Madera Union High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Madera, CA)

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18 THEW POR PIE AND WHITE it was too dark to see then so I rode right back to where Mary was. You say the gun was near Lathrop’s body? It must have dropped out of my pocket just where Lathrop was shot. Mary shot twice at a squirrel when we were going. over to town. That’s why two shots are gone. Ask the girl if I’m not telling the truth. She doesn’t even know I had any trouble with Lathrop.” “T believe you, Billy,’’ said big hearted Pat O’Rouke. ‘Shake me hand.’’ Leonard and I went to the house. family were all frightened. The “Mary,” I said, ‘‘tell us everything that you did since you left the house this af- ternoon.”’ Maty’s story agreed exactly with her father’s. “Did you notice. the time when your father got back to the Jones’ place?” “Yes,” she said. ‘‘It was exactly seven o’clock by my watch.” My watch was running even with hers. “And it was just seven when you came into the ‘Red Dot’,’’ I said to Leonard. ‘‘Bill’s innocent.”’ Mary begged me to tell what was the matter. I started to tell her quickly but was interrupted by a loud shouting out- side. The door was thrown open and Bill Smith was brougnt in. All the boys were cheering and everyone tried to shake hands with Bill. ‘‘Smith’s innocent.’’ I shouted. “He sure is,” cried O’Rouke, red in the face with yelling. “Dan Ross just got here. He found a note on the body. Lath- throp committed suicide.” When it was possible to quiet the boys, Dan told his story. After we’d left town, Dan searched the body and found two Ietters in Lathrop’s coat pocket. One was addressed to a Mrs. Matilda James, Louis- ville, Kentucky, and the other was a note to the boys saying that he was tired of life and asking them to mail the other to his wife in Kentucky. The two shots were fired from his own revolver. The idea hadn’t come to us that Lathrcp had killed himself. When we found Smith’s pistol near the body we’d all jumped to the conclusion that Smith was the murder- er. I’ll never trust circumstantial evi- dence again, « e We had a big celebration at Bill’s that night. We told the women folks the whole of the story and they were mighty glad things turned out as they did. Pat O’Rouke tied a piece of wool on his chin and was Santa Claus. We all search- ed our pockets to find things for the kids. That was certainly a happy Christmas eve for all of us and especially for Mary and me. Ye Ballad of Trueman and Bill. Part: I: When war was declared by the land of Japan And the land of the brave and the fre, I was asked who should command upon the land And who upon the se. Then up spoke Uncle Sam off Washing- tonne, “T think it would be myghtie fine To get me a guid sailor To sail this schip off mine.” Back came the answer loude and cleare, From congressmen fyftie and thre, “Oh William C, Ring is the best sailor That sails upon the se. But when William had come and accepted the job, “T must have a commander,’ quoth he, “The troops to command upon the land, While I am upon the se.” Then replied Uncle Sam, “In all the land There is nae man half sae guid Your troops to command upon the land As General Trueman A. Wood.”’ And so General Wood came as quick as he could, With their warships of ten thousand tons They sailed away out of Long Island bay With a farewell boom of the guns. (Here ends ye first part of ye ballad).

