Barstow High School - El Desierto Yearbook (Barstow, CA)

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' .-, a I ' . - , , ff' fb' -J ' ' '- ' l ' . . - -: - .4 .' Is, this',thefplace to .turn,?'-? 1 ,,fWhat ?-O+that is-yes! - 1 . . ,I y howlvmuch' further is it? ' ' , - fr -Q 'That white-building half a block -up. l ' f. f.3Rather 'a nice-say-! ,If you always stop like that you will get pinched some day! e y j n ' He' .took her 'in to the judge, who Was a kindly old gentleman with twinkling- eyes -and white hair. After a few questions he asked- her name. l , j - e , ' tfMrs. JamesfE..'Kitling. . H I J The words producedla queer effect on the young officer. He .coughed two or-,three times, then confusedly left the room. But flvhen she turned to go, he' was at the door ready to escort her to er car. . l . 1 I y w 'As she passed through the remaining part of the town several childrenapointed at her wrecked fender and headlight, and one old man turned completely around to watch her out of sight. ' She ignored these-annoyances and with a proud tilt of her -head resolved to forget the whole event. But then she remembered the delapidated appearance of the car. How could she forget it with that reminder? -And, of 'course Jim would see it and ask all manner of questions. How .she detested questions! What would Jim say? He wouldn't be cross-he never was. No, he would tease her for years! But hebwould never know that it bothered her! So withthis resolution she drove up and stopped before her .husband 's drug store. He was standing out in front. He noted the appearance of the car, and with ill-concealed amusement waited until his wife was standing before him to comment. I - . ' What in the name of-? demanded James. '4Why, I just had a little accident, replied his wife. Bute-but- V'fHave you gotten the mail yet? Did I get a letter from mother? asked Mrs. Kitling, apparently having. no thought of the car. l - y - Mr. Kitling could no longer even attempt toconceal his mirth. He -laughed, and laughed-and. still laughed. When he finally got his breath enough to speak, he asked: ' Kit, did you climb a telegraph pole-or plow through a hotel? . There isn't a thing hurt but one fender- 'Yes, I know, thatls what I can 't understand. Why didn 't you bang both of 'em up? Then it wouldn't look so lop-sided, and he laughed again. James, did you get mea letter? Mrs. James, returned he, Hyou haven't answered my ques- tion yet-which course did you follow, the pole or the hotel? 'Both! Yes I did! I climbed up one side of a telephone pole and coasted down the other. When I reached the bottom I Page Thirteen '

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1 , ' The Last Laugh Mrs. Kitling sat comfortably in her new car. She was driving smoothly along at perhaps fifteen miles an hour, thinking of any-4 thing but that she was rapidly approaching a corner.. In fact, to be very exact, she was planning what to serve for dinner on the following day, 'fcreamed peas, meat. What kind? steak or-B CRB '77 . an . . Sie was not sure just what had taken place, but there, right before her stood a garbage wagon on three wheels. The fourth wheel lay under it. The owner of the wagon stood regarding the scene of wreckage with an expression of - exasperation and anger upon his homely face, which' became more red with every breath. Then he saw a policeman approaching and blazed forth: HThet's just why you -oughtn't to let. awoman drive! They all lose their heads and are perfect durn' fools when anything goes wrongll' r I Now, wait a minute! said the officer, who, 'as Mrs. Kitling remarked to herself, was not at all bad looking, then glancing at Mrs. Kitling, who sat helplessly looking at the wreck, he continued: Let's get things straight, and we don't need any personal ire- marks to do so! Miss-ah-er-the young lady was not going so terribly fast, but of course she should have been watching. Now- you, turning to thelman, how close were you watchingn that corner yourself? I guess we'd better' letlyou both tell it tothe judge, maybe- ' ' 'KI ain't goin' to talk to no judge! Judges don't. care nothin' 'bout what happens to a poor man like me, an '- Q -. See here! interposed the policeman. 'You, go to the police, court-and you'd better go too,'! addressing Mrs. K. 1 V But I don 't know the way! I drove over from Highlands and I don't. know very much about Redlands, said Mrs. Kitling, and ltlhe officer, watching her big brown eyes, offered eagerly to escort er. I don't even know which way to go first, and she looked more helpless than before. Straight ahead for three blocks, then to the right. It didn It damage your machine much. ' No, only bent the fender some, she answered. , Don!t worry about it. The judge can 't do much to you,,' and he- noticed that her complexion was beautiful, also that she was small. He had always prefered small girls. Her hair was nearly black, and he liked the way it curled beneath her hat. But her eyes! They- V Page Twelve

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' ' ,-, ' ' .ZPL J lf '4' ' -' - ' if 5-wi 3- 'J' .2157 ' ..,'r,l A 9 il .1 Q was progressing with such velocity that I could' not stop, so I drove right through a hotel that happened to- be in front of me. Did you get any mail? p - - ' f'Yes, there's a letter in there for you from the speed king-'L Well, I' must go home and start dinner. Goodgbye, Jimi? . I The next evening Mrs. Kitlingwas putting the last touches on. her table. Sherwas about toiserve to Jim and 'a .business friend of his, Mr. Sprecker, the meal which she had planned on the fateful ride of the day before. The table really looked quite pretty with its American Beauty centerpiece. She was again naming the dishes to be served, when she- heard Jim and Mr. Sprecker enter. ' She glanced into the buffet mirror, and being assured that- she looked well, went into the front room. , I V ' - V HThis is my wife, Mr. Sprecker, said Jim as she entered. '4Well, well, boomed Mr. Sprecker, f'I'm sure' you have a de- lightful home, Mrs. Kitling. Such lovely roses on the porch. ' You know, roses are my favorite-flower. I f'Yes, responded Mrs. Kitling. They are beautiful. That is Mr. Kitling's favorite bush. He ,is very' particular about thecare it receives. ' - I . - I HThat is the finest rose we have, by a long, way, spoke Jim. But we've some others that are pretty. Like to see theb? ,Then, turning to his wife, Hweld have time before dinner, Kit? A 4 HO, yes, I'm sure you will, and she fairly flew tocomplete the preparation of the meal. if ' ' The dinner passed smoothly and pleasantly. Mr. Sprecker' was a very interesting talker 'and it seemed- no time until they were seated in the front' room. ' if We might take a ride, only Mrs. Kitling. had a little mishap with the machine yesterday, said James. Didn't hurt anything'much? asked the guest. f . f4Oh, No! Only took off a few fenders and some lights, Mr. Kitling assured him. ' But the funny thing was how it happened. She spied a bird or something she Wanted- on a telegraph pole.and went up to get it. But when she got up the car wouldn't go into reverse, so she went down the other side. When she reached the lblottom she couldn't -make'-the-brakes work so she went through a o e . .. . , - 'fWell, that's almost as bad as- and until Mr. Sprecker left ani hocur and a half later, they spoke of nothing but automobile ac- Cl en s. a . When he had gone Mrs. Kitling sat down and played the piano. HJove, that's some piece! Where'd you learn it? . commented James. , i'Oh, I don't know. I was oin to la it for Mr. S recker, but he preferred other things. g g W p y - D Z'Say, Kit, are you peeved? , KPQQVGCI? Why, no, 'of course I'm not, Jim, old dear. ' It's nine o clock and I'n'1 sleepy. Page Fourteen if xg., .. M ' afar 1' -. f. ,.-.AJ -V c, f , . r ',. --: H, jx 5. dl - -1 1. riff- A-2 T1ff? . ' i, , W