Elk Grove High School - Elk Yearbook (Elk Grove, CA)

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sud Y 2 X' T HE gi flN -I ELK Li: 'nb .X 155' it V t rllfx ' V f tus, but there was, however, a row of freight cars on a siding. I-Ie pulled his wet clothes off, put them over some rocks to dry, then crawled into an empty freight car to gain shelter from the wind. At last he grew sleepy, curled him- self in the corner of the car, and, unfortunately, went to sleep. VVhen he woke he found that it was growing dusk. A queer sensation came over him, and he rubbed his eyes, staring out of the car door. Instead of the Trinity River he saw an unfamiliar landscape of beautiful farming coun- try. Only one track was visible. Then the truth dawned upon him. VVhile he had been sleeping soundly, the empty cars had been hauled out to a country station to be loaded with farm produce. To make any attempt to picture the emotions of Calister would exhaust the English vocabulary. I-Ie was cold, he was hungry, and it was dark. SO, taking the last look around to be sure he could walk in the shadows, he struck out for the lonely little station up the track. But when he reached it he found that it was locked as tight as the United States Treasury. Hunting around he discovered four meal sacks: with the aid of some bailing wire, that he came upon in the side yard, he made for himself a suit of clothes. Witli his bare feet and arms sticking out of this absurd outfit, he made for a light glim- mering in the distance, trudging grimly along, gritting his teeth, his face nery red with rage. Soon he heard a bark, a growl, and a loud curse, and a man rushed past him out of a barn. A combat ensued between the dognand a tramp. The tramp had thrown his pipe in the loft just before he left, and in less time than it takes to tell it, the hay was on fire. Calister tried to extinguish the flames with his hands but to no avail. He heard shouts and saw two men run- ning toward him. To Calister's surprise and indignation two heavy hands gripped his shoulders. Ye blamed tramp l snarled the farmer. Calister tried to clear himself but he might as well have explained to a stone wall. They laughed and told him to tell that story to the police. When he heard the heavy door of the jail slam behind him he fumed with rage. He looked about trying to find a way to escape. It was useless. Morning came and with it his breakfast and the constable. VVhat did you say your name was ? asked the constable. My name, he said viciously, is James Biggles. I live at Ardmore, on the Trinity. Telegraph the postmaster. Calister thought he knew what he was doing. Biggles had an office in Austin, and left Ardmore usually on an early train. The telegram was sent. Postmaster, Ardmore: Tramp arrested here. Claims to be james Biggles of Ardmore. Hiram Hatches, Constable. And in due time the reply came back: Impossible blames Biggles hasn't been away from Ardmore and is with me now. Here you,', cried the constable when he returned to the lock-up. You lied. Read this! Calister read. The next afternoon Mr. james Biggles presented himself to Constable I-Iatches. I understand, sir, that you have a prisoner who claims to be James Biggles. Here is my card. I am James Biggles ! They walked to the door of the lock-up. The Constable threw it open. Biggles, cried Calister, rushing forward. Biggles froze. . This man has lied, he said to the constable. I-Ie is not James Biggles, for I am he. He is not Harry Calister for he was drowned in the Trinity three days ago. This fellow-I never saw before. Forty-one

