Erskine Academy - Pinnacle Yearbook (South China, ME)

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, 1. 3 , THE PINNACLE CAMOUFLAGE. Alphonse Rosignal-or in plain United States, Phonnie-had been actin' queer all day. Because I was his feller worker and pal and also because I had been doin' most of his work that day I decided, when twilight had settled o'er the earth and when we had et and lighted up, to ask him whatinel ailed 'im. He sighed a sigh what was a groan, spouted a dark brown spray through a couple o' teeth that made theirselves conspiceous by their absenceg and hustled out: Jacky, I'm in love. Just like that. He didn't even give any prelim- inaries. I looked over his heady started to whistle, and noticed, in a shiny piece o' tin that we used for a mirror or looking glass when we needed one, that my eyes was bulgin' out, my nose a twitchin', and even my ears was tryin' their best to warble their disbelief, under a season's growth of highly tempered hair, which is a kind what looks like dead ground hemlock and is very tough and is very-ah-auburn. Seein' that I was doing my best not to phone for the police or the asylum, which is a place for the rich and crazy, Phonnie ventured a further explanation. Yes, you see that I was a readin' a pa- per this morning? I nodded, bein' all that I could do under the circumstances. Well, he said, I saw where a lady, who had only been married twice, wished to get hitched up. He stopped here to git his breath and I sez, D'you think that any woman in her right mind would marry a bullet headed, leather skinned, bewhisker- ed, ole snake like you? Beauty only runs skin deep, he replied as cool as a steak in a hot skillet, And 'sides any woman what gits married ain't in her right mind. After he had unlimbered himself of this philosopherical statement he says as though he was Andrew Vanderbilt order- ing a nickle's worth o' licorice candy, Now Jacky, I'm goin' to write to Marjorie VVhite, this bein' the lady's given name, by return mail, and, as I can't write and think at the same time, I'll talk an' you'1l write what I say. We arguefied pro and con, me takin' the stand that when he married I would have to go out and face the cold, cruel world alone an' he settin' down and sayin' that I could stay and be the servant or hired man or something like that. At last I give up, Phonnie always was setter on his ways 'n a balky mule. So we com- menced. He started talkin' an' I started writin': Sweetheart:-Bein more of orator 'n a writer I am doin' the talkin' an' Jackey, my pal, is doin' the stenographerini I am 42 years old. I wear whiskers what kin be shaved off, if need be. My health is ex- cellent an' I have 13 teeth. I hope you don't think 13 a unlucky number 'cause in my case it ain't. I smoke a clay pipe and chew B. L. cut plug an' gum when I take a notion, which is quite frequent. Now Deer, as you know all my past history and know that I am what I am and will be changed to nothin' else, will you let me git down on my knees to ye and say in a voice trembly with fear and emotion: 'Will you become Mrs. Alphonse Rosignal or in com- mon every day talk, Mrs. Phonnie?' I am your devoted admirer and sweet- heart, Alphonse Rosignal, otherwise Phon- nie. P, S.-If you don't git this letter within three days please write so that I can write another for I am waitin' in suspense. Alphonse alias Phonnie. Now writin' this here love letter was not so easy as it seems to you for We had to express it in our best English, and at the same time convey to her what we meantg but takin' it all in all it wa'nt so bad, bein' our first. For four days after this Phonnie was a regular bunch o' nerves. He went to the P. O. four times a day and stayed there 'most all night as the P. O. was also the General Store. On the P. M. of the fifth day he came steamin' up to me at the rate of about 30 miles per hour and at the same time, wavein' his hands an' singin' It's come, it's come, it's cbme, it's come, to the tune that a wood saw makes when it goes through birch wood. Well he finely calmed down enough to give me the letter

