Butler High School - Magnet Yearbook (Butler, PA)

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THE SENIOR MAGNET 17 suing him happened to be two robbers. They had broken into Montgomery’s grocery store and taken a large sum of money which had been left in the safe over Sunday. These two men were being pursued and one of the pursuers had fired the shots which Horatio thought were meant for him. Hut for his being caught in the bridge, the two men would have escaped. As it was, one of them was captured and immediately confessed, giving the name of his companion who was captured in the next town. The news of the capture had preceded him to town; so when Horatio reached Marketdale, he was immediately proclaimed a hero. Everybody crowded around him. The Marshall of the town extended his warmest thanks to Horatio, while the proprietor of the grocery store had rewarded him with the magnifi-cient sum of a brand new one dollar bill. Some of the matrons of the town insisted on kissing him, while mothers, who had grown daughters, insisted on having a party in his honor. As a matter of fact, Horatio was the best attraction in the town of Marketdale for some time. But Horatio did not really begin to star until the next issue of the Marketdale Weekly Minor appeared. It was an extra telling all about Horatio’s wonderful deed, while in the very center was a picture of our young hero, fat as ever, but more popular. It seems that the reporter had slightly altered the description of the capture for it said that Horatio had turned upon the bandits and struggled with them only to have one of them escape. But what does a slight error like that matter? Any way, all we know is that the Market dale society welcomed him back with open arms, even letting him play the hero in the next play put. on by the Marketdale Social Players Or ganization. Otherwise he lived happily ever after.

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16 THE SENIOR MAGNET woods and would marvel at its hopping run. Then he would watch a squirrel as it busied itself laying up its winter supply of nuts. Horatio became so well acquainted with nature that he was able to name any flower, tree, or animal. Just below this spot a freak of nature had made a great hollow into which the stream flowed. So, although the stream was not large, it soon filled this hollow with water which resembled a small pond. This pond extended for a distance of one hundred yards. The inhabitants of Marketdale, Horatio’s home town had found it very convenient to cross the stream at this point, whereupon a small bridge had been built. This bridge had for its girders two long trees which were laid across the stream. These girders were covered with small bits of lumber from the lumber mill. Now as a means of protection from falling into the stream small pieces of trees, about three and a half feet high, had been nailed to the sides of the girders. On top of these were nailed wild cherry trees, minus their branches, which formed a kind of railing over which many people would lean and gaze into the stream. These trees were chosen for their length and slenderness, and at a junction about three quarters of the way across the bridge, their natural curves brought them in towards the middle of the bridge so that only a small distance separated them. As it happened one Sunday afternoon Horatio was pursuing his way towards his particular resting place. As a short cut to this spot, he was going through Farmer Brown’s field. Farmer Brown had an orchard in this part of the field which he valued very highly. To this orchard many of the young lads of Marketdale would make a sally, now and then, and deprive it of some of its fruit. So farmer Brown was always on the watch for these lads as they damaged his trees. Horatio peacefully pursuing his way through this field, never once suspected the least bit of harm. All of a sudden he heard a shot. His heart hurriedly made a circuit of the course usually followed by the circulation of the blood, and regained its former position just in time for Horatio to see two men running towards him. That was enough. With one terrible burst of speed Horatio started for the bridge. Although he ran with all his might, the two men easily gained on him, so that when Horatio reached the bridge, they were right behind him, With one great leap Horatio reached the middle of the stream. With an other leap he was sandwiched in between the railings of the bridge. With a curse the two men pounched upon him. But tug, push, and pull with all his might and the gentle assistance of the two strangers, who evidently were in a very great hurry as they cussed, kicked and punched Horatio, he could not be dislodged. It seems that time began to get very precious to the two gentlemen as one of them clambered up Horatio’s back and vaulted over him. The other tried to follow the same example but was not too gently pulled off Horatio’s back. After the commotion had ceased, and while Horatio was still desperately trying to free himself, two of the late arrivals pushed the railings apart and freed Horatio who immediately began to sway. Seeing that he was not being pursued, he stopped and surveyed the scene. Two men were holding a third, who was handcuffed, while a fourth man was holding two rifles. After a while the men called Horatio towards them and helped him across the bridge. One of them now explained the cause of all this commotion. The two men who Horatio had thought were pur-

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18 THE SENIOR MAGNET The Treasure Regained Harvey Gibson The hot rays of a mid-summer sun glowered down on the ranch house of the Kingsley Ranch in southern Arizona. From the outside it looked peaceful enough, but one would have to look only once to discover that something was radically wrong in the combined office and living room of the house. Clarence Kingsley, affectionately called “Dad” by the ranch hands, was frantically engaged in hunting for something which he seemed to be unable to find. Finally he started for the porch and there confronted his niece, Margaret Mansfield, and his ranch foreman, Slim Walton. They were playing with the ranch pet, a five year old monkey. “Slim, were you here all morning, while I was down on the range?” “No sir, I was not.” “Well, where were you, then?” Slim glanced at Peg and then at Kingsley. “I’d rather not say just at present.” This increased Kingsley’s suspicion. “Well,” he said, “I guess I might as well tell you that my diamond is gone; and, seeing as you were the only one, besides Peg and I, that knowed where I kept it, I reckon as how I’ll have to arrest you for robbery. I ain’t takin’ no chances.” This diamond was one of great value which had been given to him by his son, Ralph, before he had died. Ralph had got it in Africa and intended to sell it, but sudden illness prevented him and he gave it to his father. He had put it in a small bronze statue, which had a secret chamber, and had left the sta- tue in his office, thinking no one would ever suspect that it was there. He had told Slim and Peg about it. Peg, who was seriously thinking of marrying Slim, turned and left without a word to either of them. Slim was off the porch in an instant and was gone before Kingsley, an old man, could reach him. The surrounding country was searched for days, but no one could find the missing foreman. He had taken his favorite horse, Gray Star, with him. Kingsley, who was a retired ranchman, now took charge of the ranch again. He loved his niece as he would a daughter. His wife was dead, so Peg was the only woman on the ranch. But, since Slims’ departure, she was dreadfully lonesome and showed it plainly. Her uncle knew the cause, but said nothing. Way down in his heart he knew that Slim was innocent, but it was his quick temper that had made him accuse him, and he was too proud to call him back again. Peg often took long rides by herself and one day, as she was returning from one, she was attracted by a loud chattering in a tree near the road. Looking up she saw “Pat,” the pet monkey, perched on a limb, talking away to something sitting near him between two branches. “Here Pat,” she called, and as he leaped down, he jarred the limb and something fell to the ground. It was the statue! with a cry, she picked it up and hastened to the ranch. “Oh, Dad, I knew Slim wasn’t guilty. Look here, Pat had the statue and was hiding it.” There were tears in Kingsley’s eyes as he took the statue. Opening