something in return and remarked, Somethin' smells mighty good around here. Yes, said John, we have with us a wee bit of drink of youth, and taking the little jug from the table he poured out a drink for Ashby and set the 'ug on the big table again. J IAshby picked it up and smelled the bottle, took a few aimless steps toward the door, and then with a bound, was out and running with all the speed in his rather decrepit legs, toward town, about half a mile from O'Brady's. Sure and I bet he's after having ye arrested, Mrs, O'l3rady said, in an agitated tone. Do you think we will all go to jail P Oh, hush! hush! 'tis he that has the wine, not us, said john, but we may so well be after drinking our little sup. Ashby ran as fast as he could and there was great joy in his heart. To clean up the bootleggers in the state, a reward had been offered to anyone who would give conclusive evidence, and here he had the O'Bradys. '.l'hings were certainly going his way. He was in town now and going toward the district attorney's office when suddenly a hand was laid upon his arm, and he looked up to see a burly oliceman. P Not so fast, me1nan, he said, and just let me have a whih' of your little brown 'uU. ' It ziiiit mine, it's O'l3rady's. You had better go after him, retorted Ashby, trying to shake oHi the hand which was holding tighter. Ah, ha, me lad, that is old stuff. Not yours, indeed. And why were you running the streets with another man's jug F A cold hand of fear seemed to clutch Ashby's heart but he stammered, They had it under the table and I grabbed it and- How did you know it was under the table, the cop asked, impatiently. O'Brady took it up to give me a drink and l took it and run, and Ashby finished, trying to pull away, I am going to see the district attorney. To be sure, and step along, me lad, nice and pretty now, or it's some nice shiny bracelets ye'll be after havin' on yer wrists, said the policeman, giving Ashby a push and falling in beside him. Poor Ashby! Wlieii they arrived at the office he was shaking so that he could hardly stand. The attorney looked up and saw the men and the little brown jug and frowned. Ashby knew he need expect no mercy here and began his explana- tion of how it happened. Page Twenty-six