University High School - Cub Yearbook (Oakland, CA)

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A Bit of Speculation CC NYTHING in sight yet, Jess? I dont' think the old nag will hold out much longer. The speaker was a short, dark man. He and his com- panion, who was tall and lanky, but who resembled him in features, was driving along a deserted country road. Their wagon was dilapitated and the horse seemed to be on his last legs. In spite of the fact that it was early in the morn- ing, the poor beast was tired out. Farm house down beyond that bend, drawled the other, pointing with his whip. 'KI guess we'd better stop there for breakfast. A few moments later the wagon pulled up in front of the farmhouse, and the men descended from the high seat. It was a small house with a large, neatly-kept vegetable garden around it. Jess and his friend entered the yard. The latter seemed rather nervousg but .less advanced boldly and knocked on the door. It was opened by a stout, middle-aged woman, who looked at her early visitors inquiringly. Morning, Madame, said .less gallantly, as he removed his cap. May we have the honor of breakfasting with you? VVe have ridden hard all night, and are tired and hungry. The woman looked at him for a moment, but evidently assured of his hon- esty, replied: Sure, come on in. I ain't got much this mornin' but such as it is, you're welcome to it. They went into the house. The breakfast was very good, and both fell to with such heartiness that the woman was amazed. Between mouthfuls .less talked to her. Nice little garden you got out there, Nlrslf' Brown, she supplied. Yes, it is nice, ain't it? lim afraid it won't be nice much longer though. W'hy, how's that? XVell, you see, this farm is mortgaged. l been tryin' to pay it off ever since Dave died. He's my boy that was killed in the war. But Mr. Atkins, the man what's holdin' it, is comin' today. If I don't pay him every cent, he'll put me out, because he did that to the Merrills, the people that lived in the next farm, when they couldn't pay all their rent money. He's an awful grasping man. And he's mean where money's concerned. I donlt know what I'll do,-I haven't a dollar to my name. ' jess looked interested. How much is it, Mrs. Brown 7, he asked. Four hundred dollars, the response came tearfully. The other man looked uneasily at jess, who nodded at him reassuringly, then reached down in his pocket and pulled out a roll of bills that made the good woman's eyes bulge.

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King George and Merry England CC ALT, who goes there! The wind whispered soft tales of long ago through the trees of the ancient forest. A khaki-clad figure standing in the darkness grasped his rifle more tightly, and repeated the command. A crackling in some near-by thicket was the only answer. . God, he murmured, Ain't it 'bout time the patrol was comin'? Then aloud, Come out o' there! No reply. The moon, running swiftly through the sky, disappeared behind a cloud, and all was thrown into darkness. Now and then, as if to break the awful monotony, a shell would shriek in the distance. Suddenly, as if moved by that animal instinct which tells the wild beast that the hunter is near, the man whirled around, but too late. Hands were brusquely laid on his shoulders, and he was borne to the ground. As he looked up, he saw the helmeted figures of the Germans. Rough hands picked him up, and a stout, red-faced lieutenant spoke to him in broken English. Be quiet, und notting to you vill happen. Leaving behind them a small band to guard the prisoner, the company advanced on the English camp. As he sat there among his guards, it all dawned upon him. They would attack the camp when all of his comrades were asleep, and from the rear! He was the only person who knew of it, and yet, what could he do? He was unbound, but six rifles pointed tow'ards him. It made the blood boil in his veins. 'iXVas there no way to let them know? , the thought, and racked his worried brain for some scheme. Suddenly he straightened up. Look! , he cried, pointing into the dark-ness. The men started up and looked away. After such a silence this one word startled them, though they could not understand it. As he spoke the word, the captive wrenched the gun from the hands of one of his captors, turned, and fled. Gott! Halt! cried the astonished men. Then five rifles spoke, illuminat- ing for a moment the blackness. The moon came silently from its hiding-place, and beaming through the trees, revealed the swaying figure of the Britisher. XVith the last strength of a dying man, he drew himself up to attention and gasped, King George and England! God! l'm gone ! Then he fell heavily to the ground. The bullets had hit their mark. The pale moon cast a silvery gleam on the dead man's smiling face, and in the distance the blare of bugles sounded the attack. The British had not been surprised, for the shots which had killed Private O'Connell had warned the camp. The man was happy in death, for had not he saved his comrades? NVhat better death could a soldier ask for? The moon lost itself in the scurrying clouds, and the corpse was shrouded in blackness. Through the trees the wind murmured a dirge to the dead, the owl gave his doleful cry, the sound of gun fire came through the night, a last salute to the dead, and then, silence! EDXYARD RICHARDSON, December '17,

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Here you are, Mrs. Brown. Not a word now, he added warningly as she started to thank him. I think we'll he goin' now, jim. He started for the door, followed by his companion. Suddenly he turned. Uh, by the way, Mrs. Brown, when's your man comin'?', About half-past ten.'l X'Vell, good-bye, and thanks for the breakfast. God bless you ! breathed Mrs. Brown fervently. Wlhen they were seated on the wagon once more, jim turned to him. cr cf XfVell, you'1'e a nice one! he spluttered. f'VVhat's the matter? Turnin' friend 0' the poor? Half of that money's mine and you'll have to pay me. I did as much o' that job as you, Jess James, and if it hadn't been for me the watchman would a' seen us, an' you'd be behind the bars this minute. lt's all right, jim. Don't get excited, said the other eooly. Oh, yes it's all right. But where's my two hundred ? Jess made no reply, but took out his watch and looked at it. Twenty-five after, he said. XVe'll have to turn in here. He jerked the reins sharply and the horse turned to the left and pulled them through an open- ing in the bushes that lined the road. XVhoa, there! shouted Here's where we stop, jim. Now get down and make it quick. Got everything ready? I'll tie the horsef, A few moments later the grasping Mr. Atkins took his leisurely way down the road. He had just left the little farmhouse, and he was rustling the mort- gage-money in his pocket. At a turn in the road two masked men sprang out, knocked him senseless, and relieved him of all his valuables. Hours later the james boys were seated in the back room of a small saloon in the next state, whither they had fled that morning. Jess sighed contendedly. I call that a pretty good clay's work, jim, he said. XfVe got a hundred dollars' interest on our loan. HELEN SCHMIDT, '18 We , l