Butler High School - Magnet Yearbook (Butler, PA)

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THE SENIOR MAGNET 19 it, he found the diamond was still there. “I wonder where Slim was that morning that he didn’t want to tell,” said Peg. ‘‘I don’t know,” answered her uncle, but I know one thing, and that is this. I’m going to advertise for Slim and get him back here as soon as I can. I’m too old to be riding all over the ranch.” The next day signs were posted at Caroltown; the village near the ranch. They offered a reward to anyone who could tell the whereabouts of Slim Walton. It stated that he was innocent and that Kingsley was willing to take him back as his foreman again. But no one knew where he was. Then one day a letter, postmarked Caroltown, came for Kingsley. It was very brief. It read:—“Mr. Kingsley. You will find that the person who thinks before he acts generally does the right thing when ht- does a« t.” It was signed Slim. Something told him that he was to see Slim before long, and he was right. The next day, riding on the northern end of the ranch, a part seldom used, he was hailed from behind by a very familiar voice. Turning around he beheld Slim. Kingsley was a. man of few words, but the hearty handshake was enough to assure Slim that he was welcome. “Let’s go down to the house and see Peg,” said “Dad.” They did, and while Kingsley went into his office, Slim hurried out to the kitchen to find her. “Slim Walton, of all things! Where did you come from?” “Oh, I’ve been hanging around the ranch for a long time,” he said. As they talked he told her how he had hidden in an abandoned cabin on the northern end of the ranch ever since he had left. He had seen the sign in Caroltown and had mailed the letter as a joke. “But why didn’t you want to tell ‘Dad’ where you had been that day?” asked Peg. Slim blushed, but began manfully. “Well, you see, I went to town and bought a ring, which I intended to give you soon. I didn’t like to say anything in front of you about it.” It was riwvv her turn to blush, and she did, charmingly. After a moment’s hesitation, Slim went on. “Seeing as how I didn’t get time to give it to you that day, I guess I’d better do ir now.” Just then Kingsley came in with a paper in his hand. “Now see here, Slim, I know I did wrong when I accused you; but I’m willing to start over again. Here’s a contract I’ve drawn up, making you foreman for five years. Will you sign ?” He did. And the next day he signed another contract for life. It was in the shape of a marriage license. And the principals were none other than “Peg” Mansfield and “Slim” Walton.

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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

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20 THE SENIOR MAGNET James Blair—Detective Pkarle Forster Jeanne was looking for the office door marked “Mr. James Blair— Private.” She had been running through all the corridors of the funny old building and found so many doors that were not Jim’s. Jeanne had married James Blair exactly four months ago, and had been in Peking ever since. Jim had his government work to do, and so they decided to spend their honeymoon there, she grew to be delighted at its funny little crooked streets and its quaint open shops on the sidewalks. Finally, down the long dim corri dor she heard voices and one she knew very well. Running down the hall, she opened the door softly and walked in, just as Jim said, “Well, if I may, I’ll use two or three of your men tomorrow night.” The man, chief of Peking’s police, went out and Jeanne demanded the cause of his presence. “It’s just a little matter which I think may be opium smuggling,” answered Jim. As the two were walking home, suddenly Jim stopped and pointed across the street. Jeanne looked, but saw nothing but an old, very withered Chinaman leading a cat. But such a cat. It was a beautiful black cat with an unusual black coat. It had two balls of fire for eyes, and around its neck was a red ribbon. Jim said nothing till they reached home, then he told of his suspicions. “For two weeks now, every day 1 have seen that old man leading the cat. He was very careful of it, allowing no one to touch it, and seemed to be always looking for somebody to grab the cat. Then after much looking around, he goes into that little old cellar across from the office. I asked some friends about it and was told that Wo Chong’5 cat was the pride of Peking. It was the same breed as the ancient Em-porer’s cat, and was the only one in China. Then one day shortly after this I heard Wo Chong say to .1 friend, “Wednesday night at 10:30 here.” That is the reason I asked for some men tomorrow.” “But Jim, will there be any danger of shooting?” asked Jeanne. Jim answered with an air of bravado, “You can never tell in something like this what may happen, hut don’t worry about me.” Jeanne did not see much to he suspicious about an old man showing off a cat with a pedigree like that, but said nothing, and set about preparing dinner. It was Wednesday night, 10:30. The drizzling rain did not appeal much to Jeanne who, wrapped in Jim’s old overcoat, was going to follow the three men. After a very long wait, Jeanne heard Jim exclaim in the next doorway. “There goes Wo Chong and the cat now.” Jeanne looked across the street and sure enough there were the cat’s eyes staring at her. Just then Ching Lee, the tea merchant, came up and the two went into the cellar. It was rather spooky, Jeanne admitted to herself. Jim and the two men crept across the street and down into the cellar, Jeanne following as soon as the door was shut. Inside everything was dark and there was a musty odor about the place. A long hall lighted by a solitary candle, went winding