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THE PURBES AND WHITE 17 “Dutch” said. ‘“‘Lathrop got his gun out though.” “Smith done it, all right,’’ said Pat O’Rourke, owner of the ‘‘Red Dot.” “TI’ll get a rope! Get your horses, boys!”’ “Wait a minute,’ I said. ‘“‘You boys elected me head of the Vigilance Commit- tee, and you all know I want to stop shoot- ing around here as much as any of you. But there’s nothing to. show that Smith really did it.. It’s all guess work. There's no real evidence.”’ “Here’s yer ividince!’’ shouted Pat. He’d been going over the ground nearby with the lantern, He picked up a pistol with an extra long handle. On one end the initials W. S. were engraved. It was Bill Smith’s pistol. Two shots had been used. “That sure is good evidence,’ I said. “Boys, get your horses, and bring the rope, Pat. You stay here, Dan, and watch the body.” , We were soon on our toward Bill Smith’s cabin up the valley. Nobody said anything. We all liked Bill and—he had such a big family—wife and four kids—and his Mary was a fine girl. I felt worse than anybody. When I put my, hand in my pocket, I felt that little nug- get pin and it made me feel terrible. But then, the evidence was certain. The fight and Smith’s “I’ll shoot him on sight!”’ was about enough to convict him. And there was his coming back to town and his pistol found near the body. We'd have to string him up. The wind was and sighing. I thought of poor Bill, swingin’ in the wind. What a Christmas Mary and the others would have! horses riding blowing and moaning At last we got to the cabin. I told O’Rouke and Leonard to come with me, and leaving the other boys we went up and knocked at the door. Mary answered the knock. - She was surprised when she saw us, but said, ““Come right in, gentlemen. ‘We’re having a little cele- bration just like we used to in the States.” “We just came to see you're Pa, Miss Mary,” I said. “He’s inside. . Come in.” We didn’t want to go in. even look Mary in the face. We were going to rob her of her Pa. When we did go in we found the whole family around the fire place. A little Christmas tree stood in the corner with a few pieces of candle tied on it. Bill was facing the fire with his back to us. He had the youngest kid on his knee and was telling him a story about Santa Claus. O’Rouke whispered, ‘‘Let’s get out of here. This is no place for. us.” When Bill saw us he stood up and offered us his hand. None of us shook with him. I noticed that Mary and his wife turned pale. “We'd like to see you outside,’ I said. All right, boys,’’ He put on his hat and went out with us to where the others were, He looked surprised he saw so many. “William Smith, as head of the Vigi- lantees, it is my duty to see that all mur- derers are properly taken care of. We found Dick Lathrop dead in front of the ‘Red Dot,’ You were in town a little while before. You murdered Lathrop. Have you anything to say for yourself be- fore we carry out the law?’’ Smith turned pale as death. some mistake. Is Lathrop dead? to heaven I never shot him.” “What can you say to this?” I up the revolver with W. the handle. I couldn’t “There’s I swear held S. engraved on Smith burst out into a laugh. ‘‘Where did you find it boys? That’s what I went back to town for. See the new gun Mary me!’’ He slapped his holster. In it was a brand new pistol. gave Smith went on to explain. in town with me today you know. She got presents for everybody. She got her Pa this pistol, and’ gave it to me just be- fore we left town: I put it in my holster right away and put my old gun in my pocket. I didn’t notice that the pocket had a hole in it ’till we got up near the Jones’ place. Mary had asked me to give the old gun to little Bill for a present, so I rode back toward town looking for’ it, leaving Mary to visit Mrs. Jones. I got back to town about a quarter to seven but “Mary was

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THE’: PURPLE AND WHITE 19 Part II. Now there was in the land of far Japan An ancient prophecy, That Tokyo should ne’er yield to a foe Until this strange thing should be, Till the wildwood itself should leave the land And move across the sea.: And now up spak ye high prieste, Hi Yangtze Kiang “O trouble is coming, I know, I am sure this means for our native land Unutterable woe, For in the year nineteen hunded and ten Like Josephus of long ago, I saw a comet, shaped like a jack knife Hanging over Tokyo. So now unto me is perfectly plain The meaning of this prophecy, For Trueman Wood is the wildest Wood That ever mine eye did see. (Here ends ye part second. ) Part II. And so Admiral Ring and General Wood Sailed in haste to the land of Japan, Like a football team in a forward pass Through the enemy’s warships they ran. And they crashed right into the enemy’s ships And they scattered them left and right Until every Japanese ship was sunk But they had a most terrible fight. And then they sailed down upon Tokyo And inspired the Japs with dread, For it sent the cold chills up and down their backs “'o see our flag overhead. Now Bill Ring and his men have to Tokyo gone, With a touchdown a down and a down, For they went through the Japs in a flying wedge ‘ 4 ateaichtway did capture the town. And they moored their ships upon the sand And did fight right furiouslie Till they. drove all the Japanese off the land Into the Yellow Sea. (Here ends ye ballad.) An Experience With A Burglar. LINTON MONTANYA Fritz Hanson’s father owned a store in a little town on the T. P. W. The Hanson family lived in the rooms over the store. Although the town was not large the store brought much trade, for the country around was a prosperous farming and dairying district. On this particular evening Fritz was at home alone, for his father had gone to Chicago on a business trip and his mother had gone too, for she needed the outing as a change from the dull routine of store work . All of the other Hanson children had gone to various friends who lived in the viiage, to stay during their parents’ absence, Fritz had locked up the store and had gone up stairs for the night. It was with many misgivings that he prepared to spend the night alone. As he was fumbling for matches to light the lamp he heard voices in the alley behind the store. When he went to the back window and listened, he found that the sound came from two disreputable looking men who were plan- ning to put into immediate execution a carefully planned burglary of the store that very night. : “The coast is clear,’ said one. ““There isn’t one of those Hanson brats that’s got spunk enough to stay alone over night.’’ This made Fritz furious and he thought fast. There came to his mind a plan which he had often thought of for stopping burg- lars, At the foot of the stairs was a door, like a cellar door, opening from the floor, and underneath this was a deep brick vault, used for coal by some former occupant of the building. Mr. Hanson had often ex- : MbA ve “yf