Fryeburg Academy - Academy Bell Yearbook (Fryeburg, ME)

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' THE ACADEMY BELL 11 with me and there will be no disturbance, Texas Bill. Quickly the cowboy rose, kicked back his chair and exclaimed, I haven't taken any money! And I'm not Texas Bill. But before he had finished, the sheriff shot and the fellow dropped to the Hoor. Make a stretcher boys and take him to my home while I get the doctor and look into this little matter. When the sheriff reached home the cowboy was unconscious. The sheriff's daughter had bandaged the wound. The doctor removed the bullet, dressed the right shoulder and left. All night and all the next day the stranger remained unconsciousg about seven o'clock he opened his eyes. When he awoke his nurse explained everything that had hap- pened. She told him that she was the sheriff's daughter, Marie Hammond. The cowboy frowned and said, Well, I suppose you want to know who I really am ?', Yes, I would like to, if you wish it. Well, I am Richard Morton from the Six Star ranch, forty miles north of here. I want help, so I came down here to look for it. I found my men and then went into the saloon where your father found mef' Noticing the surprise in her face, he said, Oh, you thought that Richard Mor- ton was an older man. She nodded. Well, I am not an old man: when I was sixteen I went East to college, stayed four years, returned to Montana, then did some of the things you've heard about. The girl finished for him quickly, such as getting rid of bandits and great out- laws. He gave her a Bill Hart smile, showing two rows of white teeth, which made her his friend for life. My, he is only twenty-five and awfully good looking, she thought. He must have read her face for he Hnshed her another smile. Late in the afternoon sheriff Ham- mond came in with an angry expression on his face. Well, if Texas Bill isn't the slickest cuss, he growled. Listen 2 He opened a note and read,- Stole the money right from under your nose and will steal your daughter next. Beware! Texas Bill. Marie turned deathly pale and Mor- ton's grey eyes turned to steel. Pk :mf ak :sf Ik Pk PF It was six months later, Marie Ham- mond was riding beside Richard Morton. They had started for Six Star ranch on a visit to his mother. They came to a long stretch of road and put their horses into a gallop. When they had gone a mile, Richard drew rein close to Marie's horse. Sweetheart, I have known you only six months but could you-er well, would you marry me P 'fYes, she answered quietly. Bang! a shot rang through the air and Morton bit the dust. A horseman rode furiously from a clump of willows, a smoking gun still in his hand. He rode up to Marie and with a sneer remarked: I told yer dad I'd get you and I have. I'll just pin a note to this guyls shirt and then I guess they'll believe Texas Bill. Bang! another shot rent the air and Texas Bill dropped to the ground groan- ing. Took a shot at the wrong man that time, grinned Morton, as he rose from the ground. Oh, Dick, you're not hurt F Just touched me, sweetheart? That night about seven o'clock, Sheriff Hammond was aroused from his nap by the sound of horses coming into the yard. Running to the door he threw up his hands in amazement. Goodness, here comes Morton leading a horse with his own body tied to it. Morton told his story and when he finished said, You take care of him and we will take care of the horses. Marie and Morton turned the horses into the corral and the moon shone on the fence where they stood leaning and talking. Just imagine dad's taking you for Texas Bill. Yes, but thanks that he did, because

