Central Collegiate Institute - Ye Flame Yearbook (Regina, Saskatchewan Canada)

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PRIZE WINNING STCDIQY BY JOHN GREEN j. NIL DESPERANDUM As the train drew into Menston Junction, a figure, which had been slouched in a corner of one of the compartments, rose. We change trains here, she said. Her companion, seated opposite, also rose, and, at the same time, threw a furtive glance at an old lady, the only other occupant of the compartment, who was gazing abstractedly through the far window. This second young woman nodded to the speaker, and when the two left the train, a small brown paper parcel lay in the shadows of a corner seat which had been previously occupied by one of them. Kate and Jane, as we shall call them for convenience, were suddenly halted in their stroll across the platform by a shrill, Hey there! They turned, and there, approaching them, was the same fat old lady who had been their travelling companion. She was panting as loudly and as earnestly as the locomotive on the tracks, and in her hand was a small article. She held this out, Saying, HYOU. nf -I I-QNIW-I f I this on the train. SJ' Kate looked ques- I tioningly at Jane. The latter appear- ' ed to be angry. ,Wx Ifiglfiggg She snatched the -,Q 'ff F, Q object in a very ' I Iglfjl rude manner from I, Z , ff'l'H' the old soul, and Q ' ,QQ I wi t h her com- - 'fi ,W Fig! ff If panion, stamped A E 4, 7' L 5 .I Q WQQ'fiS:,j'ljff,5. I3 a w a y toward a f j 1 f' I ,?'4f,4ai,IQ2l:j. I waiting train. f axes, X 1 ' As H o o k e y f 1, fi I, L ' .yQf,. .':.'1.'fffif.Z Tunnel was being , ',,.,4..f,i,f5,,igl,, repaired, the ex- tl .H . ' 'fg',v'4'::Q' -,422 cursion from Mens- 3 I ' ton to Leeds had to slow almost to a stop as it passed through. Taking advantage of the slackened pace of the train, and the darkness, and having made certain that none of the other passengers could see what she was about, a woman slowly opened a compartment window, and threw something out. Two sighs of relief whispered through the under- ground air. A moment later, however, there was a swish and one of the sighers was struck in the lap with a small object. The voice of a Workman came from below. Better watch what's doin' up there, or thou'll be losin' summat fer good some o' these days. 22

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2 .3 1' gf .Z ,-f...-Z ', S ff ., Q 1' ,f KC ,z' r gf ff' , f 1 f f 1-5 iffy if f f f FIRST PRIZE X PQEM A L APRIL April has been kind to me, the inconsistent jade, Think you it is a recompense for all the pranks she played? She blew my hat across the park, and tossed my curls awry, And then to top it off, she threw a Cinder in my eye! She rained upon my newest frock, and chased me down th And placed a puddle there to trap my poor unwary feetg She laughed until her eyes were wet, and yet I didnlt care, For do you know, she granted me an April love-affair! 21 MILDRED BOLE e street,

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x Half an hour later, the train pulled into Leeds. Now, dirty though this metropolis may be with the grime of industry, never- theless, nobody ever litters the streets with bits of paper without incurring the wrath of the city fathers. Kate and Jane knew this, and conducted themselves accordingly. Nobody, whatever his station in life, ever goes to Leeds on Saturdays without paying a visit to the market, where he can always get a bargain in fish, fruit, Crockery or nightgowns. So, according to convention, our friends wandered into this bustling section of the town. They stopped before one of the stalls, and Jane bought a pennyworth of gumdrops. While the proprietor was busily occupied in wrapping up the purchase, she hastily dropped a small brown paper parcel into a barrel for apples. The girls hurried away, but had scarcely gone a dozen yards when the hawker was at their heels. You dropped this, mum, he said, holding out the article. Jane grew red. Kate turned white. They exchanged glances, in each of which, the other read the same question, Shall we lay the good, honest gentleman on his back in the gutter? Thinking better of the matter, however, Kate snatched the parcel from the gaping vendor, and the two girls stormed away in the direction of Lyons' Tea Shop for a cup of that beverage which alone can soothe the nerves. As they were about the enter, they were amazed to Hnd themselves staring into the massive, blue costumed bulwark of a policeman. At the same instant, the air was split with a shrieking, That's them, sir. That's them, as a plump old lady with red face and perspiring brow waddled into view. She was now panting like a dozen locomotives, and her voice trembled with excitement. Well, mum, what's the matter? asked the guardian of the law. You know, he continued, I can do nothing until you have laid a charge. What's the matter? cried the good woman, What's the matter? I'll tell you what's the matter. Thereupon, she gave a very accurate account of everything that had happened that after- noon. The strange behaviour of the young women when they were in Menston station had made her suspicious. She had followed them, and watched their every move. She had seen them try to get rid of a small parcel at least three times. Her theory was that these two wenches had stolen something. From the peculiar odour of the article which she had noticed when it was in her possession, she thought that the parcel must contain some drug. She believed further that, after stealing it they had discovered that they could not sell it without being caught, and had, therefore, tried to plant it on some innocent person. The policeman turned his grave countenance upon the accused. To his annoyance, they were both doubled up with hysterical laughter. Despite his threats, despite his pleading, it was fully ten minutes before Jane recovered enough to explain. It was a custom with the employees of a certain factory in a certain little town to take advant- age of week-end excursions to Leeds. As the Leeds train left at two o'clock, and as the factory did not close until half past one, it was necessary for the workers to don as many of their holiday togs as possible at the factory and to finish their toilet aboard the train. 23