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THE PINNACLE 7 ON THE DOUBLE X. Oh, dear, I wish I knew what to do about it, sighed Margaret Linchelle. Dad is away and won't return until Fri- day and it is only Tuesday now. Bill Jackson, the foreman, is in with the rust- lers, I'm sure. Five of the best horses are gone and probably more will be gone unless something is done soon. You know, Peggy, that I will do any- thing I can to help you, replied her friend, Connie Evan, of the Big U. I should think you would tell Dick Jordan and he can find out if Bill is really one of the rustlers. He would do anything for you, she added with a laugh. Nonsense, replied Peggy, But I guess I'd better tell him. Shortly afterwards Connie left, and Peg- gy walked out to the corral where she saw Dick saddling his horse. Lo Peggy, he said, pulling his big hat off, What 'can I do for you? After returning his greeting, Peggy glanced around to make sure no one else was in ear shot. Then she said, Dick, you know live of our best horses have been rustled, and I have a feeling that Bill knows more about them than he will admit. Last night there was a good moon and I saw Bill ride over toward Still Creek, at about nine o'clock, alone, so I thought I'd better watch him. I saddled 'Lightfoot' and followed him but he had disappeared completely. Peggy, promise me you won't do any- thing as foolish again, begged Dick, You never can tell what rough men, like rust- lers, would do if they caught you. I suppose I'll have to promise, but you'll try to find out more about it won't you? I was just going to follow those tracks, replied Dick, that were found leading out toward Creggs Pass, when you came out. Bill told me to trace them today and find out where they go, so if you don't want anything more I'd better be going. So- long. Bye, called Peggy after him as he started to the further side of the corral. IS! He found the tracks and followed them closely although his thoughts were on Peggy. He had followed the trail about four miles when he stopped short with an exclamation, and leaping down from his horse examined the tracks, then mounted and whirling his horse, set out at full gal- lop for the Double X ranch. Meanwhile Peggy had returned to the ranch house and had just got settled in the living room with a book to read, when she heard a harsh voice in the kitchen. Peggy, come here, Bill was calling in a commanding tone. When she stepped into the kitchen rough hands reached out from behind the door, and she was quickly bound by two ugly looking men. Bill, standing over her, said sneeringly: So miss, you think you are pretty wise, eh? Well, we're one ahead of you this time. Dick is following a trail that will lead him right into my men's hands, and you, my pretty miss, are here helpless. Now, Jack and 'Sharpy' and I are going to clean up the horses and we will be too far away to be caught before anyone comes. Now for a nice kiss- Hands up every one, said a voice from the doorway. ' Oh, Dick! cried Peggy. Dick walked over to Peggy and cut her bond, keeping his revolver pointed at the three men all the time. Taking 'all their weapons, he said, Now you clear out and if I ever hear of any of your gang this side of Cutley Mountains, I'll fill you full of holes and hang you up for crow food, scoot! And scoot they did, and in a hurry too. Oh, tell me how you got away from Bill's gang? cried Peggy. Well, replied Dick, About four miles out on the trail I began to suspect that it was a put up job and when I examined the tracks I saw that they had been made by the same horse from the shape of the right fore shoe, so I turned and came back, and you know the rest. Oh, Dick! was all that Peggy could say as Dick drew her closely. MYRTIS SANBORN, '23.

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, an THE PINNACLE 9 and cough and remark that I would have to read it as he had left his glasses to home. I opened it an' saw that it was writ in the smoothest girlish handwritin' I've ever been forced to look on. It ran something like this: Dearest Phonnie! fsuch a dear namej, I received your epistle three days ago but instead of writing a note to let you know that I got it all right I decided to make this letter do for both the note and the ac- ceptance of your proposal. Oh Darling, I can hardly wait for the time when our arms shall steal around each other and our lips Will meet in our first kiss. You have no idea how I have longed for you in spite of the fact that I have not seen you. There I must stop this nonsense and bid you good- night. Your loving Marjorie White. P. S.-I forgot to state that a friend is writing this for me as I can't write my- self, but we don't care do we, dear? HM. W!! At the close of this letter Phonnie near went wild with joy. He patted me on the back and even offered me a pipeful of to- backer which of course I didn't accept. It took us three days to rig Phonnie up and to answer the letters what Marjorie writ. But in the end it was worth the three dollars and twelve cents we spent. It was on the night of the third day that the bride-to-be was goin' to arrive and it was arranged so they would meet at the church and I was disappointed 'cause it was so dark that I couldn't tell whether she was tall or short, small or big, but that didn't hinder Phonnie any, he walked right up to the carriage, helped her out, kissed her and even paid her fare. VVhen she alit, iive others tumbled out after her and when Phonnie sez in a caressin' voice: And who are these dear? she sez in a voice soft and low, an' musical, Oh, these are the children, this is John, this is Rastus, this is Jimmie, this is Mary, and this is Lily. Phonnie was some taken back, but he stood up under the blow like a man, and lied, Pm glad to know you and welcome you as my children, I hope you like to work? Well, at last Phonnie suggested that they go in and have it over with. As they neared the church Marjorie acted scairt and Phonnie put his arm around her and growl- ed endearments and said that if she didn't like to look at the people and have them stare at her, she could put her heavy black veil on. I knew he was hittin' on me' cause I seemed to be the only one present, but as it was dark, I groaned an' let the insult go over my head. Marjorie put on her veil an' we entered the church. The parson looked solemn an' wise, an' wore glasses. He said to each, Do you take this man to be your wedded wife? and each replied emphatically, I do. They started to leave an' I nudged Phonnie an' asked him if he wouldn't like to kiss the bride. He said that he thought she would be scairt so I said that all the audience would turn back to, that body bein' me. I turned 'round and presently my private thoughts was broken into by a scream from the lady, an' a cuss word-yes actually a cuss word from Phonnie. Then before I could turn facing them the lady hollered A white man, and poor white trash at that, and Phonnie echoed feebly but manfully, A nigger, a real nigger. By the time I got so that I could look at them, I saw that the lady was in hysterics and that Phonnie had fainted. I put in a emergency call for the insane asylum and one for a ambulance to take Phonnie home With. That night after I had fed Phonnie his supper, which consisted of a teaspoonful of milk and a little fatherly advice, I hap- pened to glance at the title of the paper where Phonnie had got acquainted with his bride. It ran something like this: The Colored Sentinel. For the colored populace. VERNON BOYNTON, EX-'21. MY DREAM. I had a dream the other night, A horrid frightful dream! I shudder to recall the sight, So awful did it seem. I thought I was in the schoolroom,