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10 THE ACADEMY BELL You can't, because there are no apples in that pan, but I will get you one right away, she hastened to add, looking fear- fully at Bob at the same time. But Bob was thoroughly angry by this time. Mary, there is something in that pan that you don't want me to know about, but I am going to know just the same. This is a pretty way to act when we have just made up. And Mary, seeing that he was deter- mined, again buried her face in her apron and sobbed,- ' Yes-when-we had-just-made up Oh, dear. Bob lifted the cover and stood staring at the six large onions that lay within. Suddenly his eyes began to smart and two large tears rolled down his cheeks. Then light broke upon Bob's clouded un- derstanding. He now knew the real cause of Mary's tears and also of her peculiar behavior. ' Soon three different varieties of tears were running freely. Mary's were tears of real sorrow and Bob's were onion tears mingled with tears of merriment. But Bob used his voice as well as his eyes and Mary, hearing, raised her head from her apron to look at him, Then you-you-aren't an-angry ? Angry! I-Ia, ha!,' roared Bob, and Mary began to smile, too. As soon as Bob got his mouth back to its normal size and shape he put his arm around Mary and said- Cupid always was a funny fellow, but this is the first time I ever knew him to take the form of an onion. MILDRED MERRILL, '20, A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY. It was five minutes of five. In five minutes the Sunset bank would close. Sunset was a flourishing western town, which a few years before had been a great plain where buffaloes fed. The safe door stood open. All was still except for the clink of silver as the paying-teller counted out the money, pre- paring to leave. just as he finished counting, the door opened and a cowboy entered. He strolled up to the window, drew a six-shooter and told the paying- teller to hand over the money. The man did as he was ordered. As the cowboy started towards the door, he turned and said with a drawl. If ye move I'll send ye to Paradise, and Texas Bill does not waste words either. He went to the door, reached his horse and soon the dust was Flying under the horse's hoofs. As soon as the cowboy was off, the pay- ing-teller rode to the sheriff's home and told what had happened. In answer to the sheriff's question concerning the cow- boy's looks he said, Most dressy chap in Texas, White chaps, silver spurs, wide brimmed hat, silk handkerchief knotted around his throat, and no mask. Had gray eyes and called himself Texas Bill Texas Bill ! g Yes, Great Scott! Why man, he's the most notorious outlaw in th-is country. Kills men for a pastime, I'll get him or die. The sheriff rode to one of the biggest saloons in the town, and dismounted. When he reached the door he stopped short in surprise. Through the crowd he saw, in one corner at a table, two cow- boys gambling. One was short and stubby, the other was tall, wore white chaps, silver spurs, a wide brimmed hat and a silk handkerchief around his throat. Sensing a new presence the second man looked toward the door and as he did so the sheriff muttered, Those same gray eyes! Then the sheriff sauntered toward the corner, but the cowboy after looking up, continued playing. The sheriff touched him on the shoulder, and coolly looking the cowboy in the eyes said: Hand over that money, make no resistance, come

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1,2 THE ACADEMY BELL if he hadn't, probably I should at this moment be at the ranch and would never have known you. I say! there is nothing like a case of mistaken identity to get a man a wife. He lifted her face to his and kissed her. I am afraid, Morton, you are taking things for granted and without my con- sent, smiled Hammond, as he came around the corner of the corral looking for them. But he has mine, dad, laughed Marie. Well, then I suppose I'll have to give mine, he said, extending his hand to Morton. They shook hands and looked each other squarely in the eyes. Then Hammond left them alone-the man, the girl and the moon. DoRoTHv Hows, '2U. THE CONVOY. Late in the afternoon, on one of the last days of September, 1918, the ship to which I was attached, The U. S. S. Michigan , was at her anchorage at Yorkstown, Va. Suddenly the word was passed, Secure ship for sea. Most of the crew did not know where we were bound but as I was a signalman I went to the signal bridge, looked at the log and found that a radio message from Wash- ington to the Flagship which had been transferred by semaphore to us, was an order to get underway and proceed to New York. Every man on board was glad to know that he was to have a chance to put a foot on the paved streets of dear old New York. Shortly after live P. M., the Boatswain called out Anchors away, sir , and the two large screws turned, and our ship started out of the bay. We slipped from Chesapeake Bay into the Atlantic to find that the sea was smooth for a fast run. It was about one P. M. the next day when our anchor was planted in New York har- bor just off Staten Island. The next two days our crew was divided, half went ashore on liberty, while the other half remained on board, taking on stores and black diamonds. The building of a coal bunker on the main deck enlightened us to the fact that we were to weather a long cruise. About noon on the first day of October, the usual signal came from the captain of the harbor to transfer all sick, and get ready for sea. That afternoon several troop ships stood out through the harbor, but we did not have the least idea that we were to see them safe across the Atlantic. If we had but noted, only a few hundred yards away was a torpedo boat and a cruiser getting up steam. The ship's 'bell sounded four times, which means two P. M., as the Captain of the harb0r's gig came alongside, and to the officer of the deck there was handed a sealed en- velope on the outside of which were printed the words, Proceed to three mile limit at three P. M. The hour passed very quickly and as we neared the three mile limit, we saw some troop ships lying to. When the navigator told the Captain that we had reached the limit, he opened the orders and told the officer of the deck that we were to be in charge of a convoy of seven troop ships, and that the Cruiser North Carolina and Torpedo boat No. 74 were to help keep the convoy in safety. Our convoy was put in formation with the North Carolina in the head, T. B. D. No. 74 patroling in front and the troop ships in three columns. Our ship brought up the rear, flying a convoy Hag, at our foremast, to denote that we were in charge. The first night went O. K. Sub- marine drill was called several times dur- ing the second day of our cruise, not be- cause we sighted subs, but to be ready if we should meet with such an enemy. The second night we were called to quar- ters, but it was a false alarm, No. 74 was off her course and had come up in sight off our starboard beam. Quarters were soon secured and the crew found