Milwaukie High School - Maroon Yearbook (Milwaukie, OR)

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examination-horrors! Cut in the handle was the name H. M. Smithers. Now Mr. Dalweg knew the gentleman mentioned. He also knew that fat kid who left the lawnmower to be Mr. Beardy's grand niece. He considered therefore, that, under the circumstances, it was reasonablylcertain that J. M. Smithers stil! believed himself to be possessor of a lawnmower. Mrs. Monroe's broom was returned. Shel was surprised, however, to dis- cover that it was much newer than the one she had lent. While Wilhelmina was stirring each individual of the village, Mrs. Fiskin was trying to change her vision of the proposed !car to a reality. But she was not having the success that Wilhelmina enjoyed. In fact, Mrs. Fiskin was positive that Mr. Beardy's quarrel with lVIr. Birdick! was responsible for the lack of interest shown in her plan. She felt that it was time someone looked the thing in the face. So she took her courage in both hands and stopped to interview the trouble maker. ! Oh, Mister Beardy, she cooed, 'Tm sui'e that you, like the other influ-1 ential men, have been only awaiting an opportunity to place your name below the names of those who have been so eager to contribute to Mr. Birdick's carf' Mr. Beardey's face set obstinately. Mrs. l?!iskin's resolve took to itself some- thing of the same quality. HReally, Mr. Beardy, you've no idea of the benefit such a car as we plan to get will be to the faithful old man who has carried the mail to our doors summer and winter for twelve long years. The size of Mr. Beardey's jaw increased visibly. Sorry. l've work waiting. You must excuse me. 3 Mrs. Fiskin was alone. She hurried up the road and swooped down upon the surprised Mrs. Stafford to whom she toldithe whole affair. lVIrs. Stafford, soul of sympathy tho she was, could think of no way to Bring Mr. Beardy 'round. 5 I've been having trouble myselff' she remarked, You know the little Beardey girl. She just borrowed my broom., Now l want to sweep, but you know how that man is about returning things. lsn't it queer that Mrs. Munroe was jus1i exclaiming to me when I stopped with the petition that he-or rather the little girl had borrowed and returned a broom today. And the strange part was that the broom she returned was a different one altogether from the one she borrowed. It was almost new.'l Almost new, echoed the bewildered Mrs. Stafford. Why, so was mine. Mrs. Fiskin rose decisively. Weill call Mrs. Munroe on the phone, said she, and get to the bottom of this. A In the meantime Mr. Beardey was throwing at Sam Birdick's head words best expressing his hate-hate such as but fewiknow in all their three score years and ten. The old mail carrier, weak as he was from his long illness, was too dull to respond. As he rose to go, Beardy turned his glinting eyes full upon the shaken face of his one time friend, and barkedf, Auto, Automobile! Not. -just wait. If you dare accept it. Well then try'it. If you dare. Charity patjenx, charity patient, char- he choked and flung himself out the door. A brisk breeze cooled his near to boiling over pot of wrath. At the corner two generous yellow pigtails flew in his face. ! Wilhelmina was passing by. VVhat ho, my hearty! Where away so fast? And he took the pigtails in his rough hand. Like two chums they went thru the gate. Inside, Mr. Beardey stopped short and stared, for at the steps was a crowd of people. His neighbors! What was mord and worse their several pairs oi hands or arms were occupied in holding something, each pair a different thing- a basket of eggs, a broom, a lawnmower, or slomething else as the case might be. Mrs. Fiskin, influential woman of the community, stepped forward. ML Beardey, we have called this evening to induire about the matter which your niece has been taking up. We have found-but as she is here perhaps it would be more satisfactory if she were to speak for herself. 15 !

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The Twill nf wilbzlmina Automobile! Automobile! Automobile for a farmer postman! exploded Mr. Beardy. The dishes jumped wildly and the table groaned under the blows of Mr. Beardy's fist upon its red checkered cloth. The people are blind. No one's got any cash. Automobile for Sam Bir- dick? Let me catch him ridin' 'round in a car, while we slave to get it for him. That'll be nice, won't it? He stopped short in his tirade and glared at the empty chair opposite. At that moment its recent occupant was climbing the back fence. There was a prolonged r-r-r-r-rip but what matters a torn skirt when one is nine and think- ing? Wilhelmina liked Sam Birdick. Wilhelmina did not see why a poor rheu- matic faithful old man shouldn't have a car. It should be just like Mrs. Fiskinsi she decided. Once in the barn she plumped her overgrown body down upon a battered milking stool and surveyed Pompey fiercely. Pompey, his doggish eyes shining with interest, listened attentively while she explained. 'fIt's not fair, she muttered. You see, Pompey dear, Sam Birdick needs a car-I want it to be like Mrs. Fiskin's-and Mrs. Fiskin's taking a paper round to get everybody to write down how much they'll give ,on it 'cause Sam Birdick's been carying mail so long and he's sick now anyway. Oh, I know how you and me can help. Pompey thumped the floor eagerly with his wretched remnant of tail. And I'l1 tell you if you'll only hold your tail still and listen. We'll go up and ask Mr. Springer if he doesn't want his house cleaned again. I know it needs it. Maybe uncle won't be mad at Sam any more then if Pm not around for him to talk to me about how mad he is. He never speaks to Sam-hasn't since Mrs. Fiskin started the auto paper 'roundf' Half way to Mr. Springer's, Pompey stopped to pick up a scrape of torn newspaper that was dancing down the walk. Willielniina took it from him and read: - PAY BACK WHAT YOU'VE BORROWED CONTEST STARTS The children of this city now have a chance to earn some po.cket money. Even the grown folks may compete for the four prizes which Mr. Buren, promi- nent citizens of Dalweg, has so generously offered. Mr. Buren may pride him- helf upon being the person to introduce such a contest. No resident of this city ha sever before had such an opportunity as is now offered him. The plan seems to be as follows: The person who returns the greatest number of borrowed articles will receive a prize of ten dollars. The second prize is five dollars, the third three and the fourth prize, two dollars. The articles returned may range from a book of needles to that lawn mower you borrowed last summer. Search your memory house. Wilhelmina sat down with a thump. Why Uncle owes lots of things. We might owe more-have a lot more to pay back if I borrowed the things. She sat very quiet for several minutes while Pompey whined and sniffed. At last she rose saying, That's how you and me can get some money for Sam's car. Ten whole dollars. Remember the rides Sam's gave you, Pompey? Fifteen minutes later always weary Mrs. Bedford, baby in arms, opened the door to find a chunky child on the porch. Your cup of flour, some eggs, and butter, it spoke. We owed it you know. Mr. Beardy had returned them! Mrs. Bedford whitened with the shock. Soon afterward Mrs. Stafford met a yellow haired girl at the door and a request for the loan of her broom. Mr. Dalweg was pleased to have his lawnmower returned but upon close 14

