Jackson High School - Jacksonian Yearbook (Jackson, CA)

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HELL HATH NO F URY Throughout the West, ghost-cities have become part of that sectionis stock- in-trade. The particular setting of the following tale was ons?-namely, Lone Tree-located, well that isn't important. Let my word suffice to tell you that it did exist. Its history was identical with that of the numerous other towns sharing the same fate. A small gold strike was made, very much exaggerated stories of its size and importance were circulated and as a result, hordes of eager gold-seekers, disappointed in other fields, rushed to the site and over- night a town of formidable size sprang up. Some most pretentious public buildings were built-not overnight, 'tis true, but in a short period neverthe- less. The name of Lone Tree was given to the metropolis because of the one scraggly bush that stood in the center of the town, the only evidence of vege- tation other than sagebrush and cacti to be found in many miles. Then the gold vein petered out, news of a new strike to the north was received, and the inhabitants of Lone Tree deserted their homes and more cumbersome belong- ings and struck out for new fields. For a few years, Lone Tree was forgotten. Prairie dogs and coyotes some- times stole stealthily through the streets, slipping from shadow to shadow, but even they avoided the place as much as possible. Occasional travellers some- times stopped and made a hasty survey of the place, looking through the un- packed books in the courthouse and perhaps taking a few for souvenirs. Then, as suddenly as it was deserted, Lone Tree was once again populated by human occupants. Her inhabitants were only temporary visitors, men who were working on the railroad which was under construction at the eastern edge of the town. Once again Lone Tree's streets rang with laughter and noise. An enterprising Irishman fhis name, of course, was Patj cleaned up the saloon and installed a supply of overalls, books, and other commodities likely to be demanded by a railroad crew. He had also intended to import some liquid refreshment but he found enough left by his predecessor to ap- pease the wants of the camp for quite a period to come. And at this point our heroine or villainess, call her what you will, enters. Nanny, as she was later dubbed, was a goat of indeterminate age, who had apparently been for- gotten when her owner left for parts unknown. How she had managed to exist until the advent of the train crew was her own secret. She had watched the newcomers with a wary eye but had allowed them to go their way undis- turbed. Now, however, with the reopening of the saloon she appeared nightly amongst the throng and demanded by. devious signs, that she might be given liquor. Her thirst was quickly appeased by bystanders to whom a liquor- craving goat was a novelty. The men looked upon it as a great joke and it became the custom for one and another to 'cset 'em upf' for Nanny. The latter, upon seeing her first demands crowned with success, enlarged and im- proved them and soon her first circle of benefactors was increased so that it included practically all the men in the town. Woe to the man who bought a drink without first buying one for Nanny! He would find .himself on the far side of- the room feeling carefully of the parts of his anatomy. T221

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'6Yes, I am that manf' said a voice over my shoulder. You understand now, don't you?', Lyon, you fool,', I bellowed. You knew the murderer confessed before James Clay's executionli' I know, he said, but it was too late. The storm had broken all means of communication with the prison. '4Oh, you blundering idiotln I cried. I killed them both! he wailed. Pull yourself together, Lyon, I said excitedly. uYou're going back to civilization. James Clay did not hang! f'Oh, my God, why do you taunt mel he screamed. You fool,'i I cried over and over. '6An airplane carried the message staying the executionf, Before I could continue I heard him groan. Slowly 'he fell to the floor a dying man. 4'Oh, God, why have you told me this, I heard him say. Lifting his throbbing head I did what I could to comfort him in his last moments. Before lapsing into unconsciousness he looked into my face. W111 you find James Clay and tell him how I have suffered for the wrong I have done? he asked. 6'He knows, I said. He knows?,' . uYes,,' I answered, for I am James Clay. I Milton Dalo LOVE TALES A Boy and a Girl Were Dancing at the 'cMasquerade . Suddenly some- one exclaimed, '4Look Who Is Here! if it's not the All American Girl . I must give you My Fraternity Pinn. As I was Waltzing in a Dream , I heard some gal say, 6'Step by Step I'm Falling in Love with You . Sez her man, c'That,s My Desiren. As I grew 'Tired I asked Sweet Sue to Save the Last Dance for Me and I strolled along c'Lover's Lanev Where I heard Goofus', telling L'Lucille,, '4Love Tales that turned out to be uLies,'. By the Lazy River I saw the Parisian Lover Begging For Love . '4Give Me Your Affection I-Ioneyi' and tell me that Weill be Sweethearts For- everv. As I was overhearing his wooing, I felt Guilty and when he turned to me and said, I'l1 Be Glad When You're Dead, You Rascal You , I said, 'GI Apologizev. '6By the Sycamore Treen I heard Juliet say I'm Fit As a Fiddle and Ready for Loven. Sez Romero, '4Please', uPut Your Little Arms Around Me , and, as she did so, he said, Oh 'LMy Darlingi' 'GWhy Can't This Night Go On For- ever? F ain would I have stayed and listened to their Love Talcsv, but, as 4'Three Is a Crowd , I went my 6'Weary', way. Angelo Avila E211

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As the men became more tolerant of Nanny and respected her rights as one of them, Nanny became more aggressive and despotic and like the old Roman rulers, exacted more and more tribute from her followers. With her increas- ing feeling of importance, her desire for pomp and display led her to evict the occupants of the bank building and take the place as her own residence. The former occupants were of course uput outi' figuratively as well as literal- ly and the same day as their eviction found them at the foot of the steps lead- ing to their former domain vowing to show that blame goat who's boss . Nanny at this point, appeared on the threshold as if challenging them to come further. One man had once paid the penalty for forgetting to fill her schoon- er and was not anxious to repeat the experience. The idea of proceeding by himself did not particularly appeal to his companion so they retired to their new but not so desirous quarters. And so it went. Every day saw Nanny become more tyranical. The choic- est viands were hers for the taking. She no longer confined her butting prow- ess to the saloon. Many a Weary worker quietly going to his shanty for rest between shifts, suddenly sprawled in the dust of the highway-at Nanny's instigation. Of course, those who suffered were in favor of taking violent steps to curtail Nanny's activities but the rest of the camp championed her and so nothing was done. Then came a day when the railroad crew was ordered on to complete work elsewhere. Lone Tree was again deserted except for Pat and an old crony. Pat had done a most profitable business and planned to follow his former patrons to the next place of abode in as short a time'as possible. A week later found Pat and his friend still in Lone Tree awaiting some delayed merchandise. Their tempers were stretched almost to the breaking point for they were forced to live entirely on the contents of cans, which after a few meals be- came intolerable. One night, both slightly inebriated from the still large supply of whiskey in their possession, they sat talking in the twilight. Nanny, who seemed to sense that all free drinks were over and now no longer came to the saloon, appeared at the window of her home. The two men both realized for the first time what-her presence meant to them-MEAT. Pat quickly secured his shotgun from in back of the bar and taking careful aim at the unsuspecting Nanny, very neatly bored her heart. After carefully cooking one of Nanny's legs, the two men sat down to what promised to be a banquet. With the first bite, the age of their victim and the enormity of their crime dawned upon them. Stories ofthe dear de- partedis escapades were remembered and retold until the hour of midnight. The tender memories roused by this story had their effect on Pat and he and his crony that night slept the sleep of the righteous while the moon shone upon freshly turned earth at the head of which was a roughly inscribed sign bear- ing the words: Here lies Nanny, h - Who came to an ignominious end at the hands of her friends. ,Elsie Thomson K2-3l