Banning High School - San Gorgonian Yearbook (Banning, CA)

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“Yes, I saw some pretty fresh tracks over by the south spring and from the looks of them they must have been headin’ for the border fast,” returned Sandy. “T don’t think those fellows are just plain rustlers. Ordinary thieves couldn’t get rid of as many cattle as they’re running off every week. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if those Germans had something to do with this,” said Judd, voicing his pet theory. Nothing was said for a few minutes, then Judd began: “I saw by this morning’s paper that some submarines had been seen off the coast of Lower California.” “Yes, I saw that,” remarked Sandy, absent-mindedly. And again the conversation lagged. “Say, boss,’ Sandy resumed slow- ly, “If you can give me my pay, I think I’ll leave to-morrow.” Judd looked at him in astonishment. “What! you go tomor- row! Why, you haven’t been here hardly a month. What’s the matter? Don’t you like your job?” : “Yes, the job is all right, but I’—and Sandy’s voice trailed into silence. “Well, is that all?’ said Judd rather heatedly. “If you go leaving the country in this way, it’ll look like you had something to do with the cattle stealing.” “No, that isn’t all,” said Sandy quickly. “I think I’ll tell you about it,” and he began abruptly. “I don’t remember my father, he died when I was a little kid. Mother, my brother Cal, and I lived on a little place we had rented back in Missouri. We had a hard enough time getting along before mother died, but when she left us, things were worse than ever. Both of us were dis- gusted with the place, so we left and came out west. We had always pulled together well up to a few weeks ago, and then we had a fuss. It seems like a little kid’s quarrel now, and I want my brother with me again. So if you’ll give me my pay, I will start tomorrow to find him.” “Tf that’s it, Sandy, all right. We sure hate to lose you. -Bui you had better wait until next week before you leave. There’s only Saturday and Sunday left of this week, and then get a good start Monday morning,” suggested Judd. After thinking it over Sandy replied that he would do as Judd suggested. PAGE FIVE +

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Border Justice ANDY rode slowly along toward the ranch, winding in and out among the sage brush and cactus. He was not guid- ing his horse; there was no need, for Star knew the way as well as he did. His body was humped over in the sad- dle dejectedly, so deeply was he absorbed in his thoughts that he did not notice the lengthening shadows until Star shied at an ugly black snake basking in the last hot rays of the departing sun. After he watched the snake slowly uncoil and wiggle behind a bush, he started off at a steady gallop toward the cluster of red- topped ranch houses, above which, plainly outlined against the sky was a huge wireless apparatus and he muttered to himself as he went, “I’ll see the boss to-night.” Sandy was both lean and lanky. Usually he was jolly and did a great deal of joking, but at present he was in a very melan- choly mood. He worked on a cattle ranch south of Yuma near the Colorado river. This ranch with the neighboring ranches made the big part of the great cattle industry of Arizona. As Sandy was fixing Star for the night Judd Pierce, his boss, came to him and said, “Jackson had some more cattle run off last night and yesterday Stone had some disappear in the day- time. It shore gets me who’s gettin’ those cattle. You didn’t see any signs of them down there, did you?” PAGE FOUR

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As he finished speaking two strangers rode up and dismount- ed. They said they were sent out by the Government to find out the available supply of beef, in case the regulation of the food supply was started. One of them, catching sign of the wireless, clearly outlined against the golden glow of the western sky, re- marked: “You have a pretty fine wireless apparatus here.” “Yes, we have,” said J udd. “It belongs to Mr. Schmidt’s boy. Although I have never seen him use it, Schmidt says his son sends messages to a friend of his across the border,” “Schmidt, did you say?” said the stranger. “German, isn’t he?” “Yes, he’s a German,” returned Judd. “Bought this ranch just after the European war began. But he seems to be loyal enough to the United States. Say, you fellows better put up here for the night. It’s quite a ways to the next place.” They accepted, and Judd took them to the house, while Sandy made his way to the mess house, from which came the rattle of dishes and the laughter of the care-free cow-punchers. The next afternoon Sandy was out looking for stray cattle. As he topped a small rise in the land he saw a man driving some cattle southward, and he wondered why he was going in that di- rection. Then the disappearance of Stone’s cattle in the day time flashed through his mind, and he decided that he had come upon one of the cattle thieves. As he rode nearer, he noticed the man kept looking back over the way he had come, as though to see if any one was following. Sandy approached him so quickly and with so little noise that the supposed thief did not turn until he was about twenty feet from him. For a moment they stared at each other wordless. “Sandy,” cried Cal. And after a silence, during which Sandy stared at him, “My, but you are a sight for sore eyes.” But Sandy didn’t smile. He was pale as death, and he said with a trembling voice, “You, Cal, you a thief?” “No, I’m not a thief! Sandy,” said Cal, growing pale in his turn, “I can’t explain to you now—but——.” “Of course you can’t,” burst out Sandy. “YOU HAVE nothing to explain. It’s as plain as the light of day, what you’re up to.” Then more excitedly, “Get out of my sight, before I do my duty and turn you over to justice.” “But listen, Sandy, you——.” PAGE SIX