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Every eye found its mark in Wilhelmina. The child colored, then laughed delightedly and burst out in her eager speech, Well, you see I'n Pompey thot it over about Sam's auto you know and so when we saw part of a newspaper with this notice in it we thot it was a good thing. So I paid back everything Uncle owed. Didn't know that, did you, Uncle? She giggled. And that didn't make me enough credits to take first prize so umh-w ,lli'we just borrowed some things from other people and then paid these peoglgglnack with things we bor- rowed from some more people. It was like this: 'Uncle owed Mrs. Duncan a ball of twine so I borrowed one from Mrs. Buzon.fThat's why I was so particu lar about the size, Mrs. Buzon. It had to be just like the one Mrs. Duncan lent us. Then I paid Mrs. Buzon back with one I got from Mrs. Hollavvay. Sorry but Mrs. Hollaway didn't have just the same size I borrowed, Mrs. Buzon. And paid Mrs. Hollaway back with Mrs. Dale's. You see we only owed one ball of twine same as ever, but I had three credits on my Pay Back What Youlve Borrowed list. We borrowed everything Uncle ever owed three times like that- all except Mrs. Fremont's sugar and when I stopped to go to lunch you lassoed me. lim going to walk to Dalton .tomorrow-it's only six miles-and turn in my list. That's where the contest's frurining you know. And if I've the most names in I'll get ten dollars to use for Sairrls auto. ' There was a relieved gasp followed by a horrified, painful silence. Finally Mr. Higginsby, interested, well-to-do, little old fellow that he was, piped up, Who'll give another ten on this ?l' Just a moment. One at a time pleasef' Mr. Higginsby was fussily flurried. Out came his notebook and pencil. Down went the names. 'fOne baker's dozen, he announced. That's one-thirty.. How much have you collected so far in addition to thii Mrs. Fisfrp ? , Very well. That makest- I ftwenty. I beg privilege of making it three-twenty. ' And I, spoke up- Mr.' Bde rdythickly, 'twill make it four hundred. There was a heavy pause, during which Wilhelniina took his hand in her own. At last old 'Mrs. Fremogtl separated herself from the group, old Mrs. Fre- ftnont, who prided herself ubonaalways speaking her mind. The words rattled nnfher parchedgthroat: 'Q I - I congratulate you upon your change of heart, Mr. Beardey, said she. Out came her skinny claw. A ' As Mr. Beardey took it gingerly, Mr. Higginsby shouted, I'll make it five hundred and we'll go to Dalton .andget that Ford. And it'll be one like Mrs. Fiskjnlsf' Wilhelmina decided for the second time. An hour later Mr. Birdick was sitting before the fire in his dressing gown. He rose to answer a ring at the. door, a long yellow envelope was thrust into his hand. He ripped it open nervously. It read: Come to Dalton immediatelyf' He dressed hurriedly, and bolted on the car a few minutes later. At Dalton there was a crowd waiting- a strangely familiar crowd thought the bewildered old man. Eager hands hustled him down the street andiinto a waiting Ford. Its glossy black coat reflected the brilliant street lights. As the door slammed shut an envelope dropped to the floor. For the second time that evening he tore open a mysterious envelope and by the yellow light streaming thru the window he made out these words written in a round irregular hand: We folks think it's so splendid of you to carry mail so long in all kinds of climates and we're so sorry you've been sick. So we're giving you this auto to use. P. S. I wanted to get S10 by the Pay Back What You've Borrowed Con- test, but Uncle said I didn't do it right to be in the contest so I couldnit. But you've the car anyway and itls just the kind I wanted so I don't mind. This P. S. is just from me, Wilhelmina. Below were the names of his neighbors, Wilhelmina's heading the list. He felt Pompey's cold nose on his neck and the strong hand of his friend, Jim Beardey. But best of all was to hear Wilhelmina's delighted giggle from the seat behind. 16 -Charlotte Nash.