Stadium High School - Tahoma Yearbook (Tacoma, WA)

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Tl-IE. TAI-IOMA I5 soon was lost to view. The jingling of a bell caused the lad to turn, and he met the soft gentle gaze of Brin- dle's eyes. Jumping down, he grasped her two horns and rested his head against the star between her eyes. Brindle was of an affectionate as well as a roving disposition, and remained passive until a voice, less gruff than usual, called to the Little lknight to hurry lest he he late to school the first day. The Master Knight did hear me, and sent his fairies, and I was afraid he wouldn't, and the Little Knight smiled and his heart was full of sun- light as Brindle's new bell tinkled before him up the road. 50-'. r l' Xi M' KT '! , , gr ,' ' - N- J X-X ,- lt: E - Q.. -- A A , ,f ' - of . ,jg 1 :Z i, I 'I ' f- ' 4 yo -q:- . . 5 L, , ry it 3-f I . ' A gia,1s:faE2? if-1 ' 2' 4, . f 1 - V-.f 1 - .wr ff? - 3f'i 1 N3 fb 'z 'C :Q--ls-' jl'.,,'z - a w 3. - . A It E,-'r'1 '-' , ' -4 -igsllrs A ifiifis'--:1:'-.1? E12-2:9 5-, gif-if-'ff 13- , sw? ir. M ' q eg- ' E - - ---3 - V, r 5- -,r ' ,n,.f- 3 ,-- 'Hi 's+ :iL ..., 2' '-T ? ff-- ., . za ::'f- -, 'F ---5 Y ' ' T , - '-' 7 X-- s Q -sa.,,a- N:--,zz - evra? -A - 1 QT' k , 4 7 --ass, .,.. ...H-f. - - - ,Sf

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I4 THE TAHOMA over to see Pap John, he said, and at the assurance and lack of fear in his voice, the Little Knight gave him- self up to the pleasure of his ride with the Big Knight. They were a strange pair, these two, who believed so implicitly in the present existence of brave knights and fair ladies, and of dainty fairies who danced by moonlight and performed miracles of beauty and goodness. And now, as they rode thru the dark wood- land trails, whistling and calling for the straying Brindle, the man told his little comrade that some day the Master Knight would open Pap Jawnfs heart, and the fairies, with their laughter and tears, would soften it and let in the sunshine. And will he love send me to school just like I was real kin? The Little Knight's voice was eager, and the glow in his big blue eyes made the muscles of the Big Knight's throat suddenly contract as his arms held the child more closely. He was spared the necessity of a reply by the sight of Brindle's huge bulk in the trail, and the homeward ride was taken in silence, the Little Knight resolving to be less frightened at Pap John's blustering ways, the Big Knight wondering if work was the only motive in the adoption of the little waif, It was late when they finally arrived at Pap John's cabin, -and the moon had disappeared behind the bank ,of clouds that now hid the stars. The frog chorus was momentarily hushed. and the hoot of an owl in the pine trees sent a nervous tremor thru the lad. Pap John himself opened the door, holding a smoking lamp high above his head. His grim features relaxed somewhat at the sight of them, but the acidity of his temper was in no whit lessened. Well, so ye're back ag'in, air ye, after 'moonin' round half the night! me then, and An' me settin' here near worrit to death an' not knowin' whar ye wuz. Better hump yeself off to bed now, so's ye kin git up in the mornin'. I wonder which you were most concerned over-the lad or Brindlef' mused the Big Knight, as the farmer kicked the door to after the boy's de- parture. John Wilbur,,' the Big Knight said, eyeing the other sternly as he turned from the door, whatever possessed you to adopt that boy? Why, I just thot I'd like some- one around to talk to, was the evasive reply. Yes, you thot you'd like some one to brow-beat and bully! If that was your only reason for taking him, you'll give him up mighty soon. l'le'd be better off in an orphan asylum- at least he'd have a chance at the start of an education. From now on, you're going to see that the lad does not have to roam around after stray cows half the night, and what's more, you're going to send him to school. If you don't l'm going to see that measures are taken that will give him the chance to have the things other boys take for granted. The Big Knight strode to the door in a manner that left the cowering farmer no doubt as the truth of his statements. as as as as -is as as af- The rain-washed earth gleamed green and gold in the glow of the rising sung the hazy blue mountains beyond the marsh were tinged with a delicate rose light, sweet and clear the feathered choristers of the wood car- olled their morning' song, and the soft, cool air, was scented with pine and misty violets. U The Little Knight stood on his stump and watched 'a black horse galloping down the road, the thud of hoofs growing more and more faint. The Big Knight turned in the saddle and waved to the lonely figure, and

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'6 THE TAI-IOMA Contraband - OLIVE SWAIN 'I 6 fig- HOALWATER BAY in the late November twilight! it What more dismal picture can one ima.gine,-green- gray water, blue-gray hills, cold gray rain, and the rising wind. The turbulent ocean thundered on the bar, breaking white from shore to shore, and within, surf foamed about the cliffs below the North Cove Light. just outside the danger line a little fishing schooner pitched and tossed with the swell. The spirit of that which is sinister hung over the weather- beaten hull and tattered sails of the old steamer, Willapa. Its useful- ness as a freight steamer over,-con- demned, it hadgcome into the hands of Captain James Bantley, and now, as a sailing craft, was engaged in the lishing industry and-other things. Captain Bantley, iron-jawed, stern eyed, reticent, swept the foaming bar and the bay beyond with an appraising glance. Two weeks had they been out from Cape Flattery, and food was getting low. To enter the har- chance of detection bor now meant a -to wait for the protecting dark was impossible in the another half hour bar and seek the sea, there to wait who could say rising storm. ln he must leave the safety of the open another day. Yet what another day might bring? If he entered now, night would have fallen anyway before he should reach Stony Point, four miles within the harbor. Danger lay in either course he chose, so why not end the suspense and enter at once? A life of large risk and large re- ward was that of Captain Bantley- the boldest of those ostensible fisher- men of the early eighties, who made fortunes on their trips to the halibut banks off Cape Flattery. Opium, stored in the hold, augmented their earnings and was easily disposed of if the United States revenue cutter appeared. More profitable, though, was the smuggling of Chinese. To be brought from the coast of British Columbia and landed at Stony Point, that barren stretch of beach on Shoal- Water Bay, whence he could escape to and become lost in the near-by Chinese settlement, many a China- man paid from three hundred to live hundred dollars. On this trip Captain Bantley was carrying seven Chinese in the hold, and few halibut and rock cod above as a blind-and Stony Point was almost in sight. Twilight deepened as the old Wil- lapa fought its way in over the bar, and the captain was beginning to wonder why he had seen any ele- ment of danger in entering, why he had hesitated. Could it be that he, James Bantley, was beginning to lose his grip? The mate, slightly agitated, broke in upon his reveries. An unfamiliar light had been seen near the shore line. The captain's keen eyes, searching the place designated, needed no glass to confirm his fears. Only too well did he know that boat, its long white hull, its two masts and one smoke stack. The revenue cutter was put- ting out from the sheltering cove, where it had lain in wait, to run them down. One side of the Willapa's deck was hidden from the government boat, but it would not be for long. The