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i g Lf THE ij,j1 'f5,j' ELIQ Y lb V 'l-N lg I cepted the feathered volunteer and took him to the front. The company was named the Eagle Regiment in honor of Old Abe who, in turn, was named in admiration for the man upon whom the hearts and minds of the people were centered. . Old Abe was duly sworn ing the red, white, and blue badge was placed about his neck, and on his breast a rosette of the same colors. This glorious creature enjoyed war and was in his element during a battle. His flashing eyes and wild excited screams gave the men of the Eagle Company new cour- age. Throughout the whole war he suffered but a few slight wounds and re- turned home to Madison hale and hearty. In 1880, at the soldier's reunion in Milwaukee, Old Abe made his last appearance before the public. He and Gen- eral Grant were the illustrious guests at this military festivity. Wlieii the band played, Old Abe uttered his battle scream, which consisted of five or six wild thrilling notes in quick succession. ln 1881, .just one year after his great day at the soldiers' reunion, a fire broke out in the NVisconsin State Capitol, where Old Abe spent his days. A1- though Abe gave his battle cry, the firemen were slow in reaching him, so slow, that by the time he was rescued, the smoke had seriously affected him, his breast heaved and his heart labored heavily. He survived, but thereafter ate sparingly and his eyes lost their lusterg his strength failed. Qld Abe had some characteristics which made him the most individual bird in history. He witnessed the saddest years in the history of the United States, when the union was wavering. Today, because of the above facts, Old Abe is known and revered throughout the world. Thus ended the story and we all slipped off to bed. -Jessie Cumpston, '2O. RIVALS IN LOVE Everybody in Ardmore, a small town in Texas near the Trinity River, knew of the rivalry between Calister and Biggles. And everybody enjoyed their little episodes. So far as Miss Alice Davison was concerned, they seemed to be running about so-so mostof the time, with an occasional head of advantage for Calister, and then again a sudden forge ahead for Biggles. The least concerned seemed to be llliss Davison herself. For she was something of a flirt and the belle of Ardmore. The rivalry between Calister and Biggles was not a mean affair. They were quite good friends, or at least had not come to blows, or to anything worse than angry words. Yet, they would not hesitate to resort to the most laughable tricks to defeat each other. It was an unanswered question in Ard- more what the rivals would think of next. The only deep feeling the inhabi- tants had, was the regret that if she married either of them, the zest of life would cease for the interested spectators. Matters were about even when one morning the town awoke to learn with horror and regret that Calister was drowned. He had had an engagement to take Miss Davidson sailing on the Trinity River in his small cat-boat. But Big- gles, with his usual unscrupulous cunning, cut some rope, told Miss Davison that the aforesaid boat was unsafe, and took her in a gasoline launch. Calister was angry, of course, but he went back to the boat-house, and got his fishing tackle and canoe to go fishing. He rowed a long distance down the river, fished a while, and was pulling away toward Ardmore again when a log got in the way of his canoe. The latter slid its nose up in the air and turned turtle, leaving poor Calister splashing in the water, so it happened that he reached the opposite shore from Ardmore, soaked and cold. Not a house was in sight Forty

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Sf. L! I PHE jp.i,ll.iiiQlS.i.Ig ELK i'lfQ1'? A R W A5 , , l ' A - Calister turned purple. jim, don't forsake ine, he wailed. 'Tll never play another trick on you. Biggles was walking away. The constable, puzzled, looked first at Biggles, then at Calister. He leaped at Biggles and hurled that astonished gentleman into the lockup with Calister. UI think I've captured a bunch of crooks that work together. You'll both stay there until I know more. The door banged and the two rivals in love were left together. You're a :line one. growled Calister. Wliere did you get that suit P taunted Biggles. NVhat did you get in here for, you idiot P demanded Biggles hotly. Now I'ni in a fine hx. And I've got to take Alice to a party tomorrow night. Thus they quarreled and wrangled, while the constable was sending a tele- gram to Ardmore! Two men claiming to be Harry Calister and james Biggles locked up here. Wliat do you know about them PM Another weary day passed. And then a tall, well dressed man presented himself to the constable and said that his name was Davison and that he would like to see the two prisoners called Calister and Biggles. Mr. Davison ! cried both. prisoners. Yes, said Mr. Davison. Constable, that one is Calister and that one is Biggles. Now Pd like an explanation of all this. There is some devilment about it. Wliicli one of you knows where Alice has gone P Alice! Gone P Yes, gone. She left a letter saying she was going away with the man she loved, but she didn't give his name. There are three young men missingg you, Calister, and you, Biggles, and Ed Green. Ed Green, the son of the oil king PM H'Y'eS.?7 VVell, I don't know anything about Alice, said Calister. Nor L' said Biggles sadly. Then it must be Green, mused Mr. Davison slowly. Biggles, said Calister, the war is over. We might as well be friends. VVe might as well, it's the only thing to do, replied Biggles. So three sad nien went home together and Ardmore had its last big laugh. -Louise Elliott, '23. MR. SPLASHER-K. P. Mrs. Splasher had gone on a vacation. Before leaving she had informed her husband concerning the household duties to be performed. They were so few and so simple that they required little time and trouble, and Mr. Splasher was delighted with his recreation, as he called it. The hrst night he hastened to his suburban home, planning to have an enjoyable time getting supper. First, he energetically put on a kettle of water and then looked in the cup- board and ice chest. He found: One pint of milk, a steak, a small lump of butter and one cold potato. He decided to fry the steak and potato, have gravy, prepare sago pudding and coffee. The water in the kettle hacln't started to boil, and he discovered that he had forgotten to light the gas. When he touched a match to it, the flames shot up into his face and singed his eyebrows and mustache nearly off. But he wasn't going to let that frighten him. Oh, no! . Thereupon he went bravely into the dining room to set the table. VVhen he came back to the kitchen, he found the floor partly covered with water. Forty-two